Chapter 3

I stared at the receipt from the children’s home, my fingers digging hard into my palm. I pulled out my phone and messaged my former supervisor, Monica Crossing.

"Ms. Crossing, I want to come back to work."

She replied instantly: "You’re always welcome. I’ve kept your position open."

At the same time, I paid to hire a private investigator. I sent him a photo of the receipt.

"Help me check this children’s home’s intake records from three years ago. Focus on baby girls."

Early the next morning, Dorian drove Cody back.

The moment Cody walked in, he started crying loudly. "I want my real mom. I don’t want to stay here."

I looked down at him. Around his neck was a new silver necklace, engraved with the words "Summer loves you".

Dutifully, I took Cody to the kindergarten registration desk. It was crowded. Parents lined up in a long queue.

When it was our turn, the staff checked the household registration documents and frowned.

"The mother’s information doesn’t match the birth certificate. We need both biological parents present to sign."

The parents behind us started whispering, pointing at me.

Then, the sharp sound of high heels echoed through the hall. Summer walked in, her arm looped through Dorian’s. She was wearing a red dress.

"Sorry, Miss. I’m Cody’s mother."

Cody broke free from my hand and ran straight into her arms. "Mom!"

Summer shot me a provocative glance, then took out a box of peanut butter cookies. "Cody, look what Mommy brought you. They're your favorite."

Cody cheered and reached for it.

I rushed forward and knocked the box out of his hands. "He can’t eat that. Cody has a severe peanut allergy. It could send him into shock."

The cookies were scattered across the floor.

Cody froze for a second, then burst into tears. "Bad Auntie! You’re just jealous Mommy bought me snacks! You’re poor!"

Summer hugged him tightly and looked at me. "Lennie, I know you can’t afford good snacks, but you don’t have to smash his food out of jealousy. That’s just petty."

The surrounding parents began murmuring.

"His stepmom is too cruel, even denying a child snacks."

Dorian walked over and shoved me aside. "Lenora, have you had enough? Summer bought this out of kindness. Why are you acting so crazy?"

I staggered back, biting my lip. I took out a knitted dinosaur from my bag. I had stayed up three nights making it. It was Cody’s birthday gift.

"I’m acting crazy? When Cody had an allergic reaction to peanut cookies at one year old and ended up in the ER, who stayed there for three nights?"

Cody didn’t even glance at the dinosaur. He snatched it and threw it straight into a muddy puddle, stomping on it. "I don’t want your junk. I want my real mom."

The dinosaur was ruined.

I looked at the three of them and didn’t shed a single tear. Then I turned and walked out of the kindergarten.

The moment I stepped outside, the private investigator messaged me.

"Mrs. Vantor, I found something. Three years ago, Mr. Vantor secretly sent a baby girl to Sunshine Children’s Home. There’s a public donation event there today, and he’s on the invited donor list."

My breath caught. I flagged down a taxi at the roadside.

"Sunshine Children’s Home. Hurry."