Chapter 3
When I returned home with my basket, Edward stood up and instinctively moved aside
probably because of the smell of dirt on me.
Only when he saw the mushrooms piled high in the basket did a flicker of guilt cross his face.
“Why are you still doing this kind of hard labor?” he asked.
“We… have money now,” he added, almost in a whisper.
In my past life, after he left, I would receive a sum of money regularly – just enough to scrape by in the village.
Not enough to go anywhere far.
I didn’t explain. I simply said, “It keeps me busy. I’m used to it.”
Then I picked up the needle and thread on the table and began sewing mosquito–repelling sachets.
The herbs only last about a week. Theo’s legs were already covered in red welts from the bites.
But for some reason, I didn’t feel the same ache in my heart that I once did.
Theo glanced at the sachet I was sewing and frowned. “Mom, there won’t be mosquitoes in the city. You don’t need to make these for us.”
Of course.
The Kensingtons had never cared about anything I gave them.
In my past life, before the black sedan drove off with them, I had tearfully stuffed Theo’s arms with sachets and little hand–sewn comforts.
They were thrown away before the car, didn’t even make it to the village entrance.
One of the village ladies recognized my stitching and brought them back to me. The way she looked at me still burns in my memory.
At the time, I thought it was the Kensington matriarch’s order.
Later, I even traveled all the way to town to buy a phone, hoping I could stay in contact with them.
But every video call with Theo was the same:
“My riding lesson is starting.”
“Aunt Amelia’s calling me.”
I scrimped and saved, made the long trip to the city just to visit him at his school in secret.
He saw me.
And ran.
Ran straight into the car, terrified I might call out his name.
–
part pity, part mockery –
–
As I stood there watching his retreating back, I finally understood that had lost warmth.
–
it wasn’t the sachets that had lost their scent. It was their hearts
After that, I never tried to see him again.
Not until he came of age.
By then, my body had been worn down from years of hard labor. The doctor told me I didn’t have much time left. I called Edward, and after after a long silence, he said, “I’ll arrange a hospital for you.”
Chapter 3
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But I didn’t want treatment.
I just wanted to see my son one last time.
So I put on my best dress, used the last of my savings to get my hair done, and went to his grand coming–of–age ceremony.
“Theo, don’t you recognize Mom?”
But he clung lovingly to Amelia’s arm, looking at me with disgust.
“Who are you? Why are you trying to wreck my family?”
Edward stood silently at his side, saying nothing.
The cold calculation and ruthless indifference of the rich the Kensingtons embodied it perfectly.
–
Amid the glittering lights and fine champagne, I was nothing but a shadow, shoved into a corner like a dirty rodent.
Eventually, I was hit by a speeding truck.
Lying on the ground, looking up at the sky, tears slid from the corners of my eyes.
Heaven had treated me cruelly.
And yet, when I opened my eyes again – I was back on the day the Kensingtons came to reclaim their son. This time, I won’t be the pitiful fool I was before.
Chapter 3
