After waiting a long time, I finally called Aiden’s number.

I wanted to remind him that my father-in-law would join the shareholders’ meeting the next day and to ask him to dress the right way.

I also wanted to remind him that the nights were getting colder and to make sure Isaiah didn’t get sick.

But the call was cut off after only two rings.

“Hello, the number you dialed is temporarily unavailable.” The cold voice startled me.

I called again.

It rang for a few seconds, but still no answer.

I called a third time, but there wasn’t even a waiting ring.

“Hello, the number you dialed is currently unavailable.”

I suddenly smiled.

But the smile didn’t reach my eyes.

I had thought that before leaving, I could at least say goodbye with some pride.

After seven years of marriage, I had tried my best to keep this marriage, this home.

Now, it was time to let go.

That night, Aiden and Isaiah never came back.

The next morning, I was woken by loud knocking at the door.

I thought Aiden had forgotten his keys.

But standing outside was my father-in-law, Rocco Turner.

“What time is it? You look like you just got up.”

His tone was unhappy as he walked into the house.

“Where’s Aiden? Didn’t I tell him ahead of time that he had to attend today’s meeting? I couldn’t reach him on the phone either. What happened?”

Rocco’s voice was loud and clear, his criticism ringing in the living room.

I pushed my messy hair aside; my throat felt tight and my voice was a bit rough.

“Aiden isn’t home.”

“Where did he run off to again? Where’s Isaiah?”

He looked at me, his brows pulling in even tighter.

“Shouldn’t you be taking the kids to kindergarten at this time?”

His look was filled with dislike.

Back then, when Aiden and I got married, it was Rocco who agreed.

What he cared about was always the face of the Turner Family. As for me, in his eyes, I was only someone who barely fit that name.

I had always known how Rocco looked at me.

I still spoke, trying to explain, “Aiden and Isaiah went to the hospital last night…”

Before I could finish, Rocco coldly asked, “Are they feeling sick? Why aren’t you at the hospital with them? What are you doing at home?”

My throat tightened, dry to the point of pain and my head pounded; I must have had a fever.

But right now, I couldn’t worry about any of that.

“No,” I said softly, “Aiden’s friend got burned last night and he took Isaiah to the hospital. He didn’t come back all night.”

Rocco’s look eased a little after hearing that.

“Which hospital? Take me there.”

I didn’t really know which one it was, but I had a rough idea.

There was a hospital close to our neighborhood where Aiden had a good friend, Kylee Johnson, who worked.

I went with Rocco to Kylee’s office. When we knocked and stepped in, we saw Isaiah fast asleep on a small bed, only a thin jacket loosely covering him.

Kylee’s look turned dark the moment she saw me.

But as soon as she saw Rocco, her face quickly brightened with a smile.

“Rocco, what brings you here?”

“Where’s Aiden?” Rocco asked, frowning, his tone cold.

“He’s in the room with a friend. I’ll take you over.”

As she walked past me, Kylee shot me a hard look, her eyes full of blame, as if I was the one who brought Rocco.

But I had no time to care about her mood.

Right then, my chest was in a mess.

I wanted to take Isaiah home, wash him, change his clothes and make him a hot breakfast.

But the lack of trust, even fear, in his eyes last night was still clearly stuck in my mind.

Never mind.

Even if I tried my hardest, my child might not want it.

I lowered my eyes, moved my sight away from Isaiah and walked out with Rocco.

Aiden had arranged a fancy hospital room for Aurelia.

Aurelia lay on the bed and Aiden slept beside her.

He only woke up in a dazed state when Rocco walked over, rubbing his eyes.

“Dad? Why are you here?”

“Do you know what day it is today?” Rocco’s voice turned hard. “Did you completely forget what I told you before?”

He started yelling at Aiden without giving him a chance to answer.

“Uncle Rocco, Aiden was just doing this to look after me…” Aurelia spoke softly, trying to calm things down.

Rocco shot her a cold look. “Be quiet.”

“Dad, why are you yelling at her?” Aiden stood in front of her right away. “This has nothing to do with her. I was the one who said we should come here. If Lyra hadn’t thrown hot water at her and burned her, would I have stayed up all night?”

The moment he finished, everyone’s eyes landed on me.

I shook my head, my voice light. “I didn’t do it.”

Aiden smirked, his tone sounding rude. “Still trying to deny it. I don’t care enough to argue with you.”

Rocco kept one hand behind his back and pointed at Aiden with the other, continuing to blame him for a while.

Only after Aiden lowered his head to apologize and kept saying it wouldn't happen again did Rocco turn around and leave.

Aiden and I walked him down together, watching the car drive off.

Then only the two of us were left.

Aiden yawned, looking worn out.

I had barely gotten any sleep last night and now I felt drained and tired, wanting nothing more than to go back and rest.

But before I could finish letting out my frustration, he stopped walking and stood in front of me, his tone cold.

“Congrats, you’ve gotten your plan to scheme again.”

“You hurt Aurelia and got me harshly yelled at by my father, Lyra. Are you feeling proud now?”

He stared straight at me, his look clearly warning me.

“I might overlook it this time, but there will not be another time. If I find out you’re plotting again, you’re leaving.”

He said this while wearing only a short-sleeved cardigan.

On his thin, pale wrist, he still wore the watch I had given him many years ago.

That watch was the only thing my father, whom I had never met, had left for me.

I had always kept it close as a sign of our love and also as a wedding gift, giving it to Aiden with a serious heart.

A thought crossed my mind. I didn’t answer his blame, but calmly asked, “Can you give me back this watch?”

Aiden froze for a moment, a quick mix of surprise and awkwardness passing over his face before anger rushed in.

“What? Is this cheap watch yours?”

His tone held clear anger, then he laughed coldly.

“You should’ve said it sooner! If I’d known it was from you, I would never have worn it.”

While saying this, he reached for the clasp.

I knew he honestly didn’t remember where the watch came from.

Aiden owned far too many watches; he even had a whole room just for storing them and the straps. This watch had been left in a drawer, collecting dust for a long time. Today, he likely just grabbed it because the style went with what he was wearing.

Since I had chosen to cut ties, I wanted it clean.

I wanted what belonged to me.

Whether it was a relationship or an item.

To him, it wasn’t worth anything and he had never cared about it.

But for me, it held deep meaning.

Aiden tried to undo the clasp, but it was too tight. His movements grew rougher, his patience thinning and he still couldn’t get it open no matter what he did.

His face slowly darkened.

Just as I was about to speak, he fully lost patience and pulled hard.

The watch strap came apart.

He tossed the broken watch onto the ground without care, his tone harsh.

“Here you go. What a useless thing and you even came all the way just to ask me for it.”

“How much money has the Turner Family given you all these years? Have I ever bothered to ask?”

He looked annoyed, even saying that much, threw out one more impatient line, then turned and walked away.

I bent down and picked up the watch. The once shiny surface was now covered in dirt and dust. But at least the thing I treasured was finally back in my hands. That was enough.

Aiden turned and went back into the hospital to stay with Aurelia.

I went home alone, getting ready to pack my things. I hadn’t been home long when my phone rang.

It was the kindergarten teacher calling. I watched the screen light up, then go dark, then light up again.

The phone rang again and again until it finally stopped. I let out a slow breath.

The teacher also had Aiden’s contact information. She should have reached him by then.

That was fine.

After I left, Aiden would have custody of Isaiah and he would naturally handle everything related to the child, including her school and her daily care.

Whether I stayed in that home or not no longer mattered.

Before I even packed a few things, there was a sound at the door.

Aiden had come back.

He was helping the mobility-impaired Aurelia, with Isaiah following behind, who was still not going to kindergarten.

“I’m sorry for troubling you again.” Aurelia sat on the sofa without any unease, a polite, soft smile on her face.

Aiden didn’t seem bothered at all, his tone full of bias. “You don’t need to say that to her. She was the one who messed up and caused your serious wounds. It’s normal for you to come here and get better.”

“Besides, Isaiah is really happy to have you here, right, Isaiah?”

Isaiah smiled shyly, walked to Aurelia’s side and held one of her hands with both of her small hands.

“Aunt Aurelia, I hope you can stay with me all the time.”

Aurelia looked at me for a brief moment, not answering right away.

Aiden’s face instantly grew dark, as if the anger he had stored up at the hospital that morning still hadn’t faded.

“Why are you looking at her? This is my home, the house is under my name, it has nothing to do with her.”

His tone became more and more annoyed.

“It’s so late, you didn’t even remember to send Isaiah to kindergarten, the place wasn’t cleaned and breakfast wasn’t made. You’re not even as good as a nanny.”

“What am I letting you stay here for? To spend real money on you?”

He said these things with no control.

But when he turned toward Aurelia, his tone softened, as if he were another person.

Isaiah couldn’t help but complain, “Mom, we’re having a paper-cutting activity today. You didn’t bring me to kindergarten, so I can’t cut paper with the other kids. It’s all your fault.”

“You can’t say that, she’s your mother.”

It was Aurelia who spoke up for me.

But I felt no thanks at all.

She quickly smiled at Isaiah and said, “Do you want to do paper-cutting? I can’t move on my own right now, so I’ll teach you. Whatever you want to cut, I can show you. I’ll cut better than the other kids.”

Aiden watched them talk, his face full of smiles.

Then he turned to me and said, “What are you still standing there for? Go make food. I haven’t eaten anything since morning, I’m starving.”

After saying that, he walked into the master bedroom to wash and change.