The whole night gone by, but Lacy and Ian didn’t come back. Remi slept in peace for the first time ever. She talked to the HR of Web Group that she was going to take a day off the next day.

Without the typical rush to make breakfast or get Ian to school, she finally got a respite and some time to herself.

Her phone started to vibrate on the nightstand all of a sudden. Lacy’s name appeared on the screen. Remi pressed the answer button, and his voice came through, full of energy. "Right now, come to the hospital."

"Why?” She asked.

"Listen, you are the reason Bernice tried to kill herself. Don't you think you should come?” Lacy’s voice was full with hatred. "Remi, stop acting like I did anything wrong to you. You owe the Green. If you hadn’t told the debt collectors about Nathaniel’s whereabouts, Bernice wouldn’t have been suffering like this.”He hung up after that.

Remi thought about it for a second, then hurriedly got ready and left, holding on to the divorce papers. She wasn't going to the hospital to salvage her wretched marriage; she was planning to end it for good as she intended before.

She spotted Lacy giving Bernice soup as she went to the ward. The two looked like a

couple as they sat in the lovely, warm sunlight that came in through the window.

Bernice was blushing with her cheeks red which was a big change from how unwell she looked. People who didn't know better would have thought they were having a romantic meeting in the hospital.

Remi came in and ruined the tranquil scene. As soon as Bernice spotted her, she started to cry.

"I'm very sorry, Remi. I didn't mean to take Lacy away from you. It's all my fault. The post shouldn't have made you mad. But I just couldn't help myself..." Bernice’s tears started to flow, and her weak look could make anyone's heart ache.

Lacy set the bowl of soup down and gave Remi a cold gaze. "Say you're sorry!" He asked.

"Why should I?" Remi shot back, "I didn't do anything wrong." She quickly looked at Bernice’s wrist, where there was a thin red line. It appeared more like a scratch rather than a wound from a serious suicide attempt. She said with a sneer, "Even if Bernice didn’t come to the hospital last night. That small scratch would have healed on its own regardless.”

Bernice scowled and her cry worsened. She quickly grabbed a fruit knife that was lying nearby and was about to hurt herself. "It's all my fault. I might as well kill myself and join Nathaniel.”

The room was filled with her cry. Lacy instantly dragged the knife from her and threw it down near Remi’s feet. "Are you here just to annoy her?"

Bernice shook in Lacy’s arms and held on to his collar. "It's all my fault! Why can't I just end it all? It would be a relief...”

Remi calmly watched the whole thing. Bernice is such a drama queen. 

Lacy’s heart hurt for Bernice, and his anger toward Remi became stronger. Why? Because Bernice was the last of the Green family and his first love.

Lacy muttered and hugged Bernice tightly, "No, no. The person who should be gone is the one who did it.”

Lacy suddenly looked up at Remi, and his eyes were full with hate. He yelled, "Look at what you did to her. Are you happy now? You really want to kill Bernice. Is Nathaniel’s death not enough? You really want to wipe out the entire Green family? You’re so evil.”

Remi had a hard time breathing because the hate in Lacy’s eyes was so strong. At that moment, the doctor and nurses rushed in. They pushed her out of the way to attend to Bernice. 

Remi saw Lacy through the small opening of the door. He was worried as he tried to calm Bernice down. If not for her parent and Nathaniel’s death, Lacy would have married Bernice now, instead of her. Even in this marriage, Remi realized she was only a stand-in wife occupying Bernice’s space.

Remi let out a big sigh when she thought about that. Lacy would never agree to sign the divorce paper today because everything is a mess now.

She got a call from Lacy while she was intending to go back home. "I just got a call from the school that Ian is injured. I’m busy right now. You have to go there.” Without waiting for her reply, he ended the call.

Remi hailed a cab and went to Ian’s school. She couldn't just forget about her kid, even though Ian had hurt her. She was anxious about him the whole way to the school.

As soon as she got there, she ran inside. Her ponytail fell out, and she was sweating on her forehead. She was out of breath, but clutched the teacher's arm. "Where's Ian? What happened to him? Is he okay?”

Lena Smith, the teacher, blinked in confusion. At first, she was surprised and said, "Sorry, who are you?"

"I'm Ian’s mother. His dad just called and said he had an injury. That’s why I came.” Remi was so worried that her lovely face was twisted in worry.

Lena seemed even more confused. "Are you really Ian’s mom? So who was the woman with him on the day of the school’s competition with other schools that Ian represented? Take a look at the woman with him.”

Lena pulled out her phone from her skirt pocket and started going through the photos on her phone. A few seconds later, she showed Remi the photo of Ian with Bernice and Lacy. As usual, they were a happy couple.

Reno’s throat felt like it was being held tightly by a giant hand, and her mind was racing. She didn't know anything about the school competition nor did Ian or Lacy informed her.

“And she has always been coming to several parents meeting we held as Ian’s mother. So we thought she was his mother.” Lena said again.

Remi felt a sharp pang in her chest as the reality hit her like a ton of bricks. Bernice has finally managed to steal both her husband and son from her.

"Why are you here? I thought it was Ms. Green coming.” Ian suddenly said from behind Remi with bandage on his forehead. He didn't sound happy at all and didn't like the fact that it was Remi that came instead of Bernice.

Remi was shaken to her core, but she heaved a sigh of relief and said to Ian while Lena was there. "You're right, I am not your mother. You now have a new mother now. Teacher, don’t call me about Ian again from now on. He is ungrateful.”

Remi’s voice was loud, and the parents who came for their kids and sat not far from where Remi stood could hear all what she said.

As Ian heard this, he began to beg Remi, "Mom! Come on, let's head inside. All the other kids' parents are here. I can’t be the only one without my parents.”

"Didn't you already choose Bernice Green as your new mom? You are no longer my son. I can't believe I raised such a spoiled brat.” Remi turned walked away.

That moment, the place was filled with whispering. "What just happened? Is that woman really Ian’s mother? Then who is the woman who came every time as his mother?”

"Must be the new stepmother. What an ungrateful kid to call his father’s mistress his new mum. He's just like his dad, who cheated!"

"Marcos, I don’t want to see you playing with Ian anymore, before he’ll also corrupt you. Do you hear me?” A woman among the parents asked her son.

“Yes, mom.” Her son, Marcos, who was Ian’s best friend replied.

Ian fought hard not to cry.

Remi’s phone rang as she left the school and got into the car that was waiting for her outside. It was Lacy calling, but she did not pick it. But Lacy kept calling and calling, until Remi had to silence her phone.

“Where to Ma’am?” The driver asked.

“The Web Group.” Remi said and the driver nodded.

Lacy wanted a new wife, and Ian wanted a new mom, so she’ll grant them their wish.

She was ready to leave the selfish father and son.

As the car stopped at the Web Group, she went straight to the HR Mason Frump’s office, where she gave Mason her resignation letter.

When Mason looked at the resignation, he was shocked for a moment. "Mrs Web, are you really going to resign? You know that Mr. Web needs to approve this, right?”

Mason was one of the few people who understood the complicated relationship between her and Lacy.

In the beginning, Lacy was against her joining this company. But with his grandpa’s help, Mona got the business development manager role.

Remi smirked as she saw the worried on Mason’s face. "Don’t worry, Lacy will sign it. After all, he was against me working in this company in the beginning.”

Mason’s mouth opened a little. The letter of resignation he was holding felt like a knife stabbing his hand. He never thought Remi would resign one day.

When she first started working here, Mason thought Remi only had a pretty face but not hardworking. But Remi proved him wrong. Even though she was Lacy’s wife, she never got close to Lacy deliberately except for when they were working together.

She could have gone to other big companies like the biggest Garvey Group owned by Finn Garvey in the whole of Sky city to work, but instead she decided to work for Lacy and take his company to greater height.

Despite being Lacy’s wife, she never used that to her own advantage. Instead, she decided to work hard like every other person in the company.

Mason had seen her hard work and sacrifices up close for the two years. He could tell that she really cared for Lacy. She might easily get a better-paying job with her skills. But she stayed at the Web Group and put up with Lacy’s cold shoulder. Now, it was evident that things had gone very bad between them.

Mason looked at the letter of resignation for while before calling Lacy.

When Lacy picked the call, Mason said, "Mr. Web, Mrs. Web wants to resign from the company. She’s here right now.”

Lacy snarled, his voice full with scorn, "Resign? She's not that important. Treat her resignation the same as anyone else's. No special treatment! Is she trying so hard for me to pity her? That's a dirty trick!"

"Mr. Web, I don't think Mrs. Web is kidding this time. She….”

"Don’t be foolish and do as I say.” Lacy ended the call. He looked at Remi’s recent Insta-gram post after hanging up the phone. He squinted his eyes and his face got darker.

"What's the matter, Lac?" Bernice asked in a gentle voice, appearing weak. She bit her lip, and her eyes shone with tears that hadn't fallen yet.

"Remi still won't forgive me, will she? I should probably go to the company tomorrow and say sorry to her in person. I don't want to mess things up between you two because of me.” Bernice said, pretending to be sorry.”

She was sitting on the hospital bed and spoke in a very low voice.

Lacy shook his head. "Bernice, stop being such a wimp. You didn't do anything wrong, therefore you don't have to say you're sorry.” He thought Remi’s resignation was just a way to trap him and have the upper hand. She was too clever to give up something so valuable. He thought he was the only one who really understood Remi’s endless greed and ambition.

Bernice bit her lip and looked at her phone. "I want to take a short nap, Lacy."

"Of course. I'll be right here when you wake up.” He answered, "Then I'll take you home."

He wrapped the blankets around her and then sat down on the chair next to her with his laptop.

Bernice hurriedly typed a message on her phone and clicked send while her back was facing Lacy.

[Carry the plan out now]

*****

After the resignation letter was signed by Mason, Remi took out her phone and posted on Insta-gram when she finally left the company.

[Finally resigned from Web Group]

She had built a strong network while working in Web’s Group in this two years. This Insta-gram post she just made wasn't only for her friends to see that she was no longer working in Web Group, It was also a warning to everyone in her business circle not to contact her from now on regarding the Web Group.

A lot of companies started sending her direct messages with inquiries not long after she posted.

Remi answered some message and went offline. But her phone started vibrating again before she could even get in the car waiting for her. She frowned as she saw the name on the screen. She never imagine it was Finn Garvey, Lacy’s business rival, who was calling.

Remi had taken several clients from his company in the past, and Finn never missed a chance to quarrel her when they saw each other. She thought he was only calling to quarrel her again.

The phone kept ringing and ringing. Remi finally gave in and hit the answer button. "Stop it, Mr. Garvey, if you're calling to gloat!"

"Hey, calm down a little. I'm here to hire you!Ms. Puth, if you join the Garvey Group, I'll pay you three times what you're making now from Lacy,”

Finn’s voice sounded honest. He went on, "Look, you've taken a lot of clients from me, and yes, I wasn't always the friendliest. I truly like how good you are at what you do. I'd be happy to take you because Lacy Web doesn't value you anymore.”

Lacy didn't care about her, even though she had gotten him a lot of clients and business deals. He thought all of her hard work was merely a ruse to get on his good side.

Remi answered, "Mr. Garvey, I've been working like a machine for the last two years. I really need a break right now.”

"No problem! Take as long time as you want. I’ll wait.” Finn responded.

She took a deep breath and hung up the call. She got a notification of Finn’s comments on her post.

His comment was "Ms. Puth, the Garvey Group's doors are always open for you! Tell me how much you want. I can pay you. The Garvey Group can’t wait to have you.”

Remi laughed softly.

As soon as she got to the Web villa, she went straight to her room and started getting rid of everything that reminded her of her life here.

She took Lacy’s bank card before she left, thinking it was her money for the seven years of her suffering in this marriage. It would only be dumb if she left without getting anything.

She gave Evie Rotwood, the maid, a file with the divorce papers and stated, "This is an important document. Make sure Mr. Web gets it, and also sign it.”

Evie didn't notice Remi was now addressing Lacy as “Mr. Web” instead of hubby like she usually called him.

"Mrs. Web, are you traveling?” Evie asked.

Remi looked at her small suitcase and said. "Yeah, just a business trip."

She was going away for good and would never come back again.

The taxi slowed to a stop, and Remi’s heart clenched the moment she looked out the window. There it was — the old house she never thought she’d never return to. The same house her late grandmother had left her before her death, insisting it would one day mean more than Remi could imagine.

Back then, she’d thought it was just a sentimental gift — a relic of a past she was too eager to escape. She had moved on, fallen in love, built a life with Lacy, and believed she’d never have to look back.

But now, standing at the gate with her suitcase in hand and her heart in pieces, the quiet creak of the wind through the trees felt like her grandmother whispering, “I told you so.”

The air carried the faint scent of lilacs from the garden — her grandmother’s favorite. It wrapped around her like an embrace, tender and familiar. For the first time in years, Remi felt something close to peace. Maybe her grandmother had known all along that one day, when the world turned its back on her, this house would be waiting — to remind her who she truly was.

Remi pushed open the rusted gate, its hinges groaning in protest — as if even the house itself hadn’t expected her return. Her heels crunched softly against the gravel as she walked up the path, her chest tightening with every step. The porch light flickered when she tried the switch, casting a faint glow over the familiar front door.

The key still fit perfectly.

The moment she stepped inside, the air greeted her like a sigh from the past — warm dust, old books, and faint traces of lavender soap. Everything was just as she remembered. The floral curtains her grandmother had sewn by hand. The tiny ceramic angels lined neatly across the mantel. The rocking chair that still faced the window, waiting for someone who would never sit there again.

Remi set her bag down and let her fingers trail across the wooden furniture. It’s been years, she thought, a lump forming in her throat. She had been so eager to run toward love, toward a life she thought was better than this quiet, simple place. Yet somehow, this old house still felt more like home than anything she had built with Lacy.

Her eyes drifted to the framed photo on the wall — her younger self smiling beside her grandmother. The memory hit her hard. That was the year she’d promised to chase her dreams. The year her grandmother had told her, “Never let anyone make you small, Remi.”

She sank onto the worn couch, her heart aching with equal parts grief and gratitude. This house, untouched by betrayal or lies, stood as proof that she had once belonged somewhere safe — and maybe, she could again.

Everything was dusty in the house because she had been gone for so long. It wasn't easy to restore it back to neat and tidy, but she did in the end.

The sun had already set by the time she was done cleaning. Then she ordered takeout.

That night, she went to bed without anybody calling her.

*****

Lacy came back late in the night. He saw Ian curled up on the couch with tears on his cheeks. He looked like he was angry and heartbroken at the same time.

"Ian, why are you still awake by now?"

‘Ian should have asleep out by now. What in the world is Remi thinking? Letting our child still awake up this late? She has gone too far’ Lacy thought.

Ian looked up at Lacy, and tears were about to fall. He jumped into Lacy’s arms. "Daddy, mummy said i was not her son at school, and now no one wants to talk to me. People are calling me an ungrateful little twerp!"

Lacy’s heart broke. He gently message Ian’s hair and calm him down. "Don't worry. On Monday, your mom will take you to school and clean up this mess.”

"Really?" Ian asked.

Lacy’s nod made Ian calm down a little bit.

Lacy looked around after putting Ian to bed. Why was everywhere quiet? He usually meet Remi watching movie each time he came back, but why wasn’t she watching movie as usual. Something was off.

"Remi. Remi.” He yelled.

Evie walked out of the kitchen with some warm milk, shuffling. "Mr. Web, Mrs. Web is on a business trip."

"On a business trip? Since when?” Lacy frowned. He didn’t send Remi on a business trip, so which business trip did she go to?

He pulled out his phone from his suit pocket and called Remi. It kept ringing until he was about to lose it. At last, she answered. "Yes?"

Her voice sounded tired. It was clear that she had been sleeping. Lacy was furious.

‘Letting their son stay all alone, what kind of mother was she?’

"Where the hell are you, Remi?" Lacy yelled.

The line became dead silent for a while , and then Remi started laughing. "Why? Are you missing me all of a sudden?”

"This is the last time I’ll ask you, where did you go to? If I remember correctly, I didn’t send you on a business trip, so what nonsense trip did you say you were going?”

Remi laughed and said. "Hang up if you don't have anything better to tell me."

"On Monday, you’ll be taking Ian to school. And tell the teachers you made a mistake by telling them Ian wasn’t your son.”

"That will be the last thing I’ll do. So all of a sudden, you want me to act like his mother? When he said he wanted Bernice as his new mom, didn’t you agree? Since I’m such a devil and Bernice an angel, I’ve already grant him his wish to make her his mother."

“Remi, shut the fv*k up. You’re only acting this way because Ian chose Bernice to come to the school competition instead of you. You know Bernice isn’t okay, she explained that being around kids helps her recover faster. Have you ever asked yourself why Ian chose Bernie over you? He….”

Remi felt a tickling in her nose and used a tissue to get rid of it. Even though she wasn’t used to Lacy’s harsh remarks, they still hurt like a bee, bringing back that old ache in her heart. Her voice broke, and a twisted smile spread across her face. "Lacy, I never knew you were so good at blaming others. Your mom made it such that Ian and I don't get along. If Bernice recovers or not is none of my business as long as she’s still having an affair with you and stealing my son from me.”

"Shut up.” Lacy yelled angrily.

"You also shut the fv*k up.” Remi yelled back at him. “Also before I forgot, I left a very important document with Evie, get it from her and make sure to sign it. Don’t ever call me except to tell me you already signed it.”

Bip. Bip. Bip.

She ended the call without waiting for his response.

Lacy gulped down hard and looked at Evie. "Did Remi gave you any documents to give me?”

After a moment, Evie’s brain clicked. She put the steaming milk down, went to her room and brought back a brown envelope.

"Mrs. Web said it was very important and you sign it. Here sir.” Evie said and handed the envelope to Lacy.

When Lacy took it, he suddenly remembered Remi trying to give him something before. What could it be?..

He opened the envelope, read through the content of the file, and his face went dark.