Chapter 3

When the song ended, everyone stood up and clapped for me. The general even came up on stage to shake my hand.

I bowed humbly, expressing my gratitude with genuine warmth and vitality.

It was as if he'd never met me before, as if I were a stranger to him.

After the curtain call, I overheard some young female soldiers whispering in the audience.

"Ms. Summers was incredible on the piano, and she and Mr. Carter worked together so well."

"I heard they used to be classmates and even toured together. They really make a great team."

With a gentle smile, I kept my eyes lowered, never once glancing at the figure in uniform seated in the very front row.

Richard sat there the entire time, his face composed, but his gaze was always fixed between James and me.

After the performance, Richard did something rare. He came backstage. His voice gave nothing away. "I didn't expect you to play the piano so well."

I was in front of the mirror, removing my makeup without missing a beat. "Mr. Shaw, there's a lot more you'd be surprised about."

He was silent for a moment before saying, "Ethan came today. He's outside."

"Well." I closed my makeup case. "He's not really into these kinds of events. Just let him head home early."

"Don't you want to hear what he thought of your performance?"

I looked up and met his gaze, calm and unflinching.

Back then, Ethan never liked listening to me play the piano. He'd always complain, "I don't want to do this boring stuff with you. I want to learn shooting with Olivia. You're such a mean woman."

Even the only piano I still had was just a "boring, old-fashioned thing" in his eyes.

Looking at the father and son's matching faces, I felt nothing at all.

"It doesn't really matter," I said quietly.

With that, I left through the side door with James, never once looking back.

As soon as I left the military base, I called the family court to ask when I could finally get the decree of dissolution.

The staff member told me, "You'll have to wait seven days."

I said, "Seven more days? No big deal. I've survived five years already. Seven days is nothing."

But just as I was starting to settle down, I got a call from one of his subordinates. "Mrs. Shaw, Ms. Lane was wondering if you could share your recipe for that oatmeal that's gentle on the stomach.

"She said Mr. Shaw's been having stomach pains lately and really wants some.

"And Ethan's teacher said they haven't been able to reach you. If he skips class again, the tutoring center won't let him in anymore. Do you want to come over and deal with it?"

I remembered how Richard used to be so busy with work that his stomach would always give him trouble.

My special oatmeal for his stomach was the only thing that could get him to stop working and actually sit down for a proper meal.

It was also one of the rare chances I had to visit him at the base.

Because of that, Olivia kept her guard up around me. She'd ask for the recipe more than once, insisting that she'd be the one making the oatmeal for him.

I could see right through her. She was like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, lashing out with everything she had.

But all she ever got from Richard was an offhand comment.

He said, "Your hands aren't meant for making oatmeal. Let her take care of it."

In Richard's eyes, all the things I tried so hard to hold onto were just a joke.

I looked up at the clouds drifting freely across the sky and said calmly, "I'll send you the recipe for the oatmeal tonight.

"If Ethan doesn't want to go to the tutoring center, just withdraw him. He never liked it anyway.

"And I won't be involved in anything about them anymore. Don't come to me again."

With that, I blocked his subordinate's number, too.

Over the weekend, I had to return to the Shaw Residence to retrieve some old sheet music.

When I walked in, Ethan was sprawled on the couch playing video games. The moment he heard me and looked up, his face instantly tightened up.

"Why are you here again?" he grumbled, clearly annoyed. "Are you gonna lecture me about gaming? Olivia never gives me a hard time about it."

Without pausing as I changed my shoes, I replied in a calm voice, "I'm just here to pick something up. I'll leave as soon as I get it."

He looked like he'd just punched a pillow, frustrated and even more annoyed. "Just don't come here anymore. I don't want to see you.

"All you ever do is try to control me. Olivia lets me fly the simulator. Can you even do that?"

I walked to the piano room door, then turned to face him. "You're right. I really don't know how.

"So," I said as I pushed open the door, "just like you wanted, I won't bother you anymore.

"Once your dad marries Olivia, you'll get to see her all the time."