Chapter 25
Wanda did not say a word. She raised her eyes and looked at Eric quietly. In just a year she last laid her eyes on him, he seemed to age a
lot.
He was gaunt, his thin skin clinging tightly to his bones. Frosted streaks lined his temples and his lips were pale, almost devoid of color.
Yet, she did not take the bouquet of champagne roses he offered. She remembered vividly that he had once given her the bouquet of red roses that Christina did not want after he presented to Christina.
“I don’t miss you,” she finally said, her tone calm but firm. “In fact, I regret I
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regret for not leaving you sooner.
“Even if I agreed to reconcile,” she
continued. “Your infidelity would remain like a rusty nail embedded in my heart. So, every time you leave my sight, I wonder if you were back in some other woman’s bed.”
Excessive love led to crippling insecurity.
Wanda was determined not to let him hurt
her all over again. Then she added, “Don‘ t come back. I’ll never forgive you in this lifetime.”
Without waiting for his response or sparing a glance at his wounded expression, she walked away decisively.
Not far ahead, she saw Richard waiting for her. Richard handed Wanda a warm soy milk.
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When he saw Wanda was in a low spirit, he asked nonchalantly, “Is he still there?”
Wanda hummed in affirmation and
quickened her pace toward her store.
Richard didn’t seem bothered by her mood. He followed behind her, then turned around to give a taunting smile to the jealous Eric.
Though he never thought that man still had a few surprises in store.
Later that day, when he was waiting for Wanda to get off work, a small boy walked into the store. His appearance resembled
Wanda’s.
This was the first time Ben stepped out of the house since his mother left. Yet, he was not afraid, though. From video calls with his
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father, he had learned that his mother was on the other side of the ocean.
The moment he saw Wanda, he couldn’t hold back anymore. He ran toward her, with arms wide open, desperate for a hug.
However, Wanda raised her hand and her gesture stopped him in his tracks.
“Mommy, why won’t you hug me?” he asked in confusion.
Why wouldn’t she kiss his face and call him her baby like before?
Ben’s voice trembled as he struggled to finish his words. Tears brimmed in his eyes as he grabbed her wrist. He did not care even though Wanda looked coldly at him.
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“Why are you here?” Wanda asked. “Don’t you love Christina the most?”
“You‘ re my only mommy,” he cried, his voice breaking.
He looked at Wanda with tears in his eyes as he fished carefully into his pocket and pulled out a small object.
“This is the birthday present I promised to give you. I’ve been carrying it with me all along,” Ben told her.
It was a necklace and clearly, it was very expensive.
Wanda reached out and took it from him. Yet
under Ben’s expectant gaze, it slipped from his hand and dropped to the floor. With a sharp crack, it shattered into pieces. The
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sound was like a knife that was piercing Ben’s
heart.
Wanda pointed at the broken necklace and said coldly, “I told you before that after I left, I’m no longer your mother and I don’t want anything for you anymore.”
Eric had never thought Wanda would treat their son with such indifference. He rushed over, scooped up the sobbing boy and held him tightly. However, no matter how hard he tried to calm him, Ben wailed nonstop and, cried out, “I want Mommy!”
The other customers in the store began to glare at them. Their looks were full of irritation and disapproval.
Embarrassed, Eric hurriedly carried Ben out
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However, how could Ben be ready to leave?
He wanted his mother to hold and coax him
like she did before.
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Chapter 26
