Chapter 3

That evening, Rachel came home early for once.

Noelle was playing with her building blocks in the living room. The moment she saw Rachel walk through the door, her eyes lit up.

However, she stayed where she was, too careful to move.

Rachel glanced at her without saying a word and headed straight for the bedroom.

Noelle lowered her head and went back to stacking her blocks.

I stood in the kitchen doorway, watching them. A heavy feeling settled in my chest.

At dinner, Rachel got a phone call.

"Jeff? Okay, I'll be right there." She set down her fork and stood up.

Noelle finally could not hold it in anymore.

"Mom..."

Rachel stopped.

She turned around, her expression icy. "How many times have I told you? Don't call me Mom."

All the color drained from Noelle's face. She opened her mouth, but when she spoke, her voice was barely louder than a whisper.

"Ms. Lloyd... Are you going out?"

"Yes."

Rachel turned and walked away.

The moment the door closed behind her, tears slipped down Noelle's cheeks. She did not make a sound. She simply lowered her head and quietly wiped them away with the back of her hand.

Something inside me finally snapped. I had spent three years holding everything together, but I could not do it anymore. I walked over and crouched in front of her. "Noelle, I want to ask you something."

She looked up at me, her eyes red.

"If I took you somewhere where there was no Mommy, would you go with me?"

Noelle froze.

After a long silence, she asked in a tiny voice, "Would Mommy come looking for us?"

I was quiet for a moment.

"No."

Noelle lowered her head and thought about it for a long time. Then, she looked up, wrapped her arms around my neck, and whispered, "Daddy, wherever you go, I'll go too."

That was the moment I made my decision.

Over the next few days, I started making preparations in secret.

I quit my job as Rachel's driver, sold the car I had driven for the past three years, and arranged for a house and a school overseas.

Every day when I picked Noelle up, I asked her the same question.

"Noelle, are you really willing to leave with me?"

Every time, she nodded.

"I am."

However, every night before bed, I still saw her clutching that stuffed doll and whispering, "Goodbye, Mommy."

On the fifth night, I received a call from Rachel.

"Tomorrow's the weekend. We’ll take Noelle to the mall and buy her some clothes."

I froze.

It was the first time in three years that Rachel had ever offered to buy Noelle anything.

"Okay."

The next day, the three of us went to the mall together. Rachel walked ahead while Noelle and I followed behind.

Noelle held my hand tightly, but her eyes never left Rachel's back.

When we passed the children's clothing section, Rachel stopped and casually picked out a few outfits.

"Try these on."

Noelle looked almost overwhelmed by the rare attention. She carefully took the clothes from Rachel.

"Thank you."

Rachel frowned slightly but said nothing.

While Noelle was trying on the clothes, she peeked out from the dressing room.

"Daddy, does this outfit look good?"

I smiled and nodded.

"It looks great."

Noelle turned to Rachel.

"Ms. Lloyd, does it look good?"

Rachel was looking at her phone. She did not even raise her head.

"Mm-hmm."

The smile on Noelle's face faded a little, but she still looked happy.

At the register, the sales clerk smiled at Noelle.

"Sweetie, your mom is so nice to you."

Noelle froze. Then, she lowered her head without saying a word.

Rachel paid, not changing her expression.

As soon as we stepped out of the mall, her phone rang again.

"Jeff? Okay, I'll come over now." She hung up and looked at me. "You two can take a cab home. I have somewhere to be."

Then, she walked away without looking back.

Noelle stood there, watching Rachel disappear into the crowd.

After a long while, she looked up at me.

"Daddy, does Mommy not want us anymore?"

I crouched down and lifted her into my arms.

"It isn't that Mommy doesn't want us. Mommy just has a life of her own."

Noelle rested her head on my shoulder and said nothing. However, I felt her tears fall against my neck.