Chapter 3

He said to me, “Did you grow up in a place like this when you were a child? No wonder Grandma always looked down on you.” The cheesecake Sophie’s daughter offered brought back memories. "I saw you eating the cake," Sophie said, "taking advantage of someone's vulnerability and being persuasive—this time, you had to agree to go watch Haylee's competition."

I grabbed Haylee's shoulder and smiled, saying, "Don't worry, Maliyah will definitely attend."

A month later, on a Friday, I unexpectedly bumped into Brock at the school playground. Ivy stood beside him, linking her arm with his and greeting me proactively. "Maliyah, long time no see. Jamie didn't mention you'd be coming." Jamie was the school sprinting club captain; a race was scheduled for that day. However, I wasn't there for him.

Seeing me ignore Ivy, I walked toward the stands. Brock, realizing this, released Ivy's hand and hurried after me, sarcastically saying, "Maliyah, didn't you say you were going to cut ties with your son? Why are you embarrassing yourself by showing up here?"

I didn't bother responding, simply stating, "Please don't stand with me; I don't want to be misunderstood."

"What's the misunderstanding?"

"We were still a couple—that's the misunderstanding."

Brock paused in surprise, his face paling. "Maliyah, I advised you to take what's good and stop there." I didn't understand, too focused on Haylee waving excitedly on the track.

Chapter 3

Jamie stood five meters from Haylee; I knew he saw me. He obviously thought I was waving at him, given his clear disgust and disdain. The gun fired; the men's and women's races began simultaneously. Haylee was unexpectedly fast. Jamie, usually outstanding, unexpectedly fell halfway through the race.

As the competition ended, Brock and I spontaneously ran toward the track. Brock reached Jamie's side first, solemnly inquiring about his injuries from the school doctor. The doctor was about to speak when Brock gestured for him to wait, turning to look at me, texting with my head down, with a displeased expression.

"Maliyah, what were you doing dawdling? Couldn't you see our son was hurt?"

Brock's reprimand drew attention. I lowered my phone and looked at Jamie, pale and expressionless. His knees were tattered, swollen, and bloody; his left ankle was twisted at an unnatural angle. He instinctively reached for me, his eyes helpless. I found it amusing. What did this have to do with me? As Jamie wrote in his composition book last year, he had grown up. I, a mediocre housewife who couldn't even play a complete piano piece, no longer needed to worry about him unnecessarily.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, I bypassed Jamie, went to the women's track, embraced Haylee excitedly, and beamed. "Haylee, you were amazing! Congratulations on winning the silver medal! Let's go, baby. Your mom's car is outside; she's taking us for that seafood feast you wanted."

Feeling relaxed and happy, I walked out and got in the car, just as Brock's phone…

Chapter 3

rang. I didn't answer. He texted, "Discussing divorce matters." At the restaurant, I asked Sophie to take Haylee inside; I would come later.

Two months later, I called Brock. The phone rang briefly before a frustrated male voice answered. "Maliyah, where were you…now?"

"Wherever I was, you could tell me when you have time for City Hall."

Brock paused, deliberately slowing his tone. "Come to the hospital. Jamie's badly injured; he may not compete again. The doctor needs to speak with us."

"Oh, if he can't compete, he can't. You don't need to tell me such a trivial matter."

Brock was incredulous. "Maliyah, how could you…say such things? Are you still Jamie's mother?"

I lay my head on the car seat's soft pillow, calm. "Brock, you called Jamie into the study; you asked him to tell me he didn't want to live with me, an outsider, after the divorce. Why act like I abandoned him?"

"Don't you think you and your father are contradictory and ridiculous?"

The phone fell silent. I thought he was ignoring me when he finally spoke again.