After Rebirth: Ending My Cheating Husband and Unfilial Son

After my ex-husband, Erik Bates, betrayed me by cheating, I made the difficult decision to forego a significant settlement in order to fight for custody of our son, Ashton Bates. I didn't want Ashton to refer to the mistress as his mother.

I spent almost all my energy on Ashton, even working two jobs every day to pay the high tuition fees.

Being aware of the potential psychological trauma that children may experience due to their parents' divorce, I made a concerted effort to compensate for it by providing double the love, care, and support to my child.

However, after Ashton was admitted to a prestigious university, he began attributing all of his misfortunes to me. He even went so far as to change his surname back to Erik's.

Later, I saw the wedding invitation posted by Ashton on social media.

In a photo, he was captured embracing the niece of Erik's mistress, wearing a tender smile. The caption beneath the image read, "Fate has brought us together."

Standing alongside her was Erik, my ex-husband, and his mistress, Kayla Moore. Both of them wore radiant smiles.

To my utter heartbreak, Ashton sold all my property for the wedding with Kayla's niece. As a result, I couldn't gather enough funds for my father's surgery, leading to his death.

As I opened my eyes, I was back to when Ashton was six years old.

——

As I opened my eyes once more, I found myself standing in the police department.

Next to me, I heard the voice of my mother-in-law, Lamia, complaining, "I repeatedly told you not to leave Ashton to me. I go hiking every day, and I'm very busy.

"You are Ashton's mom, so of course, you should take good care of him.

"I worked so hard to raise Erik. Do I have to take care of your son for you?"

In my previous life, I would lower my head and silently endure Lamia's scolding without uttering a single word.

Due to Erik and I being occupied with work and lacking the time to care for Ashton, we had no choice but to rely on his grandmother, Lamia, to look after him.

As Ashton was already attending preschool at that time, I didn't need to worry too much. To ensure Lamia had everything she needed, I diligently prepared a variety of vegetables, meat, and fruits in the refrigerator. Additionally, I stocked the cupboard with snacks for her convenience.

Lamia's only responsibility was to pick up Ashton from home and drop him off at school.

I even gave her a considerable amount of pocket money every month.

However, she still left Ashton alone at home. It became apparent that her own grandson was not even as important to her as the new man she had met during her hiking.

Finally, when she left Ashton unattended to hang out again, Ashton was lost.

Lamia didn't return until late at night when I finished work. As I arrived home, I discovered that Ashton was nowhere to be found. Frantically, I rushed to the park and saw Lamia leaning affectionately against an old man, with his hand wrapped around her waist.

For four hours, from four in the afternoon until eight in the evening, Lamia didn't notice that Ashton was missing.

Suppressing my anger, I searched the park but to no avail. With no other options left, I went to the police department to report Ashton's disappearance.

While chatting with her friend on her phone, Lamia was berating me, criticizing me about how incompetent I was as a mother.

I remained silent, absorbing the whispers of those around me and inwardly berating myself for not spending enough time with Ashton and failing to fulfill my duties as a mother.

Fortunately, a kind-hearted person later sent Ashton to the police department. I learned that Ashton had seen a woman in the park whose silhouette resembled mine from behind. Believing it was me, he chased after her for a long time, eventually losing his way. Thankfully, a kind person found him and took him to the police department.

His clothes were torn from the wrestling, and his knees were bleeding. When he threw himself into my arms with tears on his face, I felt my heart break.

No mother in the world could bear to see her child go through such suffering. I might have been unable to see him again.

That night, Erik and I lay in bed for a long time, unable to sleep.

After a long while, he hugged me from behind and said carefully, "My mother is really not suitable for taking care of children. Ashton is still so young, and he needs someone who can properly take care of him.

"My superior has been appreciating my efforts recently, and I will probably be promoted soon. Would you be willing to stay at home and take care of Ashton?

"I can't bear to see you suffer."

I gave up the opportunity for promotion, willingly transferring from the design department to the more relaxed logistics department to spend more time with Ashton.

After Ashton went to junior high school, I quit my job and devoted myself to taking care of him at home.

I didn't ask Ashton to be grateful for my sacrifice, and I just wanted him to grow up happily.

Later, I used evidence of Erik's infidelity as a threat and forced him to give up custody of Ashton. I was afraid Erik would neglect Ashton after remarrying. I could not bear the thought of Ashton growing up under the influence of someone who had betrayed our family, and I wouldn't allow Ashton to refer to the mistress as his mother.

Sadly, the child whom I raised with almost all my efforts stole all the surgery money I raised from selling the house and vanished after my father fell ill and was hospitalized.

Later, I saw the wedding video posted by one of Ashton's friends on social media.

Ashton changed back to Erik's surname and used all of my property for an extravagant wedding. He married the niece of the mistress in a grand ceremony.

Erik and Kayla, the mistress, sat at the center, wearing gentle expressions on their faces. Ashton held Erik's hand as if they were a real family.

On that winter day, as Ashton kissed his bride, my father passed away suddenly because I could not afford the hospital bills.

I ran to their house and wanted to confront Ashton about why he treated me like this. However, he grabbed me by the collar and kicked me out.

He harshly retorted, "I will always be my father's son. If you hadn't insisted on supporting me, how could I have endured such poverty throughout high school and college? How could I have been looked down upon by others?

"It is your laziness that has destroyed this family. I am a man as well, and from my father's perspective, I don't wish to be tied to a parasite like you who remains idle at home all day.

"Consider this money as compensation for the years of mental loss I have endured. You should be grateful that I have found a good stepmother and a loving wife."