After the Clouds

Winona Warren never imagined that on her birthday, her son would hand her a walnut cake that could kill her. As her consciousness began to blur, she heard Asher Rhodes' furious voice. "Carter, don't you know your mother is allergic to walnuts?" Carter Rhodes' childish voice rang out with startling clarity. "I do. But I want Ella to be my mom instead. Dad, you want that too, don't you? Even if I..." A crushing wave of suffocation overwhelmed Winona before she could hear the rest of Asher's answer. In the second before she completely lost consciousness, Winona had only one thought. If she woke up, she would never be Asher's wife or Carter's mother again. Chapter 1 After five hours in the emergency room, Winona Warren's condition finally stabilized. When she regained consciousness, every breath brought pain. Her entire face was swollen beyond recognition. She struggled to open her eyes and instinctively searched for two familiar figures, but the hospital ward was empty. Her phone sat on the cabinet beside her. She tried to lift her arm to reach it, but the distance was too far. Just as she attempted to push herself up, a nurse entered to change her IV and quickly stopped her. "You just got out of the ER. You can't move around. Let me get that for you." The nurse kindly handed her the phone while switching out the IV bag. "Don't you know you're severely allergic to walnuts? You need to remember this from now on—never eat anything with walnuts. You're lucky they brought you in when they did, or you'd be dead." Winona did not know how to respond. What was she supposed to say? That her son knew about her walnut allergy and deliberately chose a walnut cake anyway? Her gaze fell on her body, covered in medical equipment. She forced the words out with difficulty. "Where are they?" She could not bring herself to call Asher Rhodes and Carter Rhodes, her husband and son, right now. The nurse paused for a moment before asking, "You mean your husband and son? They dropped you off, paid the bills, and left in a hurry. They said they had something to deal with. You should probably give them a call." She muttered under her breath, "I don't know what could be more important than your own wife and mother. Hearts of stone." The cutting words made Winona's chest ache. There was only one person who could make those two leave so quickly. She opened her phone. Her chat with Asher was still nothing but the messages she sent. She opened her social media app, and Ella Levine's post sat at the very top. [Thanks to my two on-call heroes for saving me from a cockroach. A house really can't be without men.] The attached photos showed Asher holding a broom, looking completely out of character as he caught a cockroach on the floor. Carter stood in front of Ella with his small arms spread wide, shielding her. The sight of those two familiar figures stung Winona's eyes until they reddened. The suffocating sensation crept back over her. They abandoned her after she nearly died, all to help Ella kill a cockroach. Carter was the one who caused her allergic reaction in the first place. Yet neither of them showed a trace of guilt. Not even a hint of concern. Winona's lips twisted into a self-mocking smile. Of course. Carter probably wished she had never woken up. As for Asher, even though he might not have known about Carter's plan, deep down, he likely felt the same way. He wanted Ella to be his wife. Why would two people who disliked her this much stay at the hospital to watch over her? Winona set down her phone and stared at the harsh fluorescent lights overhead. Memories from the past surged forward. She and Asher had grown up in the same residential compound. One could call them childhood friends. Asher excelled academically from a young age. He skipped several grades and went abroad to study in preparation to return home to take over the family business. She was quiet and reserved by nature. As a child, when everyone was playing together, she only dared sit on the sidelines and watch. As she grew older, she became even more invisible. Yet somehow, this unremarkable girl fell for the dazzling Asher during her teenage years. She always assumed her secret crush would end abruptly the day Asher married someone else. What she never expected was that the first thing Asher did after returning home was seek her out and ask if she would marry him. The sudden surprise left her stunned. She could no longer suppress the feelings that had been growing wildly in her heart since she was a child and agreed without hesitation. Just like that, she became Asher's wife. It was only during one drunken night that she learned the truth from Asher. He had a girlfriend he loved deeply while he was studying abroad. The woman made him a promise. If he proposed 99 times, she would say yes on the 100th proposal. Asher believed her. From mountain peaks to famous landmarks, from remote beaches to historic cathedrals… He had proposed to her at every such location. On graduation day, he planned an elaborate proposal ceremony to mark the 100th time and intended to return home immediately after to hold their wedding. However, in front of all their friends and classmates, the woman rejected him for the 100th time. She said she did not want to marry so soon and told him to wait three more years. Asher completely lost his patience. In a fit of anger, he returned home and decided to marry someone—anyone. Winona just happened to be that someone, the woman who lived closest to the Rhodes family. Nothing more. After learning the truth about their marriage, she told herself it did not matter. She believed that love could grow over time, and Asher would eventually fall in love with her. A year after their wedding, she gave birth to their son, Carter. Her relationship with Asher grew closer as well. To outsiders, they looked like a happy family of three. However, a month ago, Asher's first love, Ella, returned. He seemed to have forgotten about those 100 failed proposals from their time in university. He could not help but gravitate toward Ella again, showing her care and consideration. He even started staying out all night. Even Carter often went with him to see Ella. Winona thought that after six years of marriage and five years as Carter's mother, she had to hold some place in their hearts. It was only today that she finally woke up from the fantasy she had woven for herself. Six years, and she never managed to warm Asher's heart. Even the child who came from her own body was just like his father. Neither of them had room for her in their hearts. The sound of the door opening interrupted Winona's thoughts. She instinctively looked toward the entrance. One tall figure and one small figure stood in the doorway. Asher pushed Carter forward, his expression stern. "Go apologize to your mother." Carter twisted his fingers together and slowly shuffled toward her bedside, his voice barely above a whisper. "Mom, I'm sorry." Winona turned her head away without responding. She did not miss the reluctance in Carter's eyes. Asher said in a measured tone, "Carter didn't mean it. He didn't know you're allergic to walnuts. I've already scolded him. He won't bring you anything with walnuts again. There was an emergency at the office just now. I saw you were still unconscious, so I went back to handle some work." It was clearly the height of summer. The air outside rolled with waves of heat. Yet Winona felt like it was a hundred times—no, a thousand times—colder than the depths of winter. From the moment she woke until now, Asher had not sent her a single message. The only two things he had said to her after walking through that door were lies. When she remained silent, Asher frowned in displeasure. "Come on, it's your birthday. Don't be angry with a child. We prepared a gift for you. See if you like it. I'll put it on you once you're discharged." As he finished speaking, he pulled out a gift box and opened it to reveal a diamond necklace inside. Anyone could tell they had randomly picked it up from a store on their way over. Winona glanced at it briefly before looking away. She said softly, "I have a gift for you both too." Asher asked reflexively, "It's your birthday. Why would you give us a gift?" Carter also looked at her with confusion. The corners of Winona's mouth lifted into a relieved smile. "It's only fair to return the gesture, isn't it? Don't worry, you'll see the gift in a few days. I'm sure you'll love it." She would give them a signed divorce agreement. It was exactly what they both wanted. Chapter 2 Asher's expression remained indifferent, and he was clearly unbothered. "Just rest well in the hospital. You don't need to worry about giving us gifts." He finished speaking and glanced at his phone screen. Carter, beside him, also pursed his lips, looking utterly uninterested. Winona took in the father's and son's reactions. Her lips curved slightly. They were not interested now, but the moment they actually saw the divorce agreement, they would probably be more excited than anyone. She suddenly wondered what they actually thought of her. An emotional substitute? A nanny? Or perhaps just a familiar stranger living under the same roof as them? With that thought, she decided to ask directly. Before she could finish speaking, however, a sweet female voice rang out from Asher's phone. "Asher, pick up my call, okay? Or else I'll get mad!" Winona froze. As a CEO, Asher's ringtone had always been the default ringtone set by the system. However, she quickly got a grasp of the situation. Her nails dug deep into her palms. This must have been from when Asher and Ella were still dating. He had recorded Ella's voice and set it as her personal ringtone. It turned out that the currently cold and emotionless Asher had once done such sweet things too. Six years later, he still had not deleted it. He must have been waiting for it to ring all these years. Asher answered without the slightest hesitation. Faint sobbing sounds came through from the other end. Asher immediately stood up, grabbed his jacket from nearby, and headed toward the door. "I'll be right there." His tone carried a rare tenderness. Only after hanging up at the doorway did he seem to remember something. He looked back at Winona on the hospital bed and said calmly, "A friend ran into some trouble. I need to go handle it. Rest well." Perhaps Asher's urgency to reach Ella's side was too overwhelming. He did not even realize how clumsy his lie sounded. What kind of friend would deserve such a personalized ringtone? Carter had already followed closely behind Asher the moment he stood up. "Mom, I want to go with Dad." Winona finally realized the father and son had not been listening to her at all. Even after rushing to the hospital from Ella's place, Ella was still the only person on their minds. They had been staring at the phone to catch her call the instant it came through. Winona lowered her eyes and softly hummed in acknowledgment. Although they had not answered her question, she already got the answer she needed. After the father and son left, Winona dialed her lawyer's number. "Draft a divorce agreement and send it to me as soon as possible." The lawyer asked in a businesslike tone, "What about custody of Mr. Carter? Do you want it?" "No," Winona said quietly. "I don't want anything or anyone connected to the Rhodes family." All she wanted now was a divorce. Chapter 3 Winona stayed in the hospital for a full week before her allergic reaction completely went away. During that week, she saw the photos Ella posted every single day. It turned out the trouble Asher had mentioned was nothing more than cockroaches that had not been fully cleared from Ella's house. The father and son helped her find a new place, bought new furniture, and gradually turned an empty house into a cozy home, piece by piece. On the day of her discharge, Asher and Carter, who had been absent for a week, finally appeared. Seeing that Winona had already handled the discharge paperwork on her own, a rare trace of guilt flickered across Asher's stern face. "I'm sorry I didn't come to the hospital these past few days. I've been busy helping my friend. She just came back to the country and doesn't know anyone else. I'm the only one who can help her." Asher rarely apologized. In the past, Winona would have been understanding and said it was fine. This time, however, she simply opened the car door calmly and got in. "I know. Let's go home." Asher's gaze landed on Winona with slight surprise. Was she angry? However, he quickly dismissed the thought. In their six years of marriage, Winona had always been gentle and understanding. She had never once thrown a tantrum at him. He was probably overthinking it. After getting in the car, Winona kept her eyes closed to rest. However, she could feel a burning gaze repeatedly landing on her. She opened her eyes and met Carter's stare head-on. Seeing she was awake, Carter asked cautiously, "Mom, has your allergy gotten better?" "Yes." Just as she finished speaking, the car came to a stop. Winona opened the door and got out. After taking just two steps, she heard a low murmur from behind. "Too bad. Ella can't be my mom now..." Winona's steps froze. Her heart felt like it was being gnawed on by countless ants. This was the son she had carried for nine months and raised for five years. Not only did he feel no fear or guilt for nearly killing her, but he even regretted not successfully clearing away the obstacle she represented for Ella. How ironic. Winona suppressed the pain in her chest and went straight to the bedroom. Carter's wish would come true soon enough. That evening, Winona went to bed early. The space beside her was cold. Asher often worked late in his study before coming to bed, so they barely spoke before sleeping. She was used to it by now. Just as she was drifting off, a pair of large hands pulled her into a warm embrace. Asher's hot breath brushed against her neck, sending a shiver through her. Winona was forced to open her eyes. Her sharp gaze caught sight of a long, golden, curly hair on Asher's shirt collar. She had always kept her hair black and straight. A sudden wave of nausea surged up her throat. Winona abruptly pulled away from his embrace. Asher snapped awake with a frown. "Haven't you recovered?" Winona suddenly found it laughable. His heart clearly belonged to another woman, yet here he was, acting concerned. Who was this performance for? "Asher, I just realized you're not even as brave as a child." At least Carter dared to say out loud that he wanted Ella to be his mother. Asher only referred to Ella with the word 'friend'. Asher did not understand what she meant and asked in confusion, "What are you talking about?" Winona let out a soft laugh. She did not want to put up with his fake front any longer and turned her back to him. Asher lost all interest as well. He got up and left the bedroom. Hearing the click of the door, Winona kept her eyes tightly shut. … The next morning, Winona received the divorce agreement from her lawyer. [Ms. Warren, it's been drafted.] She replied: [Thank you.] She had just finished replying when Carter came downstairs and walked over to her. "Mom, my birthday party has to be really grand this time. I want to invite someone very important." Only then did Winona remember that Carter's birthday was coming up. She lowered her eyes and stayed silent for a long moment before agreeing. This would also be the last birthday she would spend with Carter. After getting her answer, Carter happily headed off to school with his backpack. Once he left, Winona opened a flight booking app and bought a plane ticket. The departure time was set for three days later, on the evening of Carter's birthday. Chapter 4 Over the next three days, Winona was busy preparing for Carter's birthday party. She also bought all the gifts he would receive from age six to 18 in advance. He was still her flesh and blood. Even if they would never see each other again after this, she would fulfill her duty as a mother until he turned 18. … On Carter's birthday, numerous guests arrived at the invitation. Winona stood beside Asher, holding Carter's hand. They were surrounded by everyone in the center. Unlike previous years, when he was always excited on his birthday, Carter seemed unusually sullen today. He kept kicking at pebbles on the ground, his small head constantly turning toward the entrance. Even Asher kept glancing down at his watch. Winona thought perhaps something about the party was not up to standard. Just then, a female voice rang out from the entrance. "Carter!" Carter's head shot up, and his eyes lit up. He pushed past Winona, who was standing in front of him, and ran toward the door. "Ella!" Winona stumbled, nearly falling to the ground. She took several steps back before barely managing to steady herself. Carter did not notice at all. Like a baby bird returning to its nest, he threw himself into Ella's embrace. The dejection vanished from his face, replaced by a bright smile. "You're finally here! I've been waiting for you." Ella laughed and pinched his cheek, saying gently, "Traffic delayed me a bit. Sorry to keep the birthday boy waiting." Asher also walked toward Ella. His usually cold expression showed a trace of a smile. Winona endured the faint pain radiating from her ankle. She stood among the crowd, watching her husband and son abandon her to gather around Ella. Bitterness spread from her heart and through her entire body. She should have known. The only person who could make the father and son act so strangely was Ella. The very important person Carter mentioned must have been her too. The lively crowd around them suddenly fell quiet. They exchanged glances with each other. After a long moment, the murmuring began. "Who is that? Why would Mr. Rhodes and Carter personally greet her?" "Could she be the real Mrs. Rhodes? Did we all mistake the wrong person earlier?" "No, I heard she's Mr. Rhodes' first love from when he studied abroad. The one he couldn't have. She only recently came back to the country." "God, poor Mrs. Rhodes. Her husband's first love shows up openly at their son's birthday party..." "Shh, keep your voice down. Mrs. Rhodes is still here." Winona looked away. Her heart only felt bitter now. There was no more pain. After tonight, she would no longer be Mrs. Rhodes. While everyone whispered, Carter was pulling Ella around the venue, eagerly showing her everything. "Ella, this is my favorite cartoon character!" Carter pointed excitedly at different displays. "These are all my photos from when I was born, and this is a painting I did myself." Asher followed beside them, his gaze carrying a faint smile. After making a full circle around the banquet hall, the three of them finally appeared before Winona. "Ella, this is my mom." Unlike his excited tone earlier, Carter's voice carried obvious reluctance now. Ella's expression remained calm. She patted Carter's head and said with a smile, "Ms. Warren, you're so lucky to have such a well-behaved child like Carter." Winona smiled back. "You will be as lucky too." After tonight, not only Carter but Asher would be Ella's as well. Carter did not want to linger in front of Winona. The next second, he pulled Ella away. Asher instinctively moved to follow but caught sight of Winona standing alone, out of place with the lively atmosphere around her. For once, he softened his voice. "Thank you for your hard work preparing the party these past few days. Ella can keep Carter company. Why don't you go back to your room and rest?" Winona lowered her eyes, hiding the mockery beneath them. How desperately did he want to be with Ella that he would ask his own wife, their son's biological mother, to leave the birthday party? Even so, she said nothing. She turned and went upstairs. She no longer wanted to waste time on these meaningless matters. When it was time for Carter to make his wish, a maid called Winona back downstairs. In the banquet hall, Carter stood in front of a giant cake, ready to make his wish. Ella and Asher stood on either side of him. Winona stopped in her tracks when she saw the scene. It was such a harmonious picture. Anyone else joining would seem superfluous. Noticing Winona's figure, Ella gave her an apologetic smile. "Ms. Warren, I'm so sorry." She moved to step away from Carter's side, but Carter's small hand clutched tightly at Ella's clothes. He refused to let her leave. "Mom, I want Ella to stay with me." Asher glanced at him and agreed. "It's Carter's birthday. Let's go along with what he wants. Don't take it personally." Winona stood where she was and nodded calmly. She was about to let go of this father-son pair entirely. Why would she care about an insignificant position? Carter visibly brightened. He closed his eyes, pressed his palms together, and made his wish. "I hope I can grow up happy and healthy." He paused for a moment. The next instant, he spoke in Istralian. "I also hope Ella can be my mom!" Chapter 5 Carter's childish voice reached the ears of everyone present. Among the guests, quite a few understood Istralian. For a moment, expressions varied across the crowd. Asher froze at first, then explained without changing his expression, "Children say silly things. No need to take it seriously." Carter pouted, his eyes full of reluctance. He wanted to say more. "But—" Winona stepped forward and interrupted him, "This is your gift. It can make your wish come true." She handed Carter the envelope she had prepared in advance. Inside was the divorce agreement she had already signed. She thought this gift was probably what Carter wanted most. After a pause, she added, "There's a key inside..." Originally, Winona wanted to tell Carter that his future birthday gifts were all stored in a safe. He just needed to open one gift each year in order. Yet, before she could finish, Carter nodded dismissively. "Thanks, Mom. I got it." He did not believe the gift Winona mentioned could actually make his wish come true. It was just the kind of joke adults told to humor children. He casually set the envelope aside and looked at Ella with eager anticipation. "Ella, what gift did you get me?" Ella pinched his cheek and pulled out a gift from her pocket with a smile. Three matching T-shirts. In the center was a photo of the three of them together, their faces close and intimate. "This is from when we went to the amusement park last time. I had it made into matching family shirts. Do you like it, Carter?" "Wow!" Carter let out an excited cry. He picked up the shirt and examined it over and over, wishing he could put it on right then and there. "I love it! Tomorrow, the day after, and the day after that... I'm going to wear it every single day!" The photographer the Rhodes family hired arrived just in time to take the group photo for the birthday party. Carter's eyes lit up. He tugged on Asher's sleeve. "Dad, can we all change into these shirts and take photos?" Asher, who usually only wore formal attire, surprisingly did not refuse. After the three of them changed, they looked exactly like a family of three. When it came time for the official photo-taking session, Asher frowned and looked at Winona, who had been standing to the side the whole time. "Why aren't you coming for the photo?" Winona looked at the three of them in matching shirts, pressed closely together with no space between them. Her lips curved slightly. "I'm a bit tired. You all go ahead." Asher did not think much of it. He signaled the photographer to begin. Ella and Asher stood on either side of Carter. For better composition, the photographer directed Ella and Asher to move closer together. Bit by bit, their shoulders touched. Both froze at the same time, and they instinctively looked at each other. Asher's usually indifferent eyes showed a rare hint of tenderness, while a blush rose on Ella's cheeks. Carter stood between them, holding their hands, his face showing pure happiness. Whispers continued among the guests all around. "First, the son wishes for another woman to be his mother; then, they wear matching family shirts for photos. Mrs. Rhodes really can tolerate anything." "What do you know? Back when Mr. Rhodes was abroad, he and his first love had a great relationship. He proposed 100 times. If his first love hadn't wanted to wait before getting married, Mrs. Rhodes would never have gotten that position." "So, what you're saying is, Mr. Rhodes' true love has always been his first love. Now that she's back in the country, do you think they'll..." Listening to the gossip around her, Winona suddenly remembered the scene from six years ago when Asher proposed to her. No flowers, no ring, not even a confession. It had just been one simple question—"Will you marry me?" Those four words sent her flying into this marriage like a moth to a flame. Even after accidentally learning about his past with Ella after the wedding, she continued the marriage. She clung to the belief that she was the legitimate wife and that Asher would eventually fall in love with her. However, it took her six full years to understand. A heart already occupied by someone else could not be warmed. No matter how hard she tried, the moment the person in his heart reappeared, she would lose completely. Watching Asher's gaze involuntarily fall on Ella, Winona let out a soft laugh. Fortunately, this marriage that never should have started would soon be over. Chapter 6 Winona could not bear to watch the three of them any longer. She walked alone to the back garden. Her phone buzzed. Winona swiped up on the screen, and a text message popped up. [Dear passenger, your flight will depart in eight hours. Please board on time.] Winona's face broke into the first genuine smile of the day. She put away her phone and prepared to go upstairs to pack her luggage. She had barely taken a few steps when she ran into Ella. Ella smiled and blocked Winona's path. "Ms. Warren, you're the hostess of this party. Why are you out here all alone?" Winona knew Ella was not as innocent as she appeared on the surface. Otherwise, she would not have gotten Winona's contact information on her very first day back in the country. She would also not be posting photos with Asher and Carter on social media every few days. "Ms. Levine, just say what you want to say." Ella stared at her for a long moment before letting out a soft laugh and dropping the pretense. "Ms. Warren, you're a smart woman. Asher and I were passionately in love back then. He proposed to me 100 times. If it wasn't because I wanted to wait before getting married, the position of Mrs. Rhodes would never have been yours. "If you're smart, you'll file for divorce now. At least you can leave with some dignity." Although Winona had already decided to divorce, that did not mean she could tolerate provocation from a mistress. Her expression turned cold immediately. "Ms. Levine, my marriage with Asher is none of your business. You're an outsider." Ella casually examined her manicured nails. "So what? Even though I rejected him 100 times in the past, he still can't forget me. You've seen it these past few days. The person Asher loves is me. Even your own son is closer to me. He wants me to be his mother. "I just said one thing. I told him that if you ate walnuts, I could become his mother. And he actually went and did it." She looked Winona up and down with a trace of mockery on her face. "I just didn't expect you to be lucky enough to survive. What a shame. I wanted you, the unnecessary one, to disappear sooner." Winona stared at Ella in disbelief. Her nails dug deep into her palms as fury burned in her chest. Carter feeding her walnut cake had been Ella's doing all along. "Ella, how could you—" "You're the one who took my place!" Ella interrupted coldly. "If it weren't for you, I would be Mrs. Rhodes." From the corner of her eye, Ella noticed Asher and Carter walking toward the garden. She immediately replaced her vicious expression with a pitiful, vulnerable look. "Ms. Warren, Asher and I are in the past now. Why are you being so aggressive?" Her eyes instantly reddened, and her voice choked with emotion. Winona frowned, confused by the sudden change. The next instant, Ella ripped a tear in the matching T-shirt she was wearing. Before Winona could react, Ella lunged forward and grabbed her wrist. Winona was caught off guard as Ella dragged her into the pool beside them. Winona had nearly drowned as a child and had a natural fear of water. The water came surging toward her. She instinctively thrashed her limbs, trying not to sink. Asher, who had rushed over, jumped into the water without hesitation. Winona struggled to reach her hand toward him. "Save... Save me." However, the next second, she watched helplessly as Asher swam quickly toward Ella on the other side. He did not even glance at her. An anxious shout came from the shore. "Dad, Ella's over there! Hurry and save her!" At that moment, Winona could clearly feel her already broken heart crumble into dust. Even at this life-or-death moment, the father and son only had Ella in their hearts. Winona had no strength left. She slowly closed her eyes as her entire body sank into the darkness. Chapter 7 When Winona opened her eyes again, the sharp smell of disinfectant filled her nose. Asher saw that she was awake. He looked at her coldly and said in a low voice, "Once Ella wakes up, you need to apologize to her." Winona's chest tightened, and a bone-chilling coldness spread through her. She had just regained consciousness, yet Asher showed not a trace of concern. The first thing out of his mouth was a demand for her to apologize to Ella. "She was the one who dragged me into the water with her. Why should I apologize?" Asher frowned, his face showing blatant distrust. "You're still lying! You were clearly jealous that Ella gave Carter matching family shirts as a gift. You deliberately tried to push her into the water and accidentally fell in yourself." Winona looked carefully at this man whom she had loved her entire life. His face showed no worry about her near drowning, only anger and accusation. Six years of living together day and night could not earn her even a shred of his trust. She suddenly laughed. When she spoke next, her tone was perfectly calm. "If you don't believe me, check the security footage." She had already completely given up on being Mrs. Rhodes and Carter's mother. Why would she be jealous over matching shirts? Asher's frown deepened. He studied her intently, as if trying to discern whether she was telling the truth. He felt that lately, Winona seemed different somehow. "You..." Just as he began to speak, his phone's ringtone interrupted him. Carter's voice came through the receiver. He could barely contain his excitement. "Dad, Ella's awake!" The coldness on Asher's face quickly melted away, and joy colored his expression. "I'll be right there." He hung up and glanced at Winona lying on the hospital bed. His voice turned cold again. "Reflect on your behavior. I don't want my wife to be an irrational, jealous woman. Carter wouldn't want a mother like that either." With that, he turned and strode away without a moment's hesitation. Winona watched his retreating figure. Her eyes were as calm as still water. Perfect. Soon, she would no longer be his wife or Carter's mother anyway. A text notification pulled her from her thoughts. [Dear passenger, your flight will depart in three hours.] Winona completed her discharge paperwork. As she was leaving, she passed by a hospital ward. The familiar figures inside made her instinctively stop. Asher was feeding Ella soup, one spoonful at a time. The tenderness in his eyes when he looked at her nearly overflowed. "Don't you dare come near Ella! If it weren't for you, Ella wouldn't be sick in the hospital, you terrible mother!" Carter appeared from somewhere, spreading his arms to block the doorway. He looked at Winona with complete hostility. This was the first time he had openly displayed his disgust for Winona in front of her. It seemed Ella truly held a significant place in his heart. Winona's fingertips trembled. In the end, she made no move. She simply crouched down to look at this child she had carried for nine months and brought into the world. "Make sure you open that birthday gift. Consider it... the last time I prepare something for you to make you happy." Carter's mind was completely occupied with Ella. He did not care what she said. He turned his head away and let out a cold snort. "What a stupid gift. I don't want it. Staying away from Ella would be the best gift you could give me!" Winona let out a soft laugh and did not answer. Carter's wish would come true very soon. … An hour later, Winona arrived at the airport with her luggage. "Wyatt, please pull the security footage from the pool area today and send a copy to Mr. Rhodes." She sent a final message to the butler, Wyatt Cromwell. Then, she removed her SIM card, snapped it in half, and threw it into the trash. The moment the plane soared into the sky, golden sunlight bathed her in a soft, warm glow. Winona smiled genuinely. Asher and Carter, as well as the position of Mrs. Rhodes and Carter's mother… She did not want them anymore. She was going to live her own life now. From this moment on, they would never see each other again.