The Reclaimed Rose

"Mom, can you please divorce Dad?"

It was 9:00 pm. I was trying to put Zach to sleep. Just when I thought he was about to drift off, he suddenly asked that question.

That short question left me stunned for a long minute. My hand patting on his back also froze.

I felt a painful twinge in my chest.

Over the years, my relationship with my child's father had been pretty good. Logically, a child nurtured by love should feel happy living in such an environment.

And yet…

Why did he have such thoughts?

Puzzled, I asked, "Why do you say that?" I softened my voice in case I unintentionally scared him.

"You never let me eat fried chicken or ice cream..."

As he was almost asleep, his voice was unclear and tinged with the innocence typical of his age.

I didn't know whether to feel amused or disappointed.

To think that he wanted me to divorce his dad because of something so trivial...

Children sure were naive.

As I listened to his breathing gradually grow steady, I knew he had fallen asleep. I was about to get up and leave when…

Ding!

A sound came from his bedside.

I turned my head and saw a bright light from under his pillow.

I lifted a corner of the pillow, only to sigh when I found a tablet hidden beneath it.

Since he was still young, and I was worried he might develop myopia, I strictly limited his daily electronic devices screen time.

Although he often grumbled in protest, he had abided by my rules all along.

I didn't think he would secretly hide the tablet today.

I casually pulled out the tablet to turn it off. However, I stumbled upon a group chat page as the screen lit up.

The group chat was named "Happy Family ^_^".

At a glance, it was clearly Zach's style, as the emoji was one of his favorite expressions. The group profile picture looked like a family photo of four.

I zoomed in on the profile picture.

The woman in the photo carried two children in her arms, appearing cheerful and outgoing.

One of them was my son, Zach Pearce. He held a big ice cream cone while wearing a satisfied smile.

My husband, Shayne Pearce, stood behind the woman.

With soft, affectionate eyes, he gazed at the woman just like the way he used to look at me when we first fell in love.

My heart felt as if it had been pricked by a needle. Despite the uncontrollable ache, I couldn't help looking at the woman's name saved on the phone...

My son had actually saved her contact as "Mom."

I felt like I was struck by lightning.

With trembling hands, I clicked into her profile.

To my shock, her nickname was "Moonlit Sky."

Moon?

Was this Luna Sider, Shayne's first love?

I couldn't help finding how absurd this situation was. It felt like I was dreaming.

My husband and son had formed a family group with my husband's first love and her child. They had built a new home with someone else.

I was the only one left behind.

It felt as if someone was gripping my heart tightly; I could barely breathe.

There were so many messages in the group that my mind struggled to process them as my finger numbly scrolled up...

The three of us also had a family group. However, aside from me occasionally sending messages asking Shayne when he would come home for dinner, this group was silent as if it didn't exist.

At that moment, the "Mom" in the group suddenly sent a video.

I shakily clicked on it.

It was a carefully edited video.

…

In just a minute, countless scenes flashed by.

Fried chicken, soft drinks, Ferris wheel, carousel…

Zach's youthful face was filled with carefree joy.

Even Shayne, who wasn't good at showing emotions, couldn't hide his indulgence and affection any longer.

I could barely focus on the other two anymore.

The images gradually slowed down before the camera finally settled on Zach.

Closing his eyes, he balled his fists and earnestly made a wish over a big cake.

I heard him saying in his young and sincere voice, "I hope Ms. Luna becomes my mom. I wish the four of us could be together forever!"

Applause erupted. Luna and her child clapped together, wishing that Zach's dream would come true. Shayne, too, had a smile on his face.

They looked every bit like a happy family.

But what about me?

I was in so much pain that I could hardly breathe.

The "Mom" in the group sent another voice message. Her voice was cheerful and lively, like a warm older sister who unconditionally supported Zach.

"Sweetie, you told me before that you wanted me to be your mom. You also said that anyone would do, as long as it wasn't your current mom. I was wondering why you dislike your mom so much. I later found out that it's because your mom is too controlling. There are a lot of things that she doesn't let you eat or play with. To help you grow up happily, I'll be your mom in this group from now on.

"This group chat is a home for our family of four."

Was that so?

Anyone would do, as long as I wasn't his mom, huh?

As though torturing myself, I let every word echo in my head. I replayed the message over and over, but I still couldn't believe it.

My child, the one I gave birth to, the one I had carefully raised... The child I devoted all my energy to actually despised me so much.

Even as I closed my eyes, the tears flowed uncontrollably.

Zach had always had a sensitive stomach; just a tiny bite of something his tummy didn't agree with could leave him sick. He had been hospitalized a few times since he was young due to gastroenteritis.

That was why I had always controlled his diet, meticulously preparing various meals for him every day, hoping to help restore his health...

Yet, to him, all my efforts for him had turned into cases of harm.

No wonder Zach's gastroenteritis had flared up again recently. Despite how anxious I was, I couldn't find the reason.

So, this was it.

I listened numbly to the voice messages Zach sent before. Each accusation against me felt like a sharp knife stabbing into my heart, nearly suffocating me.

Zach suddenly stopped talking after that.

I knew it was because I came to his room to tuck him in. He couldn't let me know he was still secretly using the tablet, even if he wanted to continue chatting with Luna in the group. He could only go along with me.

And now, he was already asleep.

I bit my lip, tears streaming down my face as I looked at him.

My beautiful child, so exquisite like a doll.

He spoke without any guile; he said whatever he felt.

But…

Lies didn't hurt as much as truths did.

The truth was like a knife.

I had always thought that as his mother, even if I was a little strict with him and he felt annoyed now, he would understand later that I did it for his own good.

I never thought he could dislike me to this extent.

I felt an overwhelming sadness and anger.

But I was clear-headed. I understood that Zach was just a child. Like a blank piece of paper, he knew nothing and understood nothing.

But for him to be so repulsed by me and to favor Luna...

The only possible reason must be because of my husband, Shayne.