When She Turns Her Back

For five years, Talia Stewart has poured everything into her marriage without a single complaint or regret. She raises their child, devotedly serves her in-laws, and gives her husband, Christian Lane, all the personal space he wants. But her selfless dedication is rewarded with betrayal when Christian starts keeping a mistress. He buys Nancy York cars, gives her an apartment, gets her a job, kisses and embraces her, and even carries her on his back. To win back her straying husband's heart, Talia decides to try for a second child—a boy this time. Initially, she thinks that if Christian is willing to have a second child with her, it means that he still recognizes her as his wife. But the truth is, Christian only wants Talia to bear his children because he fears Nancy might face risks from childbirth. Talia thinks that even if she loses Christian, she'll still have her daughter for company. But the daughter she raises with such care becomes someone else's precious little girl instead. Finally, Talia's heart breaks completely. She terminates the pregnancy and resolves to get a divorce. She wants nothing more to do with either her husband or her daughter. But during the mandatory waiting period before their divorce can be finalized, Christian, who refuses to come home, suddenly corners her in the living room. "Didn't we agree to have a second child?" Chapter 1 It was 10:00 pm by the time Talia Stewart returned to Elmwood Estate. That day was the 15th of the month—her ovulation day. Her first child with Christian Lane had been a girl, and her in-laws kept pressuring them to have another. If it were anyone else, she would have sarcastically asked them whether the family had a throne to inherit. But the Lane family was indeed the wealthiest in Jarrowind, and there truly were billions in assets waiting for a boy to inherit. When Talia entered the bedroom, Christian had already finished washing up. Not a word of concern was exchanged between them as they went straight to business. Three minutes later, Christian went to the bathroom to clean up while Talia pressed her legs against the wall, positioning her body at a 90-degree angle to maximize their chances. Not a single drop could be wasted to achieve their goal. Soon, Christian emerged from the bathroom. While getting dressed with his back to Talia, he said, "Keep tracking your cycle. Call me when you get a positive pregnancy test." In their five years of marriage, he had always been this sparing with his words toward her. Their marriage existed in name only. Christian kept a woman on the side. Talia had searched through all of Christian's social media accounts for clues, eventually managing to track down the woman's profile. Since then, she had been secretly monitoring the woman online. Her husband's whereabouts could only be glimpsed through the posts of the woman who was destroying her marriage. That woman documented everything frequently, from her three daily meals to holidays and birthdays. Talia barely saw Christian before their plan to have a second child. But now, they would meet once a month. Knowing how eager Christian was to leave, Talia quickly got up and said to his retreating figure, "Can we talk?" Christian turned back to look at her, his expression completely blank as he asked, "About what?" Talia lowered her voice, her tone almost pleading as she said, "I want us to work things out." Despite knowing that this marriage no longer had any reason to continue, Talia still wanted to try to keep it going. What if it worked? She had finally married the man of her dreams and given birth to their daughter. She didn't want her marriage to end in failure. But her words seemed to fall on deaf ears. She couldn't tell whether Christian truly hadn't heard her or was pretending not to. He finished getting dressed, put on his watch, and headed for the door. Talia stepped off the bed in two quick strides, but she didn't rush to embrace him or beg him to stay and keep her company as she once had. A second before Christian was about to step out and leave, Talia suddenly broke down and confronted him. "Christian, you only come to Elmwood Estate once a month. You never even call me, and we haven't shared a single meal together. What kind of marriage is this with us being so distant from one another?" Christian's steps paused. After a long moment, he turned back to look at Talia. He ignored her tears and her grievances, and simply said to her, "Once you're pregnant with a son, I'll return to live at Elmwood Estate." He left immediately after saying that. Talia stood where she was, no longer chasing after him. After eight years of loving him and five years of marriage, she had given him everything. Even when she gave birth to their daughter, she suffered an amniotic fluid embolism, and the doctor placed her on the critical list three times. But even so, Talia was still willing to risk another brush with death to try for a second child—a boy. Yet, at that moment, she suddenly felt confused. She wondered if it was even worth it anymore. After finishing her shower and emerging from the bathroom, Talia habitually picked up her phone and launched the Instagram app. She tapped into the same profile she obsessively checked every night—"Naners", with her sweet-looking profile picture. Clicking on her story, Talia saw a new post from two minutes ago. It was just a photo of two shadows under a streetlight, but she could see interlocked fingers in the corner, both wearing matching couple bracelets. The caption read, "There are two shadows under the streetlight. Both of them belong to me." Talia felt her chest tighten when she saw the post. However, it barely fazed her now compared to the devastation she had felt when she first discovered his affair. Perhaps she had grown used to it. Every time they met, Christian was rushing to get back to another woman. But if Talia set her feelings aside, her position as Mrs. Lane would at least be secure, so long as she could give him a male heir to inherit the family business. It was just that this bitter pill of a marriage was something Talia had to swallow by herself. … A month later, it was 7:00 pm when Talia clutched the pregnancy test results and rushed back to Elmwood Estate in delight. Just as she was about to step into the living room, Talia suddenly heard her mother-in-law, Margaret Johnson's voice saying, "Christian, you're 32 years old now. You've been married for five years. "It's fine that your first child is a girl, but you're being so half-hearted about the second child. Once a month? How is Talia supposed to get pregnant that way? "Look—if it's not going to work, just have that other woman of yours give you a son. As long as he's a boy and carries the Lane blood, I'll accept him." Christian almost immediately rejected Margaret's suggestion. "How is that the same?" Margaret felt frustrated. "How is it not?" Talia retreated to the side, and her heart fluttered slightly because Christian had spoken up for her. No matter what he did outside, she remained his only wife. Soon, Christian's voice sounded again. "Mom, did you forget about Talia's amniotic fluid embolism when she gave birth to Yvonne?" Margaret became even angrier at his words. "You have the nerve to bring that up! She has been nothing but trouble since marrying into this family. "Other women can bear four or five children without issue, but Talia has to be so high-maintenance. One birth, and she had the Lane family in the news for three days. It's so embarrassing!" Christian didn't listen to a single word of Margaret's complaints about Talia. He only explained, "Childbirth carries great risks. Talia has already been through it once, so she has the resilience for it. "But Nancy is still young, and I don't dare to let her take on that kind of risk." Talia felt thunderstruck when she heard these words from outside the door. She stood frozen, too shocked even to cry. Even knowing that Christian didn't love her, had betrayed her, and that their marriage was over, Talia had still foolishly believed a child might win back his heart. She had thought that no matter how much Christian played around, at least the title of Mrs. Lane would always be hers. But the truth was more cruel than she had imagined. She was apparently nothing more than a baby machine to Christian. He had forgotten that she had suffered from depression and developed a fear of blood after giving birth to their daughter, Yvonne Lane. She was someone who had been rescued from the brink of death by doctors. Christian feared that his mistress, Nancy York, might face complications, but he had forgotten that Talia's health was at greater risk. At this point, Talia couldn't make out what else Christian and Margaret were saying in the room. Talia had risked her life to give the Lanes an heir, only to spend her nights alone while her husband cheated on her. She clutched the pregnancy test results tightly, thinking that it was time for everything to end. That day was supposed to be their monthly attempt at conceiving a second child, but at that moment, Talia felt like it had no meaning whatsoever. She realized that this was what heartbreak really felt like. It really could happen in an instant. The child in her belly probably didn't need to be kept either. She figured that if others didn't care about her life or death, she should at least care about herself. Just as she was about to turn and leave, the housekeeper, Jane Lewis, spotted her. "Mrs. Lane! You're home!" Talia smiled at Jane, thinking that perhaps that day would be perfect for discussing the divorce. Chapter 2 Talia hid the pregnancy test results and stepped into the living room, where Margaret and Christian's conversation fell silent. Unlike what she usually did, Talia didn't even greet anyone. In the past, she had always naively thought that if she served her in-laws well and became an understanding, considerate wife, there would come a day when Christian would finally notice her. But reality had slapped her hard in the face. Even if she carved out her heart and presented it to the Lane family, they might not even spare it a glance. She realized that it was time to take back these five years of one-sided devotion. Christian knew why he'd come home that day, so he glanced at Jane and instructed, "Jane, escort Ms. Margaret out." From beginning to end, Talia stood silently to the side, but her eyes seemed to have gained a new layer of coldness. Christian managed the Lane family business and ran the company exceptionally well. His character was excellent, too. He was respectful to his elders, loyal to his friends, fair with his subordinates, and generous with his employees. Everyone who met him offered unanimous praise. Many friends remarked that Talia must have done something incredible in a past life to marry Christian. But Talia was the one person who never received Christian's kindness. After five years of marriage, she was clear about their marriage. This hollow shell of a marriage was something Talia no longer wanted. As Margaret passed by Talia, she suddenly stopped. She said with reproach in her voice, "If you still can't conceive a male heir, I don't know how you'll be able to face the Lane family." In the past, Talia would have swallowed the insult quietly. But now, she saw no reason to keep taking it. Looking at Margaret, Talia's eyes no longer held a trace of flattery or submission. She sharply retorted, "Margaret, we're both women. Is conceiving a boy or a girl solely my responsibility?" Margaret remembered Talia as someone who never fought back. She had grown used to her compliant daughter-in-law, so Talia's sudden defiant attitude caught her off guard. But Margaret wasn't about to indulge her either. She raised her hand and slapped her across the face. "How dare you speak to me like that! Kneel and apologize to me." She looked furious, ready to tear someone apart. She was also utterly confident that Talia would be intimidated by her presence. Margaret knew precisely how much Talia loved Christian. So she was certain that Talia could give up her dignity and pride, and was even willing to be treated as a maid by the Lane family for his sake. But now, Talia no longer wanted to compromise. Since none of them valued her sacrifices or her life, she was no longer willing to please anyone. Talia's eyes darkened as she looked at Margaret. She stepped forward wordlessly to strike back. But before her hand could land on Margaret's face, it was caught mid-air by a large hand. At the same time, a low, reproachful roar rang in her ears. "Talia, haven't you caused enough trouble?" Talia looked up to see Christian's handsome face. His cold, piercing eyes fell on her. This face used to drive Talia crazy, but looking at it closely now, she felt a trace of disgust. She couldn't fathom how a person could be so cruel. She could accept the lack of love, the cheating, the emotional abuse, but she couldn't understand how he could be so heartless as to treat her like a baby machine. Moreover, he demanded that she give him a second child despite the amniotic fluid embolism she had suffered during her first pregnancy. Wasn't he simply asking for her life? Thinking about all this, Talia couldn't help but feel nauseous. Just as she was about to say something, Christian suddenly threw her hand away forcefully and said in a deep voice, "I'm not in the mood today. We'll discuss trying for a second child next month." After saying that, he helped Margaret up and walked toward the door. Margaret turned back, her expression triumphant, as if to say, "The son I gave birth to naturally takes my side. You're just an outsider. Don't you know your place?" If it had been before, Talia would have been sad and cried over Christian not protecting her, but now, she seemed to have gotten used to it. She didn't feel even a trace of disappointment. Just as Christian was about to leave the living room, Talia quickly called out to him, "Christian." Talia was someone who kept her word. Since she had decided to divorce, she would definitely follow through with it. Just as when she had fallen in love with Christian, she was willing to dive headfirst into that mess despite her family's opposition. After loving Christian for eight years, she was exhausted. He was blind to her efforts and had never thought about building a proper marriage with her. His willingness to marry her was only because she had gotten pregnant before marriage, and he felt responsible. Their marriage was a tomb, but it only trapped Talia. She should have woken up from it long ago. Christian stopped at the door. Talia thought that he had heard her, so after letting out a breath, she said, "I don't want to be with you anymore. Let's get divorced." Once those words left her mouth, Talia felt an unprecedented sense of relief. But at that moment, Christian suddenly put his phone to his ear. She couldn't hear what the person on the other end said, but she heard his anxious voice respond, "Okay. I'll be right there." After hanging up, Christian left with Margaret and headed toward the exit of Elmwood Estate. The words she had just spoken, thinking they would set her free, weren't taken to heart by anyone. It wasn't until Christian's figure completely disappeared from the doorway that Talia finally let out a bitter laugh. Jane returned after seeing the guests out and saw Talia still standing in the living room, looking lost. She called out in surprise, "Mrs. Lane?" Talia snapped back to reality, walked over to sit on the couch, and instructed Jane, "Jane, please prepare dinner for me." In the past, she had done everything herself, hoping to win Christian's affection. Even though they only saw each other a few times a year, she was never tired of it. But in reality, Christian had never paid any attention to her efforts. Now she was tired, and she remembered that she had once been someone who never lifted a finger, cherished and loved by her parents and brother. After dinner, Talia went upstairs to the study to prepare a divorce agreement. The Stewart family wasn't from a small household, and Talia was a soon-to-be pediatric surgeon. She wasn't short of money and could provide Yvonne with a good future. But these five years of not fighting or making a fuss had earned her nothing but her husband's coldness and ruthlessness. So she wrote clearly in the divorce agreement that Christian would have to give her half of his post-marriage income and pay an additional 200 thousand dollars in monthly child support for Yvonne. But as she thought of Yvonne, Talia didn't know who she would want to stay with. Halfway through the divorce agreement, she thought she should ask for Yvonne's wishes, so she left Elmwood Estate with the unfinished document. After Yvonne was born, Christian bought her a villa. Talia had been a full-time mother for four years before she returned to work at a hospital. With her job changes, Talia's time with Yvonne had gradually decreased. Just in the past six months, she had been doing a fellowship at a hospital in a neighboring state. These two recent meetings with Christian were because her lovesick brain had acted up, thinking she could use a second child to tie down her absent husband's heart. Despite having no time, she had forcibly switched shifts with colleagues, working three consecutive overnight shifts to get a day or two free. Yet she had never considered that having a second child was not something she could accomplish on her own. If she didn't have time, Christian could have come to see her. It was just that most of his time was given to Nancy. She took a cab to Jubilee Manor. It was just past 9:00 pm. As soon as she got out of the car, her phone buzzed with a notification. "Naners" had posted a new story. Chapter 3 Talia didn't want to look at "Naners" post, but she clicked on it out of habit. The post showed only one image of Christian crouched in front of Nancy. The caption read, "Had a few drinks and caught a chill. One phone call and you came right over. Having you here with me feels so good." Seeing this, Talia felt a pang of heartache. Since the woman and Christian loved each other so much, shouldn't she be more generous and let them be together? If she divorced, she would only want Yvonne and her fair share of the assets. Apart from that, she wanted nothing else. She put her phone away and stepped into the living room. The housekeeper, Emma Wright, saw her and was stunned for a moment before calling out, "Mrs. Lane?" "Where is Yvonne?" "Ms. Yvonne is upstairs playing with her dolls." As soon as Emma finished speaking, Yvonne's surprised voice suddenly came from upstairs. "Mommy?" Not having seen Yvonne for so long, Talia felt a pang of sorrow. So, she hurried upstairs to hug her. She crouched in front of Yvonne, cupped her face, and showered her with kisses. After kissing Yvonne, she was about to speak when Talia saw Yvonne lift her hand and keep wiping her face until her skin turned red before finally stopping. Talia's heart sank, and she swallowed the words she had been about to say. She looked at her daughter with teary eyes, her heart filled with mixed emotions. But before Talia could say anything, Yvonne quickly said, "Mommy, you came back at the perfect time. I was just about to call you. I'm starting kindergarten soon, and I want to go to Sunshine Kindergarten on East Street." When talking about Sunshine Kindergarten, Yvonne's eyes lit up. Talia was a little confused, but since her daughter insisted on going there, she didn't want to refuse her request. Besides, it was just kindergarten. She figured that they could always switch if it didn't work out. So, she agreed, "Then let's go with Sunshine Kindergarten." Hearing this, Yvonne jumped up with joy. "Thank you, Mommy! You're the best!" Seeing her daughter happy, Talia couldn't bring herself to bring up certain topics. She unconsciously touched her belly, and when she looked up again, she asked Yvonne in a serious tone, "Yvonne, would you like to have a younger brother or sister?" Yvonne seemed eager to return to her room, but she still thought seriously for a moment before she answered, "I want a younger brother." Talia felt a sharp stab of pain. With tears in her eyes, she asked, "But what if I'm scared?" Although the risks from her amniotic fluid embolism had long passed, she had never gotten over the trauma. Yvonne looked at Talia and replied very seriously, "Then you shouldn't be so selfish. Didn't you have me, too?" The words hit Talia like a bolt from the blue, leaving her frozen in place. Her face was as pale as a sheet, and she was unable to move. After a long while, she opened her mouth and stammered for a long time before finally managing to ask, "Aren't you afraid of losing me?" Since Yvonne's birth, Talia had cared for her day and night—feeding her, coaxing her to sleep—and had barely slept through a whole night in the past four years. At this moment, she just wanted to ask her daughter if she still loved her. But Talia clearly saw Yvonne furrow her brow. "Come on, Mommy. I need to go to bed now." After saying that, Yvonne ran back to her bedroom and closed the door. Talia stood frozen at the top of the stairs, a chill running through her entire body. Soon, Yvonne's cheerful voice came from the bedroom. "Nancy, I can go to the kindergarten on East Street! You can come pick me up directly after work now, so it'll be easier for you. "And Nancy, please don't have a baby brother or sister with Daddy. I heard Mommy say that having babies is very dangerous. There's a lot of blood, and it can even be life-threatening. "Let Mommy do the baby-making. She already had me, so she won't be scared. "I miss you so much, Nancy. I want to hear you tell stories and cuddle with you..." Standing outside the door, Talia thought about how her daughter had recoiled when she kissed her just now. Her heart felt like it was shattering into pieces. She had thought that even if she and Christian divorced, her daughter would still be hers. But she never expected that her daughter would follow Christian's lead in choosing outsiders over her own mother. It turned out that in her marriage with Christian, her sacrifices and devotion were nothing but a joke. No one cared about what she had done in the past. After a long while, Talia finally dragged her exhausted body down the stairs. Emma saw her dazed state and approached to ask something, but Talia waved her away. As soon as she left Jubilee Manor, Talia called Christian. She dialed his number several times with no answer, but she didn't give up and continued to try to reach him. Normally, if she called once or twice and he didn't answer, she wouldn't call again. But that night, she persistently called his number as though she were possessed. Finally, Christian picked up. "I'm busy. What do you—" Before Christian could finish speaking, Talia interrupted. "I need to see you. Right now." Talia was shouting and roaring at Christian like a madwoman through the phone line. Her unrestrained screaming made Christian furrow his brow. After Talia calmed down slightly, Christian said, "Whatever it is, we'll talk about it when we meet next month." After saying that, he hung up on the call without ceremony. Listening to the dial tone, Talia found she couldn't even cry anymore. This was just like Christian, leaving her with no outlet for her anger. The past five years had drained Talia completely. This marriage was something she had to end, no matter what. Still, she had to fight for her daughter's custody. Even if Yvonne was closer to Nancy now, Talia knew she had to try her best. After all, she had given birth to Yvonne and raised her through countless sleepless nights. She would never give her up so easily. Just as she made this resolution, Christian's Rolls-Royce came to a stop in front of Jubilee Manor. Talia looked toward the sound and, through the windshield, saw Christian in the driver's seat with Nancy in the passenger seat, holding a bouquet. Christian spotted her, too. They stared at each other in tense silence. In the past, Talia wouldn't have dared cause a scene about Nancy's presence, but now, she couldn't even be bothered to care. After a long stretch of silence, Christian finally got out of the car. Pretending as though he hadn't seen Talia, he went around to open the passenger door for Nancy. But Talia still called out to stop him. "Christian, let's talk." Christian ignored her and continued reaching to open Nancy's car door, but Talia rushed over in a few steps. She slapped his hand away angrily. "Christian, you can be with anyone you want, but Yvonne is my daughter. What right do you have to let an outsider interfere between me and my child?" Finally, Christian looked at Talia. He looked down at her with contempt and said in a low, heavy voice, "Nancy is more suitable to be a mother than you are." After saying that, Christian pushed her aside and opened the car door. Talia stood there in shock. It took her a long time to process the deeper meaning in his words. She wondered if he was planning to replace her with Nancy as Yvonne's mother. Chapter 4 The car door opened, and Christian held his hand above Nancy's head while extending his other hand toward her. The moment their fingers intertwined, Talia turned around. Faced with this heartbreaking scene, she remained unexpectedly calm. Perhaps because she had figured things out, but she appeared very composed right then. In the past, she would have cried her heart out. But at that moment, she just wanted to ask Christian what he meant by Nancy being a more suitable mother than she was. "Christian, what do you mean by that?" Talia's lips trembled slightly, and her voice changed pitch. Nancy got out of the car, her hand resting on Christian's arm the entire time. Under the moonlight, their two shadows stretched long across the pavement. Christian acted as if he hadn't heard Talia speak and walked toward Jubilee Manor with Nancy. Talia could no longer remember how many times she had been ignored like this. Talia's heart was already riddled with holes, but when it came to her daughter, she couldn't let go. So she stepped forward, grabbed Christian's wrist with unexpected strength, and shouted at him, "Christian Lane, answer me!" Finally, Christian stopped and turned around. He looked at Talia with cold indifference in his eyes. He twisted his wrist and easily pulled his hand free while saying, "You're busy with work, and Yvonne is still young. She needs someone to look after her. Once you're pregnant with the second child, Nancy will take care of Yvonne, too." Christian had always been like this. He never consulted Talia on his decisions and always spoke to her in a tone that sounded like an order. But this time, Talia refused to let him make decisions arbitrarily. When she had decided to go to the neighboring state for her fellowship, she had already found a qualified nanny to care for Yvonne. It wasn't until last month that she discovered Christian had dismissed the nanny long ago. During the six months of Talia's fellowship, Nancy had moved into Jubilee Manor, living the sweet life of a family of three with Christian and Yvonne. Talia hadn't wanted to make a scene because she still held onto a sliver of hope that Christian recognized her as his only wife. But without her realizing it, her daughter had been taken away from he, too. How could she leave gracefully now? When it came to who would take care of her daughter, Talia lost her composure. Her tone became agitated as she said, "I can take care of my own child. I don't need outsiders." Christian completely ignored Talia's attitude and simply issued his command. "It's decided." Talia grew angry. Her usual good-natured demeanor vanished as she loudly protested, "I said I can take care of her myself." The atmosphere grew tense. Nancy, who was standing behind Christian, sensed the situation getting out of hand and said quietly, "Chris, you and Ms. Stewart should talk first. I'll head inside and check on Yvonne." After Christian nodded in agreement, Nancy walked toward Jubilee Manor. At that moment, Talia called out to stop her. "Nancy York, stop right there." Nancy had just turned around when a slap landed on her face. It was Talia who had hit her. When Christian realized what had happened, he stepped forward and pushed Talia away. He supported Nancy and asked with concern, "Are you okay?" Nancy covered her face as tears rolled down, making her look pitiful and wronged. Christian was extremely worried, fussing over her and examining her face. But Talia didn't think that Nancy was wronged at all. After all, what kind of woman would get involved with a married man who had a child? Naturally, it would take two to tango, and Christian wasn't exactly innocent either. Just as Talia was about to speak, a small figure came running out of Jubilee Manor. Yvonne ran frantically, barefoot, and when she got close, she hurled herself at Nancy. She hugged Nancy's legs and looked up to ask, "Nancy, does it hurt? Let me blow on it for you, okay?" Yvonne had been ready for bed, but she saw Christian's car through the window. She knew that he must have brought Nancy back, so she came downstairs to greet them. Just as she reached the door, she saw Talia slap Nancy. She quickly rushed out and even lost her shoes in the process. Talia stood to the side, watching her husband and daughter tenderly comfort an outsider. At that moment, it felt like she could hear the sound of her own heart breaking. Still, Talia refused to believe that the daughter she had raised would turn against her like this. She reached out with trembling hands, murmuring, "Yv—" But before she could fully call out Yvonne's name, the young girl angrily turned around. She rushed up to Talia and kept hitting her with her hands. "Bad Mommy! Bad Mommy! You hit Nancy! You're a bad mommy! I don't want a bad mommy like you!" Talia stood frozen in place, her face instantly pale. In that moment, she suddenly realized that the custody she had desperately wanted to fight for was nothing more than her own wishful thinking. Christian and Yvonne didn't need her. Standing here now, she felt like a complete fool. What was even more ridiculous was that she had actually gotten pregnant with a second child for a man who didn't love her at all. Talia lost track of how long Yvonne kept hitting her or what else she said. That phrase "bad mommy" was enough to shatter all her hopes. Talia stood there in a daze for a while, then let out a bitter laugh. Without looking at Christian and Yvonne again, she turned and walked away. Behind her, Christian and Yvonne surrounded Nancy with care and comfort, completely unaware that Talia had left. When she turned the corner, Talia couldn't help but look back at the two people she had treasured most over the last five years. The two figures, one big and one small, each held one of Nancy's hands as they walked toward Jubilee Manor together. They looked so warm and harmonious, as if they were the real family of three. Talia smiled. She felt bitter and wanted to cry, but not a single tear would fall. These five years had drained all her energy and spirit. She had always put them first, but not anymore. Leaving Jubilee Manor, Talia walked alone down a long road. Looking back on the past five years, she realized she had long known she shouldn’t have exhausted herself in such a relationship. She just hadn't been willing to face the truth. But now she understood that she should only love herself properly from now on. Talia took a cab back to Elmwood Estate, where she drafted a new divorce agreement in the study. His assets would be split 50-50. As for her daughter, she would give up custody. Talia drove back to the neighboring state, Moonbright, that same night after neatly placing the completed divorce agreement on the desk. After resting for the night, she went to the hospital early the next morning. The doctor working in the obstetrics department that day was her university classmate, Monica Walker. Monica knew a thing or two about Talia's marriage situation. But when she heard Talia's firm decision to terminate the pregnancy, she was somewhat surprised. "It wasn't easy for you to conceive this child. Why don't you want it anymore? Even if there are issues with your marriage, you could still keep the child without the father." Talia sat across from Monica, completely calm. "Monica, I'm a woman, and the most responsible thing a woman can do is not to bring children into the world recklessly. What's more, my life matters too. "I've made my decision. Please schedule the procedure for this morning." The old Talia was gone. From now on, she would only invest in herself and people who actually cared about her. As for those who didn't love her, she was done with them. Chapter 5 When Talia woke up again, she was already lying in a hospital room. Monica came to check on her condition, instructing her to rest well for two days before being discharged. After discharge, she would need to properly recover for a month. Talia agreed to everything. She had already decided that she would take a full month to recover. Her body was her own, and she needed to take care of it. After Monica left, Talia picked up her phone to check it. As expected, there wasn't a single phone call from Christian. What happened last night was perhaps just a minor incident for them. But for Talia, it was a significant turning point in her life. She realized that seeing them for who they truly were was actually a good thing. She figured that it was better than endless internal conflict and struggle. She mindlessly launched her Instagram app, and Nancy's post appeared at the top of her feed. Above the username, it read "Suggested for you". In the post, Nancy was holding a child's hand. From the back, Talia recognized immediately that it was Yvonne. The caption read, "It feels so good to be needed". The background of the photo was the living room of Jubilee Manor. Perhaps out of habit, Talia just smiled faintly, then tapped the three dots and selected the option "Not Interested". The days of secretly checking Nancy's posts were finally over. After being discharged, Talia hired a home health aide for herself. She rested for an entire month. A month later, she settled the health aide's wages, changed into a clean long dress, applied light makeup, and drove toward Jarrowind. That day was her ovulation day again—the day for her and Christian's routine attempt at a second child. In truth, when it came to intimacy, Talia hadn't had any particularly satisfying experiences. Christian always went through the motions with her, eager to finish quickly so he could see Nancy. But that night, she wasn't returning to try for a second child. She planned to have a proper discussion with Christian about divorce. She arrived at Elmwood Estate at 7:00 pm. Jane saw her return and prepared dinner for her. Afterward, Talia went upstairs to the study. The divorce agreement lay on the desk, exactly as she had left it last month—untouched. Clearly, Christian hadn't come back at all this month. Talia waited until after 9:00 pm. Just as she was getting impatient, footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door. When the door opened, it was Jane who entered. "Mrs. Lane, Mr. Lane just called. He said that he has something to do tonight and won't be coming home. He wants you to come back next month instead." Hearing this, Talia just let out a bitter laugh. Next month? She might have been able to come back this month, but next month was uncertain. She was tired of being trapped in this cage. After hesitating for a moment, she stood and said to Jane, "The next time he returns, remind him that I left something for him on the desk." Jane lowered her head and replied, "I understand, Mrs. Lane." Talia picked up her bag and left Elmwood Estate. She didn't know where to go, so she drove aimlessly until she noticed many young men and women walking out of a building called "Jarrowind Concert Hall". Soon, the crowd dispersed, but the last three people to emerge caught Talia's attention completely. Christian and Nancy were holding Yvonne's hands on either side, all three of them smiling at each other. "Nancy, you were so dazzling just now, and so beautiful, like a fairy! Your piano playing was wonderful. When I grow up, will you teach me how to play too? "Please, Nancy?" Yvonne shook Nancy's arms with both hands, acting cute. Nancy wore an elegant white evening gown, looking like a star fallen into the night, radiating brilliance. Her expression was gentle as she leaned down slightly in front of Yvonne, her finger lightly tapping Yvonne's nose as she laughed and said, "I'll definitely teach you if you want to learn." Yvonne jumped up happily, then turned to ask Christian, "Daddy, isn't Nancy amazing?" Christian's eyes held a trace of a smile as he nodded in response. He hummed in agreement. Although he was sparing with words, that simple hum carried deep joy and admiration. Yvonne became even happier. "When I grow up, I want to be just as amazing as Nancy." Talia witnessed the entire scene through the windshield of her car. She had never been on the receiving end of her daughter's admiration. But when she gave it some thought, she realized that it made sense. After marriage, she had devoted herself entirely to Christian and Yvonne, gradually becoming unkempt and abandoning her former hobbies. In Yvonne's eyes, she was just a woman who only knew her way around the kitchen, while Nancy was a perfect, untouchable figure. The thought made Talia's heart ache. At the concert hall entrance, Yvonne spread her arms wide, jumping and fussing. "Nancy, I want you to hold me!" Christian intervened in time. "Yvonne, Nancy is wearing an evening gown, and it's not convenient to hold you. Wait until we get to the car." Hearing this, Yvonne's face drooped, clearly unhappy. Nancy quickly bent down to pick her up and smiled at Christian beside her. "It's okay. I'm fine with it as long as Yvonne wants me to hold her." Christian smiled, his eyes filled with deep affection. Nancy then carried Yvonne down the steps while Yvonne snuggled against her, nuzzling and cuddling. Christian followed behind, holding up the train of her evening gown. The man who commanded respect in the business world and never bowed to adversity was now bending down to hold a woman's dress train. The trio then got into the car together, and the vehicle drove away. So this was what her husband meant when he said he had "something to do". Talia couldn't help but laugh. After sitting in the car for a long time, her phone suddenly rang. It was a call from the hospital. After answering, Talia politely said, "Dr. Williams." Talia had studied pediatric surgery. After spending four years as a full-time mother before returning to work, she was among the most junior doctors at the hospital. On the other end of the line, the department chief, Ryan Williams, said, "Your fellowship may end early. You can return to work at the hospital next week." Talia hesitated before asking, "Doesn't the hospital have an opening for someone to go to rural areas to provide free health screenings for children? I'd like to apply." Ryan was somewhat surprised. "Going to rural areas is tough work, and it won't do much for your career progression. The hospital has the opening, but no one is required to take it..." However, Talia had made up her mind. "Dr. Williams, I'm willing to go. Consider it a vacation for me." Given her firm attitude, Ryan stopped trying to dissuade her and finally agreed. "Alright. Then go for two months." … Soon, another month had passed. Yvonne had also been in kindergarten for a month. After two consecutive months without conceiving a second child, Christian was once again under pressure from his family. So he returned home earlier than usual on the day Talia was supposed to be ovulating. He was already at Elmwood Estate before 6:00 pm. Jane was quite surprised to see Christian arrive first. "Sir, you're so early today." Christian didn't offer any explanation. As he walked toward the second floor, he instructed Jane, "When Mrs. Lane comes back, tell her to come find me in the bedroom." Jane acknowledged his order and watched Christian head upstairs. Passing by the study, Christian didn't even pause and headed straight to the bedroom. He had come back solely for the purpose of conceiving a second child. So he didn't need to go anywhere else. After showering, Christian waited in bed. Three hours had passed, and it was already 9:00 pm. Talia still hadn't returned. Just as Christian was growing impatient, footsteps finally sounded outside the door. Chapter 6 When the door was gently pushed open, Christian instinctively reached out to turn off the lights. The room was instantly shrouded in darkness. As Christian untied his robe, he said, "It's getting a bit late. Let's get started right away. I have something to do afterward." When the door opened, light from the hallway filtered in, illuminating the figure at the doorway in a vague silhouette. Hearing Christian's words, Jane's body stiffened. She didn't dare walk further inside and quietly reminded him, "Mr. Lane, it's me." Christian was stunned for a moment. After realizing what had happened, he reached out to turn on the lights. Looking at Jane, his voice was full of confusion as he asked, "Hasn't she come back yet?" Jane was covered in sweat. She nodded and said, "No." The atmosphere in the room immediately grew heavy. Jane knew that Christian was unhappy. She felt helpless and could only try to comfort him by saying, "Mrs. Lane usually comes back very early. Last month, she arrived home before 6:00 pm. She didn't come back today, so I guess she must have been delayed by something." Christian understood Jane's intention. He didn't say much more. He simply said, "I see." Jane was about to remind Christian to rest early, but unexpectedly, in the next moment, Christian quickly sat upright in bed. She swallowed her words. Five minutes later, Christian got dressed and left Elmwood Estate. Jane saw him off downstairs, vaguely feeling like she had forgotten something. It wasn't until Christian's car disappeared from view that Jane remembered what Talia had asked her to tell him about the item in the study. He had just driven out of Elmwood Estate when he received a call from Nancy. "What's wrong?" Under the dim light, Christian's expression was gentle, without a trace of sharpness. Nancy's voice came softly from the phone. "Chris, I have a very important recital tomorrow, but Yvonne's kindergarten has an opening day parent-child activity tomorrow. I'm afraid..." Without finishing her sentence, Christian already understood what she wanted to express. "I understand. I'll have Talia attend instead." Hearing this, Nancy breathed a sigh of relief. "I've already discussed it with Yvonne. You just need to pass the message to Ms. Stewart." Christian said, "Alright. You can focus on your recital." After hanging up, Christian pulled over to the side of the road. Looking through his call history, he couldn't find Talia's familiar number for a long time. Only then did he suddenly realize that she hadn't taken the initiative to call him for quite a while. During the years when Talia was a full-time mother to Yvonne, she would call every day to ask if he would be returning home for dinner. He didn't often return, and when he did, it was only to spend time with Yvonne. After he brought up the plan to have a second child, she would occasionally ask if he was coming back, but he didn't answer any of her calls. Sometimes he would hang up, and other times he would let it ring until it ended on its own. Whenever he wanted to contact Talia, he could always easily find her contact information. But now, after scrolling through several pages on his phone, he still couldn't find her number. After scrolling for what felt like forever, he finally found her number, but the contact record was already three months old. Had it really been that long since their last contact? Christian couldn't even remember whether he had answered the last call Talia made to him. Without thinking too much about it, he dialed her number. However, an automated voice indicated that the call could not be connected at the moment. Christian had never encountered such a situation. He was momentarily stunned but tried calling again patiently. The result was the same. He called four or five times in a row but still couldn't get through, so he chose to give up. He considered reaching out to her through social media, but realized that he didn't have her added on any platforms. Finally, he could only send Talia a text message. "Yvonne has an opening day parent-child activity tomorrow. She wants you to accompany her. It's at 2:00 pm, Sunshine Kindergarten." After the text was sent successfully, Christian drove away. He thought that Talia must be busy, which was why she didn't answer his calls. He figured that when she saw the text, she would surely go to the activity with Yvonne. Thinking of this, Christian felt reassured. … Meanwhile, it was also 9:00 pm in a small town. After Talia finished her last shift at the town elementary school for the day, she clocked out. She lived in the teachers' dormitory. Exhausted from the day, she went straight to bed after washing up. Her phone, which was on silent mode, was set aside. She didn't check it and went to sleep. The next morning, Talia was awakened by the ringing of her phone. She groggily grabbed her phone and discovered that it wasn't her alarm, but a calendar reminder that tomorrow was her father-in-law, Joseph Lane's, birthday. In previous years on this day, she would get up early to go to the morning market for groceries, then return home to start cooking various elaborate dishes. She would spend the entire day busy, all for the Lane family's dinner party with guests. But things were different now. She wouldn't be that foolish this year. After dismissing the calendar reminder, Talia went back to sleep for a while. That day was Friday, and she got off work at 2:00 pm. In the past, she had only kept Joseph's birthday in mind and had overlooked that her biological father's birthday was also on that same day. But not this year. She planned to rush back that night and make a sumptuous dinner for her dad and family tomorrow. As for Christian's text from last night, it had been buried under various notification messages. She arrived at the Stewart residence at 6:00 pm on the dot, just in time for dinner. When Talia entered the living room, she saw the whole family there—her parents, brother, sister-in-law, and niece. Maeve Stewart was startled when someone suddenly walked in while she was working on a puzzle. But when she looked closely, she realized that it was her aunt, whom she hadn't seen in a long time. Maeve quickly put down the puzzle and ran to Talia, hugging her legs. "Aunt Talia, you're back!" Talia crouched and hugged Maeve tightly, kissing her cheek and saying, "Yeah." With that simple "yeah", her heart instantly ached, and her eyes reddened. Maeve hugged Talia's neck, kissed her back, and shouted loudly toward the kitchen, "Dad, Mom, Aunt Talia is back!" Hearing this, Talia's brother, Garrett Stewart, and his wife, Paige Webb, emerged from the kitchen. Seeing that it was Talia, the joy in Garrett's eyes vanished in an instant. Paige noticed his stern expression, nudged him, and smiled at Talia. "It's good that you're back. Dinner will be ready soon." Maeve stood in front of Paige, linking their hands and saying, "Mom, Aunt Talia loves honey-glazed ham the most. The last time I wanted some, you said that we had to wait until Aunt Talia came back. Now that she's back, can I..." Paige gently tapped Maeve's nose bridge affectionately. "You little glutton. Fine. I'll make some for you." Maeve jumped up happily, clapping her hands, her two pigtails swaying back and forth. Garrett didn't even glance at Talia. He simply scolded Maeve coldly. "Don't get too excited. People leave again." Talia had a wonderful family. Her parents, brother, and sister-in-law all treated her well. But she had poured all her energy and love into the Lane family, making endless sacrifices without complaint or regret. Yet none of those sacrifices could touch the Lane family's hearts, and they only ended up hurting the Stewart family. She was too ashamed to return to the Stewart residence that night, but upon reflection, she realized that this family bond was genuine. Her brother and father acted tough but were softhearted. Her mother had spent countless nights crying over her. Her sister-in-law was gentle and understanding, and her niece was absolutely adorable. Talia realized that she should cherish the people who actually cared about her. She thought that it was time to let go of those who treated her coldly.