Chapter 4

When Elara heard the child she raised herself say such vicious things about her, it felt as though a dagger had been plunged into her heart. The pain was unbearable.

Her eyes were rimmed with red, and her voice trembled when she spoke, “Fine, go to Aunt Cyrene. She’ll love you more than I do!”

“Elara!” Orion was incensed by how Elara was acting. “How could you be saying such things when Emilia was nearly killed by you? Did you know how much she had to suffer during her asthma attack?”

Then, he turned to the butler who was standing by the door. “Get me some cotton wool!”

By the time Elara realized what Orion was trying to do, she had already been pinned to the ground by several guards.

“Stuff this cotton wool into her mouth. Let her have a taste of what it’s like to suffocate.”

“Orion… Ack!”

She was held firmly by the shoulders as handfuls of cotton wool were forcibly stuffed into her mouth. Each strand of fiber felt like tiny needles piercing her trachea.

She felt as if something was burning from the bottom of her chest. The pain was so severe that she doubled over and started to retch, producing terrible sounds while drool and snot spilled out of her.

While she squirmed on the ground, she was looking up at Orion and Cliff.

Cliff cried out angrily, “Daddy, more! We have to teach her a lesson!”

Meanwhile, Orion stood by and watched as if none of her pain was of any concern to him at all.

When Elara gasped for breath, she dropped to the ground and lost consciousness.

...

When she opened her eyes again, Cyrene was sitting by her bedside.

The moment she woke up, Cyrene expressed apologetically, “Elara, it was all my fault for buying Emilia so many plushies. The hospital report came back and revealed that her asthma attack was triggered by them. I’ve already apologized to Orion. Would you forgive me?”

Elara wanted to speak, but no sound escaped her lips.

That was when Cliff rushed into the room.

“Aunt Cyrene, it wasn’t your fault. It’s all Mommy’s fault for not telling you!” Cliff took Cyrene’s hand and dragged her away. “Come on, let’s go, don’t keep Daddy waiting.”

Cyrene got up, but not before casting another look at Elara who was lying on the bed.

“I was so frightened by what happened to Emilia that Orion decided to buy me a necklace so I wouldn’t keep feeling guilty about it. Do you want one? I can get one for you too.”

A wave of bitterness washed over Elara. She silently turned away without acknowledging Cyrene.

Just because she neglected to wash the children’s blankets for a few days, Orion inflicted such a terrible punishment on her.

Meanwhile, Cyrene, who was responsible for Emilia’s asthma attack, was somehow deserving of a gift.

Upon noting Elara’s silence, Cyrene said nothing more and left with Cliff.

When Elara looked at the empty room, she could no longer contain her emotions. She gripped the sheets tightly as tears streamed down her cheeks.

It was as if she was crying for all the grievances she had to suffer over two lifetimes.

...

Elara ended up staying in bed for the next three days.

On the fourth day, she received a call from the visa center informing her that her visa had been approved.

There were only ten days left until the divorce waiting period.

She decided she did not want to spend a single day longer than she needed in this place. With that in mind, she booked a flight to leave the country precisely ten days later.

When Orion stepped into the room with the children, he happened to glance at her phone and noticed the itinerary screen.

He frowned and asked, “Where are you going?”

“Nowhere, I was just browsing.”

Orion did not think much of it and stated icily, “What happened with the blanket was a misunderstanding on my part. Still, you have done a poor job as a mother because you could’ve said something about the plushies in her room.”

Elara was completely baffled by the ridiculousness of his comment.

She blurted out, “Did you forget you’re her father? Aren't you neglecting your duties too?”

Orion became defensive. “Unlike you, I have to work! Besides, your only responsibility is to take care of the children.”

Then, he glanced at his watch. “I’m taking them to the amusement park later. You’ll come along to make it up to the children.”

Elara was about to refuse when Cliff grabbed her hand. "Mommy, I don't blame you anymore, please come with us!"

Emilia pleaded as well, “Mommy, I want you to come with us!”

When Elara saw the earnest look they held in their eyes, she felt a pang of pain shoot through her. She did not have the heart to refuse them.

She was going to leave them soon anyway.

This was probably the last time she would take them to the amusement park in the capacity of their “mother.”