On the day I was packing to leave the Sterling house, Julian leaned against the doorframe. He watched me gather my things, a half-smile playing on his lips: "What?" "Realized that having a kid didn't force me to marry you?" "So now you think he's useless, and you're not even planning on taking him with you?" Before I could even open my mouth to respond. Oliver, who had been eavesdropping outside the door for a while, walked in. He carefully tipped his piggy bank, pouring all his saved coins into my hands. "Mommy, you have to take good care of yourself, okay?" "Also, can you promise me one thing? Promise me you'll absolutely never come back." "Aunt Chloe said that only if you leave completely, will she be willing to be my new mommy." 1 After Oliver finished those few sentences. He blinked his big, dark eyes at me, his anticipation practically overflowing. Julian lowered his voice, carrying a hidden warning. "Oliver Sterling." "Is this how school taught you to speak to your mother?" Oliver lowered his head, pouting. "But last time Aunt Chloe asked if Daddy liked Mommy, you said you didn't." "And I don't really like her that much either..." "So if she wants to leave, just let her leave..." I had long since stopped feeling sad over these kinds of words from him. A week ago, for his sixth birthday. He threw a tantrum, insisting on celebrating it with Julian and Chloe. I suddenly felt like I wasn't so afraid of losing them anymore. I didn't have the slightest desire to stop him. Even when I walked past that restaurant that evening. I heard him introducing Chloe to the violinist as his mother, and my heart didn't even skip a beat. 2 Because I was packing my suitcase, I was squatting down. My line of sight was perfectly level with little Oliver. I accepted his money and gave a slight nod. "Okay, I promise you." I didn't refer to myself as 'Mommy' anymore. I just said quietly: "I won't come back to this house." "And I won't be your mother anymore. Oliver, you're free." He seemed surprised that I agreed so easily. He stared at me for two seconds. Then he started laughing, "Yay!" "Aunt Chloe is going to be my mommy from now on!!" He ran out the door, yelling that he was going to call Chloe with the good news. I packed my last piece of clothing. Zipped up the suitcase and stood up. Julian had been silent this whole time. But as I passed by him, he grabbed my arm. His eyes were half-closed, his expression unreadable. "Maya, not liking doesn't mean hating." "These past few years, I've gotten used to having you around." "What exactly are you trying to prove by insisting on leaving?" By the end, his voice carried a faint trace of irritation. I wanted to say something, but felt it would be redundant and overly dramatic. So I just pulled my arm free and simply advised: "Take good care of Oliver." I dragged my suitcase out of the Sterling house. Leaving the gated community required a long walk. The weather wasn't great either. The cold wind whipped up fallen leaves from the roadside and threw them against me. It seemed very easy to end up looking pathetic. But still, I didn't look back. Not even once. 3 I had rented an apartment in advance and also found a job. Based on my previous major, I applied for a position as an art teacher at a children's art academy. My first day of work. Walking into the office, I saw several female teachers squatting in front of a little girl. "Zoey, does your uncle like desserts?" "Also, also, what type of girls does he like?" "Zoey, sweetie, is he coming to pick you up tonight?" The girl was expressionless. "Teachers, you called me over, didn't you say you had issues with my drawing style that you wanted to discuss?" The teachers looked at each other awkwardly. "Since there's no issue, I'm going back to class." The girl turned around and saw me. She gave a faint greeting, "Hello, teacher." Then she walked away without looking back. 4 The teachers were very friendly to me, the newcomer. After introducing the work process, they started chatting about the girl again. "You don't know, right? That kid's uncle is Carter Hayes." "Along with Julian Sterling, they are known as the most eligible bachelors in Seattle." "Oh wait, that's not right. I heard Julian is already back together with his first love, Chloe, who just returned from abroad." "Now there's only Carter left." Hearing Julian's name again, I was so calm it was as if I didn't know him. But Carter Hayes... I sighed silently. He was Julian's mortal enemy. He had always hated me. Every time we crossed paths, without exception, he would mock me. "You're pathetic. Photos of Julian and Chloe kissing are trending online, and you don't even dare to breathe a word." "What do you actually get by staying with Julian? A title or status?" "Maya, do you not know how to look at other men for once?" It was better to stay far away from the girl named Zoey. If Carter found out I was here, he might use his connections to get the academy to fire me. 5 Julian called me while I was squeezing onto the subway after work. "Hello?" The noisy background on my end made him pause. A few seconds later, he asked: "Where are you?" "On the subway." He let out a barely audible scoff. "Taking the subway?" "Maya, you brought this on yourself." I held onto the handrail and just asked: "Do you need something?" The sound of the man's footsteps, even distorted by the connection, remained measured and unhurried. Just like him. I could even picture him walking from his desk to the floor-to-ceiling windows. "Oliver has a fever." He said: "Give me your address, I'll go pick you up." "No need." I lowered my eyes: "The Sterlings will take good care of him." "He doesn't need me." Julian's voice deepened slightly. "Are you really planning on abandoning him?" "Maya." He sounded as if he found it absurd: "Just because he said he liked Chloe more?" Julian seemed to have never understood my feelings for Oliver. Even though I had explained it countless times. After the accident that night, I took emergency contraceptives, but he still didn't believe me. Because I had liked him for years. So he was convinced I got pregnant with Oliver on purpose to force him into marriage. In his eyes, my feelings for Oliver weren't deep. He thought I just saw him as a tool, or a bargaining chip. Which meant he didn't know that because I was terrified Oliver would grow to like Chloe more and more... I had endured countless nights of breakdowns, agonizing over every little gain and loss. The subway arrived at the transfer station. The train car instantly emptied out significantly. "It's not that, Julian." I found a seat and sat down, my aching legs finally getting some relief. I said softly: "It's because he does genuinely like Chloe more." "And I don't want to force myself anymore, racking my brain trying to please him." Julian wanted to say something else. But the next second, Oliver's voice came through the receiver, proving my point. "Daddy! My fever is gone!" "Can I go play with Aunt Chloe tomorrow?!" Julian's Adam's apple bobbed: "Maya, listen to me..." I hung up the phone. Got off at the next stop. And pushed that phone call out of my mind. 6 When Oliver heard his mother's name, he paused. He didn't keep insisting on Chloe. Instead, he tugged at Julian's pant leg and asked: "Daddy, was it Mommy calling?" Julian gave a slight nod. "Oh, did you tell Mommy I'm sick? Is she coming back to see me?" Julian met those adorable, round eyes. Eventually, he hummed an agreement. Oliver had long expected Maya would be worried about him and wouldn't be able to resist coming home. "Then I'll go put on a mask so I don't get Mommy sick." "I'll go play with Aunt Chloe later." They hadn't seen each other in a week. He didn't seem as averse to seeing his mother anymore. Julian pressed his lips tightly together, "Mommy is working overtime." "I didn't ask her to come back." Oliver still had a cooling patch on his forehead. Hearing this, he blinked. "Then, then I guess it's fine to go find Aunt Chloe first..." He didn't feel much disappointment. Anyway, Mommy would definitely come back to see him. Since he was little, whenever he was sick, Mommy was always the most anxious. He was just a little surprised. After all, in the past, even if Mommy was abroad, if she heard he was sick, she would fly back overnight. 7 I had been working for a week and basically adapted to the routine. Although Carter Hayes hadn't shown up once. Just in case, every time parents came to the academy entrance to pick up their kids, I preferred to hide in the office and grade drawings. Only once, Zoey took a day off and didn't come. I followed a colleague out to dismiss the students. Usually, I tried to treat all the students equally. But she still noticed a difference. 8 That day, Zoey was visibly feeling down. During the break, she rested her chin on her hands, staring out the window in the hallway. A few boys were chasing each other and accidentally knocked her over. They ran away without even apologizing. I immediately went over and squatted in front of her, "Are you okay, Zoey?" "Are you hurt? Let teacher take a look." The girl covered her knee, refusing to let me see, and turned her head away. "I won't trouble you." "I'll ask another teacher for a band-aid." I was stunned for a moment, then said gently: "Ms. Vance has some too." "I don't want yours." The back of her head was round, exuding a stubborn vibe. "I know you don't like me. You don't have to pretend to be nice to me." I was surprised: "Teacher doesn't dislike you at all." "You're well-behaved, polite, and very talented at drawing." "Why wouldn't teacher like you?" Zoey shot a quick glance at me. Then turned her head away again, humming softly. "That day when Ms. Lee asked you to walk me out, you heard it was me and you didn't want to." "And a few days ago, at noon, I didn't want to eat with those other teachers, so I held my bowl and sat next to you. But you finished your food in one bite and ran away." Having said that, she seemed to recall the scenes again. Her cheeks puffed out in anger as she turned back to accuse me: "No one has ever hated me this much!" "If you don't like me, I won't like you either." I felt a bit awkward... That day at noon in the cafeteria, I thought I was being very subtle. Zoey had brought her bowl and sat across from me. Without looking at me, she just muttered: "They're too loud. All they do is ask about my uncle." I had shifted my tray to give her space. But not even half a minute later, Zoey's smartwatch rang. It was Carter Hayes calling. I instinctively panicked, shoveled the rest of the food into my mouth, and practically ran. I couldn't explain this, so I just looked at her earnestly. And said, word by word: "Then teacher was wrong. From now on, I will definitely wait to eat with you, and, and I'll walk you out after class..." "But I really don't dislike Zoey." The girl turned half her face back. Her chubby profile looked a bit like a cartoon character. "Really?" Princess Zoey asked haughtily. "Really," I promised. She held out both her arms to me, keeping a straight face, and said: "Then I need a hug..." "Zoey's leg hurts." The scrape on her knee was exposed. I picked her up and went to the office first to disinfect and apply medicine. Then back to the classroom, to make the boy who knocked her down apologize. Zoey blinked at me and offered a tiny smile. It was a signal that she was willing to reconcile. 9 During the lunch break, I reviewed Zoey's file again. My eyes suddenly fixed on her birthdate. Today... was her birthday. Her unhappiness today was most likely related to this. I remembered the little bunny pattern on her pencil case, and the bunny plushie on her backpack. Rushing before school ended, I speed-crocheted a miniature lop-eared bunny doll. The dress it wore was similar to the one Zoey was wearing today. She finished the in-class assignment ten minutes earlier than the other students. I called her out and gave her the doll. "Happy birthday, Zoey." She stared blankly for two seconds. "Is this bunny for me?" I smiled, my eyes curving, and nodded. "As cute as you." "Thank you, Ms. Vance. I love it." The little girl accepted it reservedly, her expression not showing much fluctuation. "You're welcome. Go back to class." She took two steps, then turned back. "Squat down." She waved me over. I crouched down as instructed. "What's wrong? Did you have something else to tell teacher?" The next second, the girl's soft lips pressed against my cheek. "This is the first gift Zoey received today." "And my favorite." She clung to my side, her eyes shining with unconcealable delight. "Ms. Vance, do you think my uncle is handsome?" "I can give you his phone number, as a thank you for the bunny!" The warmth that had just risen in my heart instantly froze. "...No, no need." 10 After finding out Carter Hayes wasn't picking her up tonight. I promised Zoey I would walk her out. But when we reached the academy entrance and I saw the man leaning against the Maybach, I felt like I had been struck by lightning. "Uncle Carter, why did you come pick me up today?" The man's gaze slowly shifted from my face. He glanced at Zoey, "Taking you out for your birthday, you little brat." "Yay!" The girl hopped up and down. I braced myself and spoke: "Hello, Zoey's guardian, I..." "What a surprise." He interrupted me, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Julian Sterling actually let his woman come out and work." To prevent him from mentioning me if he ran into Julian next time and causing a misunderstanding. I volunteered an explanation: "I've already left the Sterling house." "My working here has nothing to do with Mr. Sterling." Carter's gaze sharpened slightly. "Because of Chloe?" "Did they bully you?" I didn't want to discuss this with Carter, so I pretended not to hear. "Mr. Hayes, if you don't have any questions regarding Zoey, I'll be heading back to the office." Zoey innocently waved her little hand. "Bye, teacher." I waved back, "Bye-bye." I turned and walked away, but I couldn't shake the feeling of an intense gaze burning into my back. 11 I got off work 20 minutes later. When I stepped out of the academy, that Maybach was still parked by the entrance. The car window rolled down. Carter had his arm resting on the steering wheel. He turned his head and said lightly: "The little girl threw a fit and insisted you celebrate her birthday with us." I looked at Zoey in the back seat. She let out a confused "Huh?" and tilted her head, asking: "Uncle Carter, didn't you say..." Carter clicked his tongue, cutting her off. "No parking allowed here." "Get in first, we'll talk later." Afraid that my hesitation would get him a parking ticket, I hurriedly got in. But it wasn't until I saw Carter's lips curving up through the rearview mirror that I realized. The car had been parked here for a long time. If he was going to get a ticket, he would have gotten one already...
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