Chapter 2

There was about a month before the divorce would be finalized. During those days, if Rowan could turn his life around, I would pretend nothing had ever happened for Ryan's sake. If not, I would use those days to do everything in my power to desensitize Ryan.

It was the 28th day, and Ryan had taken the initiative to call Ryan "Mr. Goodwin". Holding Ryan's slightly shivering frame, I couldn't find it in myself to feel happy. If anything, my heart felt as though it was being pierced by a thousand needles.

While we were crossing the street, Rowan finally snapped back to reality. He chased after us for a few steps, wanting to ask Ryan what was going on, when Megan's phone call came through again.

Her voice carried that same sweet, whiny tone as she asked, "Where are you, Rowan? Nel keeps crying and saying he wants his daddy. I can't calm him down."

Rowan stopped in his tracks. He stared at Ryan's and my retreating figures before responding, "Alright. I'll be there in a minute."

Right after saying that, he sent me a message that read, "Let's talk tonight." Without a moment's hesitation, he turned and left.

The roar of the car engine sounded behind us and gradually faded away into the distance.

Ryan came to a halt, threw himself into my arms, and soaked my clothes with his tears. "Mommy… We don't need Daddy anymore, okay?"

…

We didn't take the family portrait. I took Ryan straight back home and packed our bags.

While I was booking the plane tickets back to my hometown, Megan sent me a video. The background was another famous photo studio in the city.

Megan and Rowan were wearing matching outfits, holding a boy who was about five years old, and posing for the camera. At the end of the video, she taunted me as usual. "It's just a family portrait. Rowan and I can take one whenever we want."

In the past, I would've clapped back the very second I read Megan's taunts. But now, as I watched Ryan carefully organize his toys, I realized I just didn't care anymore.

I exited the chat and booked two plane tickets to Ivashire for the day after tomorrow. I had just completed the payment when Rowan walked through the door with a strawberry cake.

Both Ryan and I froze for a moment. Rowan used to loathe strawberry cake. Because of that, even though Ryan had inherited my crazed obsession with strawberries, he would usually choose a green tea mousse—Rowan's favorite—for his birthdays.

Why did he suddenly bring home a strawberry cake today? Ryan and I exchanged a look, unable to believe our eyes.

Rowan walked in slowly, and when he saw the open suitcases, his expression shifted slightly. "Nel wouldn't stop crying, so I stayed with him a little longer. On the way back, I remembered you both love strawberry cake, so I bought one. Why are you packing your bags? Are you going on a trip?"

I shook my head before nodding. "Something like that."

There were only two days left before the divorce would be finalized. I didn't want anything to go wrong.

For some reason, he seemed to breathe a quiet sigh of relief when he heard that.

"The photo studio called me and said you didn't show up for the shoot. I asked them to reschedule. How about tomorrow? This time, I absolutely won't break my promise again!" he promised solemnly, crouching down in front of Ryan.

Ryan froze as he put away his toys. He looked at Rowan, then at me. He seemed torn, as if he wanted to believe his father but was afraid to do so again.

Noticing Ryan's wavering heart, my own heart softened. "Alright."

This would be the last time, after all.

Ryan's eyes lit up as soon as I said that. Holding his toys, he ran into his room.

Once he left, I went back to packing our suitcases. Rowan walked up beside me and hesitated before saying, "By the way, about Ry calling me Mr. Goodwin today…"

My heart skipped a beat, and I looked up at him.

Rowan got down on one knee and set the strawberry cake down next to me. He sounded both helpless and affectionate as he continued, "I know what's going on in your head, Gigi. You think I'm treating Meg too well and neglecting you and Ry.

"But I swear, I only pity Meg. She's a single mom. I just don't want her to be too sad."