"Riley has provided all the evidence and you still refused to admit it. I'm really disappointed in you. No wonder James has become like this now, a boy who's full of lies."

Sean looked at Sharon with a disappointed look in his eyes and left with Riley and Jordan.

Sharon could still hear their conversation from a distance.

"Sean, I'm not holding her responsible anymore, so please don't criticize Sharon. I don't want you to have arguments because of me."

"Riley, there's nothing wrong with being kind. But you can't be too kind, or people will take advantage of you."

Sharon had been falsely accused by them more than once.

Sean was biased toward Riley, so the one who was always in the wrong was her.

Every time she wanted a divorce, he would look at her with disappointment.

"You grew up in a single-parent family yourself, so you know how much suffering that brings. Do you really want James to repeat your life? Are you really that selfish?"

After hearing those words, Sharon would always give in.

But the moment James died in her past life, she regretted it.

She should have taken her child and left long ago!

Thankfully, in just one more month, she could get her divorce certificate and would never have anything to do with Sean again!

Sharon, lost in despair, took James home.

On the way home, James's own eyes were still swollen, yet he was the one comforting Sharon instead.

"Mommy, I won't learn piano anymore, and I don't want Mr. Jackson either. Please don't cry."

Sharon felt sorrowful and guilty. She suppressed her emotions and wiped his tears. "Mommy's not crying."

"But your eyes are telling me that you're very sad."

Hearing this, Sharon couldn't hold back her tears. "I'm sorry, James. It's all because of my uselessness!"

It was all her fault. That was why she couldn't protect anything.

She had even caused her son to suffer with her.

James patted her gently with his small hands. "It's okay. No matter what, you're still the mommy I love the most."

Sharon held him and cried for a while. Then, the mother and son wiped away their tears and returned home.

Sean, Riley, and Jordan had already arrived and were moving things.

"Sharon, Sean has already proposed to me in front of everyone. Of course, I have to move in with him. You understand that, right?"

As soon as Riley saw Sharon, she couldn't wait to provoke her.

Sharon glanced at Sean's warning look from not far away, then lowered her eyes. "You can live wherever you want. It has nothing to do with me."

After all, she was about to get divorced.

But Riley wasn't satisfied with her reaction. "Sharon, are you mad at me?"

Hearing this, Sean quickly walked over and shielded Riley behind him.

"Sharon, it was you who spread rumors everywhere that she was a mistress, so I had no choice but to marry her in name only. You are the one who caused this, so you have no right to blame anyone!"

Sharon didn't even have the desire to argue anymore. "Okay."

Sean was quite pleased with her obedience today. "It's good that you've realized your mistake. Riley is pregnant, so let her have the master bedroom. The lighting is better there."

"Jordan likes James's children's room. For now, you and James can stay in the guest room."

As always, whatever Riley and her daughter wanted, Sharon and her son had to give up.

In the past, Sharon would feel wronged and always try to fight back.

But now, she just felt exhausted.

"Alright."

She had originally planned to tidy up a bit, but at that moment, she didn't want anything anymore.

If it weren't so late at night and if her son weren't running a fever, she would have taken him away right now!

Sean still wanted to say something.

But Sharon didn't want to listen. She carried James to the guest room.

He was puzzled. "Mommy, isn't the guest room for guests? This is our home, so why are we staying in the guest room?"

"Because… from now on, we are just guests."

Sharon placed a cooling patch on James's forehead and coaxed him to sleep early.

Sean came and knocked on the door.

"Do you need something?"

Sharon had never thought there would come a day when just seeing him would make her feel disgusted.

Sean was displeased with her attitude. "You're my wife. Do I need a reason to come find you?"

Normally, when he said something like this, Sharon would always argue back.

But this time, she was so exhausted that she didn't even want to respond.

Seeing this, Sean frowned.

Afraid that she was upset, he explained to her, "This time, it was indeed wrong of me to give James's spot to Jordan. But Riley's father once saved my life. When she asked for this spot for Jordan, I couldn't refuse."

Sharon's heart ached. "So, to repay a favor, you have to hurt me and James?"

"It's just a spot, do you really need to make such a big deal out of it? The entire Collins family’s fortune will belong to our son in the future. What won't he have? You and your son are both petty and narrow-minded!"

Sean knew that taking the spot was wrong, so he had originally come with a Lego set and a necklace to apologize to the mother and son.

But Sharon always had to compete with Riley and her daughter, which made him feel annoyed.

He had given her both himself and the entire Collins family, and all he asked was for her and their son to occasionally make some concessions to Riley and her daughter. Was that really too much?

Sean didn't bother arguing with her any further and left with a cold face.

Sharon watched him walk away and, unlike in the past years, didn't try to stop him or compromise.

She massaged her temples in exhaustion, closed the door, and lay back on the bed.

But her mind was troubled, and she tossed and turned until dawn before finally dozing off.

Yet she had barely slept when she was startled awake by the sound of a child crying.

"James!"

Sharon snapped awake and ran out barefooted.

In the playroom, Sean was holding Jordan, soothing her affectionately alongside Riley.

Meanwhile, James stood in front of them, his face streaked with tears, a bright red slap mark on his cheek—as if Sean didn't even see it.

Sharon's heart ached. She crouched down and gently wiped his tears.

"Don't cry, sweetheart. Tell Mommy what happened."

Before James could answer, Riley spoke indignantly, "I hit him! Sharon, you're always petty, always jealous of me and Sean, always trying to harm me with your little schemes. I've been magnanimous enough to tolerate you. But your son is only five years old, and you're already teaching him to bully Jordan?"

Sharon's expression darkened. "James would never bully anyone for no reason! You hit him—you must apologize!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Sean's face darkened.

"Sharon, that's enough! It was your son who took Jordan's toy and pushed her first—that's why Riley stepped in!"

"You're too indulgent with him. You've spoiled him. Riley was just trying to help us discipline him!"

James sobbed and shook his head. "Daddy, I didn't take Jordan's toy—she took my stuffed animal!"

Sean hesitated for a moment but still reprimanded him. "You're older than Jordan. What's wrong with letting her have it?"

James whimpered, "But she used scissors to cut my stuffed animal! Grandma sewed that for me herself!"

Sharon had rushed in so quickly that she only now noticed the scattered fabric pieces on the floor.

It was shredded into tiny fragments—impossible to sew back together.

The truth was clear now. She thought Sean would finally realize he had wronged James and at least apologize.

But Riley tugged on his sleeve and pouted her lips. "Jordan is only five. What does she know? She just thought cutting the stuffed animal was part of playing."

Sean hesitated, then nodded. He looked at James and said, "Enough. Be a man—don't be so petty."

Hearing this, Sharon felt hurt, his eyes turned red, and tears nearly fell.

"Sean, how... how can you say something like that? That stuffed animal was made by my mother, with her own hands, before she passed away!"

Jordan immediately burst into tears. "Ms. Milton is so mean, so scary!"

Sean wiped her tears and scolded, "Jordan is crying because of you! She's just a child. She doesn't understand these things—do you really need to make such a big deal out of it? This matter is over. If you keep stirring up trouble, you and James can stop living here!"

He carried Jordan and left with Riley without sparing Sharon or James a second glance.

The anger caused Sharon to find it hard to breathe and her chest heaved up and down.

If it were before, she would have gone to argue with Sean, to make him understand right from wrong.

But now, she had completely given up on him.

Sharon comforted her son, then picked up the shredded pieces of the stuffed animal, trying to fix it.

But after stabbing her fingers multiple times, which drew blood, she ended up with nothing but a pile of fabric scraps.

Looking at her wounded hands, she suddenly remembered what her mother had told her before she passed away, tears in her eyes as she held Sharon's hand. "I'm not afraid of dying... I'm only afraid that after I'm gone, no one will protect you and James."

"Sean is a man of loyalty, but he lacks clarity. That Riley... she's full of schemes. Your husband always sides with her and her daughter. What will happen to you and James in the future?"

Back then, Sharon had firmly reassured her mother, "Don't worry, Mom. Sean is only good to Riley because he's repaying a favor. He loves me—he would never hurt us."

Thinking of how deeply she had once trusted and loved Sean, Sharon only felt an overwhelming sense of irony.

She carefully packed away the remains of the stuffed animal, took James, and checked into the nearest hotel.

She no longer wanted to stay in that "home" where they were constantly mistreated.

But not long after arriving at the hotel, Sean came looking for them.

"Riley said she saw you and James leaving. I thought she was mistaken, but it turns out she was right. Why aren't you staying at home? What are you doing at a hotel?"

James saw him but no longer called him "Daddy" with excitement. Instead, he shrank back, hiding behind Sharon in fear.

Seeing James’s terrified expression made Sharon's heart ache.

"I took the initiative to leave with James. I don’t need you to drive us away."

Hearing this, Sean was stunned for a moment. "I said for you to leave, but I was just in anger. That place will always be your and James’s home."

No, that was his home.

It wasn’t hers and James’s.

Sharon didn’t want to continue this topic. "Do you need something?"

"About the doll this morning, it was my fault. I came to apologize to you and James. But they are orphaned and widowed, it's not easy for them. Also, she is the descendant of my savior, so I can’t be too harsh with them."

Sharon didn’t know how many times she had heard such words.

He wanted to repay a debt, so did that mean she and James had to keep suffering?

But they didn’t owe Riley and her daughter anything!

Seeing that she didn’t respond, Sean crouched down, took out a doll from behind, and tried to cheer James up.

"Don’t be sad, son. Daddy bought you a new doll. See if you like it?"

James’s eyes were still swollen. "I don’t like it, I only want the one grandma made!"

Sean grew impatient. "They’re just dolls. What’s the difference between this one and that one?"

Seeing this, Sharon forced herself to remain calm. "Sean, you said you were here to apologize to your son."

Sean stood up. "You think I want to have a go at him? A little boy, raised to be so spoiled by you. If you ask me, you should learn from Riley on how to teach kids. Jordan..."

"James still has a fever. He needs to rest after taking his medicine. If there’s nothing else, you can leave." Sharon interrupted him, unable to bear it anymore, and tried to close the door.

But Sean grabbed the door.

He cleared his throat awkwardly. "Riley likes your wedding design. It’s her first marriage, and she’s really serious about it. She hopes to invite you to make the wedding planning."

At that moment, Sharon was wondering if she had misheard.

How could he make such a shameless request?

Sharon clenched her fists. "Sean, don’t you think you’ve gone too far?"

Sean’s gaze flickered. "I’ll give you three times... no, ten times the payment, alright? Riley doesn’t mean anything else. Don’t overthink it. She just simply likes the wedding planning you did."

"Sorry, I can’t do it!"

Sharon took two steps back and slammed the door shut with gritted teeth.

He knocked on the door for a long time, but she didn’t open it. She leaned against the door, breathing heavily.

Sean knew how unreasonable his request was, but he still made it.

He just took advantage of the fact that Sharon loved him.

But now, she no longer wanted him.

Sharon thought this matter was over.

But she didn’t expect that Sean would threaten her by saying he would sell the wedding company she worked at.

Her assistant called to notify Sharon. "Mr. Collins said, either you take on the wedding planning for Riley and him, or he would sell the wedding company!"

Sharon had once told Sean that this wedding company was founded by her father.

Later, her father fell seriously ill, and her mother had to take care of him but didn’t know how to manage the business, so they had to sell the company.

When Sean was pursuing her, he bought the wedding company to make her happy.

But now, to force her to do the wedding planning for Riley, he wanted to sell the company!

Sharon tried to arrange a meeting with Sean to talk, but he refused.

"I’m going to accompany Riley to take wedding photos today."

"Sean, do you have to be so ruthless? You know how much I care about this wedding company!"

He wanted a divorce, and she agreed.

He asked her to leave the house, and she agreed.

Why was he still repeatedly forcing her to do things she didn’t want to?

Sean called, his voice full of helplessness. "Sharon, no one wants to force you. It’s just making a wedding plan. This is your job. Just treat Riley as an ordinary client, is that so hard?"

Sharon whispered, "I can’t do it."

"Why can’t you do it? I know you care about my relationship with Riley. But she’s the daughter of my savior, and I can’t just treat her as a stranger."

Riley was calling him to take wedding photos in a sweet voice.

Sean quickly warned Sharon, "If you don’t do the wedding planning for Riley, I will sell the wedding company."

After saying that he quickly hung up the phone.

But before he hung up, the sound of the photographer’s instructions came through.

"The groom, please hold the bride’s waist and kiss her more affectionately."

"Yes, just like that!"

Sharon gripped the phone tightly, her eyes blank.

She was already so disappointed in him.

But he always found ways to make her hate him even more!

That evening, Riley sent her a message.

First, a few pictures.

"You and the little bastard’s things took up too much space, so I threw them away. Sean agreed too!"

"Oh, by the way, I deliberately took the spot from the little bastard. Jordan doesn’t like playing the piano anyway."

"That doll, I had Jordan cut it up. Something made by a dead person will bring bad luck!"

"Are you angry? You better not get so mad that you die with the little bastard, then I’ll have nothing to play with!"

"Sean slept with me tonight. You don’t think he’s being nice to me just to repay a debt, do you?"

"I’m already pregnant, but he just doesn’t feel satisfied at all every day. He really wears me out."

Another picture.

Sean, shirtless, his back to the bed, unbuckling his belt.

Not much was needed to be said between adults. It was obvious by the looks of things what they were going to do next.