Chapter 2
Most of the clothes and shoes at home would get replaced every few years. As long as they were wearable, which was good enough for me.
Whenever I managed to squeeze in time to pick up Clara, I barely paid any attention to how I looked.
Not to mention putting on makeup or getting all dressed up.
I remembered one time, I stayed in the research institute for a whole month for an experiment.
When it worked, I was so joyful that I burst into tears.
Because I spent a lot of time, the institute told me to take a week off and rest.
After I got home, cleaned up, and went to the kindergarten to pick up Clara, she cried and asked me not to come here next time.
I finally knew what happened after talking to her.
When she was playing with the other kids, some of them made fun of her, saying I was a country bumpkin.
Clara didn't like the way I dressed, nor did she like my job.
She wanted Zoe as her mother. Young, beautiful, and she could show off to her friends.
Thus, Clara and I drifted further and further apart.
Silas and I also began to quarrel.
After he liked Zoe, he barely spent any time on me anymore.
The love of the past disappeared like shattered illusions. Silas grew irritated and disgusted with me when I was falling apart.
After countless arguments, everything between us was completely worn away.
Back then, I always endured for Clara's sake.
But now, I suddenly felt that maybe I was not even close to as important as I thought.
Without me, Zoe could also take good care of them.
When I got home, I took out the research deal from the cabinet.
My supervisor, Hugh Dawson, handed me a classified file about a secret research project last week.
I needed to go to work on a project for the government facility for ten years.
At that moment, I hesitated.
Because if I agreed, I would be absent from Clara's important moments in her life.
But I didn't expect that she didn't care about me at all.
Thinking of this, I signed the research deal and called Hugh.
I said, "Hugh, it's Iris Reed. I want to join the secret research project."
Hugh heard it and asked with surprise, "Iris, didn't you say your daughter was still young, and you don't want to leave her?"
It was clear how hesitant I'd been back then. And Hugh knew how much my family meant to me.
As long as I had a little free time, I'd rush home.
He hadn't expected me to agree suddenly.
I replied calmly, "Don't worry, Hugh. I've thought it through, and my husband and daughter are also very supportive of me. Compared to my own family, the nation comes first. This is what I should do."
My words were extremely calm, and Hugh immediately agreed with a smile.
After hanging up, I took some changes of clothes and went to the lab.
This time, taking time off to participate in Clara's parent-child activities had already delayed progress.
And now, this hard-won time had been wasted.
I was gone for a few days.
It wasn't until just before Clara's birthday that I finally finished those intense experiments, bought a gift and a cake to return home.
Just as I opened the door, I saw Zoe and Silas throwing a birthday party for Clara.
Clara had a birthday hat on, and some colorful candles were on the cake.
Zoe and Silas were singing the birthday song. The whole cheerful scene froze the moment I opened the door.
Silas frowned in an instant.
He said coldly, "I thought you had forgotten about this family."
I managed a weak smile and said nothing. I just placed the gift in front of Clara.
It was the doll figurine she'd been dreaming about for ages. Now it was discontinued, and I went through a lot of trouble to get it for her.
I said softly, "Happy birthday, baby."
But instead of the excitement I was hoping for, Clara just glanced at it and said, annoyed, "I'm not a little kid anymore. I don't want a doll like this.
"And Zoe got me some kid-friendly makeup. I prefer her gifts."
After saying that, she smiled and got into Zoe's arms.
The three of them didn't glance at me.
Although I'd already decided to leave, in that moment, it felt like my heart was being ripped apart.
I carried Clara for ten months, but she didn't care about me at all anymore.
I was really sad.
All I could do was wait for the secret project to start. At that time, maybe I'd finally be free from all this pain.
But soon, I angered Clara again.
The reason was simple. After she ignored her sensitive stomach and ate too many spicy dishes, I couldn't help but remind her.
I said, "Clara, don't eat a lot. Your stomach will be hurt again."
That was all I spoke.
Clara actually knocked all the food onto the floor.
She yelled at me, "Stop talking! Why can't you be more like Zoe? She's so gentle to me, but you? You only know how to teach me. I've had enough of you!
"No wonder my dad doesn't like you anymore. Who would like a woman like you?"