Ashley leaned against the leather seat while the car drove at a steady speed. Her train of thought was on Scottie.
At this point in her life, it was embarrassing to say, but she had never taken her son to kindergarten. Thinking about it, the remorse she was feeling continued to pile up. Indeed, loving Jaxon Elijah was poison.
She could not imagine her beloved son growing up without having both of his parents’ attention just because his daddy was always busy and his mommy was always chasing his father.
A pathetic smile was reflected on the window’s reflection.
“Miss, we’re here.” Ashley only pulled herself out of her thoughts when the chauffeur reminded her.
“Wait here.”
With that, Ashley pushed open the door and got out of the car. When she left the villa, she had put on a long jacket over her skirt. However, it was still a little chilly on the evening of spring. She could not help but roll down her sleeves.
The Woodhill Kindergarten was the most prestigious kindergarten in the city. The children who attended this kindergarten were either rich or noble. She seemed to have arrived a little late, and there were only a few people left in front of the kindergarten.
Realizing that school was over, Ashley felt a little regretful. She turned around and was about to go back. However, just as she turned around, she seemed to have sensed something and turned back to take a look. She saw a pair of clear green eyes staring at her through the window of the kindergarten guard’s office.
Just one look at her son, this was all it took for Ashley to lose her composure. A lone tear fell from her right eye. It fell so fast that it seemed like an imagination to those who caught a glimpse of it.
“Scottie,” whispered Ashley.
‘You are alive.’ She thought. Emotions ran rampant in her as she fought the urge to bawl her eyes out in front of her son’s kindergarten.
The last thing she wanted was to be called a weirdo by her son.
With that thought in mind, Ashley smiled and walked toward the child. Swallowing the clog in her throat, Ashley clenched and unclenched her fists under her coat’s pockets to relieve the coldness and sweat of her palms.
She pushed open the door to the guardhouse and saw the child’s face.
“Scottie, Mommy’s here to pick you up.” In a sweet voice, Ashley opened her arms. “ Come home with Mommy.”
Crouching down, Ashley looked at the adorable and chubby little dumpling. She recalled the child’s nickname and spoke gently.
However, the little dumpling appeared to be slightly resistant. He glanced at her with teary eyes and lowered his head in hesitation and sorrow.
“Little kid, is she really your mother?”
At first, the guard thought that the overly beautiful girl looked a little like the little kid, but seeing the child’s resistance, he began to suspect that the woman was here to kidnap and sell the child. His hand quietly reached for the pager.
Hearing the guard’s words, the little dumpling lifted his head and glanced once more at Ashley. In her eyes, he could see warmth and gentleness that he had never seen before.
In the past, his mother would never look at him this way. She would only tell him that she had to go after his father and she promised to be with him with his father. She was never able to do it, so she was never able to spend time with him. Whenever Scottie would try to go to his mother, he could only see the sad look of her mother as she shut herself in her villa.
But now, she looked so warm, and Scottie could not help but want to get closer to her.
“Scottie, come back with Mommy, alright?” Looking at the little dumpling’s pitiful gaze, Ashley’s heart ached with tender affection. She couldn’t help but reach out and stroke his soft hair.
The moment Ashley’s hand made contact with her son’s hair, her hand almost shook as she released a shaky breath. Blinking away the tears, she maintained her sweet smile.
The little dumpling was stunned when he was suddenly touched on the head. His already large eyes grew even larger.
Was this the feeling of having a mother?
Scottie nodded.
The little dumpling had never experienced what it was like to have a mother. He was so envious of his friends in kindergarten who had parents coming to pick them up every day. Even if his mother was just acting on a whim right now, it didn’t matter. He still wanted to feel like he had a mother – even for once.
Upon hearing the little dumpling’s affirmative reply, the security guard was finally willing to let him go. Ashley held the little dumpling’s hand and walked toward their car.
This was the first time in her two lifetimes that she held her son’s life at this age. This was also the first time in her two lives that Ashley took her from kindergarten.
The chauffeur sat in the car and watched as Ashley held the little boss’s hand and walked towards him. They were surprisingly harmonious.
‘Miss Ashley was so busy chasing master and never spent any time for her son. Has the sun risen from the west today?’ The chauffeur could not help but ask himself.
However, the Boss disliked the so-called Madam very much and did not allow the little boss to get close to her.
‘Does the Boss know about this? What is Miss Ashley trying to do?’
Reminded of Master’s ruthless means, the chauffeur could not help but shiver.
“Let’s go home.” Ashley brought Scottie into the car. The chauffeur was still in a daze.
“Yes, Miss.”
On the other hand, someone had already received the information about this little happening.
“Boss, the kindergarten said that little boss was taken away by Miss Ashley. We checked the surveillance cameras and it was indeed Miss Ashley.”
This piece of news received from the earphone stopped the man from looking at the document. A trace of disgust flashed across his eyes.
“Bring my son back to the manor.”
“Yes, Boss.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the luxurious office fell silent once again. The cold environment did not fit in with the bustling world outside the window.
By the time Ashley returned to the villa with her little dumpling, the sky had already darkened and filled with stars.
The little dumpling had been wrapped in Ashley’s arms ever since they had boarded the car. He was a bundle of softness with a hint of innocence. Because he had never come into contact with Ashley in such a manner before, he appeared to be rather restrained.
“Let’s go inside for dinner, Scottie.”
Ashley carried the little dumpling out of the car and held his hand.
“Okay.” Upon hearing Ashley call his nickname, the little dumpling’s chubby cheeks flushed red. It was the first time his mother had carried him like this.
Thinking of what his mother usually did in the past, tears of grievance welled up in his eyes. He secretly turned his head to look at Ashley.
How nice would it be if his mother had always been so gentle to him?
Sensing her son’s gaze, Ashley turned her head and saw the adorable child pouting and looking at her with tears in his eyes. Her heart softened.
Crouching down to meet his height, she touched the child’s head and looked straight into his big eyes. Somehow, she knew what her son was thinking through those green eyes of his.
“Scottie, what happened in the past was Mommy’s mistake. Mommy will treat you very well in the future.”
Hearing Ashley’s words, the little dumpling’s eyes widened. His mother said that she would treat him well. Was this true?
He had been pushed away again and again whenever he tried to get closer to her initially. He had already made up his mind to ignore this bad mother of his, but he still needed her. He yearned for her love.
Seeing the gentle smile on Ashley’s face and feeling the warmth of her hand on his head, he finally broke into a smile and pounced into Ashley’s embrace.
When the bundle of joy pounced into her arms, Ashley’s heart trembled. Biting back the sob that was threatening to escape from her, she tightened her embraced around her son’s small shoulder. The image of his cold corpse could never be erased in her mind no matter how much she tried.
Upon hearing the sound of the car, Nanny Doris came out to welcome them. She was already shocked that Ashley would be back for dinner, but what was even more shocking was when she saw the mother and son hugging each other happily.
Didn’t Miss Ashley see her son as a hindrance to her conquest of conquering the Boss? What was going on?
However, after her long experience of serving the family, she naturally knew what to do and what not to do. She controlled the expression on her face and walked towards Ashley.
“Miss, Little Boss, the food is ready. Please enjoy your dinner.”
Ashley let go of Scottie, but he seemed a little reluctant. His mother’s embrace was too warm for him to let go. He looked at Nanny Doris resentfully before taking large strides to keep up with Ashley.
Nanny Doris stood rooted to the ground. How did she offend the Little Boss?
When they entered the house, the servants had already set up the dishes. Steam curled up under the light and a fragrant smell wafted into Ashley’s nostrils.
“We didn’t know that Miss and Little Boss would come back together, so we only had time to make some home-cooked dishes. We will make the food again.”
Although Ashley had been staying here for three years after her marriage, she had always treated this place as a place to sleep. She would go out and spy on her husband, making sure that her paranoia about his cheating scandal was not real.
Ashley could only shake her head at her past self’s foolishness.
She glanced at the dishes on the table. It was more than enough for the mother and son.
“No need, we’ll just eat this. Nanny Doris, take Scottie to wash his hands.”
The servants, who thought they would be scolded by Ashley, were all surprised.
Wasn’t Miss Ashley too easygoing today? What was going on?
“Mommy, I’m done washing my hands.”Upon hearing the little dumpling’s voice and seeing the careful look in his eyes, Ashley smiled gently and pacified him. “Then come and eat with me, Scottie.”“Okay!” Scottie was overjoyed. His fair little hand carefully grabbed Ashley’s hand and sat beside her.“Have some meat and some vegetables.”Ashley could not remember when was the last time she had served a meal to her son’s plate. For her, she was truly an undeserving mother to Scottie. That was why, she would devote her life today avoiding her past mistakes.Scottie buried his head in his bowl, his chubby cheeks bulging like a little hamster as he ate the food Ashley had given him.Under the light, Ashley, who was helping herself with the food, looked exceedingly gentle and quiet. She had an aura that made people calm down. If not for her appearance, everyone would have thought that she was somebody else.Looking at the harmonious atmosphere between the two of them, the servants felt emotio
Soon after they settled down to rest, the night turned into its peaceful slumber. The moonlight shone on the mother and son who were sleeping in each other’s arms, enshrouding the pair in a layer of bright radiance.The next morning, before Ashley woke up, she felt a ball of warmth in her arms. When she opened her eyes, she saw Scottie staring at her with his big eyes that reflected her figure. His long eyelashes fluttered.Having been attacked by his cuteness so early in the morning, a wide smile appeared on Ashley’s face. “What’s wrong? Why are you awake so early?”“So what happened yesterday wasn’t a dream. Mommy, will you be like yesterday in the future?” Scottie clung tightly to Ashley’s shoulders as if wanting to confirm that everything was real.Seeing the combination of trepidation and yearning on Scottie’s face, Ashley’s heart tightened. This reminded her of how poorly she treated her son.Clearing her throat to clear the clog in it, she said. “Of course, Scottie. I’ll be lik
The man standing at the door was dressed in an exquisite suit that perfectly accentuated his figure. He had a face that looked like it had been sculpted, with eyebrows that were straight and his nose bridge high. There was a deep look in his eyes and he exuded the aura of someone who had a high status.Jaxon Elijah was the most outstanding person in power in the Elijah family in recent years. Young and promising, he was known for being decisive in his actions. Because his parents had passed away in a plane accident when he was young, he had been living with his grandfather, who was the previous head of the Elijah family.Years ago, the Old CEO had stepped down and handed over the huge conglomerate to Jaxon Elijah. Jaxon Elijah had lived up to expectations and successfully brought the Elijah family to its most prominent period. Although the Elijah family had always kept a low profile, no one dared to offend the Elijah family, especially families with power and wealth.Logically speakin
The next day, Ashley brought Scottie out for breakfast before taking him to school. As she watched him get into the school bus, she was reluctant to part with him.Last night, she had agreed to divorce Jaxon in three months. The Elijah family would definitely not give her custody of the child. However, she was the child’s mother. As long as Scottie wanted to see her or be with her, Jaxon could do nothing.She took out her phone and saw the messages from Bright Red+. She had not been out for the past two days and her friends had sent her a lot of messages.Ashley searched for ‘Heynes’ in the search bar at the top. As expected, the face of an elite young man who was dressed in professional attire appeared.Ashley had a special status, so it was unavoidable that she needed to contact the Elijah family. However, Jaxon had no interest in dealing with her, so Harold Heynes was mainly responsible for contacting Ashley.Ashley opened up the chat and typed something.Special Assistant Harold H
With a pile of snacks, she returned to the villa. The moment Nanny Doris saw the things in her hand, her expression twisted once again. It was unacceptable that Ashley was carrying all of this junk food. Ashley had eaten her fill in the afternoon, so she placed the snacks on the table and went upstairs to take a shower and a nap. The villa was located in the suburbs of the city. It would take one to three hours to get there. By the time Jaxon arrived, Ashley had already woken up from her afternoon nap. She asked Nanny Doris to heat the snacks she had brought back. Having the shake from Domin*s that she had iced in the fridge, Ashley felt so relaxed and young. She could not even remember the last time she had this leisurely time. As expected, marrying and loving Jaxon Elijah was a one-way ticket to hell. It was at this moment that an uninvited guest at the door shattered Ashley’s leisure time. The man was still wearing that well-tailored custom-made suit, which accentuated his col
Ashley was wide awake the entire time that Jaxon and her son were sitting beside her as they watched the talking pig on the television. For the first time after her two lifetimes, Ashely felt incredulous about how this was the only time that the three of them sat as a family while watching a cartoon. A daily occurrence in a normal family was something akin to impossible for a family like Ashley, Jaxon, and Scottie. And this seemingly impossible event was happening right now, making Ashley tense all of a sudden. Like Ashley’s tense form, Jaxon acted as if he was entranced with the talking pig on the screen. Unmoving, Jaxon’s back was straight as he crossed his legs and arms. Scottie was the only one acting normal between the three of them. His little chubby legs dangled the sofa as he leaned to his mother’s side and his father’s side. His cute little cheeks were like buns and his eyes were twinkling happily. The odd tranquility was shattered by the ringing tone of Jaxon’s phone. On
Staggering, Ashley barged into the hospital’s morgue.Not minding the numbing cold, with her bare feet, Ashley raced to the place she loathed the most. Never in her forty years of existence did she expect that she would be coming to this place for her beloved son.Her knees wobbled and her shaky breath stopped when she saw the only body covered in a white blanket. Blood was smeared at the other end of the mantle where a head was being covered.In a blink of an eye, Ashley hovered over the table where the corpse was laid. With trembling hands, Ashley mastered the courage to confirm her doubts.After all, she just called her son a few hours ago. He told her he was fine! Her darling child assured her, even joked at her, as he whined at her to prepare the apple pie he always loved to eat in secret – their little connection in that desolate house of glory and splendor.The moment she lifted the blanket, the disfigured face of her son welcomed Ashley.A cry escaped from her raspy throat as
The evening sun shone on the villa that was located halfway up the mountain. Through the huge French windows, the sunlight shone on the face of the woman in the house. A gentle breeze blew past, causing the wind chimes to tinkle.Seemingly disturbed by the sound of the wind chimes, the woman on the bed frowned. Her eyelashes fluttered twice before she finally opened her eyes slowly, revealing a pair of glass-like eyes. However, there was a look of confusion in her gem-like orbs.Everything felt like a dream.Her eyes gleamed and she beamed upon such thought. Maybe, just maybe, what happened in that hospital was all a dream!With this in mind, Ashley dashed to the familiar door when she glanced at the mirror she just walked past through.Seemingly frozen, she looked at the mirror once more and gasped. The person in the mirror looked very disheveled… and young! Her hair was a mess and her makeup was smudged. The bright red lips were a huge shock to Ashley.“What… in the world is happen