Chapter 3

"Ida, are you trying to use Nigel as an excuse to keep hanging on to me?" Charlie's voice pulled me out of my memories.

I looked up and met his suspicious gaze, but I did not promise him anything. He would not believe me even if I swore on my life. Once I was gone from their lives, they would believe it on their own.

I pushed the agreement toward him. "Hurry up and sign it. I have other things to do."

My firmness made Charlie's visible suspicion decrease somewhat. He quickly signed his name, and I took my copy, ready to leave.

Suddenly, Charlie stopped me. "Ida, today is Nigel's birthday. Don't forget."

I nodded, then gave him the reassurance he wanted. "You can handle it. Just send the address to my number later. This will be the last birthday I celebrate with him."

After leaving the company, I took out my phone and bought a plane ticket to Oceanton for the next day. That would be the place I would settle down if there were no other surprises.

I walked into a cafe and bought a cup of coffee. Just then, Charlie's text came in as well: [We'll celebrate at home.]

I did not reply. Instead, I went to the mall and picked out a toy car without much care before returning to the place Charlie and I called home.

Before I even went inside, I could already hear Nigel laughing.

I opened the door, and I saw Nigel sitting in Megan's lap.

When they saw I was the one who had come in, neither of them moved. I could not be bothered to look at them either as I sat down on the couch and switched the cartoon to a drama.

"Who said you could change it?" Nigel stood up and pointed a toy gun at my forehead, his eyes full of a kind of hostility that should not be something a boy his age should have.

My fingers curled slightly, and I ignored the ache in my chest. "Go and play with Megan. Mommy bought you a new toy."

The boy got distracted easily and looked at the new toy.

Megan laughed. "Is that Nigel's birthday present? You really didn't put in much effort despite being his mother."

She wanted to drive a wedge between us, but I would not take the bait.

I rolled my eyes and went back to watching my drama.

The atmosphere in the room became still. When Megan saw I was not going to react, she let out a soft scoff and turned away.

I had watched three episodes by the time Charlie finally came home. He was carrying a cake, and Megan ran into his arms. Then, she turned and gave me a provoking look.

Nigel ran over too, staring at the two-tier chocolate cake, drooling as he shouted with delight.

The three of them talked and laughed, looking exactly like a family.

I watched them calmly. Charlie coughed lightly and let go of Megan before calling out to me. "Ida, what does Nigel like to eat? Can you prepare something for him?"

I originally wanted to refuse, but then I met Nigel's eyes. Even though I was completely disappointed in my son now, I had truly loved him in the past.

I pressed my lips and walked into the kitchen.

I made three dishes suitable for children according to the recipes for healthy meals. However, Nigel pushed them away the moment I set them on the table. He yelled, "I don't like these!"

Megan was startled and threw herself into Charlie's arms. "Ida! Even Nigel likes sweet food. How can you care so little when you're his own mother?"

I did not care?

Megan had bought Nigel so many sweets that he already had cavities at his age. That was why I had no choice but to cut him off from the sweets.

I stood there and met Charlie's disappointed gaze as he said, "You really aren't suited to be a mother."

I lowered my head.

I had poured my time, energy, and effort into Nigel's health all these years, but in the end, I could not even compare to someone like Charlie, who only showed up once in a while, or Megan, who simply bought him snacks.

I suddenly laughed. "That's right. I'm not suited to be a mother or a wife. Isn't that perfect? You can change your wife, and Nigel can change his mother."

Then, my eyes moved to Nigel, and I gently patted his head as I said in a tone that was both gentle and cruel. "As for me, I'll have other children eventually, too."

After that, I walked to the couch to pick up my purse before leaving.

Behind me, Nigel was cheering happily as Charlie's cold voice came to me, "Ida, are you sure you want to leave? Today is the last time you'll see Nigel. I will never let you see him again, even if you kneel and beg me in the future."

Those words would have been cruel to any mother, but I no longer cared.

I simply stopped and said something Charlie never expected. "Then I wish the three of you to form a perfect, happy family. I hope that you can celebrate like this every year."