Chapter 3 Baby, Do You Miss your Mama?"

"Samuel, are you crazy offering that? I'll never accept such a foolish offer," Maya rejected.

"But my son requested—"

"That has nothing to do with me," Maya interrupted.

"You'll regret it if you refuse. I'll give you time to—"

"I'm leaving. There's no point in persuading me!" Maya left the room and quickly hailed a taxi.

***

Maya ignored her phone's ring due to her chaotic thoughts. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't affected by the threat. Her gaze wandered aimlessly through the still bustling city streets, which grew quieter as the taxi came to a stop. Maya exited after paying, her feet leading her through the vast area.

"Baby, Mama's here!"

Maya's current appearance was too glamorous for a place filled with graves and photos of the departed. However, who would notice her attire on a late night like this? Her feet kept moving until she spotted a photo. "Finally, I meet you!"

Maya gazed at the picture of a baby, still red-skinned and stiff. Beneath the photo was Mario Lin Ren, a name she had chosen because her husband had ignored this child due to his affair. "It's been 6 years. Baby, do you miss your Mommy?" she said, addressing her son.

Maya continued talking to the photo of Mario. "Forgive your Mama for being unable to protect you and letting you end up like this. If I hadn't fought with that woman, you'd still be alive, growing tall and handsome. Even though your father wouldn't have loved you, I would have taken care of you." A sad smile formed on her lips.

Maya never forgot her son. She always imagined what it would be like if he were still alive. "I so badly wish you'd call me 'Mama,' smile, and hold my hand. We would face the world together, just you and me, but..."

Maya couldn't hold back. She had never cried except for roles. She only cried when she found out her son was no longer alive, and now she couldn't contain her tears. She tried to keep a smile on her lips. "I'm sorry, you have to see your Mama cry. Don't be sad, Mama will stay strong."

Maya couldn't hold back, and her tears flowed even more. All the sorrow she had kept inside for years and the pain she had suppressed for so long seemed to overflow. Her hands covered her tear-stained face as if to hide her tears from her child. "Why am I suddenly so sentimental? It's embarrassing to cry in front of my son."

Maya tried to calm her turbulent emotions, her fingers roughly wiping away her tears, trying to eliminate all the sadness she felt. "Do you know, I met your father," Maya said flatly.

"Unfortunately, I couldn't bring him here to meet you." A bitter smile formed on her lips.

"That man has once again messed up Mommy's life. He even set such difficult conditions. He wants me to be his wife again and act as the mother of that child. He's worried about the child of the woman who destroyed our family and took your place." There was bitterness in her expression.

Maya didn't stop talking about Samuel's actions, which disappointed her. "He didn't even care when you died. Why is he so concerned about that child being sad because she wants her mother? What about you, my child? You're alone here. Shouldn't he be worried about you too?"

"Baby, should Mama accept his offer? Am I being selfish for thinking about my career?" Maya voiced all her concerns.

"Talking to ashes is futile. Can he answer you?" A cold voice filled with mockery made Maya turn. Her eyes widened.

"You?"

***

A little boy threw things, trying to drive away a young woman in white. "Little Young Master, you must sleep. Young Master will be angry if you don't sleep."

"I don't want to sleep until Mama comes. Papa promised to bring Mama back. Go away! Don't force me to sleep!" The only child of the Ren family raged.

The caregiver was puzzled about how to respond to the Little Young Master. "Sir, your mother will come if you sleep."

"You're lying. If I sleep, Mama will leave. I have to hold Mama's hand. I have to wait for Mama at the entrance."

The Young Master got out of bed quickly and agilely descended the stairs. The scion of Wealthy Ren Family , Stelio Ren, opened the main entrance. The cold air pierced his skin.

"Mama, you're definitely coming, right?" he said with hope.

***

Samuel Ren walked up to Maya and extended a handkerchief to her. "Why are you crying over ashes that can never turn back into a person? You're just wasting your time here, talking to that picture."

Maya pushed away the handkerchief Samuel offered. "Why did you come here? Just to mock me and my son? You'd better leave!"

"I can't leave. My son, Stelio, wants you to come back home with him. Come on, let's go! Don't keep my son waiting," Samuel insisted, his patience running thin.

"Do you really care about that child? Can't you see, your own flesh and blood, my son, also needs your attention? You never visited him since he turned to ashes, and now that you're here, you're being cold and insulting," Maya said angrily.

"He's already gone. Should I still pay attention to him? I only care about the living," Samuel replied indifferently.

"Are you the same way with your deceased lover?" Maya probed.

Samuel fell silent.

"I thought so. You must be using me to replace your lover, Mathilda Lin, right?" A bitter smile played on Maya's lips.

"You could do the same and consider my son a replacement for yours. Isn't that fair?" Samuel smirked.

"You make it sound so easy. I only have one son, and he's here as ashes. My child can't be replaced, especially not by someone who has taken everything from mine," Maya said with a touch of sadness.

"You're exaggerating. Does this child have the right to all the privileges I would provide for my legitimate heir? Even though this child is alive, everything I have is for my acknowledged son, Stelio, and no one else. An unexpected child won't get—" Samuel was interrupted by Maya.

"Get out! I don't want to hear those hurtful words in front of my son's face."

"He won't be hurt by my words. He's just ashes!"

"I said get out! I don't want to hear anything from you. You heartless man. You're not allowed to come here and see my son anymore," Maya stood up and pushed Samuel away as far as possible.

"I don't want to come either. Maya Lin, you have to come with me now," Samuel grabbed Maya's hand, his grip firm.

"Let go of me. I don't want to go with you or back to that damned house," Maya tried to free her hand from his grasp, but her slender arm couldn't release itself from his strong hand.

Maya glanced at her son's photo, her eyes filled with sadness whenever she distanced herself from it. Her attention was diverted when she heard her name being called out loudly, making her face look worried as she turned toward the source of the voice.