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.

Winona could not bear to watch the three of them any longer. She walked alone to the back garden.

Her phone buzzed.

Winona swiped up on the screen, and a text message popped up.

[Dear passenger, your flight will depart in eight hours. Please board on time.]

Winona's face broke into the first genuine smile of the day. She put away her phone and prepared to go upstairs to pack her luggage.

She had barely taken a few steps when she ran into Ella.

Ella smiled and blocked Winona's path. "Ms. Warren, you're the hostess of this party. Why are you out here all alone?"

Winona knew Ella was not as innocent as she appeared on the surface.

Otherwise, she would not have gotten Winona's contact information on her very first day back in the country. She would also not be posting photos with Asher and Carter on social media every few days.

"Ms. Levine, just say what you want to say."

Ella stared at her for a long moment before letting out a soft laugh and dropping the pretense. "Ms. Warren, you're a smart woman. Asher and I were passionately in love back then. He proposed to me 100 times. If it wasn't because I wanted to wait before getting married, the position of Mrs. Rhodes would never have been yours.

"If you're smart, you'll file for divorce now. At least you can leave with some dignity."

Although Winona had already decided to divorce, that did not mean she could tolerate provocation from a mistress. Her expression turned cold immediately. "Ms. Levine, my marriage with Asher is none of your business. You're an outsider."

Ella casually examined her manicured nails. "So what? Even though I rejected him 100 times in the past, he still can't forget me. You've seen it these past few days. The person Asher loves is me. Even your own son is closer to me. He wants me to be his mother.

"I just said one thing. I told him that if you ate walnuts, I could become his mother. And he actually went and did it."

She looked Winona up and down with a trace of mockery on her face. "I just didn't expect you to be lucky enough to survive. What a shame. I wanted you, the unnecessary one, to disappear sooner."

Winona stared at Ella in disbelief. Her nails dug deep into her palms as fury burned in her chest. Carter feeding her walnut cake had been Ella's doing all along.

"Ella, how could you—"

"You're the one who took my place!" Ella interrupted coldly. "If it weren't for you, I would be Mrs. Rhodes."

From the corner of her eye, Ella noticed Asher and Carter walking toward the garden. She immediately replaced her vicious expression with a pitiful, vulnerable look.

"Ms. Warren, Asher and I are in the past now. Why are you being so aggressive?"

Her eyes instantly reddened, and her voice choked with emotion.

Winona frowned, confused by the sudden change.

The next instant, Ella ripped a tear in the matching T-shirt she was wearing. Before Winona could react, Ella lunged forward and grabbed her wrist.

Winona was caught off guard as Ella dragged her into the pool beside them. Winona had nearly drowned as a child and had a natural fear of water. The water came surging toward her. She instinctively thrashed her limbs, trying not to sink.

Asher, who had rushed over, jumped into the water without hesitation. Winona struggled to reach her hand toward him. "Save... Save me."

However, the next second, she watched helplessly as Asher swam quickly toward Ella on the other side. He did not even glance at her.

An anxious shout came from the shore. "Dad, Ella's over there! Hurry and save her!"

At that moment, Winona could clearly feel her already broken heart crumble into dust. Even at this life-or-death moment, the father and son only had Ella in their hearts.

Winona had no strength left. She slowly closed her eyes as her entire body sank into the darkness.

When Winona opened her eyes again, the sharp smell of disinfectant filled her nose.

Asher saw that she was awake. He looked at her coldly and said in a low voice, "Once Ella wakes up, you need to apologize to her."

Winona's chest tightened, and a bone-chilling coldness spread through her.

She had just regained consciousness, yet Asher showed not a trace of concern. The first thing out of his mouth was a demand for her to apologize to Ella.

"She was the one who dragged me into the water with her. Why should I apologize?"

Asher frowned, his face showing blatant distrust. "You're still lying! You were clearly jealous that Ella gave Carter matching family shirts as a gift. You deliberately tried to push her into the water and accidentally fell in yourself."

Winona looked carefully at this man whom she had loved her entire life. His face showed no worry about her near drowning, only anger and accusation.

Six years of living together day and night could not earn her even a shred of his trust.

She suddenly laughed. When she spoke next, her tone was perfectly calm. "If you don't believe me, check the security footage."

She had already completely given up on being Mrs. Rhodes and Carter's mother. Why would she be jealous over matching shirts?

Asher's frown deepened. He studied her intently, as if trying to discern whether she was telling the truth. He felt that lately, Winona seemed different somehow.

"You..." Just as he began to speak, his phone's ringtone interrupted him.

Carter's voice came through the receiver. He could barely contain his excitement. "Dad, Ella's awake!"

The coldness on Asher's face quickly melted away, and joy colored his expression. "I'll be right there."

He hung up and glanced at Winona lying on the hospital bed. His voice turned cold again. "Reflect on your behavior. I don't want my wife to be an irrational, jealous woman. Carter wouldn't want a mother like that either."

With that, he turned and strode away without a moment's hesitation. Winona watched his retreating figure. Her eyes were as calm as still water.

Perfect. Soon, she would no longer be his wife or Carter's mother anyway.

A text notification pulled her from her thoughts.

[Dear passenger, your flight will depart in three hours.]

Winona completed her discharge paperwork. As she was leaving, she passed by a hospital ward. The familiar figures inside made her instinctively stop.

Asher was feeding Ella soup, one spoonful at a time. The tenderness in his eyes when he looked at her nearly overflowed.

"Don't you dare come near Ella! If it weren't for you, Ella wouldn't be sick in the hospital, you terrible mother!"

Carter appeared from somewhere, spreading his arms to block the doorway. He looked at Winona with complete hostility.

This was the first time he had openly displayed his disgust for Winona in front of her. It seemed Ella truly held a significant place in his heart.

Winona's fingertips trembled. In the end, she made no move. She simply crouched down to look at this child she had carried for nine months and brought into the world.

"Make sure you open that birthday gift. Consider it... the last time I prepare something for you to make you happy."

Carter's mind was completely occupied with Ella. He did not care what she said. He turned his head away and let out a cold snort. "What a stupid gift. I don't want it. Staying away from Ella would be the best gift you could give me!"

Winona let out a soft laugh and did not answer.

Carter's wish would come true very soon.

…

An hour later, Winona arrived at the airport with her luggage.

"Wyatt, please pull the security footage from the pool area today and send a copy to Mr. Rhodes."

She sent a final message to the butler, Wyatt Cromwell. Then, she removed her SIM card, snapped it in half, and threw it into the trash.

The moment the plane soared into the sky, golden sunlight bathed her in a soft, warm glow. Winona smiled genuinely.

Asher and Carter, as well as the position of Mrs. Rhodes and Carter's mother… She did not want them anymore.

She was going to live her own life now. From this moment on, they would never see each other again.