Chapter 2
It wasn’t until night had fallen completely that Gareth Baxton returned home with our
son.
Seeing that I was still awake, he paused and then said, “Why aren’t you asleep yet? Don’t wait up for me next time.”
I sat quietly on the sofa and asked him, “Was the cake good?”
Gareth Baxton offered a reassuring smile, “Lyn, you know how Daisy is all alone in this city without any family. I’m her only friend; don’t overthink it.”
I didn’t respond, and Gareth Baxton, feeling awkward, shrugged it off and went to rest.
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Chapter 2
The next day was the parent–teacher meeting at our son’s school. I had promised to attend, so I got up early to get ready.
“Mom, couldn’t you put on some makeup before going to my school? It’s embarrassing; everyone says I have a yellow–faced mom,” my son, Noah Baxton, mumbled as soon as he got home.
“I should’ve just let Auntie Daisy go instead.”
Listening to his words, I instinctively touched my face, realizing it had been ages since I last put on a face mask. Every day was a rush of cleaning, doing laundry, cooking, and taking care of the two of them.
raised his
Not waiting for my response, Noah voice, “Forget it, talking to you is pointless. Just hurry up and make dinner. Dad will be home soon.”
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Chapter 2
That morning, my husband Gareth Baxton had asked for ribs. I had already taken them out to defrost before heading to the parent meeting.
I walked to the kitchen to start dinner when my phone rang. It was Gareth Baxton. Wiping my hands on my apron, I answered.
His distant voice came through, “Lovelyn Jones, something came up at work. I won’t be home for dinner.”
I wanted to ask if I should bring some food to him, but before I could, he abruptly hung up the phone.
I stood in the kitchen in a daze, hearing my son’s voice, “Mom, I’m going to a friend’s place. Don’t bother cooking for me.”
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Chapter 2
Then came the sound of the door closing.
I looked at the thawed ribs in the sink, feeling a strange congestion in my chest that made it hard to breathe.
With no one rushing me to cook, I finally had some time to scroll through my phone.
Opening Instagram, I scrolled down until something caught my eye. It was Daisy Morgan’s post: “You are my eternal support.”
The accompanying picture was of the soup I had gotten up to make at five in the morning, despite having a fever.
My heart clenched, and I called Gareth Baxton, “Gareth, did you enjoy the chicken soup?”
I could hear the impatience in his voice,
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Chapter 2
“Can’t you find something else to do? I’m busy here.”
I clenched my phone tighter and asked again.
He paused for a second, then casually replied, “Daisy had a stomachache at lunch, so I gave it to her. She said it was okay, just a bit salty. Use less salt next time.”
After hanging up, I couldn’t shake off the inner turmoil. Gareth used to pester me for soup, claiming only I knew how to make it just right for him.
Yet now, when I struggled to get up in the morning with a fever, he coldly said, “If you don’t want to make it, forget it. I won’t have any for lunch.”
Motivated by those words, I forced
*self to
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Chapter 2
get up and prepare the soup for him.
But he showed no hesitance in giving it to Daisy Morgan instead.
Daisy Morgan was Gareth Baxton’s colleague. She first appeared in my life six months ago, coming to our house to fetch some documents for Gareth.
That day, she wore a well–tailored suit and light, elegant makeup. She said, “Gareth asked me to come by and get some files for his meeting. Sis Lyn, I hope it’s not too much trouble.”
From that day onward, she seemed to become an unstoppable presence in Gareth Baxton’s life.
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