Christopher's cold, detached voice cut through the air, sharp and grating.

Amelia turned and met his dark, unreadable eyes. He was still the same, blindly believing she and Evelyn were in the wrong, standing unconditionally on Nicole and Nathan's side.

Christopher didn't wait for Amelia to speak. His gaze shifted to Nicole, and his cold, hard tone softened just slightly. "Let's go in and have breakfast."

He didn't even glance at Evelyn. Without another word, he stepped into the hospital room with them and closed the door behind him.

Amelia stared at the closed door, fists clenched so tightly her nails nearly dug into her palms. Christopher's indifference made her eyes grow even colder.

How had she endured that kind of neglect for so many years? The thought was almost laughable. If she hadn't clung so desperately to getting a response from him and had left earlier with Evelyn, maybe her daughter wouldn't have faced such a tragedy in her last life.

"Mommy, I feel a lot better now. Can we leave the hospital today?"

Amelia looked down at her sweet, obedient daughter, and her chest tightened even more. "No matter who ever tries to bully you, you can't just endure it, do you understand?"

Evelyn nodded earnestly. "I understand."

-

After finishing the discharge procedures, Amelia took Evelyn to see her own mother, Claire Lane.

Claire lived in a villa out in the suburbs. It was a little far from the city, but the air was fresh and the scenery beautiful.

Amelia's parents had long been on the verge of divorce, but her father, Jonathan Sinclair, had refused to agree. In the end, Claire simply moved out and made a home for herself.

Amelia liked bringing Evelyn over to chat with Claire and spend some time together.

Evelyn was overjoyed to see her grandmother and ran into her arms, cuddling up and acting like a pampered child.

Claire laughed as she scooped Evelyn up. "Oh my little granddaughter, you've grown taller! What do you want to eat today? Grandma will make it just for you."

"I want smoked ribs!"

"All right, Grandma will make it for you."

After a few minutes of coaxing Evelyn, Claire let her run upstairs to watch TV on her own.

Then she turned to Amelia. "It's Wednesday. How did you find time to come by?"

Amelia settled into a chair. "How's business been lately?"

Claire managed her own enterprises, but recently things hadn't been going well. Profits were down, and she was practically operating at a loss.

Her business was also why Jonathan had been dragging his feet on the divorce. They had been married for years, and dividing their assets was complicated. Their interests were deeply intertwined, and ending the marriage wasn't easy.

Jonathan had long had a mistress, who had given him two children, which explained his ongoing dislike for Amelia.

After Amelia married Christopher, Jonathan tried to win her over, hoping to leverage Christopher's connections for his business. But Christopher had never cared for her, so he naturally had no interest in her family affairs.

Because of that, Jonathan flew into a rage, yelling at Claire for giving birth to a worthless child.

Claire just shook her head. "Same as always."

Amelia looked down at her hands. Over the years, she had sent extra money to her mother whenever she could, but she hadn't paid much attention to the details of Claire's business.

In her previous life, she had thrown herself entirely into Christopher. It wasn't until two days before Evelyn's death that Claire's business finally declared bankruptcy.

Amelia said, "I'll send you another sum in a while. You can use it to adjust the company's internal operations. The old model is outdated and can't keep up with the times. You could also invest in emerging industries like new energy. Any old-fashioned leaders in the company? Replace them if needed."

Claire frowned at her. "Where did you get the money? Did Chris—"

Amelia cut her off sharply. "No. I'm planning to divorce him."

After so many years of marriage, Christopher had never cared about the Sinclair family's affairs. Even when her family was on the brink of bankruptcy, he never lifted a finger to help. Meanwhile, Nicole had gone abroad to study and ran out of money, and he had wired her millions without a second thought.

If it hadn't been for Amelia's uncle stepping in, her mother might already have been buried under billions in debt.

Claire's eyes softened as she looked at her daughter, tinged with pain. She sighed. "It's my fault for not being capable. If someone had your back in your family, you wouldn't have suffered so much in the Zephyr family."

She turned her face away, tears glistening in her eyes. "You had to endure all this before even thinking about a divorce."

"It's all in the past."

Amelia shouldn't have insisted on marrying Christopher back then.

A woman in love always thought that running the household and raising the children would make a man fall for her.

-

Amelia left Evelyn with Claire.

Her resignation had been approved, and she was heading to Zephyr Group to complete the process.

In the company lobby, she ran straight into Christopher.

He was dressed in a black suit, striding purposefully toward the exit, as if something urgent had come up.

Amelia's expression was calm and neutral as she stepped aside to let him pass.

Christopher had always treated her as if she were invisible, habitually ignoring her. No matter how she greeted him or tried to make herself seen, he acted as though she didn't exist.

"Chris, over here!"

Outside the main doors, Nicole waved cheerfully at him. "Why are you coming down to meet me? I could've gone upstairs myself."

For a moment, Amelia thought of how he had never once shown such thoughtfulness for her, not in wind or rain. It seemed that as long as it was someone else, Christopher's attitude would always be different.

She calmly looked away, no longer caring about what was happening between them.

Then she stepped into the elevator and rode up to the fifth-floor HR department to submit her resignation.

Emily Caldwell from HR looked a little surprised. "You're really resigning? I thought you were just joking around."

Everyone knew Amelia was just a lowly assistant, and she didn't handle any real projects. Most days, she was fetching tea and coffee for meetings, running errands. Because she had to go home and take care of her daughter, complex tasks were out of the question.

Even though Christopher barely acknowledged her, she had always followed him eagerly. Now, suddenly wanting to leave without any obvious reason seemed impossible—like the sun rising in the west.

Amelia didn't want to say more. Her face was cold as she simply replied, "Yes."

Emily couldn't help rolling her eyes internally.

Amelia was just a small-time assistant, yet she was acting all high and mighty. Today, Christopher's girlfriend had come to the office and the entire group chat had exploded. Everyone was talking about how poised and impressive she was. She was freshly back from studying abroad, holding dual PhDs in financial technology and aerospace engineering.

She and Christopher were truly a power couple.

Emily figured Amelia probably realized she couldn't compare, felt small and insecure, and decided to quit because of it.

Emily said in a serious tone, "Your resignation is processed. Mia, just a piece of advice. Wherever you go next, don't waste time thinking about people you shouldn't."

When Amelia heard that, she was silent. For the first time, she realized how unworthy her former self had really been.

All this time, she had loved Christopher so deeply. Yet to everyone else, it had looked like nothing more than one-sided obsession and foolish infatuation.

Everyone could see it but her, and she was only now waking up to it. Maybe the last life had been God's punishment.

Amelia took a quiet, deep breath.

She cast Emily a calm, measured glance. "Thanks for your concern, but I don't need any advice regarding my career."

Stepping out of HR and down into the lobby, she saw Christopher and Nicole still there.

In the past, she would have wanted to run into Christopher every day. But now, the sight of him just made her feel annoyed. She stepped forward, intending to leave.

Unexpectedly, Christopher called after her in a slow, deliberate voice. "Amelia, take a cup of coffee up to my office for Nikki."

Nicole immediately chimed in. "Chris has been telling me for ages that you make amazing coffee, Mia. He says you're perfect for these little tasks and that you're so capable. I could never do all the delicate things women do.

"Oh, and the coffee has to be hand-ground. I can't stand instant coffee," Nicole added.

Amelia paused mid-step and glanced at her. "Actually, I think instant coffee suits you better. It's cheap and easy, just like you."

Nicole hadn't even had a chance to react.

Amelia simply turned and stepped into the elevator.

She didn't get a chance to say anything, so she looked at Christopher instead. "Chris, your wife is seriously fiery. Can you handle her? No wonder Nate's afraid of her.

"Also, she seems a little upset. Aren't you going to calm her down?"

Christopher calmly looked away and said, "She'll be fine once she cools off on her own."

Nicole smirked. "You really aren't afraid she'll run off, are you?"

-

When Christopher returned home that evening, the house was dark, with not a single light on.

Nathan wasn't home, and Anna didn't need to care for him, so she naturally had a leisurely evening and went to bed early.

Christopher switched on the lights, and the huge room felt especially cold and empty.

He climbed the stairs to the master bedroom, which was also empty.

He rarely came back here.

He didn't seem to care whether Amelia had returned. Passing by her vanity on the way to the bathroom, he didn't glance at it once.

If he had looked, he would have seen a single document lying there.

-

That weekend, the Aerospace and Defense Technology Expo was in full swing.

Crowds had gathered, some even standing outside because they couldn't get tickets, just to catch a glimpse of the excitement.

Amelia had arrived early with Evelyn, and they were waiting outside the entrance for Jasper.

Evelyn stood obediently beside Amelia, her wide eyes taking in the lively surroundings. Everywhere she looked, there were posters of airplanes and informational displays.

Amelia had never brought her to places like this before, and trips to amusement parks were even rarer.

Noticing her daughter's fascination, Amelia bent down and gently pinched Evelyn's cheeks. "Do you like it here? If you get bored, I can call Grandma to come pick you up and take you to her house."

"I like it. I really like it." Evelyn's small voice was soft and sweet. "Mommy, you never took us out to play before."

Amelia's chest tightened at Evelyn's words.

In her previous life, she had been too busy assisting Christopher, taking care of the Zephyr family, and trying to raise Nathan properly. She had overlooked so many small, meaningful moments.

Christopher would occasionally take Nathan out, while Evelyn stayed home, eating cold meals and playing with toys Nathan had abandoned.

Christopher would buy gifts and toys for Nathan, but never a single one for Evelyn. Amelia had tried to buy her toys, but Evelyn had said she didn't like them.

Now Amelia realized how absurd that was. What child didn't like toys?

"I'm sorry, my darling," Amelia whispered, her voice heavy with guilt and regret. She vowed that from now on, she would never miss another moment of her daughter's growth.

"Ha! What are you doing standing at the entrance, Evie?"

From a distance, Nathan strutted toward them in a little suit, his face full of pride and arrogance.

"Do you want to go in and see the real fighter jets too? There's no way Mommy can take you in. If you really want to go, you can beg me. Then maybe I'll plead with Daddy and Ms. Nikki for you, and Mommy can stay home to cook and do laundry."

"No need! Mommy will take me in!" Evelyn shot back, her little cheeks puffed in defiance. "Mommy's not your servant!"

Nathan froze. Amelia couldn't possibly take Evelyn in. She only stayed home to cook and clean, she had no experience with anything this fancy.

Christopher and Nicole trailed behind Nathan at just the right distance, neither too close nor too far. Both wore shades of brown that looked so coordinated it could be mistaken for a couple's outfits.

Amelia had once dreamed of wearing matching clothes with Christopher, feeling that first flutter of youthful excitement. He had never cooperated, never worn them, and hadn't even glanced at the clothes she bought.

Nicole spotted Amelia and stepped forward confidently, completely at ease. "Mia, Evie, you came too? Why didn't you say anything? You could have ridden with Chris and me."

At that moment, Christopher stepped aside to take a call, not even glancing at Amelia. Evelyn's eyes kept flicking toward her father, anxious and hopeful.

Facing Nicole's provocatively teasing tone, Amelia's lips curved into a cold, sharp smile as she replied bluntly, "No need to trouble yourself."

"Really?" Nicole raised an eyebrow. "Chris and I have been best friends since we were kids. You don't need to be polite with us."

Nicole said the words as if she were claiming her territory, and it made it clear she already saw herself as Christopher's wife.

Amelia thought back to her previous life. She had been foolish not to notice how this woman had been eyeing Christopher from the start.

Before Amelia could say anything, Christopher returned from his call. He walked past Amelia without a glance and addressed Nicole. "Let's go. We're heading in."

It was clear he had no intention of bringing Amelia and Evelyn inside.

Nicole smiled at Amelia, her eyes glinting with amusement. "We'll go in first, Mia. If you really can't get in, just call me. I'll come get you."

Amelia watched the three of them disappear, a mocking smile tugging at her lips. This time, she wanted to see just how well this little trio could really get along.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. Something at the institute ran a bit late." Jasper hurried over.

Amelia chuckled. "No problem."

He looked down at Evelyn with a warm grin. "Here, I brought you some snacks and toys."

Evelyn's eyes lit up instantly. "Thank you, Mr. Jazz!"

It was the first time she had ever received a gift.

Jasper held an internal staff pass in his hand and led Amelia and Evelyn inside.

The sun was bright and high today. The sunlight was so bright it almost hurt her eyes, so Amelia casually put on her sunglasses.

As they walked, Jasper said, "This defense expo only happens once every three years. It's huge, as you know. I might be a little busy later, but feel free to explore around. At noon, we can meet with the professors for lunch."

Amelia nodded. "Okay, go ahead. I'll be fine."

The atmosphere at the expo was electric. Everywhere they turned, there were crowds of people.

Evelyn's eyes were wide with wonder.

"Mommy, this plane is so cool!" she tugged at Amelia's hand. "Can you take a picture of me with it?"

"Of course," Amelia said with a smile, pulling out her phone. "Step over here for me."

Just as Evelyn was about to move, a surge of people pressed in, jostling Amelia and Evelyn. Amelia frowned and quickly steadied her daughter.

"Ms. Randall, I hear you're planning to pursue further studies domestically, and Mr. Zephyr mentioned you might join Institute 511. Can you share your thoughts on this industry?"

Reporters with cameras in hand crowded around, and a swarm of onlookers jostled in behind them.

Nicole stood in the center, radiant and confident, soaking in the attention. "Let me introduce this plane to everyone. I designed it initially, but I had to leave the project to study abroad. Now that I see it perfectly completed and unveiled, it fills me with pride.

"That just goes to show our country never lacks talent."

A man near Christopher nudged him with his shoulder.

"Isn't that your wife? What's she doing here? She's always at home worrying about groceries and chores. Does she even understand this stuff?"

Luke Carter stared at Amelia, his expression dripping with disdain. "I really don't get why she even came here. Is she just trying to make herself seen?"

Christopher's gaze swept over Amelia coldly, but he didn't say a word.

Compared to Nicole, who was being fawned over by everyone, Amelia's striking looks didn't help her at all. She seemed out of place, dull even, standing beside Nicole's radiant brilliance.

"I think I understand why you never want to go home. If I were you, I'd prefer Nikki too. Smart, capable, ambitious—she's better at everything than Amelia.

"She just sits at home spending your money and does nothing else."

Luke had always been part of Christopher's circle, and ever since their marriage, he'd looked down on Amelia. She was a scheming woman who wormed her way into a man's bed, so how good could she really be?

And now she had shamelessly chased Christopher all the way here.

It was utterly absurd.

"What's she standing there watching the interview for? Like she even understands a word of it. Anyone who didn't know better would think she's about to join the aviation industry too."

Christopher shot Luke a sharp look. "Enough."

Luke finally went silent.

Nathan watched Nicole basking in all the attention, and couldn't help feeling a little proud by association. If only Nicole were truly his mommy.

No matter. As long as Nicole liked him best, that was enough.

Amelia watched as Nicole introduced herself to the crowd, radiant and full of confidence. She spoke with striking clarity and deep understanding of the industry.

Amelia took a deep breath and lowered her gaze.

No wonder Christopher liked Nicole.

Faced with a woman who could do nothing but play house and a fiercely capable career woman, the choice was obvious.

And somehow, in her past life, Amelia had never grasped this simple truth.

Evelyn's big, round eyes followed Nicole, who was surrounded by people. She listened carefully to the conversation, her mind absorbing every detail.

So Nicole had designed this aircraft herself. No wonder Nathan looked up to her like that.

Just then, Amelia's phone rang. It was Jasper, telling her he'd arranged a viewing stand with a perfect vantage point to watch the fighter jet demonstration.

She took Evelyn and headed straight there.

In Luke's view, Amelia's action implied that she knew she couldn't compare to Nicole. So, she took her daughter and quietly left.

After Nicole's interview ended, Nathan ran straight into her arms. "Ms. Nikki, you're amazing!"

Nicole scooped him up and planted a kiss on his cheek. "Thank you, sweetheart."

Nathan's smile grew even brighter from the affection.

Nicole turned toward Christopher, one arm holding Nathan, the other stretched out toward him. "Buddy, I'm so brilliant and successful. Aren't you going to hold me and celebrate a little?"

Luke walked over, his grin half sarcastic. "What? Am I not your buddy anymore?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Luke didn't wait to see if Christopher agreed. He simply pulled him in for a hug with Nicole.

When they let go, Luke looked at Christopher. "How about we all go grab a meal to celebrate?"

Nicole, still holding Nathan, draped her other arm over Christopher's shoulder. "Sure. It's my treat!"

From a distance, the three of them looked like a close-knit little family.

Evelyn and Amelia hadn't gone far.

Evelyn kept glancing back at her father. Seeing the three of them together, she bit her lip tightly and turned away, refusing to look again.

If only she were more like her brother and more capable, maybe then her father would accept her.

Her daddy didn't like her, and that was likely why he didn't like her mommy either.

She couldn't hold her mommy back.

The seats Jasper arranged for Amelia and Evelyn were truly first-class. It was right at the center of it all, with an unobstructed view of the entire venue.

"You can stay here. The show will start soon," Jasper said with a smile. "Try not to wander off. There are a lot of people, and it's easy for the little one to get jostled."

"Thank you," Amelia said. "You go ahead, don't worry about us."

"Call me if you need anything."

After Jasper left, Amelia settled into the stand. With the view stretching out before her, her gaze fell on a jet in the distance.

The Eos X7 looked flawless in its flight, and it was already nominated multiple times at the exhibition.

There were a lot of people being interviewed today. The prime spots filled up quickly with prominent figures from the industry, all recognized names.

From a distance, Evelyn saw her father holding Nathan, with Nicole walking beside him.

"Why are you also here?" Nathan's face twisted into a look of disdain when he spotted Evelyn.

How did his sister and mother get here?

"This is for people with credentials only. You sneaked in, so don't be surprised if they kick you out later," Nathan whispered.

"What happened to your manners?"

Christopher frowned, his voice calm but firm, exuding authority.

Though he doted on Nathan, deep down Nathan still feared his father. He immediately fell silent, casting a pitiful glance at Nicole.

Nicole smiled gently. "Chris, he's just a kid, and he'll learn in time. No need to scare him with that cold look."

Amelia gave them a cool, indifferent glance, not bothering to respond, as if they weren't even worth her attention.

Luke sneered inwardly, rolling his eyes. Amelia had the audacity to follow Christopher here and somehow managed to sneak into the inner area. Who knew what tricks she'd pulled? And now she had the nerve to put on that aloof act, as if no one could see right through her.

Amelia settled into a seat further inside, while Evelyn took one closer to the edge. Christopher glanced at them, then sat down right next to Evelyn.

Nathan quickly plopped down beside Christopher and patted the empty space next to him. "Ms. Nikki, sit with me here!"

Nicole smiled and sat down without hesitation.

Seeing her father sit down next to her, Evelyn nervously gripped her dress. She watched him carefully, studying every expression.

But Christopher didn't look at her once. His attention stayed entirely on Nathan and Nicole. Slowly, a sinking feeling grew in Evelyn's chest.

The fighter jet demonstration began. The display was grand and spectacular, the roar of the crowd filling the air.

The children were all completely captivated.

"Ms. Nikki, are you going to design jets like these in the future? They're so cool!"

Nicole laughed. "You like them? I can make you a little model of one."

"Yay!"

Evelyn felt a pang of envy. She liked them too, but she kept her feelings buried inside, saying nothing.

When the demonstration ended, performances on the stage began.

All the adults in front stood up, and Evelyn could barely see. She frowned.

Christopher scooped Nathan up in his arms. Nathan grinned mischievously and made a face at Evelyn.

Evelyn huffed and stood on the stool. "Short people need to be carried. I can see just fine like this!"

Nathan huffed back. "So what? I'll grow taller someday. You? You don't even have a daddy!"

The words hit Evelyn like a punch to the chest, and her excitement for the show evaporated instantly.

Amelia frowned, then she turned to Nathan and coldly said, "Right. You don't have a mommy either."

Nathan froze, utterly stunned.

Nicole's eyes widened, shocked that Amelia would actually say something like that.

Christopher's brow furrowed, clearly displeased. "Amelia, why are you picking a fight with a child?"

Amelia let out a mocking laugh. "And why are you picking a fight with a woman?"

She didn't bother with him any further and instead reached down to ruffle Evelyn's hair. "Mommy's here."

Evelyn pressed her lips together for a moment, then smiled and nodded.

Christopher remained expressionless the entire time.

Maybe it was just his imagination, but Amelia seemed unusually hostile toward him lately.

Until the performance ended, Christopher and Amelia didn't exchange a single word.

He set Nathan down.

Evelyn spoke up. "Mommy, I need to go to the bathroom."

"Okay."

As she jumped off the stool, she misjudged her footing, twisted her ankle, and began to fall.

"Ah—"

She squeezed her eyes shut.

The sharp pain she expected never came. Instead, strong arms caught her securely.

When she opened her eyes, she realized she was in her father's embrace. His arms were warm and wide, comforting in a way she hadn't expected.

She froze for a moment, her nose tingling.

Her daddy still cared about her, didn't he?

Instinctively, she said, "Thank you, Daddy—"

Christopher's dark eyes narrowed, and his expression turned cold. "What did you just call me?"