Chapter 2

It hadn't been easy bringing Ruth into the world, so Jordan and I had pampered her since she was born. Who would've known that such an innocent child would grow to despise me, her mother, so much in a matter of a few years?

Ruth and Jordan only returned home the following day with Vivian in tow. I knew from their social media posts that they'd gone on a trip together.

More often than not, Vivian was more like the lady of the Jensen household than I was, despite being nothing but Ruth's private tutor. It was clear that Jordan and Ruth liked her much more than me.

In truth, my relationship with Ruth hadn't been this strained in the beginning. She would hold my hand and call me "Mommy", and she would also kiss me sweetly and curl up in my arms as she slept.

When had things changed? When had she drifted away from me?

Was it when Jordan hired Vivian as Ruth's private tutor after she returned to the country? Or was it when I'd been so strict in educating Ruth that she'd rebelled?

I didn't have the answer. All I remembered was that I'd first heard Vivian's name when I'd been helping Ruth with her homework.

She'd been half-hearted in doing it, and I'd told her to redo everything. At the peak of her anger, she'd blurted out Vivian's name while shouting at me. "Why can't you be like Vivian, Mommy? She lets me have fried chicken and soft drinks, and she tells Daddy to take me to the amusement park.

"She's so pretty too! Why can't you dress up a little? All you do is boss me around every day! No wonder Daddy calls you a washed-up housewife!"

Ruth had looked contemptuous when saying that, and it reminded me of Jordan. After years of marriage, I'd started noticing the same look in his eyes when he looked at me.

But when we were dating, no matter what I did, he'd never once lost his patience. In the early days of our marriage, when I'd been covered in discharge after giving birth, he'd never scorned me.

Now that we had everything we wanted, he'd become disdainful of me because I'd been so busy with work that I'd neglected my appearance and figure after giving birth.

I'd been stunned. The amusement park was one of the places Jordan had loved taking me on dates. Now, he'd switched to taking Vivian there.

I pursed my lips as I watched the cheery trio walk into the living room. Suppressing my disappointment, I turned to put the breakfast dishes I'd just washed into the cupboard.

"Mommy, I'm not doing my homework this afternoon. Vivian said she's taking me out for some fun," Ruth said from the door with her hands on her hips.

I glanced at her. In the past, I would've told her off for saying something like that. I would've said that she had to finish whatever tasks she had on hand before she could have fun.

Now, however, it all seemed pointless to me.

So, I made a soft sound of acknowledgment and brushed past her, grabbing my bag so I could head to the lab.

Unexpectedly, she ran to Jordan and threw herself into his arms, looking aggrieved at my dismissive attitude. She said, "Daddy, Mommy was mean to me."

He took off his suit jacket and bent down to pick her up. I saw the toned muscles of his arms ripple as he held her tight.

He'd witnessed the whole exchange, yet he still approached me, his face cold and his tone severe. "Why are you so fierce with Ruth when she's still so young, Dawn? She's just skipping out on some homework, isn't she? Why are you throwing a tantrum at her?"

I looked up at him, suddenly finding him to be more like a stranger. This was our seventh year together, and he was no longer the cheerful young man I remembered.

Ruth wrapped her arms around Jordan's neck, smugly making a face at me when she heard him berate me.

In the past, I would've refuted Jordan and argued with him on the importance of Ruth's education. This time, however, I was calm. I merely turned to leave, knowing there was no point in arguing with people like them.

Behind me, Vivian spoke to Jordan. "Is Dawn mad, Jordan? It must be because of me. I'll quit if she doesn't like me."

He said, "Ignore her. All she does is put on a long face every day. Who does she think she's putting on a show for?"