Blurb：
Emily walks away from the Northwood estate, leaving behind David’s cruel smirk and her son Jacob’s heartbreaking betrayal. After years of emotional neglect, she finally breaks free when Jacob chooses Auntie Sophia as his new mother. Starting over as an art instructor, Emily meets a mysterious little girl named Olivia who’s equally wary of adults’ intentions. This is a story of motherhood lost and found, of healing after heartbreak, and discovering that sometimes the deepest wounds come from those we love most. Will Emily find redemption in her new life? Can any child replace the son who rejected her? And what secrets does little Olivia hold about her enigmatic uncle?
Content：
The day I left the Northwood estate, David was leaning against the doorframe.
He watched me pack, a smirk playing on his lips. What’s this? he drawled. Finally realized that even having my child wasn’t enough to make me marry you? Decided he’s useless now, so you’re not even going to take him with you?
Before I could answer, Jacob, who had been eavesdropping just outside the door, crept into the room. He carefully tipped his piggy bank upside down, pouring a handful of coins and crumpled bills into my palm.
Mommy, you have to take care of yourself, okay? he said, his small voice earnest. And and can you please promise you’ll never, ever come back?
He looked up at me, his dark, round eyes brimming with an almost unbearable hope. Auntie Sophia said she’ll only be my new mommy if you leave for good.
After he said it, he just blinked at me, the anticipation practically vibrating off him.
David’s voice dropped, a low warning. Jacob.
Is that what they teach you at school? How to speak to your mother?
Jacob’s head drooped, his lower lip jutting out in a pout. But last time, when Auntie Sophia asked if you liked Mommy, you said no, Daddy. So so I don’t really like her that much either If she wants to go, just let her go
His words no longer had the power to wound me. Not anymore.
A week ago, on his sixth birthday, he’d thrown a tantrum, insisting he wanted to celebrate with David and Sophia. In that moment, something inside me shifted. The desperate, grasping fear I’d lived with for so long simply vanished. I had no desire to stop him.
Later that evening, I walked past the restaurant. Through the window, I heard him proudly telling the violinist that Sophia was his mother. My heart remained perfectly still, a calm, flat sea.
I was kneeling on the floor, packing, so my eyes were level with his. I closed my hand around the money he’d given me and gave a small, firm nod.
Alright, I said, my voice quiet. I didn’t call myself Mommy.’ I promise you.
I will never come back to this house. And I’m not your mother anymore. You’re free, Jacob.
He seemed stunned that I’d agreed so easily. He stared at me for a beat, his expression blank. Then, his face split into a wide grin. Yay! Auntie Sophia is going to be my mommy!
He bolted from the room, shouting that he was going to call Sophia and tell her the good news.
I packed the last of my clothes, zipped the suitcase shut, and stood up. David had been silent this whole time, but as I moved to pass him, his hand shot out, clamping around my arm.
His eyes were half-lidded, his expression unreadable. Emily, not liking you doesn’t mean I hate you.
His voice was low, threaded with a faint, rising irritation. I’ve gotten used to you over the years. What’s all this drama about? Do you really have to leave?
I wanted to say something, but it all felt pointless and melodramatic. Instead, I just pulled my arm free. Take care of Jacob, I said.
I dragged my suitcase out of the house.
It was a long walk from the mansion to the main gate of the private community. The weather mirrored my mooda bitter wind whipped fallen leaves from the pavement, slapping them against my legs. It would have been easy to look pathetic, to feel small and defeated.
But I never once looked back.
I had already rented a small apartment and found a job. Drawing on my old degree, I’d been hired as an instructor for a children’s art program.
On my first day, I walked into the staff office to find a few of my new colleagues huddled around a little girl.
Olivia, darling, does your uncle like sweets?
Oh, and what’s his type? What kind of girls does he like?
Olivia, sweetie, is he picking you up tonight?
The little girl’s face was a mask of stoicism. You said you wanted to talk to me about my artistic style.
The teachers exchanged awkward glances.
If there’s nothing else, I’m going back to the classroom, she announced. She turned, saw me, and gave a polite, “Hello, Miss,” before walking out, her gaze fixed straight ahead.
My new colleagues were friendly enough. After showing me the ropes, they started gossiping about the girl.
You probably don’t know, but her uncle is Andrew Harris.
He and David Northwood are basically tied for the title of Northwood’s most eligible bachelor. Well, they were. I heard David’s back with his first love, Sophia Somerset, now that she’s returned from overseas.
So, I guess that just leaves Andrew.
Hearing David’s name again, I felt nothing, as if they were talking about a stranger. But Andrew Harris
I sighed silently.
He was David’s biggest rival. And he’d never made a secret of his contempt for me. Every time we’d crossed paths, he’d hit me with some kind of insult.
Pathetic. A picture of David and Sophia kissing is trending online, and you don’t even make a peep.
What do you even get from being with him? A ring? A title?
For God’s sake, Emily, have you ever considered looking at someone else?
I decided it was best to keep my distance from the girl named Olivia. If Andrew found out I was working here, he’d probably pull strings to have me fired.
David called while I was on the subway home, packed shoulder-to-shoulder with the evening rush.
Hello?
The noise on my end was deafening. He paused before speaking. Where are you?
On the subway.
A dry, almost inaudible chuckle came through the line. The subway? Emily, you’re really reaping what you sow.
I gripped the handrail. Did you need something?
I could hear his footsteps, the sound slow and deliberate even through the static, just like the man himself. I could picture him perfectly: rising from his massive desk, walking over to the floor-to-ceiling windows of his office.
Jacob has a fever, he said. Give me your address. I’ll come get you.
No, thank you, I said, my eyes dropping to the floor. The staff at the house will take care of him. He doesn’t need me.
David’s voice hardened. Are you serious about abandoning him? Emily, he said, his tone laced with disbelief, is this all because he said he likes Sophia more?
David never understood my feelings for Jacob. Even after I told him, countless times, that I had taken emergency contraception after that night, he refused to believe me. Because I had been in love with him for years, he was convinced I had gotten pregnant on purpose to trap him in a marriage.
In his eyes, my love for Jacob was never real. He was just a tool. A pawn.
He had no idea about the countless nights I’d spent spiraling, consumed by the fear that Jacob was slipping away from me, that his affection for Sophia was growing stronger every day.
The train pulled into a major hub, and the car emptied out.
It’s not that, David, I said, finally finding a seat, the ache in my legs easing. My voice was soft. It’s because he really does like her more. And I’m done trying to force it. I’m done twisting myself into knots trying to win his affection.
He was about to say something else, but then a small voice from his end confirmed everything I’d just said.
Daddy! My fever’s gone! Jacob chirped. Does that mean I can go play with Auntie Sophia tomorrow?!
I heard David swallow hard. Emily, listen to me
I ended the call.
I got off at the next stop, determined to scrub the entire conversation from my mind.
Hearing his mother’s name, Jacob paused. He stopped pestering his father about Sophia and tugged on David’s trousers instead.
Daddy, was that Mommy on the phone?
David gave a slight nod.
Oh. Did you tell her I was sick? Is she coming home to see me?
David looked into his son’s bright, round eyes and, after a moment’s hesitation, murmured, Yes.
Jacob had known it all along. He knew Emily would worry and come rushing back.
I’ll go put on a mask so I don’t get Mommy sick, he said, already turning. I can play with Auntie Sophia some other time.
A week had passed. The idea of seeing his mother didn’t feel so bad anymore.
David’s lips thinned. Mommy’s working late, he said. I told her not to come back.
Jacob, a fever patch still stuck to his forehead, just blinked. Oh. Well, I guess we can go see Auntie Sophia then
He didn’t seem particularly disappointed. Mommy would definitely come back to see him. She always got the most anxious whenever he was sick.
Still, it was a little strange. In the past, even if she was in another country, she would have been on the first flight home the moment she heard he was sick.
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