The Flower Bloomed Sixty Times

Xena Xander returned to the past and found herself back in 1989. That year, she was thirty. Her husband, Julian Zane, was thirty-five. He had just become the youngest academician at the National Academy of Sciences. He was a national talent, and his future looked exceptionally promising. They had a pair of ten-year-old twins. Everyone said she was lucky. She was so lucky to have a good husband and sweet children. But the first thing she did after returning to the past was consult a lawyer and prepare two divorce agreements. She called Julian’s office. When the assistant realized it was her, the response was brief. “Xena, Professor Zane is busy. He doesn’t have time.” She went to the research institute to look for him, but the guard stopped her at the entrance. “Sorry, Professor Zane is unavailable right now.” After three days, she took the divorce agreement and went to see Julian’s first love. She placed the agreement in front of Moon Jensen and calmly said, “Please have Julian sign the divorce agreement. From now on, he and the two children belong to you.” Chapter 1 Moon Jensen stared at Xena Xander in shock. She could not believe that the woman who had loved Julian Zane for seventeen years would willingly step aside. She frowned. “Xena, what are you up to?” Xena gave her a faint smile. Her eyes were calm and expressionless. “I just don’t want to live like this anymore. Since they all prefer you over me, I don’t want them either. I’m stepping aside. I’m letting you have them.” Moon still could not believe it. She studied Xena carefully. “You’re willing to give up? Do you have any idea how many people envy your position as Professor Zane’s wife?” “I know.” Xena met her gaze. “Moon, I don’t want it anymore. I’m giving it to you willingly.” Moon gripped her glass tightly. The gentle expression she usually wore darkened. “Xena, no one has asked you to do that!” There was a brief silence. Then, she let out a laugh and picked up the divorce agreement from the table. “Since you’re stepping aside on your own, this saves me a lot of trouble. “You’re smart, Xena. This is a warning. You’re not getting anything that I’ve seized with my hands.” “Don’t worry.” Xena smiled. “I don’t want Julian or the children.” She really did not. In her past life, she kept them close, yet lived a lonely and miserable life, and she died in misery. This time, she would not make the same mistake. Moon put on her sunglasses. Her perfect curls and elegant dress caught everyone’s attention. Xena watched her get into a cab. Almost without thinking, she called a cab and followed. At the institute entrance, Xena watched as the guard greeted Moon and guided her to a seat. After a brief wait, Julian rushed out, clearly anxious, and led her inside. Xena looked down and laughed bitterly at herself. How ridiculous! The place she had spent her whole life trying and failing to enter has just let Moon walk inside with ease. Xena returned to the Xander family villa. She spent a long time discussing the divorce with her family and persuading them to agree. When she returned, the house was warmly lit, and the smell of food filled the air. Zayden Zane said from inside, “Ms. Jensen, come eat with us! Dad cooked so much!” Yannick Zane added, “Ms. Jensen, we’ve never seen Dad cook before! You have to try this!” Xena froze in place. In her past life, Julian had never cooked a single meal for her. Even after giving birth, no one had cooked at home for several days. He had just grabbed food from the cafeteria for her. Moon said in a gentle voice, “Julian, you still remember that I like fish?” Julian’s voice was warm, without the cold edge it usually had. “I do. Here, eat this. I took out the bones for you.” Xena stood frozen. She instinctively dug her nails into her palm. She remembered how much Julian hated fish. When they first got married, she cooked steamed fish the way she liked it. Julian’s face had darkened instantly, and he had left the table. She was startled and had spent a long time trying to calm him down. That was when she realized he hated fish so much that he could not even bear the smell. That day, she threw the fish into the trash so that he would return to the table to eat. For the next ten years, fish never appeared on the Zane family’s dining table. It turned out that he had stopped eating fish because Moon had left him. “Dad, I really like Ms. Jensen. I want her to be our mom.” “Yeah, Dad! I don’t want to live with Mom anymore. I want to live with Ms. Jensen.” Xena could not bear to listen to them any longer. She stepped back and turned to leave. Rain poured down from the sky. Memories struck her like heavy drops. In her past life, she was married to Julian for sixty years, yet she never knew happiness, even in her final moments. His heart had always belonged to his first love, Moon. She was the woman he had loved when he was young. Xena and Julian grew up in the same community. They had known each other from birth. When she was thirteen, she had her first crush and fell head over heels for Julian. He was the most handsome and talented boy in the community. But Julian was already in love with Moon, his first love. They had been together for several years. After graduating from college, Moon suddenly decided to study abroad. Julian waited for her for several years, only to receive a breakup letter. He was twenty-five at the time. Heartbroken and disillusioned, he agreed to marry someone else. Xena, who had always watched the Zane family, went straight to him to confess her feelings and offer to be his wife. She never forgot Julian’s calm, indifferent expression. “My heart belongs to someone else. Are you sure about this?” Xena nodded eagerly. She believed her love could eventually reach his heart. But after they were married, no matter what she did, he remained cold and distant. It was only after Moon returned that she understood how obvious the difference between love and indifference really was. In her past life, he had never mentioned a divorce. He gave Xena the title of his wife, but all his love was for Moon. Even their two sons grew increasingly distant from her, just like him. She spent her life waiting and hoping they would come back to her. Her later years were spent in a nursing home. She could barely move, and no family ever came to visit. The staff mistreated her every day. She called Julian and the children many times. They were always busy. They never had time for her. Later, they stopped answering her calls. As death drew near, she borrowed a neighbor’s phone to call Julian. He said hello twice and left the line open. On the other end, she heard Julian celebrating Moon’s birthday with their sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons. It sounded so lively. Even though her eyes had run out of tears, they still welled up. At the very end, Xena thought that if she were given another chance, she would finally learn to love herself. She would never spend her life with Julian again. Xena sat on a bench by the roadside for a long time. When she returned home, the house was empty. The dining table was a mess, with cups and plates scattered everywhere. She glanced at it and walked straight past. A signed divorce agreement lay on the vanity. Xena looked at Julian’s sweeping signature and felt a wave of relief. She was finally ready to cast off the restraints she had carried for sixty years. Just as she put the agreement away, someone pushed the door open. “Mom, you’re so lazy! The table’s a mess. Why didn’t you clean it up?” Zayden glared at her. Yannick frowned and added, “You’re so selfish! You saw us eating with Ms. Jensen and walked away. Now, you’re not cleaning up on purpose.” Julian’s eyes were as cold as ever. “It’s only a meal. What’s there to make a fuss about? Don’t forget your duties.” Chapter 2 Xena said calmly, “Whoever eats, cleans up. I’m not going to serve you all anymore. You’re responsible for your own mess.” Julian frowned and looked at her in open disapproval. “You don’t have a job. Your responsibility at home is to take care of the family.” Zayden shouted in anger, “Fine, we’ll clean it ourselves! You don’t work, and you’re lazy! Dad won’t want you for much longer anyway. He’s going to be with Ms. Jensen!” Yannick chimed in, “That’s right! Ms. Jensen is pretty, gentle, and knows how to dance. When she becomes my new mom, no one else will want you. When you grow old, we won’t even visit you or take care of you!” After that, the two of them ran downstairs in a rage. Soon, the sound of plates breaking and sharp screams sounded from below. Xena did not even raise an eyebrow. Her expression was icy. Julian glanced at her briefly. His eyes held no warmth, as if he were looking at a stranger who was acting out. “Xena, you’re a mother and a wife, not a kid!” After that, he grabbed a fresh set of clothes and turned to leave. “The project is urgent. I won’t be back for the next couple of days.” Xena watched his receding back and listened to the noise coming from downstairs. Her eyes welled up with tears. Her knuckles went white as she gripped the doorframe, and finally, she slammed the door shut. ‘To hell with my responsibilities!’ she thought. ‘To hell with being a mother and a wife!’ Starting that day onward, she would only be herself! The next morning, Xena went to the city hall to file for a divorce. “All your paperwork is fine. Come back in a week to pick up your divorce certificate.” Xena smiled and thanked them. She went to the airport and bought a ticket to leave. From that day on, Xena stopped taking care of the household for the three of them. She no longer woke up at 5 a.m. to make them a big breakfast. Zayden and Yannick were thrilled. They grabbed their allowance and ran out the door in excitement. “Who even wants to eat the nasty stuff you make? We’re tired of it anyway!” She stopped pushing the boys to do their homework. She stopped washing their clothes and picking up after them. The house quickly fell into a mess. Dirty clothes piled up, toys covered the floor, and the school kept calling about the kids’ grades. She unplugged the phone. Three days later, the school could not reach Xena and called Julian instead. He came home with Zayden and Yannick. When he saw Xena sitting in the rocking chair and reading, his face darkened. “Zayden and Yannick got food poisoning! How can you call yourself a mother? “You don’t wash their clothes or cook! You can’t even provide the most basic care. Xena, why’re you throwing a tantrum?” Xena closed her book calmly. “I’m not throwing a tantrum. I made it clear before. Everyone takes care of their own mess.” “They’re only ten!” Julian frowned at her. His eyes were cold and full of reproach. “They’re ten, not three! They can take care of themselves.” She remembered her past life. Before she went to the nursing home, she woke up before dawn every day. The three men in the Zane family all wanted different breakfasts. Making everything took at least an hour. She handled all the chores. The house was always clean, tidy, and in order. And what did she get in return? She was ignored and looked down on. After a car accident broke her leg, she was sent straight to a nursing home, and she died alone. Zayden’s eyes turned red with anger, and he shouted, “Mom, you’ve gone too far! You don’t deserve to be a mother!” “Exactly!” Yannick grabbed Julian. “Dad, I want Ms. Jensen to be my mom! I’m sure she’ll be the best mom in the world!” Julian said nothing. His eyes stayed on Xena. He seemed to be waiting for her to give in. Xena smiled slightly. “Then, let her be your mom. I don’t mind.” The room fell completely silent. Julian’s face darkened. “Xena, do you know what you’re saying?” “I do.” Xena took a deep breath. She was about to tell him about the divorce when someone knocked at the door. Moon’s voice trembled. “Julian, are you home?” The three of them froze. Then, they quickly went to open the door. Moon rushed in and threw herself into Julian’s arms. She cried and said, “Julian, I can’t find the bracelet my mom left me before she died! I searched every single place I visited in the past few days. The only place I haven’t checked is Ms. Xander’s room.” Xena frowned. “My room?” Moon nodded. “I used the bathroom that day and took the bracelet off. Can I look there?” “Go ahead! Go ahead!” Zayden and Yannick raced forward and pulled her inside. “Ms. Jensen, don’t cry! We’ll help you find it. We’ll find it for sure!” The two boys searched the room and scattered things everywhere. The room quickly became a mess. Julian just watched. He did not try to stop them. “Stop!” Xena finally stepped forward as Moon smashed the third picture frame. Moon turned, terrified. “I’m sorry, Ms. Xander. I didn’t mean to! I was just in such a hurry. I—” Zayden stepped in front of Moon, like a little knight protecting his precious treasure. “Don’t yell at Ms. Jensen!” Xena suddenly remembered something. When they were three, Zayden and Yannick had fought to climb onto her lap. They had snuggled into her arms and shouted, “Mom, when we grow up, we’ll always protect you!” Yannick stood in front of Moon. “Mom, is there a reason you don’t want Ms. Jensen looking in your room?” Xena felt a lump in her throat. She clenched her fists. Her voice was tense. “Do you think I stole it?” “I found it!” Moon held up a bright green bracelet from the drawer. Tears ran down her face. “This is it!” Zayden and Yannick shoved Xena. She stumbled back. “Mom, you’re a thief!” Chapter 3 Xena felt a jolt run through her body. She looked at the two boys in disbelief. They glared at her with open disgust. “How could you be our mother? You’re so embarrassing!” “Dad, I don’t want her to be my mom! Having a mother like her is a disgrace!” Julian stood beside Moon. A heavy atmosphere settled around him. His eyes were icy as he said in a low voice, “Do you have anything else to say?” From the looks in their eyes, they had already decided she was guilty. Xena clenched her fists. Anger surged inside her. She wanted to question them and prove herself, but in the end, she forced out only three words. “It wasn’t me.” Moon suddenly grabbed Julian’s sleeve. “Julian, forget it! I found the bracelet. Ms. Xander probably didn’t mean to.” Moon’s plea only made Julian angrier. He took a couple of deep breaths. Then, he raised his voice. “Xena, you made a mistake, but you still deny it! How’re you supposed to set an example for the children? Today, I’ll make you admit your fault!” Zayden and Yannick had picked up a ruler and held it out to Julian. Their eyes shone with excitement. “Dad! Use this to punish her!” Julian took the ruler and walked toward her. Xena stepped back on instinct. She wanted to turn and leave, but when Zayden and Yannick rushed over and held her on both sides, all her strength drained away. A wave of helplessness washed over her. She opened her hand and held out her palm. The ruler came down hard on it. The impact made her skin burn in pain. She saw the smug, taunting smile on Moon’s face. She saw the cold, indifferent look in Julian’s eyes. She suddenly remembered her past life. After her mother died, she was left a pink diamond ring. One day, when Moon came over, the ring went missing. Her mother had just passed away, and her hatred for Moon was at its peak. She made a huge scene and searched Moon’s bag despite the objections of the other three in the house. She found the ring in her bag, yet she was still the one who was punished. They all said she had put it there on purpose to frame Moon. They warned her not to use her mother’s death as an excuse to act however she pleased. Xena’s eyes welled up. She had thought her heart had gone numb, but it still ached with sorrow and helplessness. “Dad, I want to hit her too!” the two boys said together. “Mom did something wrong, so we should make her admit it!” Julian paused for a moment and handed the ruler to Zayden. “Fine. You should remember this day and learn from it. Never break the law or act without morals.” Those words felt like a hard slap across Xena’s face. She suddenly lunged forward and knocked the ruler out of Zayden’s hand. Her whole body shook. She stared at Julian with defiance and humiliation. She spoke slowly, emphasizing each word. “I’ll say this again. I didn’t do this! The one without morals is Moon, and you, Julian!” “What nonsense are you spouting?!” Julian’s gaze turned icy. “Since you refuse to admit your mistake, you can go to the cellar and reflect on it.” He grabbed her wrist and dragged her to the cellar door. Behind her, Zayden and Yannick stood on either side of Moon. “Ms. Jensen, you can come live with us!” “Ms. Jensen, please be our mother! You’ll be the best mom in the world!” Xena trembled all over. Her breathing grew rapid. Julian pushed her into the cellar with his own hands. As the door shut, his voice sounded again. It was gentle but cut deep. “Moon, could you take care of the two kids for the next few days?” Darkness swallowed Xena whole. She curled up in a corner and wrapped her arms tightly around herself. Tears streamed down her face. This cellar was her nightmare. In the year after she married Julian, she went out alone and was knocked unconscious. When she woke up, she was locked inside a cellar. She remembered darkness, the stench of rot and mold, a leering man with a crackling laugh, and rough hands covered in calluses. It was the most terrifying moment of her life. At the last possible moment, Julian broke open the cellar door and rushed inside. Those hands that usually held a pen picked up a stone and smashed it down on the man’s head. The screams and the smell of blood should have frightened her, yet they made her feel safe. That day, Julian held her gently and comforted her. She carried that memory with her for sixty years until she died. But the Julian who had carried her out of that cellar was gone. Chapter 4 Xena slowly got used to the darkness and forced herself to calm down. She counted the seconds and listened to the sounds outside. Julian, Zayden, and Yannick moved Moon’s belongings into the house. The three of them cooked together and bought a cake to welcome Moon into the house. She heard Julian’s voice. It was gentle. His tone held a smile. “Moon, I took two days off work. I want to stay with you and help you get used to things here.” How absurd! When she had given birth, she asked him to take a day off and stay with her. He had said with a cold face, “My job’s important. I can’t take time off whenever I want. Since you chose to marry me, you should’ve expected this. Xena, you need to learn to be independent.” She heard the two boys rush to clear the table. “Ms. Jensen, your hands are so pretty. You shouldn’t do housework. We’re old enough now. We can handle it.” She heard them push Moon back onto the couch when she tried to help with the laundry. “Ms. Jensen, don’t come over. The dirty clothes stink!” They complained as they washed. “Mom’s so lazy and so irrational. She can’t even compare to you!” Julian laughed along with them. “Moon, the kids are grown now. This is the time they should be learning life skills. You won’t need to do this kind of work in the future.” How absurd was that? To think people could be this biased! After ten years of constant effort in that home, she could not even compare to Moon. Xena bit her lip hard. She listened to the sounds outside and suffered in silence. She could not hold back any longer and let out a low, bitter laugh. The laugh turned into sobs as tears fell from her eyes. Two days later, starving and dizzy, Xena was finally released. Julian and the two boys wore casual clothes that matched the color of Moon’s dress. They looked like a small, happy family. But their eyes were cold when they looked at her. “Consider this matter over for now. From now on, do your duties and don’t cause trouble.” The two boys grabbed Moon’s hands and bounced with excitement. “Mom, look! The clothes Ms. Jensen bought are so beautiful. They are a thousand times… no, ten thousand times prettier than yours!” “Dad, Ms. Jensen, let’s go! I want to go to the new amusement park!” The four of them turned and walked away. Their laughter and chatter echoed far into the distance. Xena did not look up again till they were gone. In just two days, the living room had completely changed. The couch that she bought when they first got married had been replaced with a trendy leather one. The pillows and ornaments she had made by hand were gone. Everything had been replaced with Moon’s preferred soft, elegant style. The home she had poured her heart into bore only Moon’s marks. The only thing left was their wedding photo on the TV stand. Xena smiled brightly in the photo, while Julian’s eyes looked cold and distant. Xena glanced at it, opened the frame, took the photo out, and tore it into pieces. She made a simple meal, cleaned up, and then began packing. She sorted out every corner of the house and every item she had carefully prepared. Then, she threw them away. The last things she packed were their clothes. Over ten years of marriage, she had made almost all of their clothes by hand. If they could not compare to what Moon bought, there was no reason to leave them here. She gathered all the clothes she had made and carried them to the courtyard. She threw them into the fire, one by one. There was the first shirt she had made for Julian after their wedding. Then, there was the first pair of underwear she had made with a flushed face. She burned them all. There were even more clothes for Zayden and Yannick. From tiny onesies she had prepared during her pregnancy to blankets and little booties, everything went into the fire. Hundreds of pieces of clothes she had made over ten years, through all four seasons and countless nights, went up in smoke. The smoke filled the air. The courtyard gate flew open. Urgency flashed through Julian’s eyes before his expression hardened. He stared at the clothes that were still burning, and his eyes widened. “What’re you doing?” Chapter 5 “Mom, what’re you doing?!” Zayden and Yannick ran over. When they saw their clothes in the fire, they shoved Xena hard and grabbed the rest of the clothes from her hands. “That’s too much!” Zayden yelled. “Just because we said the clothes Ms. Jensen bought are nice, you want to burn all our clothes?” Yannick shouted, “You’re so stingy! Ms. Jensen’s clothes are beautiful! They’re beautiful! They are ten thousand times prettier than yours!” Moon stepped forward and held the boys. Tears ran down her cheeks as she said, “I’m sorry, Ms. Xander. I shouldn’t have bought those clothes.” Julian gritted his teeth as pain shone in his eyes. He reached out and wiped the tears from Moon’s face. “Moon, you did nothing wrong. You don’t need to apologize. “Xena, apologize right now!” The setting sun and the fire made Xena’s face burn red, but her eyes were as cold as ice. She stared at the four of them for a few seconds and let out a bitter laugh. She leaned down and threw the rest of the clothes into the fire. Then, she turned, walked back to her room, and slammed the door behind her. Soon, Zayden and Yannick’s screams rang out from outside. “Where are my pillows?! The dolls that I’ve had since I was little are gone!” “Our rocking horse! Our teddy bears! Our spinning tops! Our toy cars!” The boys cried like their hearts were going to break. “All our toys and clothes are gone! Dad, we don’t want a mother like that anymore!” The light in the room grew dim. Only a faint glow remained. Xena sat on the floor and hugged her knees. Her face was expressionless. It felt as if someone was squeezing her heart, and the pain made it hard for her to breathe. “Xena, open the door!” Julian knocked several times. He sounded angry. He twisted the doorknob hard. “Come out! We need to talk! “If there’s a problem, we can fix it. Stop acting like a child! “Zayden and Yannick are your sons! Do you think you’re fit to be their mother?” The door suddenly opened. Xena looked exhausted. Her eyes were cold and still. Her voice was calm. “I’m not fit to be their mother. Moon is.” Julian’s breath caught. His fists clenched. “What do you mean?” “I mean exactly what I said.” Xena met his usual cold gaze. “Julian, all these years I’ve been chasing a fantasy. If you like Moon that much, I’ll step aside and let you be happy.” “Xena!” Julian’s eyes turned razor sharp. “Zayden and Yannick are your sons!” He drew in a deep breath. “I made everything clear before we got married. I gave you the status of my wife and children. What more do you want?” Xena closed her eyes tightly. Marriage, children, status—she had wasted her life over these things in her previous life, all because she could not swallow her pride. Tears filled her eyes. “Julian, I don’t want any of it. We—” “It’s good if you don’t want it!” Zayden and Yannick ran forward. They clenched their fists and shouted, “You can’t even earn your own money! All you’re fit for is housework. Even that, you make us do it! You don’t even let us watch TV. You don’t let us play whenever we want! You’re not fit to be our mother! “What we want is a mom like Ms. Jensen, who’s beautiful, gentle, and can dance!” “Fine.” Xena lowered her head and looked at the two boys. Her voice was hoarse and low. “Zayden, Yannick, your wish will soon come true.” Julian’s brows furrowed. “What do you mean—” Bang! The door slammed shut. Xena leaned against it. Tears ran down her face. She looked down and slid slowly to the floor. Her voice was barely a whisper. “Julian, this time I don’t want anything. “I don’t want you either.” Chapter 6 The next afternoon, Xena packed her things. She planned to stay one night at the Xander family villa and then head straight to get the divorce settled. Julian suddenly burst in with Moon. He looked more anxious than she had ever seen him. “The teacher said you picked up Zayden and Yannick at noon?” “What?” Xena froze for a moment. “No, I didn’t.” Julian grabbed her wrist. His eyes were sharp. “The teacher said you called the school at lunchtime and told them to send the boys home. They still haven’t returned.” Moon ran forward with tears streaming down her face. “Ms. Xander, I know you were upset this morning when you heard I was going to the parent-teacher meeting with Julian. Did you hide them somewhere?” “Xena!” Julian squeezed her wrist painfully. “The boys like Moon and want to be close to her. That has nothing to do with you. Why would you do this? “Where did you hide them?” “I didn’t.” Xena frowned. Her heart started racing, and she said anxiously, “I neither called the school nor picked them up. Could something have happened to them?” Julian stared at her. When he saw the genuine worry in her eyes, he finally let go. “Search for them! I’m going to call the police.” He grabbed Moon’s hand and ran downstairs. His car was parked at the gate. They got in and drove off. Xena ran out after them. Panic made her heart race. Her arms and legs felt weak, and she could barely stand. She bit her tongue and forced herself to stay calm. She asked the neighbors to help search for them. Then, she rode her bicycle to all the places the boys usually went. She checked each spot and called out their names. The world felt silent and colorless. All she could see in her mind were her two children. She remembered how they looked as babies, how they babbled, how they took their first steps, and how they once promised to protect her. Even if they did not like her, even if they were ungrateful, even if she had decided not to love them anymore, she was still their mother. She wanted to cut ties with her children, but she also wanted them to be safe and happy. Tears ran down Xena’s face as her body shook. She rode her bicycle and searched for them everywhere. After checking the usual places, she went to the woods outside the city and followed the river. She searched there for a long, long time. By the time night fully fell, she was soaked in sweat and completely exhausted. She finally stopped and turned back. She had to go back to the house and check. When she parked her bicycle at the door, the lights inside were on. She could hear Zayden and Yannick laughing. Xena felt calm. She exhaled, moved her cold, numb hands and feet, and pushed the door open. The room fell silent. A ceramic cup broke at her feet. “Xena, how dare you come back?!” Zayden and Yannick hid behind Moon. “Ms. Jensen, please protect us. Mom locked us up on purpose and said we could never see you again!” “What?” The words hit her like a thunderclap. Her head rang, and she could barely hear anything else. She stared at Zayden and Yannick in disbelief. “What’re you saying?” “You!” Zayden pointed at her. “You took us at noon and locked us in that abandoned warehouse in the west. You said we couldn’t leave until we admitted we were wrong!” Yannick put his hands on his hips. “You even said we could never be with Ms. Jensen. You said Dad belonged only to you!” Chapter 7 Xena’s eyes were bloodshot. Her hand braced against the doorframe. Her knuckles turned white, and her nails dug into the wood. Her throat was dry from thirst, and her voice sounded frighteningly hoarse. Even so, it was sharp and firm. “Do you know what you’re saying? You’d better tell the truth!” Zayden and Yannick were frightened by the look on her face. They quickly hid behind Moon. “Enough!” Julian stood up abruptly. He seized Xena’s wrist and dragged her inside. His grip was so strong that it felt as if her bones might break. His gaze was sharp and full of disgust. “Xena, is this how you act as a mother? You hurt your own children out of jealousy, and now, you want to threaten them into lying for you?” “I didn’t!” Xena shouted. Her body shook violently. Her eyes burned red, and tears slipped from the corners. Julian froze. It was as if he had touched something hot, and his grip suddenly loosened. Moon suddenly said, “Julian, you’re scaring Ms. Xander.” Julian snapped out of it and looked at Xena. His voice was cold and sharp. “You’re still denying it! Xena, they’re only ten years old. Do you really think they’d lie on purpose to frame you? “Xena, you’re not fit to be a mother.” ‘Not fit to be a mother…’ she thought. Xena staggered. A bitter smile tugged at her lips, and she slowly closed her eyes. Tears streamed down her face. “Dad…” Zayden and Yannick suddenly began to cry. “That warehouse was so dark. We were so scared…” Julian quickly turned to them. His face softened with concern. “Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.” “Dad, we don’t want to live with Mom anymore. I don’t want to see her. I’m scared!” “Dad, Mom did something wrong. She should be punished. We should lock her in the warehouse, too!” Xena looked at the two faces in front of her, and a chill spread through her chest. She turned to Julian. The iciness in his eyes made her feel frozen in place. “Fine! I’ll make sure she’s punished.” He grabbed Xena’s wrist, dragged her outside, and shoved her into the car. The car drove off at high speed. The silence around him was suffocating, and the air inside the car felt heavy and still. At the warehouse on the western outskirts, he pushed her inside. “Xena, think carefully about what you’ve done! I hope this is the last time this happens.” The door locked behind her, and Xena fell into complete darkness once again. She felt no resentment and no fear. Pain and anger washed over her and then faded. Only complete silence remained. She let out a quiet laugh and lost consciousness. Xena dreamed all night. In her dream, she had been sick from the very start of her pregnancy. She threw up constantly and felt miserable. In the middle of her pregnancy, she had to stay in the hospital to prevent a miscarriage because her cervix was too small. She spent three months there alone. Every day, she received injections to stop her contractions. Her arms were covered in needle marks. The injections made her allergic. Her whole body broke out in rashes, but she could not take medicine because of her pregnancy. Her whole body itched so badly that she could not sleep for nights. When it was time to give birth, her blood pressure rose to a dangerous level. She had to undergo an emergency C-section and spent ten days in the ICU. Zayden and Yannick were born and weighed less than four pounds each. They were weak and sickly from the start. She went through endless days and nights alone and wore her body out completely to take care of them. Even when she was sick and running a fever, she cared for her two sick children. She had brought her children into the world at the risk of her own life and raised them with love and care and all the nurture she could provide. It was a pity they treated her in this manner. Xena felt pain like nothing she had ever known. Her heart felt torn to pieces, thrown into the air, and crushed underfoot. Chapter 8 When the first rays of morning sunlight fell on the floor, Julian opened the door and walked in. He stood over Xena and looked down at her. His indifferent gaze was cold and distant. “Do you know now what you did wrong?” Xena softly said, “I do.” She truly did. The moment she fell in love with Julian had been the biggest mistake she made in her life. Then, she made mistake after mistake and decided to marry him. Julian’s expression softened slightly. He turned and walked out. “Let’s go. I’ll take you home.” They did not speak on the way. He dropped her off at the entrance to the house. As she got out of the car, he suddenly said, “Don’t do such senseless things from now on. Xena, what I promised you will never change. As long as you are a good wife and a good mother, no one will take away your position.” “I understand.” Xena’s voice was calm. She walked straight inside. When she passed Zayden and Yannick’s room, she heard voices coming from inside. “Ms. Jensen, will our plan work? Will Mom really move out and stop controlling us all the time?” “Ms. Jensen, once Mom is gone, I won’t have to do homework anymore. I want to eat lots of snacks and watch TV all the time.” Xena paused for a brief moment. Then, she smiled bitterly and went back to her room. She packed her bags and returned to her parents’ house. She explained everything to them, said goodbye, and left. She planned to go to the city hall to collect the divorce certificate, then head straight to the airport. The sunlight was gentle as she walked slowly along the greenway. Julian’s car was parked nearby. The window rolled down. Moon sat in the front passenger seat. She held a bouquet of flowers and stared at Xena provocatively. Julian said firmly, “Get in the car.” Xena did not move. Julian stepped out of the car and walked over to her. He frowned and took the luggage from her hands. “Where’re you going with the luggage?” When he put her luggage into the car, Xena had no choice but to get into the back seat. “I’m going home for a few days.” Julian fell silent for a while, then started the car. “That’s fine. Go back and reflect. Take some time to calm down.” What was ironic was that he did not notice she was heading in the opposite direction from the Xander family villa. Xena was quiet and thought about an excuse so that he would let her out of the car. They had not driven far when a taxi coming from the opposite direction suddenly lost control and rushed straight at them. Honk! Honk! Honk! The sharp sound of the horn rang out. Julian yanked the steering wheel hard. It sent the car spinning aside. The sound of shattering glass filled the air. A sharp pain tore through Xena’s arm and forehead. Warm blood flowed out. As her consciousness began to fade, she saw Julian get out of the car in a panic. He rushed to the front passenger seat and pulled Moon out. His voice trembled in fear. “Moon, are you okay?” “I’m fine.” Moon smiled to comfort him. “The glass just cut me a little. It’s nothing serious.” Xena saw Julian pull Moon into his arms with teary eyes. He held her tightly, as if he wanted to press her into himself. “Thank goodness you’re okay! Moon, I can’t lose you again. “I’ll take you to the hospital. I’ll have someone handle the car.” He kissed her on the forehead, then wrapped an arm around her and helped her walk away. He never once looked back at Xena. Perhaps he had already forgotten her. … Xena woke up in the hospital. Bandages wrapped her forehead and arm. Her luggage was beside her bed. She let out a quiet breath of relief. The nurse told her that the driver who caused the accident had brought her to the hospital. Xena took her luggage and completed the discharge procedures despite the medical staff’s advice. She rushed all the way to the city hall and finally got the divorce certificate before the place closed. She kept her own copy and left Julian’s behind, along with the phone number of his workplace. She said to the staff, “Please notify him to come and collect it when you can.” When she stepped out of the city hall, the sun was setting at the edge of the city. The shadows of people on the street stretched long across the ground. She stood at the entrance for a while and watched. A young couple had just finished work and were walking home with two children carrying their schoolbags. Their laughter drifted down the street. She suddenly collapsed onto the ground and cried until she had no strength left. … In the early hours of the morning, a plane bound for the south slowly took off. Xena sat by the window and looked at the dark city below. She let out a soft sigh. The chains that had bound her for sixty years were finally gone. In this life, she would live only for herself.