Winona stayed in the hospital for a full week before her allergic reaction completely went away.

During that week, she saw the photos Ella posted every single day.

It turned out the trouble Asher had mentioned was nothing more than cockroaches that had not been fully cleared from Ella's house. The father and son helped her find a new place, bought new furniture, and gradually turned an empty house into a cozy home, piece by piece.

On the day of her discharge, Asher and Carter, who had been absent for a week, finally appeared.

Seeing that Winona had already handled the discharge paperwork on her own, a rare trace of guilt flickered across Asher's stern face.

"I'm sorry I didn't come to the hospital these past few days. I've been busy helping my friend. She just came back to the country and doesn't know anyone else. I'm the only one who can help her."

Asher rarely apologized.

In the past, Winona would have been understanding and said it was fine. This time, however, she simply opened the car door calmly and got in. "I know. Let's go home."

Asher's gaze landed on Winona with slight surprise. Was she angry? However, he quickly dismissed the thought.

In their six years of marriage, Winona had always been gentle and understanding. She had never once thrown a tantrum at him. He was probably overthinking it.

After getting in the car, Winona kept her eyes closed to rest. However, she could feel a burning gaze repeatedly landing on her.

She opened her eyes and met Carter's stare head-on.

Seeing she was awake, Carter asked cautiously, "Mom, has your allergy gotten better?"

"Yes."

Just as she finished speaking, the car came to a stop. Winona opened the door and got out. After taking just two steps, she heard a low murmur from behind.

"Too bad. Ella can't be my mom now..."

Winona's steps froze. Her heart felt like it was being gnawed on by countless ants.

This was the son she had carried for nine months and raised for five years. Not only did he feel no fear or guilt for nearly killing her, but he even regretted not successfully clearing away the obstacle she represented for Ella.

How ironic.

Winona suppressed the pain in her chest and went straight to the bedroom. Carter's wish would come true soon enough.

That evening, Winona went to bed early. The space beside her was cold.

Asher often worked late in his study before coming to bed, so they barely spoke before sleeping. She was used to it by now.

Just as she was drifting off, a pair of large hands pulled her into a warm embrace. Asher's hot breath brushed against her neck, sending a shiver through her.

Winona was forced to open her eyes. Her sharp gaze caught sight of a long, golden, curly hair on Asher's shirt collar. She had always kept her hair black and straight.

A sudden wave of nausea surged up her throat. Winona abruptly pulled away from his embrace.

Asher snapped awake with a frown. "Haven't you recovered?"

Winona suddenly found it laughable.

His heart clearly belonged to another woman, yet here he was, acting concerned. Who was this performance for?

"Asher, I just realized you're not even as brave as a child."

At least Carter dared to say out loud that he wanted Ella to be his mother. Asher only referred to Ella with the word 'friend'.

Asher did not understand what she meant and asked in confusion, "What are you talking about?"

Winona let out a soft laugh. She did not want to put up with his fake front any longer and turned her back to him.

Asher lost all interest as well. He got up and left the bedroom.

Hearing the click of the door, Winona kept her eyes tightly shut.

…

The next morning, Winona received the divorce agreement from her lawyer.

[Ms. Warren, it's been drafted.]

She replied: [Thank you.]

She had just finished replying when Carter came downstairs and walked over to her.

"Mom, my birthday party has to be really grand this time. I want to invite someone very important."

Only then did Winona remember that Carter's birthday was coming up. She lowered her eyes and stayed silent for a long moment before agreeing.

This would also be the last birthday she would spend with Carter.

After getting her answer, Carter happily headed off to school with his backpack. Once he left, Winona opened a flight booking app and bought a plane ticket. The departure time was set for three days later, on the evening of Carter's birthday.

Over the next three days, Winona was busy preparing for Carter's birthday party. She also bought all the gifts he would receive from age six to 18 in advance.

He was still her flesh and blood. Even if they would never see each other again after this, she would fulfill her duty as a mother until he turned 18.

…

On Carter's birthday, numerous guests arrived at the invitation. Winona stood beside Asher, holding Carter's hand. They were surrounded by everyone in the center.

Unlike previous years, when he was always excited on his birthday, Carter seemed unusually sullen today. He kept kicking at pebbles on the ground, his small head constantly turning toward the entrance.

Even Asher kept glancing down at his watch.

Winona thought perhaps something about the party was not up to standard. Just then, a female voice rang out from the entrance.

"Carter!"

Carter's head shot up, and his eyes lit up. He pushed past Winona, who was standing in front of him, and ran toward the door.

"Ella!"

Winona stumbled, nearly falling to the ground. She took several steps back before barely managing to steady herself.

Carter did not notice at all. Like a baby bird returning to its nest, he threw himself into Ella's embrace. The dejection vanished from his face, replaced by a bright smile.

"You're finally here! I've been waiting for you."

Ella laughed and pinched his cheek, saying gently, "Traffic delayed me a bit. Sorry to keep the birthday boy waiting."

Asher also walked toward Ella. His usually cold expression showed a trace of a smile.

Winona endured the faint pain radiating from her ankle. She stood among the crowd, watching her husband and son abandon her to gather around Ella. Bitterness spread from her heart and through her entire body.

She should have known. The only person who could make the father and son act so strangely was Ella.

The very important person Carter mentioned must have been her too.

The lively crowd around them suddenly fell quiet. They exchanged glances with each other. After a long moment, the murmuring began.

"Who is that? Why would Mr. Rhodes and Carter personally greet her?"

"Could she be the real Mrs. Rhodes? Did we all mistake the wrong person earlier?"

"No, I heard she's Mr. Rhodes' first love from when he studied abroad. The one he couldn't have. She only recently came back to the country."

"God, poor Mrs. Rhodes. Her husband's first love shows up openly at their son's birthday party..."

"Shh, keep your voice down. Mrs. Rhodes is still here."

Winona looked away. Her heart only felt bitter now. There was no more pain.

After tonight, she would no longer be Mrs. Rhodes.

While everyone whispered, Carter was pulling Ella around the venue, eagerly showing her everything.

"Ella, this is my favorite cartoon character!" Carter pointed excitedly at different displays. "These are all my photos from when I was born, and this is a painting I did myself."

Asher followed beside them, his gaze carrying a faint smile. After making a full circle around the banquet hall, the three of them finally appeared before Winona.

"Ella, this is my mom."

Unlike his excited tone earlier, Carter's voice carried obvious reluctance now.

Ella's expression remained calm. She patted Carter's head and said with a smile, "Ms. Warren, you're so lucky to have such a well-behaved child like Carter."

Winona smiled back. "You will be as lucky too."

After tonight, not only Carter but Asher would be Ella's as well.

Carter did not want to linger in front of Winona. The next second, he pulled Ella away.

Asher instinctively moved to follow but caught sight of Winona standing alone, out of place with the lively atmosphere around her. For once, he softened his voice. "Thank you for your hard work preparing the party these past few days. Ella can keep Carter company. Why don't you go back to your room and rest?"

Winona lowered her eyes, hiding the mockery beneath them.

How desperately did he want to be with Ella that he would ask his own wife, their son's biological mother, to leave the birthday party?

Even so, she said nothing. She turned and went upstairs. She no longer wanted to waste time on these meaningless matters.

When it was time for Carter to make his wish, a maid called Winona back downstairs.

In the banquet hall, Carter stood in front of a giant cake, ready to make his wish. Ella and Asher stood on either side of him.

Winona stopped in her tracks when she saw the scene. It was such a harmonious picture. Anyone else joining would seem superfluous.

Noticing Winona's figure, Ella gave her an apologetic smile. "Ms. Warren, I'm so sorry."

She moved to step away from Carter's side, but Carter's small hand clutched tightly at Ella's clothes. He refused to let her leave. "Mom, I want Ella to stay with me."

Asher glanced at him and agreed. "It's Carter's birthday. Let's go along with what he wants. Don't take it personally."

Winona stood where she was and nodded calmly. She was about to let go of this father-son pair entirely. Why would she care about an insignificant position?

Carter visibly brightened. He closed his eyes, pressed his palms together, and made his wish.

"I hope I can grow up happy and healthy."

He paused for a moment. The next instant, he spoke in Istralian.

"I also hope Ella can be my mom!"

Carter's childish voice reached the ears of everyone present. Among the guests, quite a few understood Istralian.

For a moment, expressions varied across the crowd.

Asher froze at first, then explained without changing his expression, "Children say silly things. No need to take it seriously."

Carter pouted, his eyes full of reluctance. He wanted to say more. "But—"

Winona stepped forward and interrupted him, "This is your gift. It can make your wish come true."

She handed Carter the envelope she had prepared in advance. Inside was the divorce agreement she had already signed. She thought this gift was probably what Carter wanted most.

After a pause, she added, "There's a key inside..."

Originally, Winona wanted to tell Carter that his future birthday gifts were all stored in a safe. He just needed to open one gift each year in order.

Yet, before she could finish, Carter nodded dismissively. "Thanks, Mom. I got it."

He did not believe the gift Winona mentioned could actually make his wish come true. It was just the kind of joke adults told to humor children.

He casually set the envelope aside and looked at Ella with eager anticipation. "Ella, what gift did you get me?"

Ella pinched his cheek and pulled out a gift from her pocket with a smile.

Three matching T-shirts. In the center was a photo of the three of them together, their faces close and intimate.

"This is from when we went to the amusement park last time. I had it made into matching family shirts. Do you like it, Carter?"

"Wow!" Carter let out an excited cry. He picked up the shirt and examined it over and over, wishing he could put it on right then and there.

"I love it! Tomorrow, the day after, and the day after that... I'm going to wear it every single day!"

The photographer the Rhodes family hired arrived just in time to take the group photo for the birthday party.

Carter's eyes lit up. He tugged on Asher's sleeve. "Dad, can we all change into these shirts and take photos?"

Asher, who usually only wore formal attire, surprisingly did not refuse. After the three of them changed, they looked exactly like a family of three.

When it came time for the official photo-taking session, Asher frowned and looked at Winona, who had been standing to the side the whole time. "Why aren't you coming for the photo?"

Winona looked at the three of them in matching shirts, pressed closely together with no space between them. Her lips curved slightly. "I'm a bit tired. You all go ahead."

Asher did not think much of it. He signaled the photographer to begin. Ella and Asher stood on either side of Carter.

For better composition, the photographer directed Ella and Asher to move closer together. Bit by bit, their shoulders touched. Both froze at the same time, and they instinctively looked at each other.

Asher's usually indifferent eyes showed a rare hint of tenderness, while a blush rose on Ella's cheeks.

Carter stood between them, holding their hands, his face showing pure happiness.

Whispers continued among the guests all around.

"First, the son wishes for another woman to be his mother; then, they wear matching family shirts for photos. Mrs. Rhodes really can tolerate anything."

"What do you know? Back when Mr. Rhodes was abroad, he and his first love had a great relationship. He proposed 100 times. If his first love hadn't wanted to wait before getting married, Mrs. Rhodes would never have gotten that position."

"So, what you're saying is, Mr. Rhodes' true love has always been his first love. Now that she's back in the country, do you think they'll..."

Listening to the gossip around her, Winona suddenly remembered the scene from six years ago when Asher proposed to her.

No flowers, no ring, not even a confession. It had just been one simple question—"Will you marry me?"

Those four words sent her flying into this marriage like a moth to a flame.

Even after accidentally learning about his past with Ella after the wedding, she continued the marriage. She clung to the belief that she was the legitimate wife and that Asher would eventually fall in love with her.

However, it took her six full years to understand. A heart already occupied by someone else could not be warmed.

No matter how hard she tried, the moment the person in his heart reappeared, she would lose completely.

Watching Asher's gaze involuntarily fall on Ella, Winona let out a soft laugh. Fortunately, this marriage that never should have started would soon be over.