Chapter 2

Last year, I missed my son's family day due to an asthma attack. Unfortunately, his whole class mocked him for days because of it, which shattered whatever fragile bond we had.

That was why, even after hearing those heartbreaking words from him, I still got up early the next day and dressed up. I wanted to mend the relationship with my son.

However, I had just stepped out of the room into the living room to see Lorenzo excitedly running into Sofia's arms, while Raffaello smiled at them from the side, as if they were a real family.

A moment later, Raffaello noticed me. When he saw how stunned I was, he said coldly, "You always pretend to be sick. Who knows if you'll have an asthma attack again and can't make it? I don't want my son to be ostracized in school just because he doesn't have a mother, so I got Sofia to come and help."

He added, as if granting charity, "Fine. Since you want to come along, we'll go together."

Seeing how crestfallen I was, Sofia came over with Lorenzo in her arms, saying, "Grace, did my appearance upset you? Raffaello, why don't I leave? I don't want to come in between your family…"

Lorenzo was instantly displeased. He held onto her tightly as if worried she was going to run away.

Then, he turned and glared at me. "There's a talent showcase today. I signed up ages ago, and Sofia will accompany me on the piano. You can't play the piano; you're terrible at singing. If you start singing, everyone will mock me for having a monster as a mother!"

Then, Lorenzo took Sofia's hand and led her to the garage, leaving me behind.

So, this was the truth. They never planned to include me all along.

Holding back the stinging in my eyes, I quietly followed them.

For the entire day, Lorenzo stuck with Sofia, avoiding me like the plague. I had no choice but to watch them play games and go on stage together.

During the award ceremony, Raffaello passed his phone to me, saying, "The teacher wants a photo of us hanging on the school corridors. Take a few photos of us. Seems like bringing you here today wasn't completely useless after all."

The other parents, unaware of anything, looked at me and sighed in awe.

"Are you their nanny? The employers you work for have such a great relationship. Watching them play games together today, honestly–one of the most harmonious couples I've seen.

"You must be proud and happy to work for such a family. They even brought you along to family day."

I replied with an ugly smile while taking photos of them on stage. Seeing them holding the trophy together, beaming at each other, my heart quietly shattered into pieces.

Returning home that night, I was unusually quiet. I did not light the incense for them.

After their near-death experience, both of them often had nightmares and slept badly. I had gone to a priest to ask for a calming incense formula.

I lit the incense every night, which stopped them from having nightmares.

What they did not know was that one of the ingredients of the incense was the blood from the tip of the tongue of the person who loved them the most.

Every night when I lit the incense, I had to cut my tongue to get the blood out.

Even if it hurt like mad, even if I knew that this would have hurt my already damaged vocal cords even more, I still did it without any hesitation.

They had never noticed that my tongue had been covered in scars.

At night, when it was almost bedtime, Raffaello noticed that I had not moved, so he asked, feeling odd, "Are you not going to light the incense tonight?"

I nodded, but said nothing.

Lorenzo, next to us, said in disgust, "Your incense stinks like hell! I really don't know how you could have such terrible taste. You should've stopped it a long time ago."

My heart turned cold as I saw them heading to bed.

I muttered to myself, "I won't light the incense tonight. I won't do it at all, not anymore."

No one was worth taking care of in this family anymore.