Chapter 7

With his head tilted, he looked up at Shayne. His teary eyes held the unique innocence and confusion of a child. He looked both pitiable and endearing.

When Shayne squatted down, Zach no longer had to look up.

Zach met Shayne's gaze and sobbed, "Dad, won't you say yes?"

"You're still young." Shayne sighed, clearly affectionate toward his son. He reached up to ruffle Zach's hair. "Zach, if you keep losing your temper at Mom like this, you'll regret it in the future."

Zach shook his head. "No, I won't!" As if worried that Shayne wouldn't believe him, he wiped away his tears. "Dad, let's leave Mom and live with Ms. Luna. I dream of having Ms. Luna as my mom!"

Every word he spoke was firm and resolute.

Instead of responding, Shayne only patted Zach on the shoulder before standing up.

I bitterly turned to look at Zach. I had always thought his desire to be a family with Luna was just a fleeting whim... However, he had had more than one outburst. His attitude didn't seem like a joke.

He genuinely longed for Luna to be his mother.

What about me? What about the mother who unconditionally devoted herself to him? Did I deserve to be cast aside?

Pain flooded my heart, like countless ants gnawing at a bleeding organ.

"Honey." Shayne came over and hugged me, gently patting my back to soothe me. "Don't be sad. Zach is still young; he doesn't understand what he's saying."

I had repeatedly advised myself not to take to heart anything Zach said. He was still a child, and I should be forgiving of him.

Yet, Zach's straightforward words always seemed to cut right through me.

I managed to let out a small hum as I stayed in his embrace. Once I calmed down, I stepped out of his arms. "Let's eat."

Shayne released me.

I turned and went to the kitchen, placing the dishes on the table.

Worried that the ceramic pot would burn me, Shayne voluntarily carried the pot.

Zach, clearly disappointed that he hadn't achieved his goal, exclaimed, "Dad!"

"Eat," Shayne said firmly, not allowing any refusal. "Don't make me say it twice."

Only then did Zach obediently sit down, holding his small bowl and taking small sips.

There were too many glass shards on the floor. As I was afraid the boys would get hurt, I started cleaning up while they ate.

While eating, Zach swung his chubby little legs and muttered, "I hate Mom! I despise Mom!"

I stopped sweeping when I heard that.

Before my heart could ache, I reminded myself that I had already anticipated this. During the initial period when I didn't let Zach contact Luna, I knew he would fiercely rebel. His words would only get more extreme.

I just had to endure it.

By the time I finished cleaning up the glass shards, both of them had finished breakfast. Shayne led Zach to the door and reminded him, "Tell Mom goodbye."

"I don't want to!" Zach huffed, turning his head away and refusing to look at me.

I stood in the house, watching the two of them. My heart, which had been in intense pain, seemed to finally calm down...

"Honey." Shayne took my hand, leaned in, and secretly kissed my lips. "Don't take it too seriously; it will be fine after this period passes."

"Yeah."

…

Zach's kindergarten was a daycare. He had to be dropped off before eight in the morning and picked up by six in the evening.

Usually, Shayne would pick up Zach on his way home from work as he didn't want to trouble me.

But starting today, I decided to resume the responsibility of picking Zach up. I just hoped that spending more time with Zach would strengthen his love for me.

However, I didn't inform Shayne in advance today. I wanted the three of us to go home together. To free up time for picking up Zach, I quickly finished my chores and even left an hour early, arriving at the kindergarten gate ahead of schedule.

After I waited for a few minutes, classes finally ended. The electric gate opened, and the teachers held back the children, confirming each parent's name before allowing them to leave with their parents.

"Zach Pearce!" a teacher called out loudly. "Is Zach's parent here?"

"Here." I raised my hand and quickly walked forward. At the same time, another person rushed up beside me. I instinctively turned my head.

I saw Luna, dressed in a long red dress, her wavy hair cascading over her shoulders. She wore exquisite makeup and had a warm, confident smile. "Hello, miss. I'm Zach's parent."

I froze in place.

Why was Luna at the kindergarten, presenting herself as Zach's parent to pick him up? Did Shayne deceive me? He said he would pick him up on his way home from work, but in reality... was he having Luna come to pick him up?

Was this all just to give Luna enough time to bond with my child?

This speculation left me stunned, and my heart ached painfully.

"Mrs. Pearce," the teacher spoke to Luna while keeping a wary eye on me, "She also responded when I called for Zach's parent. Do you know her?"

What?

The teacher actually said that Luna was Zach's mom.

My mind was in a whirl!

Slowly, I began to realize something... No one at this kindergarten knew I was Zach's biological mother. Instead, everyone seemed to assume that Luna was Zach's mom.

That meant Luna had already come here to pick up Zach many times without my knowledge.

So... who had brought her to pick up Zach? Who could have made the teachers assume Luna was Zach's mother?

The looming truth felt like a sharp blade, slowly slicing into my heart.

Was it Shayne?

Luna had never seen me before, so she looked a bit surprised when she saw me. She reached out her hand toward Zach, saying, "Sweetie, come over and see if you recognize this lady."

Me?

Lady?

I found it laughable. Zach was the child I carried for nine months, and now they were saying I was just some "lady."

Ridiculous.

I was about to retort when I saw Zach obediently walk over to Luna, take her hand, and look at me from a distance. After a long pause, he shook his head, exclaiming, "Mom, I don't know her!"

Boom!

The smile vanished from my face, and all I could hear was a loud buzzing that drowned out all other sounds in my ears.

My own son called Luna "Mom" in front of me. He even said he didn't know me.

His cruel decision tore my heart to pieces. Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face.

Luna, still maintaining her poised smile, remarked, "You must have mistaken him for someone else, lady."

"I'm not mistaken." Hastily wiping away my tears, I cried out, "Zach, come here!"

"No!" Zach hid behind Luna, glaring at me with his wide eyes. "You don't think I'll go with you just because you call my name, do you?"

Luna exchanged a glance with the teacher.

The teacher cautiously asked, "Could she be a child trafficker?"

Luna shook her head. "I'm not sure."

To ensure Zach's safety, the teacher decided to call the police.

But I didn't care anymore. I quickly stalked toward Zach and announced, "Zach, I am your mother!"

"No, you're not!" Zach frantically hid behind Luna. "My mom is her!"