My husband, Daniel Thompson, looked down on me. I was just a farmer's daughter in his eyes, and he never loved the son I gave birth to.

It wasn’t until our baby turned 100 days old that he held him for the first time.

Then, one day, his first love, Claire Matthews, came back to the city.

That night at dinner, Daniel, who was always cold and distant, finally smiled. He even reached across the table and placed a piece of meat on Noah’s plate.

Noah beamed all evening, clutching onto that tiny gesture like it was a treasure. Just before bed, he whispered to me, "Mom, do you think he likes me now… even just a little?"

I wrapped him in my arms, tears blurring my vision as I gently shook my head.

"No, sweetheart. It’s because the woman he truly loves is back. It’s time for us to go."

After coaxing my son, Noah Thompson, to sleep, I took out the marriage certificate I had with Daniel Thompson, planning to file for divorce.

This year marked our eighth year of marriage, and our sixth year living apart. The long stretch of time had worn away all the love I once had for him.

Now, I could finally let him go.

"Mom?"

Eight-year-old Noah had woken up at some point. He walked over to me barefoot, his eyes filled with reluctance.

"Are we really leaving? Today, Dad—Uncle Daniel—held me. He even gave me food. He must like me a little now, right?"

I was stunned for a moment at his slip of the tongue.

Daniel had taken advantage of me while drunk and had been forced to marry me. Unfortunately, he hated me, and by extension, hated the son I gave birth to.

From the day our son first learned to speak and called him "Dad", Daniel had shouted at him, forbidding him from ever calling him that again.

At three years old, the boy had no memory and instinctively called out "Dad", only to be cruelly slapped across the mouth ten times by Daniel. His tender lips had swelled up, and blood trickled as he wailed in pain.

From that day on, he buried the word "Dad" deep in his heart and never said it again.

Snapping back to reality, I held Noah tightly, my eyes brimming with tears.

"Noah, Uncle Daniel’s true love is back. We have to leave."

In my heart, I added silently, 'Otherwise, the hurt will only get worse.'

Noah’s eyes shimmered with tears. He murmured, "Uncle Daniel said I was a good boy just a few days ago. He held me today and gave me food. He’s clearly starting to like me! Can’t we stay?"

The look on his face was filled with hope. He truly believed Daniel was starting to care for him. He was striving to be better in hopes that Daniel would one day fully accept him.

I looked at my son, his face full of longing for a father’s love.

My throat tightened, and I couldn’t say a word.

What could I tell him?

That from the moment he was born, his father had rejected him?

That the reason Daniel seemed happy enough to hold him and give him food today was just because the woman he truly loved, Claire Matthews, was coming back, and he was simply in a good mood?

I couldn’t say those things. I couldn’t tear apart the fragile surface of our lives and lay bare the cruelty of reality in front of my child.

He was only eight. How could he bear such a harsh truth?

I would rather take him away and let time slowly wash away the pain. I believed that that was the best thing I could do for him as his mother.

"It’s because Mommy doesn’t love Uncle Daniel anymore. Will you come with me, Noah?"

Tears finally fell from Noah’s eyes. He choked out, "We really can’t stay? I haven’t earned Uncle Daniel’s approval yet…"

My heart ached. I gently said, "But he doesn’t like you. You’ve known that for a long time, haven’t you?"

Noah’s tears came faster. He cried soundlessly, breaking my heart.

After a long time, he finally whispered hoarsely, "Mom, can we give Uncle Daniel three more chances? I still want to try."

As I looked at the stubborn light in my son’s eyes, I gently stroked his head and softly said, "Okay."

Then, I lifted my gaze toward Daniel’s bedroom door and silently said in my heart, 'Daniel, our son has given you three last chances. If you waste them all… He and I will disappear from your life forever.

'May we live well apart, and never meet again.'

***

The next morning, Daniel left in a rush, skipping breakfast. I knew he had gone to see Claire Matthews.

They were childhood sweethearts and were pretty much a perfect couple.

However, during the upheaval years ago, Daniel was forced to relocate to the countryside, while Claire quickly married and moved to another city. From then on, their relationship was severed.

When he came to Red Fern Valley, Daniel spent months being depressed before finally regaining some spirit.

While he was living in our home, he got drunk one night, and we ended up in bed. He reluctantly married me because of that.

As a result of that single night, we had Noah.

When Noah was two, Daniel returned to the city and brought me along with him. Just when I started to feel secretly happy, thinking maybe he had feelings for me, he coldly warned me not to ever reveal I was his wife. In fact, I was to be nothing more than his live-in nanny.

I became his hidden, unacknowledged wife, and Noah, our hidden, unacknowledged child.

Even if we ran into him on the streets, we had to walk the other way.

Right before the end of the workday, I went to the factory manager to resign. She looked surprised. "Emma, even though you’re just a temp, the factory treats you well. Why are you quitting?"

I smiled and replied, "My husband’s in the countryside. It’s better if I go back."

"So you’re not a single mom? I always thought you were raising your kid alone. I figured your husband was long dead!"

Seeing the shock on her face, a wave of bitterness washed over me.

In a way, he was dead. I nodded anyway. "You’re right, I'm not. Since my husband’s in the countryside, things will be easier if I go back. Please accept my resignation."

After handling the resignation paperwork, I went to Little Pines Preschool to pick Noah up. However, on the way there, I saw Daniel and Claire together on the street.

Daniel’s expression was soft while his gaze was warm. I had never seen him look at anyone that way.

I stood stunned, watching them, then lowered my head to glance at my dusty work uniform. A deep sense of inferiority rose in my chest.

A co-worker, who came along to pick up her child, also saw them and sighed. "Mr. Thompson’s been single for so many years. He’s finally going to marry someone. Lucky woman."

"What’s there to envy? People like us don't even share the same world as Mr. Thompson. Only someone like Miss Matthews is worthy of him."

I bit my lip bitterly.

It was true. We weren’t in the same world. I’d spent eight years trying, and I still couldn’t be part of his world.

As they walked closer, Daniel finally noticed me. His gaze shifted, and he gave me a warning look, one that warned me not to speak recklessly in front of Claire and reveal anything about our relationship.

I let out a sarcastic smile, then calmly brushed past the two of them without making eye contact, like we were complete strangers.

Just as I looked up again, I was startled.

Noah was already standing at the kindergarten gate, his backpack on his back. His clear eyes stared unblinkingly at his father, who was affectionately walking with another woman. He continued to watch as his father strode away with another little boy.

When I saw the light in Noah’s eyes go out, my heart felt like it was being ripped apart.

At that moment, Daniel finally noticed his biological son standing just a few feet away.

However, his body merely stiffened for a second. Then, he walked right past the little boy indifferently as if he were a stranger.

Noah’s eyes suddenly turned red.

I hurried over to him. He was still staring at Daniel’s back when he softly asked me, "Mom, is that who Uncle Daniel likes? And their child?"

Hearing the sorrow in Noah’s young voice, I couldn’t find the strength to respond. Tears finally fell from my eyes.

Noah didn’t ask again. Although he obediently held my hand and walked home, the redness in his eyes said everything about his silent hurt.

I looked at Noah holding back his emotions, my heart aching with every step.

'Daniel Thompson, you have only two chances left.'

***

After finishing his homework, Noah hesitantly asked, "Mom, can Uncle Daniel come with me to the parent-child Sports Day on Sunday?"

I looked into his hopeful eyes and stayed silent.

Ever since Noah started school, Daniel had never once attended any school event, let alone anything involving parent-child participation.

I couldn’t bear to disappoint my son, so I softly said, "I will ask him for you."

I waited on the couch until midnight before Daniel finally came home. He casually dropped a toy robot on the table.

I said, "There’s a parent-child sports day at school on Sunday. Noah hopes you can come."

"I’ll go." I hadn’t held out any hope, but to my surprise, he actually agreed.

The next morning, when Noah woke up and saw me, he said in a low voice, "Uncle Daniel doesn’t want to come, does he?"

Then, he quickly comforted himself like a little adult. "It’s okay. Having you there is the same."

Seeing his thoughtful little face, my heart ached. I quickly said, "He promised to come."

"Uncle Daniel’s busy. I should be understanding…" He was still murmuring to himself, but when he heard what I said, his voice caught.

He looked up in disbelief and asked, "Mom, really?"

"When have I ever lied to you?" I stroked his head with heartache.

Noah broke into a bright smile. It was the first time Daniel had ever agreed to accompany his son.

When Noah saw the toy robot on the table, his eyes lit up even more. Grinning from ear to ear, he said, "This must be the gift Uncle Daniel got for me, right?"

Looking at the robot, I also assumed it was meant for Noah. Smiling, I nodded.

Noah was so happy, it was like he was walking on clouds.

In the days that followed, he was filled with excitement. Even so, every day, he would still nervously ask, "Uncle Daniel will definitely come, right?"

Seeing his unease, my heart hurt. I repeatedly reassured him that Daniel would be there.

On Sunday, I took Noah to school first. Other kids’ fathers began to arrive one by one. Noah nervously kept glancing at the school gate.

I held his little hand, now slick with cold sweat.

Soon after, I saw Claire arrive on the playground with Max. The robot in Max’s hands stood out brightly, attracting a group of kids around him.

Noah looked over, and his eyes locked onto the robot. In an instant, they filled with tears.

I also saw it clearly. My fingertips trembled.

Daniel had brought that toy robot home just a few days ago. Since Noah was born, Daniel had never once bought him a single toy. I thought maybe he remembered Noah’s birthday was coming soon, and had picked something special for him.

It turned out that he had bought it for someone else’s child.

"This is from my dad! It’s the only one in the whole city!" The boy’s smug voice drifted into both mine and Noah’s ears.