Chapter 1

On our wedding anniversary, my husband finally made his time machine work after ten years of hard work.

He was taking our son back in time to be reunited with his late first love.

Before they left, my son rolled his eyes at me. "You're just a maid. Don't get in Dad's way when he goes to see Sherry."

My husband's expression was cold. "Winona, I've already sold this house. You need to move out as soon as possible."

I sneered, "Don't regret it later."

I trailed behind them to the lab, and just as the machine activated, I reached out toward the shimmering light.

Neither of them had a clue that I'd been waiting ten whole years for this moment just to save my true husband and daughter.

*****

Charles's research had finally succeeded.

He was taking our son Nolan back in time to ten years ago.

But I only found out about it from the news on TV.

It was our tenth wedding anniversary, and I'd just finished making dinner, waiting for him to come home.

As soon as he walked in, I went up to him. "Charles, I made your favorite dishes for our tenth anniversary."

Charles let out a quiet sigh. "Winona, it's over between us. You've looked after Nolan and me for ten years, and I truly appreciate it, but I can't shake Sherry from my mind."

Behind his gold-rimmed glasses, his eyes stayed calm and distant, like he was talking about something as ordinary as the weather.

I was clutching the scalding plate, too numb to even feel the heat.

Looking at the man dressed to the nines before me, I instinctively searched for that tiny mole near his eye. "Charles, are you asking for a divorce?"

"My research worked. I'm going back to find Sherry," he said.

Only then did I realize how hot the plate was. My fingertips were red from the burn. I let go, and the plate crashed to the floor, scattering food everywhere.

I stared at him in shock, eyes wide. "Do you mean... You're going back? Back in time to ten years ago?"

Sherry was Charles's first love. She died in an accident ten years ago, and he could never forget her.

"Yeah. I'll be taking Nolan with me," he said.

The thought of reuniting with Sherry clearly lit up his eyes with anticipation.

I rushed forward, heart racing as I grabbed his arm. "What about me, Charles? What do I even mean to you? It's our tenth anniversary."

"Winona, this is the end of the road for us." With that same cold indifference, Charles pried my fingers from his arm one by one.

I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails dug deep into my palms, but I couldn't even feel the pain. "So after all this, you're both going to throw me away?"

I turned to my son and asked, "Nolan, you're also going to leave me, too?"

Nolan, the son whom I'd poured my heart into raising, rolled his eyes at me, strutted over to Charles, and shot me a look of pure disgust.

He said, "You're old and ugly, always hanging around at home like some frumpy housewife. You're nothing compared to Sherry. Don't stand in our way. Dad and I are going to see her. I want her to be my mom."

Glancing at the two of them, I felt a mix of feelings.

When Nolan was sick, I stayed up night after night watching over him with my eyes burning red from exhaustion.

Back then, he was just a chubby little kid, clutching my pinky and calling me Mom in that soft, sweet voice. He'd proudly hand me paper boats he'd folded in kindergarten.

But now that he was older, all he did was complain that I nagged too much, treat me like a nanny, and say I would never measure up to other moms.

"Face the truth, Winona. I'm not coming back. I've already signed the house over to the foundation I created for Sherry. As for you, pack up and move out as soon as possible," Charles added.

I just found it ridiculous. Even as they were walking out of my life, they wouldn't forget to give the house to Sherry's foundation.

"Fine," I said, taking a deep breath. "Hope you don't regret this."

"Regret? The only thing I'd ever regret is not being with Sherry," Charles replied slowly.

With that, Charles took Nolan and drove away.

He didn't even realize that I was tailing them in my own car.