Chapter 1

While I was selling food with my daughter, the city inspectors came to chase us away. My ex-husband stepped in to help.

He sighed, "Let's remarry. Rosa is too young to suffer like this."

I agreed without hesitation.

Afterwards, I stopped feeling jealous and throwing tantrums.

Rosa Brown no longer competed with Nova Robinson's daughter for Daddy's attention.

He stayed out all night with his childhood friend Nova and her daughter, and we didn't call or complain.

When we met them outside, my daughter and I would politely avoid them.

We became the obedient family he wanted the most.

But then his eyes reddened as he asked, "Darling, why aren't you angry? Rosa, why aren't you clinging to me anymore?"

*****

After we finished the paperwork to get remarried, we headed home.

Cooper Brown followed a step behind, while Rosa and I stood at the door.

"Why aren't you going in?" he asked.

I replied calmly, "The password's been changed."

Just then, the door swung open from the inside.

Nova Robinson, wearing an apron, teased, "What took you so long? Olivia's been asking about you several times. Oh, Ms. Parry?"

I nodded politely.

"Ms. Parry, please don't get the wrong idea. Cooper's been swamped with work lately, so I came over to make him some soup," Nova said.

"I always forget the password, so Cooper changed it to my birthday. I'll switch it back now," she added.

But she didn't actually do anything to change it back, and her eyes sparkled with pride, barely hiding how much she was showing off.

"Daddy!" A little figure darted over and hugged Cooper's legs tightly.

Nova quickly covered her mouth, looking scared, like she was worried about how I'd react.

"Olivia, didn't Mommy tell you to call him Mr. Brown?" Nova said.

Cooper looked over, clearly uncomfortable.

He seemed genuinely surprised when Rosa and I didn't react the way we used to.

Rosa's room now had a lot more stuff in it.

Nova nervously bit her lip and said, "Olivia sometimes sleeps here..."

Rosa squeezed my hand and softly whispered, "Mom, I can stay in a different room if you want."

After all this time feeling nothing, a dull ache suddenly hit my chest.

Back then, whenever Rosa saw Cooper fussing over Olivia, she'd stick out her lip and burst into tears, yelling, "Daddy belongs to me!"

And every time, Cooper would tell me I wasn't strict enough with her.

Now, she just stood there in silence, staring at her room that looked so different.

Kids pick up on everything. Rosa already understood that only the ones who get all the love can afford to be spoiled.

Cooper furrowed his brows.

Nova hurriedly said, "I'll remove all our things. Ms. Parry, please don't be upset with us."

She and Olivia huddled together, shivering, looking utterly helpless.

Back then, her insinuating remarks always pushed my buttons, and I'd end up fighting with Cooper.

But now, I just watched them with indifference and stayed silent.

Cooper suddenly spoke up, "From now on, don't just come and go from my place whenever you want. You're a single mom. People will start talking."

After they finished packing up, Olivia's voice quivered as she said, "Daddy, can you walk us out?"

Cooper hesitated, looking at me uncertainly.

I smiled and said, "Given your long history with Ms. Robinson, it's only right you walk them out."

He looked like he wanted to say something, but I turned away to boil some water before he could.

Before leaving, Cooper said hurriedly, "Let's talk when I get back, okay?"

Rosa and I didn't really relax until everyone had finally left.

Not long after, my phone pinged with a notification.

Nova said: [Sorry, Ms. Parry. Olivia's used to Cooper watching cartoons with her, so he'll be back a bit later.]

Here we go again with that familiar "sorry."

I smiled and sent back a quick reply: [Okay.]

Cooper didn't come home until the next day. I was reading Rosa a story before her afternoon nap.

I didn't question him about it.

If I threw a fit or acted jealous like before, it would only make him resent me more, and Rosa would just get dragged into it too.

After Rosa fell asleep, Cooper handed me a box.

Inside was the black diamond necklace I'd had my eye on for ages, the one someone else had won at the auction.

If this had happened before, I would've rushed over and hugged Cooper tightly, absolutely thrilled.

But now, I just felt completely calm inside.

I used to really love jewelry.

But after I moved into that rundown neighborhood, a thief yanked my necklace and sent me tumbling down the stairs. I ended up with a bloody head and a nasty cut.

That was when I realized all that flashy stuff was just for show, and it could even get me killed.

When he didn't get the excited reaction he was expecting, Cooper's expression shifted just a bit. "Let me put it on for you," he said.

I smiled and pulled away. "Thanks, but I'm not really into jewelry anymore."

Cooper stiffened a little.

I went to the kitchen to slice some fruit, and when I returned, Cooper was already gone.

That afternoon, I went out with Rosa.

Money had been tight these past couple of years, so Rosa mostly wore the landlord's daughter's old clothes.

But now, I could finally get her something new that fit her perfectly.

As we walked into the kids' clothing store, we ran into Nova and Olivia.

And Cooper was there too.

The salesperson greeted them with a big smile. "Mr. Brown, Mrs. Brown, this is a brand-new style that just arrived yesterday. It's perfect for Olivia."

Olivia shouted, "I want this!"