Chapter 2 The One Theo Likes Is the One Mom Likes
Edmund’s brows furrowed as he swiftly said, “I’ll be right there.”
Without a second glance at Vivienne, he strode out of the house. She watched his retreating figure. Her face was devoid of expression. She had lost count of how many times he had received these emergency calls from Lillian Lennox in the dead of night, only to leave her behind.
At dawn the next morning, Vivienne dragged a packed suitcase behind her, ready to leave.
As she passed by Theo’s room, she hesitated for a brief moment. She gave it some thought and decided to see how he was doing one last time before heading out. She had unexpectedly gone into premature labor when she gave birth to Theo. For that reason, he had always been frail and sickly as a child. She had personally taken care of everything about him, never delegating his care to anyone else. Theo bore a striking resemblance to Edmund, even inheriting his aloof temperament.
It was the weekend, so he wasn’t at school. He was sitting at his desk, working on his homework. When she entered the room, he greeted her routinely, “Good morning, Mom,” before lowering his head and continuing to write. Vivienne looked at his profile, which mirrored Edmund’s so much that it hurt. “Theo, I’m leaving. Take care of yourself.”
Theo didn’t even lift his head. “Oh.”
Ever since Lillian reappeared, Theo had grown distant from her. She had once come across a video Lillian posted on social media. In the video, Theo was eating cotton candy while mumbling happily.
“I love spending time with Lillian. She lets me eat all sorts of yummy food!”
Lillian’s voice chimed in playfully, “Theo, doesn’t your mom treat you well?”
“Mommy just keeps nagging all the time. I can’t do this. I can’t eat that.”
“So, who do you think is better? Me or your mommy?”
“Of course it’s you! If Mommy was even half as charming as you, I’d be so happy!”
Vivienne had always known, compared to a strict mother, that an indulgent, doting Lillian who let him do whatever he wanted was far more appealing. She made sure he went to bed on time for his health. She prohibited junk food to protect his delicate digestion.
Under her care, Theo had gradually recovered and no longer fell ill so easily. But the closer he got to optimal health, the further he drifted from her. Just as she was about to walk out of the room, Theo suddenly called out to her.
“Mom.” Vivienne turned back to look at him.
Theo said, “Mom, you once told me that the people I like are also the people you like. I really like Lillian. That means you like her too, right?”
Vivienne froze for a moment. The last fragile thread holding her together snapped completely.
She closed her eyes and let out a silent, bitter smile.
“Didn’t you always want to protect your Lillian? From now on, you can do that with your dad.”
Theo blinked, a trace of confusion flickering in his eyes, not fully understanding what she meant. Vivienne didn’t explain further. She simply turned and left the villa.
Serena Whitmore’s car was already waiting at the entrance. After helping load the suitcase into the trunk, Serena looked at her.
“Vivi, are you really going through with the divorce?”
Vivienne nodded lightly. “Yeah. I’ve decided.”
“And… what about Theo?”
“Even if I fought for custody, I wouldn’t win against the Harrington family. Besides…”
Vivienne let out a faintly bitter smile. “Theo probably wouldn’t want to come with me anyway. To him, Lillian is the best now.”
Serena frowned in disapproval. “You nearly lost your life while birthing him! You went through an excruciating day and night of labor, and you’ve been raising him all these years. How could he prefer the woman who ruined his parents’ marriage?”
Vivienne responded flatly, “This just proves that they’re truly father and son. Even their taste in women is the same.”
“And Edmund? Does he know you’re leaving?”
Vivienne shook her head. “He’s probably still with his first love right now.”
Before getting married, Vivienne had owned a small apartment of her own, though it had been empty for years. After spending some time cleaning it, Serena suggested an outing.
“Vivi, ever since you had Theo, we haven’t gone shopping together. Let’s go out and have some fun?”
She was right. Since becoming a mother, Vivienne’s life had revolved around her child and home. She had completely lost herself, her identity, her time, and her freedom.
Looking into Serena’s bright, lively eyes, Vivienne was suddenly reminded of her younger self, so full of energy and enthusiasm. Five years of marriage had aged her, transforming her into a lifeless shell. Her eyes stung slightly.
“Okay.”
Just then, Serena’s phone rang. Serena’s brows furrowed slightly while listening to the person on the other end.
After a while, Serena said, “Alright, we’ll head over now.”
Hanging up, she turned to Vivienne.
“Vivi, someone wants to buy the violin Midnight Star, the one you authorized to be displayed at Lennox Music Hall. The manager said the buyer is someone important, and he didn’t dare refuse… Since you’re free today, why don’t we go check it out?”
Midnight Star… I hadn’t played in five years.
Since Vivienne dedicated herself to raising Theo, all matters concerning the Midnight Star were handed over to Serena. Hearing about it now felt almost surreal.
The moment they stepped into the music hall, Vivienne’s footsteps halted. A tall, elegant man and a delicate, soft-spoken woman stood before a display case containing a not-for-sale violin.
The woman’s gentle voice echoed in the room. “The legendary Midnight Star— it really is beautiful.”
“Eddy, didn’t you always love hearing me play the violin? I want to hold a concert in my final days. I’d love to perform with Midnight Star. What do you think?”
The man’s low, cool voice responded almost instantly. “Alright.”
The manager hovered nervously behind them, repeatedly wiping the sweat off his forehead. When he spotted Vivienne and Serena walking in, his eyes lit up as if he had just found his saviors.
“Ms. Serena, you’re finally here! Mr. Harrington wants to purchase Midnight Star. You can name any price; what do you think?”
