Chapter 2
My parents and Thomas instantly breathed a sigh of relief, then went to see the guests off.
Christina said she needed some fresh air. The atmosphere suddenly grew quiet.
Thomas said, “Oscar and Layla are napping in the lounge.”
As soon as the door opened, a breeze swept in and I sneezed, somewhat startled.
“You used real flowers?”
The entire banquet hall was decorated like a dreamy sea of flowers, and they were all real.
Thomas didn’t realize anything was wrong and answered with a gentle smile, “Yes, Christina especially loves flowers,”
I sneezed several times in a row. It took him a long while to remember my pollen allergy.
“Evelyn, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.”
I shook my head lightly, but a wave of sadness washed over me.
Thomas and I had grown up together, and he knew all my preferences like the back of his hand.
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Because of my pollen allergy, he had once specifically found someone abroad to cultivate pollen–free flowers.
Before our wedding, he would have these flowers air–shipped back to decorate the venue. He said that marrying a princess home meant the wedding should be grand.
But now he was saying it was no big deal.
Perhaps artificial flowers really couldn’t compare to the beauty of real ones.
After all these years, he was no longer the person I remembered.
“Evelyn.”
A soft, delicate voice called out. I looked up to see Christina had removed her makeup.
That face of hers, which bore nine–tenths resemblance to mine, now looked only sixty percent similar.
I studied her carefully for a moment and finally confirmed that we really weren’t that alike after all.
Her voice pulled me back from my thoughts. I said coldly, “I don’t recall having a sister.”
I didn’t resent Thomas for marrying her. But even my parents…
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However, Christina wouldn’t give up. She walked over carrying a glass of water and asked cautiously, “Evelyn, do you hate me?”
I didn’t reach out to take the glass, but she insisted on handing it to me, as if I had to accept it.
Left with no choice, I extended my hand, but before I could even touch the glass, it fell to the ground, spilling water all over Christina.
She cried, saying pitifully, “I understand now. Evelyn, since you hate me so much, I should just leave.”
Thomas pulled her into his arms protectively and turned to look at me with impatience.
“Evelyn, enough! If you don’t want to drink water, then forget it! You disappeared for four years, wasn’t it because you didn’t want to take responsibility for raising the children? Now you come running back, and you still think we’ll indulge your tantrums?”
I was stunned for a moment, then felt angry.
I thought: “Disappeared? Had he forgotten that day when he promised Layla he’d attend the Father’s Day parent–child activity? He thought it was too childish, so I had to go in his place. Otherwise, it would have been him buried underground during the earthquake! I didn’t want to suffer? Had he forgotten
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that I had complications during labor and was in pain all night before giving birth? Because it was the fruit of our love, our child, I willingly endured that pain!”
I smiled slightly and casually picked up a glass of water from the table, splashing it toward Christina and Thomas.
“Since I’m being falsely accused, I might as well live up to the charge.”
I sneered, “Now I’m actually throwing a tantrum.”
As Christina shrank into Thomas’s arms, she shot me a provocative glance.
He exploded: “Evelyn, we haven’t seen each other for three years, and you’ve become even more unreasonable!”
Suddenly, our son Oscar Martin came downstairs, rubbing his
eyes.
I hadn’t seen him for four years. The little baby from back then had grown up.
When he looked downstairs, his eyes instantly lit up.
I looked at Oscar tenderly and crouched down.
“You bad woman, how dare you bully my mom!”
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His small body rushed toward me, but then he turned and threw himself into Christina’s arms.
I fell to the ground, my elbow hitting the corner of the coffee table, leaving a bloody mark.
Compared to the day of difficult labor when I gave birth to him, compared to losing consciousness and my memory in the earthquake, this injury seemed like nothing.
But I just couldn’t breathe, my heart aching with waves of pain.
At that moment, my parents hurried over and made their choice between me sitting on the ground and them standing to the side.
“Evelyn.”
They called my name, yet pulled Oscar into their arms.
“We thought you wouldn’t come back. Oscar can’t be without a mother, and he really likes having Christina as his mom.”
My mother said somewhat awkwardly. I forced a smile and got up from the floor.
“I understand. I’d like to spend some time alone with Oscar, if that’s okay?”
My parents quickly nodded in agreement, then turned to care for Christina again.
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“Alright, Thomas, you should go change your clothes so you don’t catch cold.”
They looked down at Oscar, pointing at me and saying, “This is your mother.”
Oscar stood there, looking at me warily.
As my parents left, they passed by me and lowered their voices, saying somewhat helplessly, “Evelyn, you didn’t do anything wrong, but Christina is innocent too. Think it over carefully.”
I looked at Oscar, wanting to be gentle, but my voice broke the moment I spoke.
“Oscar, do you remember me?”
My outstretched arms froze in mid–air as Oscar shook his head.
When I left, he was still a baby. He loved to act cute and ask for hugs after waking up.
Oscar shook his head. I saw his movement crystal clear.
“Do you think your mom treats you well?”
He seemed finally interested and nodded vigorously, “Yes, I
love my mom the most. She cooks delicious food and bakes little cakes…”
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He showed a happy smile, “Anyway, my mom is like a superhero who can fulfill all my wishes…”
I felt both sad and relieved.
At least Oscar was happy, and that was enough.
He noticed my sadness and looked down, fidgeting with his fingers.
I took his hand and asked, “Oscar, would you like to come with me?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I’ve started a new marriage. I came back this time…”
“You’ll have new children in the future, so why did you come back?”
Oscar angrily pulled his hand away from mine. My hand quickly turned red.
“I know everything. Today was supposed to be a happy wedding anniversary for Mom and Dad, but you ruined it all! You hypocritical woman, there’s no place for you here!”
I could hardly believe it–could a child really say such things?
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A wave of helplessness washed over me. I realized he had been influenced by Christina.
“Oscar, this might be the last time we see each other. You…”
Oscar refused without hesitation, “I want to stay with Mom and Dad.”
I didn’t continue the topic and took out a watch from my bag, “Oscar, I’m sorry I failed you. If you ever face difficulties in the future, you can use this watch to call me. I’ll help you once.”
He paused for a moment, then stiffly let me put the watch on his wrist.
Looking at his face, I said solemnly, “Oscar, you need to learn to distinguish right from wrong.”
He got a bit angry, “I think you’re the one who twists the truth!”
For a moment, I was speechless.
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