Through the whole night, Jaxon and Millicent didn't return.

Beatrice kept her eyes open until dawn and still didn't hear their voices.

Early the following morning, while Beatrice was arranging clothes, she noticed the family photo album, and her sorting motions paused.

She turned through it page after page with care, worried about ruining the pictures.

Each of these pictures was like the first half of her life.

When they were attending university, she and Jaxon held hands, smiling happily toward the camera.

When they graduated from university, Jaxon, in a bachelor’s gown, held her close, the smile on his face as if he was hugging the entire world.

At the wedding ceremony, Jaxon, a grown man, even cried in front of many family members and friends because he was marrying her.

When Millicent was born, Jaxon held Beatrice’s hand and said affectionately, “Wife, we will never have another child. I cannot bear to let you be so tired.”

As Beatrice watched, the edges of her eyes slowly grew wet. The kindness from the past was still clear in front of her, making the ugliness of the present feel even more shocking.

The farther she turned in the album, the less often she appeared; the protagonist in the photos slowly became Sienna.

When Jaxon’s business plan succeeded, Sienna stood beside him, closely holding onto him under the guise of brotherly closeness.

At that time, Beatrice objected to how close they were. Jaxon tapped the tip of her nose and said fondly, “Jealous? I just enjoy watching the way you look when you get jealous.”

Beatrice acted upset. Jaxon gently rubbed against her neck. “Beatrice, don’t worry. In my eyes, Sienna is only like a man. I would never possibly like her.”

When Millicent had her birthday, Sienna stood between Jaxon and Millicent. They laughed happily, as if she were Millicent’s real mother.

At that moment, Beatrice kept complaining to Jaxon that Sienna was too involved in their life, but Jaxon slowly grew annoyed. “Sienna is my brother. How many times do you want me to repeat it!?”

Later, Beatrice completely vanished from the album. The woman in the album turned into Sienna, Jaxon’s “brother”, Millicent’s godmother.

Beatrice weakly shut the album, unable to keep looking. She was afraid the hurt in her heart would rip her apart.

Jaxon came back at this time. Surrounded by the sweet heavy smell of women’s perfume, he walked toward Beatrice holding roses.

“Wife, flowers for you.”

Beatrice moved away from Jaxon’s hug. He believed the scent of roses could hide the perfume smell on his body.

But he didn't know that just the night before, Beatrice had smelled that strong rose-style perfume on Sienna.

How could the natural smell of roses hide the specially mixed perfume scent?

Besides, she had never liked roses and was even allergic to roses.

“Why are you suddenly giving me flowers?” Beatrice frowned and didn’t accept the bouquet.

Jaxon said gently, “I saw the flowers looked nice, so I brought them to you. Why are there so many questions?”

The hope that had just appeared in Beatrice instantly turned into dust.

Jaxon didn't remember her birthday; giving flowers was only his way to hide the smell.

“You know, I have always disliked roses, only lilies,” Beatrice said quietly.

“Then, should we go buy lilies together? I was thinking you could sometimes change your preference,” Jaxon said casually.

“Do you want me to change my preference, or do you yourself want to change your preference? Or is it that you want to change people?”

Jaxon froze and suddenly said in anger, “If you don’t like it, then forget it. Is there any need to be this serious?”

Jaxon threw the flowers aside carelessly and walked into the room without turning back.

Beatrice’s phone got a text message. It was birthday wishes sent to her from the mobile official site and the bank.

Besides that, her message inbox was totally empty. Nobody remembered her or cared for her.

She bitterly lifted the corner of her lips, but tears fell one after another onto the phone, wetting the screen.

The phone ringtone suddenly sounded, and Beatrice jerked awake in surprise.

It was Millicent’s teacher calling. As soon as the call connected, the person on the other end anxiously shouted, “Millicent already has a fever of 39 degrees. Why are you still sending her to school?”

Beatrice’s tears suddenly stopped. With no chance to sort her feelings, she answered the teacher in a hoarse voice. “I’ll come right now.”

After ending the call, she rushed into the room and nervously told Jaxon, “Millicent has a very high fever! I am going to school now. Can you drive me there?”

Resting on the bed, Jaxon casually waved his hand. “Just call a taxi yourself. It is such a minor issue, don't disturb me.”

Before Beatrice could respond, he rolled over and kept sleeping with his back facing her.

No one knew until what time he and Sienna had been wild last night, for him to fall asleep in the middle of the day, and even stay uncaring after hearing his daughter was ill.

Beatrice didn't know how to drive. When they had just married, she truly wanted to learn to drive and had already enrolled in the driving school.

Back then, the moment she came home, she happily told Jaxon about it, but Jaxon said, “Why learn to drive? Isn't it me to be at home? You are my princess; I will be your personal driver.”

Beatrice was held back and persuaded by Jaxon so she would not learn how to drive. In the end, she stopped learning to drive and didn't even get the lesson fee returned.

At first, Jaxon was very willing to pick Beatrice up and dropped off. Every day, he drove her to and from work, drawing jealous looks from people around them.

But after she became pregnant, Jaxon slowly showed up less. He often said his job kept him busy and told her to ride a taxi home on her own.

Beatrice felt sorry that Jaxon was struggling by himself. He had only recently opened his own law firm. To save money, she didn't even want to take a taxi and squeezed onto the subway every day with her large belly.

However, the constant heavy workload and the tiring commute left Beatrice worn out in both body and mind, and she began to show signs of threatened miscarriage.

After Jaxon found out, his eyes turned red as he hit his own head. “This is all because I cannot make enough money, making you go through this, and I almost made us lose the baby.”

Beatrice’s heart ached, and she held Jaxon’s hand. “I was careless while pushing onto the subway. Next time I will definitely, definitely pay attention. Don’t blame yourself.”

Jaxon lifted his head and looked at her with shining eyes. “Wife, stop working, okay? For our child, just stay home and rest during this period. Compared with money, our child matters more, right?”

Beatrice had always believed women should be independent to control their own lives, but for the child, she hesitated. In the end, under Jaxon’s hopeful look, she gave a stiff nod. From that moment, she stepped back little by little and became a housewife, never going out to work again.

And Jaxon, in the life afterward, time after time only showed her his back. She had already lost track of how many times she had seen it, just like the scene today.

But now time was tight, and Beatrice simply had no chance to think further. She could only hurry downstairs to flag a taxi.

It was the morning rush hour now, and heavy rain was falling, making it hard to catch a taxi.

By the time Beatrice reached the school, she was already wet all over. Her down coat had flattened, tightly sticking to her body. Her body would not stop shaking. The pain in her lower body grew even clearer, faintly leaking thin lines of blood.

But she truly could not focus on herself. Leaning forward and barely bearing the discomfort, she anxiously looked for Millicent’s figure.

Seeing her condition, the teacher was shocked. “How did you end up like this? Did you come by yourself? Where is the child’s father?”

Beatrice had no time to reply and only anxiously asked, “Where is Millicent?”

The teacher pointed toward one corner of the classroom. Millicent’s cheeks were bright red, resting weakly on the desk.

Beatrice painfully picked up Millicent and hurried straight to the hospital. Along the way, she carefully shielded Millicent, not letting her catch even one drop of rain, while her own hair was already wet.

The doctor addressed Beatrice with blame. “Why do you only take the child to the hospital after the fever lasts this long? With a fever like this, she already had it yesterday. Now it becomes very risky!”

Beatrice looked in pain at Millicent in her arms, wishing she could bear the illness instead of her.

After they went into the ward, she herself already felt very cold and kept coughing and sneezing, yet she still remained beside Millicent without moving a single step, from time to time placing her hand on the girl’s forehead to check if the fever had dropped.

After one bottle of IV drip was finally finished, Millicent slowly came awake.

Beatrice’s eyes brightened with happiness. After Millicent woke up, she looked around the room once. The first words she said after seeing her were, “Looking at you is really never anything nice!”

Beatrice felt her joy vanish like cold water had been thrown over it, and her eyes slowly grew dim.

Millicent spoke in an unhappy tone and snapped at Beatrice. “I was completely fine at school. Why is it that the moment I see you, I am in the hospital?

“You had a high fever. The teacher called me. I was the one who just took you to the hospital.” Beatrice lowered her head and spoke wearily.

Millicent pouted. “Isn’t it still your fault. In such cold weather, you didn't let me wear more. You made me get sick. I don't like you, you bad mom.”

Millicent was wearing a thick down coat. Beatrice, afraid she would feel cold, had even bought the extreme-cold series; from inside to outside everything was good quality and good fabric, but she was only worried that Millicent would feel uncomfortable, would not feel warm.

And she herself was only wearing a poor, thin down coat, and when cold, she only depended on shaking.

Hurt feelings spread through her heart, but she knew Millicent was still a child; how could she argue with her own child?

She softly sighed, lowered her voice, and tucked in Millicent’s blanket corner. “You take your injection properly. The doctor has already treated you well. We can leave the hospital very soon.”

“Stop pretending here. It’s all your fault! All your fault! Why are you not the one who is ill! Why does my sickness not spread to you? Better if you fall sick and die, and don't come bother me anymore!”

These words felt like magic, making Beatrice freeze in place. Millicent still didn't know, right, she was already ill, so ill that she was almost dying.

Even now, Beatrice could feel her lower body still slowly leaking thin lines of blood, wave after wave taking away her energy and strength.

At that moment, the doctor pushed the ward door open and looked at Millicent with blame as he said, “How do you speak to your mother like this?! You didn't become ill from wearing too few clothes. You clearly ate something unclean, and your stomach and intestines caught a cold.”

Millicent seemed to remember something. Her face suddenly became red. She pressed her mouth shut and didn't look at Beatrice, awkwardly allowing the doctor to check her.

“Your mom got herself wet just to take you to the hospital. Look at you, do you have even one drop of rain on your body? Kid, you need to be a little more understanding.”

After the examination was finished, the doctor spoke to Beatrice, “Your daughter is much better. After several more days of IV drip, she will be fully okay. You should also quickly go change your clothes.”

Beatrice gratefully bent toward the doctor in thanks and walked him out of the ward door. When she turned around, Millicent was staring at her with an angry look.

“You’re satisfied now, letting other people lecture me, you think you stand on the right side? Hmm, you think I will thank you? Keep dreaming!” Millicent said through clenched teeth.

So this was how she saw her. In her eyes, everything Beatrice gave had a reason, not love from the heart. But she didn't know what mother didn't truly love her own child?

“Millicent, I don't need your thanks. As long as you are okay, however, I am fine.” Beatrice paused and showed a bitter smile. “Even if I get sick instead of you, that is fine.”

“In the days ahead, you must look after yourself well. When the weather is cold, don't eat chilled food, and also eat outside less. Your intestines are weak; don't damage your body.” Beatrice spoke with concern, wishing she could empty every word in one breath to Millicent. “When it is cold, put on clothes; when it is hot, remove clothes. During weather changes, it is easiest to become sick, and also…”

“Alright, alright, are you irritating or not? You are talking so much just to go around and blame Aunt Sienna, blaming her for taking me out for ice cream. I am the one who wanted to eat it. Is that any of your concern! How can your thinking be so nasty?” Millicent covered her ears, her eyes looking at Beatrice with dislike.

The words Beatrice still meant to speak stopped all at once. Her lips were still parted, yet her throat felt tightly held, unable to make a single sound.

“Millicent?” a woman’s voice called from the back.

Millicent’s eyes immediately shone. “Godmother!”

Millicent jumped off the bed, roughly shoved away Beatrice, who tried to catch her, and hurried toward the door.

Beatrice slowly turned her stiff body and saw Millicent, dressed in only one thin layer, holding Sienna tightly, as though Sienna was her whole world.