Chapter 4

Maybe my distracted attitude had made Charles suspicious. He stopped beside me. "Don't be mad at him. Jason will be fine once he grows up."

I nodded. "You can handle whatever concerns Jason however you see fit."

I didn't feel like talking anymore.

However, Charles suddenly got all stubborn. "Our anniversary is during Jason's summer break. We can all go to Velmora. You've always wanted to go, haven't you?"

I felt impatient. "We'll see. I barely remember."

Charles was about to say something else when Jason yelled from inside, "Dad, hurry up. Ms. Carter sent a video. Let's go, or we'll be late."

Charles glanced back at me. His expression was complicated, but in the end, he took Jason's hand and got into the black Mercedes.

The car rolled away, and only then did I finally breathe a sigh of relief.

I had been focused on studying all this time, but I had also seen some of the videos and photos stored on my phone and computer.

There were clips from when I first met Charles, from our wedding, and from after Jason was born.

Watching them felt like watching someone else's life, and yet it was mine. I saw fourteen years of my own life that I could no longer remember.

Who knew? Charles smiled sometimes, and Jason was downright adorable as a kid.

It looked like the things I'd forgotten were the reason I couldn't focus on my studies.

I believed that sometime during those fourteen years I had fallen in love, gotten married, and had a child, but now, none of it remained.

I was about to leave this place for good.

I patted my last suitcase and handed it over to the delivery guy.

*****

On the day of the competition, I woke up unusually early. I showered, got dressed, and went downstairs for breakfast, only to find Charles and Jason already sitting at the table.

Suddenly, I lost my appetite.

The housekeeper gave me a warm smile. "Mrs. Ford, what would you like for breakfast? I can make it for you right now."

I was the one who hired the housekeeper and paid her, so of course, she treated me well.

The other two were a whole different story.

Today was an important day for me, and I didn't want to waste time arguing with them. I grabbed a piece of bread from the table and headed for the door.

However, before I could reach the door, Jason ran over and blocked my way. "Are you trying to mess with Ms. Carter again?"

I froze.

He said, "Ms. Carter got a warning from the school. It was you who reported her, wasn't it? I knew it. You were shameless enough to ask Dad for money. There's nothing you wouldn't do.

"You're coming to school with me today to explain everything."

Jason grabbed my arm and started dragging me back.

The competition started at eight-thirty. I checked my watch. It was already seven. If I left now, I'd have enough time to get there.

I shoved Jason away. "What's wrong with you? I haven't even seen you two these past few days. Other than going out to buy things, I haven't left this house.

"I don't have time to mess with your dear Ms. Carter."

Jason was only a kid, so when I pushed him, he lost his balance and fell straight to the floor.

Charles ran over and picked Jason up. "Mia, he's your son."

I let out a laugh. "Does he see me as his mom?"

Charles was at a loss for words. "If you weren't always so unreasonable, maybe Jason would treat you with respect. Whatever. Go to school and set the record straight for Evelyn.

"You shouldn't have gone around saying things about her anyway."

I was stunned. "Neither you nor Jason is thinking straight. Did you not hear me? I didn't do it. I didn't report her. Whatever happened to Ms. Carter has nothing to do with me. How is that so hard to understand?"

"Mia, how long are you going to keep lying?" For the first time, the look in Charles's eyes made my heart ache. "How did you become like this after all these years of marriage?"

I might not remember those years, but I suddenly understood one thing.

Just like Jason never saw me as his mother, Charles never saw me as his wife. He didn't have to say it out loud. He'd already decided I was guilty.

Thinking about that, I tightened my grip on my handbag. "Fine, I'll go with you. But before we do, I need you to sign this."

I was planning to give it to him after the competition, but there was no point waiting anymore.

Charles sneered. "What now, another transfer agreement? Is money all you care about? I'm asking you to explain the mess you caused, and now you want something in return, huh? The house? The car?"

I slapped the divorce agreement down on the table. "Sign this, and I'll go to school with you right now."

Charles shot me a skeptical look. "Are you sure?"

"I'm sure." I nodded firmly.

Charles didn't bother reading the agreement. He signed his name. "Whatever it is, take it. I've had enough of this. Once this mess is over, we're getting divorced."

I quietly closed the agreement and smiled.

No need. We were already divorced.

And I'd already bought a flight to Ashford that night. As soon as the competition was over, I would fly straight there.

Goodbye, Charles.