Chapter 3

The children's funeral was scheduled for the following week. For five days and nights, I sat silently in Nate and Cece's room, clutching their photos and refusing to cry or speak.

I could almost feel their warmth lingering in the room, and I swore I could still hear them sweetly calling me Mommy. The memories felt so fresh… so real.

My childhood friend, Luke Armstrong, rushed back from overseas, dropping a major business deal. The moment he walked in and saw my state, he embraced me tightly.

"Let it out, Aster… Keeping it all inside is only going to hurt you," he whispered.

I looked at him and asked, "Nate and Cece… are never coming back, are they? Do you think they regret having me as their mother? Why was I so useless?"

Before my parents passed away, I married Lionel. Back then, Lionel wanted to be my father's graduate student, and despite the college having their preferred candidate, Dad fought to give Lionel a spot because he saw him as a hardworking man from a struggling family.

After graduating, Lionel pursued me relentlessly. I married him because I thought he was honest and dependable. We married, and Dad paid for our house, car, and even for Nate and Cece's essentials—all so Lionel would be good to me for a lifetime.

When we got our marriage registered, Lionel set the wedding date for July 26 and I agreed. Only later did I find out that it was the day Fiona and her wealthy husband were leaving the country.

The spite was obvious, but I kept telling myself it was just a coincidence. On the day of my wedding, Luke asked if I was sure. I told him it was hard to find someone as honest as Lionel, so I settled for Lionel.

Yet, how did it end up like this?

Lost in thought, I headed out to buy funeral items for the kids. Suddenly, Fiona and Eva approached me, both carrying shopping bags. Fiona looked fresh and radiant, flaunting a new diamond necklace and ring.

"Aster? It's only been a few days, and you look… awful." Then, she noticed the white lilies in my hands, and her eyes lit up as she continued, "Funeral flowers? Did someone in your family die? Lionel hasn't mentioned anything."

Rage overtook me, and I slapped her across the face. Lionel, who had just parked the car, saw what happened and ran over to shove me away roughly. Due to my injured leg, I lost my balance and fell to the ground.

Lionel screamed at me, "Aster, are you crazy? How dare you hit someone! Don't you know Fiona just got out of the hospital?"

Fighting through the sharp pain in my leg, I slowly stood up and slapped Lionel hard across the face. "Let's get a divorce, Lionel."