Chapter 12

Amelia's breath caught, and tears welled up in her eyes. She rose at once and gave Alfred a deep, earnest bow.

"I'm sorry. This time, I won't let you down."

Alfred's car was already waiting to take him back to the institute.

Jasper drove Amelia back. While she had been talking with Alfred, he had taken Evelyn out and spoiled her with snacks, stationery, and toys—two full bags dangling from his hands.

Evelyn was all smiles, giggling so hard that her little dimples showed.

"You bought her this much?" Amelia asked, rather exasperated.

Jasper arched a brow at her. "They're for the kid. Don't tell me you're thinking of paying me back."

He smirked. "No need for money. Just work hard for me in the future, and we'll call it even."

Amelia couldn't help but laugh. "So you had an ulterior motive, after all."

Then, Jasper's tone shifted. "Do you really plan to keep living in a hotel with your daughter?"

"I've already started looking for a place," Amelia said. She wanted something close to Evelyn's kindergarten.

"Send me your requirements. I'll keep an eye out, too," he offered.

She didn't bother to refuse. "Thanks, Jasper. But nothing too expensive. I can't afford it."

With no steady income, she couldn't take on a pricey rental. However, staying in a hotel with Evelyn was growing increasingly inconvenient by the day.

-

After returning, Amelia opened her laptop and began preparing for the ISSDC competition.

Technology had advanced so quickly. It had been years since she had done any real hands-on work, which meant she needed to prepare even more carefully this time.

The moment Amelia powered on her laptop, a new email popped up in the corner of the screen.

She clicked it open.

It was an official invitation to compete in the ISSDC.

For a second, she just stared, stunned. She hadn't expected it to come so quickly. She stared at the invitation on the screen, lost in thought.

Suddenly, it felt as if she had been pulled back to that first time she entered the ISSDC. Memories came rushing in, sharp and vivid, as they flashed through her mind.

Maybe fate had taken pity on her and given her a second chance.

This time, she would hold on tight to every opportunity.

With steady hands and sharpened focus, Amelia began laying the groundwork for her return, pouring her full attention into preparing for the competition.

-

Meanwhile, Nathan had come home from the defense expo in high spirits. However, the excitement faded the moment he realized his mother still hadn't returned.

He felt a little disappointed.

It meant there would be no late-night snack cooked by Amelia tonight. He hadn't had it in days, and he missed the taste more than he wanted to admit.

Anna tried, but her cooking never had that same warmth or flavor.

Also, it had been days since he had fallen asleep with Amelia nearby. In fact, it had been days since she had been home at all.

He couldn't believe Amelia really didn't want him anymore. She had always loved him the most.

"Daddy." Nathan clutched his toy robot and stood at the doorway of the study, eyes pleading as he looked at Christopher. "Where did Mommy go? When is she coming back? I miss her...."

Christopher was at his desk, scrolling through files on his computer. At his son's words, he finally glanced up. "You can call her and ask."

Nathan thought about it and nodded. That was true.

He turned quickly and went to dial Amelia's number.

-

It was around eleven at night, and Amelia was fully absorbed in preparing for the competition. Just then, the shrill ring of her phone cut through her focus.

Without checking the caller ID, she picked it up.

Nathan's voice came through the line. "Mommy, when are you coming home? I miss you."

When Amelia heard Nathan's voice, she paused and frowned. She wasn't completely heartless when it came to him. After all, she had raised him as her own for five long years.

But Nathan had chosen his birth mother, so Amelia had let go of him.

Now he was the one calling, and she couldn't help thinking how strange it was. He had been the one insisting he wanted a new mommy. Yet here he was, saying he missed her.

Amelia drew in a long breath, steadying herself. Her tone came out calm and firm.

"I'm not your mommy anymore. Don't call me that again."

On the other end, Nathan hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "Mommy, you're just mad at me because I spend time with Ms. Nikki, right? You're jealous, that's all?"

He refused to believe that she truly didn't want him. After all, Amelia had always loved him unconditionally. She had loved him more than Evelyn.

There was no point trying to reason with a child, and Amelia was too busy to waste time.

"If that's all, I'm going to hang—"

The line went dead before she could finish.

Nathan had already hung up on her.

Amelia stared at the phone in silence, then set it aside without a second thought. She bent back over her work and continued running orbital tests.

Meanwhile, Nathan lowered the phone, his face twisting with disdain.

Hah!

Amelia had been the one who made the mistake, storming out and leaving home. And now, she expected him to apologize first? Not a chance!

He stomped across the carpet toward the stairs, on his way to bed, just as Christopher was coming down.

Seeing his son, Christopher reached out and ruffled Nathan's hair. "What did Mommy say to you?"

Nathan replied quickly, "Nothing. But I can tell, Mommy definitely wants to come back. She's just too proud to admit it. She wants me to beg her. I won't do it!"

Christopher studied him for a moment, his gaze thoughtful. "Is that so?"

"Of course. Mommy loves me so much. Do you really think she'd ever leave me for real?"

Christopher nodded slowly. "No. She wouldn't. She just said those things in anger."

Reassured by his father's words, Nathan clung even tighter to his belief. His mother wasn't gone for good. She was only upset. In a few days, she'd be back.

And when she returned, she'd cook for him again.

-

The next morning, Amelia rose early. After dropping Evelyn off at school, she headed straight home to keep preparing for the competition.

That afternoon, just as Amelia was getting ready to pick up Evelyn from school, her phone rang.

It was Christopher.

She hadn't blocked his number yet. They weren't divorced, and she needed him to at least be able to reach her about the paperwork. The moment she answered, his cold voice cut through the receiver.

"Anna's off today. I don't have time, so go pick up Nate from school."

It wasn't a request. It was an order.

That was always Christopher's way with her, speaking as if he were giving instructions to the help.

Amelia sneered. "I'm busy. Tell Nicole to go."

Christopher frowned. "You're Nate's legal guardian. Don't forget to pick him up."

Before she could respond, the line went dead.

-

Amelia arrived at the kindergarten a little later than usual.

Evelyn had been waiting patiently. The moment she spotted Amelia, she lit up, running straight into her arms with a bright smile. "Mommy!"

"Mommy, what took you so long?" Nathan's face was full of disdain as he climbed into the back seat without so much as a hello. "Daddy said you'd be the one picking me up. I had to wait forever. Ms. Nikki is always the one waiting for me when she comes. And you came in this junky car? The other kids are going to laugh at me!"

He kept going, bossy and demanding.

"Hurry up and drive me to the racetrack! If we miss Ms. Nikki's race because of you, I'll never forgive you. I promised I'd be there to cheer for her."

"Nate, you can't talk to Mommy like that." Evelyn frowned, scolding him. "You're being rude."

"She's the one who made us late!" he snapped back impatiently. "Mommy, stop wasting time and go already! I'm going to be late at this rate!"

Amelia looked at Nathan and calmly said, "Nathan, I never agreed to pick you up. Get out of my car."