Chapter 1
She and her husband, Blair Avery, only slept together to have children.
Bianca Watts lay in bed, watching as Blair came out of the bathroom. With his back to her, he got dressed and said, "Call me only when the pregnancy test comes back positive."
Five years of marriage, and their relationship was little more than a formality.
Blair had a mistress, and Bianca had searched through all his social media accounts until she finally found the woman's profile.
From then on, she secretly stalked her.
The only way Bianca could find out what Blair was up to was through the woman who was destroying her marriage.
The mistress posted frequently-everything from everyday meals to bigger events like holidays and birthdays.
Before they began planning for a second child, Bianca hardly saw Blair, but now, they only met once a month.
Knowing he was in a hurry to leave, Bianca quickly got up and called out to him, "Let's get a divorce."
"Divorce? You'll have to wait a month. What if you're pregnant this time?" Blair snorted, grabbed his coat, and walked out.
A month later, Bianca entered Golden Residence with her pregnancy test results.
She was really pregnant.
Just as she was about to step into the living room, she heard her mother-in-law, Sandra Porter, speak, "Blair, Bianca and you still want another child, but why are you in touch with that woman? How's she supposed to get pregnant with you acting like that? If it doesn't work, why don't you just let that woman have a child for you?"
Blair immediately shot down Sandra's suggestion. "That's not the same."
Sandra was furious. "How is it not the same?"
Bianca stepped aside, her heart skipping a beat at Blair's defense of her.
Yes, no matter what Blair did outside, she was still his only wife.
Soon, Blair's voice came again. "Mom, having a baby is risky. I can't let Diane take that chance. Have you forgotten how close Bianca came to dying after giving birth?"
Sandra grew even angrier. "Just thinking about it makes me so mad. Do you know how much the medical bills were?"
Blair ignored Sandra's complaints and simply explained, "Childbirth is dangerous. Bianca has already been through it once. She's strong enough to handle it, but Diane is still young. I can't let her take that risk."
Bianca stood frozen, as if struck by lightning. She couldn't move, her eyes filled with unshed tears.
She knew Blair didn't love her, knew he had betrayed her, and knew their marriage was beyond repair. But she still naively thought she could keep him with a child.
She thought that no matter how wild Blair got outside, at least the title of "Mrs. Avery" would always be hers.
But the truth was even crueler than she could have imagined.
To Blair, she was just a means of having children.
What he had forgotten was that after giving birth to Winnie Avery, she had suffered from depression and couldn't even bear the sight of blood.
She was someone who had been saved from the brink of death by doctors.
Blair was afraid that Diane Huffman might face complications, but he had forgotten how much more dangerous Bianca's health was.
Inside the house, Bianca could no longer make out the conversation between Blair and Sandra.
She had risked her life to give the Avery family an heir, yet she was left alone every night, betrayed and forsaken.
She clutched her pregnancy test results tightly, thinking that it was finally time to end everything.
Today was supposed to be the day they tried for a second child, but now Bianca felt that it no longer mattered.
It turned out that heartache could strike in an instant.
The child inside her no longer seemed worth keeping.
If no one else cared about her life or death, at least she should care about it herself.
Chapter 2
Just as she was about to turn and leave, the maid, Lila Willis, spotted her. "Mrs. Avery, you're back?"
Bianca smiled at Lila, deciding that today might be the day she finally discussed divorce.
Bianca tucked the pregnancy test results away and stepped into the living room. The conversation between Sandra and Blair immediately fell silent.
In a stark departure from her usual behavior, Bianca didn't even bother calling out to them.
In the past, she had naively believed that if she served her in-laws well and played the role of a thoughtful, understanding wife, there would come a day when her husband would truly see her.
But reality had delivered a harsh slap to her face.
No matter how much she laid her heart out for the Avery family, they wouldn't even spare her a second glance.
After five years of one-sided effort, it was time for her to take back everything.
Blair was here for business, so he glanced at Lila and ordered, "Lila, please see Mrs. Avery out."
Throughout all this, Bianca remained silent, standing off to the side. But in her eyes, a new layer of coldness had settled in.
Blair managed the family business and ran it well. He was well-liked by everyone-respectful to his elders, loyal to his friends, fair with his subordinates, and caring towards his employees.
Everyone who knew him spoke highly of him, and many joked that Bianca must have been a saint in her previous life to marry him.
But the one person Blair's goodness never extended to was Bianca.
Five years of marriage had made it clear to her: this hollow relationship, offering no emotional nourishment, was one she no longer wanted to continue.
As Sandra passed by Bianca, Sandra suddenly stopped and, with a sharp tone, scolded, "If you can't give birth to an heir, I wonder how you'll face us."
In the past, Bianca would have quietly endured such remarks.
But now, she felt there was no point in holding back anymore.
Turning to Sandra, her eyes no longer filled with appeasement and flattery, Bianca responded sharply, "Mom, we're both women. Is it really all my fault whether it's a boy or a girl?"
In the past, Bianca had always been meek, and Sandra had thought she could easily control her. But today, she was faced with something entirely different.
However, Sandra wasn't about to show any mercy. She raised her hand and slapped Bianca hard across the face. "How dare you speak to your elder like that? Apologize!"
Her expression was vicious, as if she were ready to devour Bianca, and she was certain that Bianca would be cowed by her forceful presence.
Sandra knew just how much Bianca loved Blair.
For him, Bianca had been willing to abandon her dignity and self-respect, even willing to be subservient to the Avery family.
But now, she had had enough.
If they couldn't even value her sacrifices and her life, then she wasn't going to continue bending over backward for anyone.
Bianca's gaze darkened as she looked at Sandra. Without saying a word, she stepped forward to slap her back.
But before her hand could land, a large hand grabbed her wrist mid-air.
A low, reprimanding voice cut through the tension. "Bianca, have you had enough?"
Bianca looked up, and there, standing before her, was Blair's striking face. His gaze was cold, sharp, like a dagger aimed straight at her.
Once, this face would have sent Bianca's heart racing. But now, as she looked at him, all she felt was disgust.
How could a person be so heartless?
Not only had he stopped loving her, cheated on her, and treated her with emotional neglect, but now he had reduced her to nothing more than a tool for reproduction?
He didn't even care about the risks she had faced during her first pregnancy-he wanted to push her into having another child. Wasn't that essentially signing her death warrant?
Chapter 3
The thought made Bianca feel a surge of nausea.
Just as she was about to speak, Blair suddenly shoved her hand away and said coldly, "I'm not in the mood today. We'll talk about the second child next month."
With that, he took Sandra's hand and led her out of the room.
Sandra turned around, her face gleaming with satisfaction, as if to say, Of course my son sides with me. You're just an outsider-don't you know your place?
If this had happened before, Bianca would have been devastated, probably even crying over Blair's lack of support. But now, she seemed almost used to it-there wasn't even the slightest hint of disappointment.
As she watched Blair about to leave the hall, Bianca quickly called out, "Blair."
Bianca was a woman of firm resolve. Once she made a decision, she stuck to it. Just like when she had fallen for Blair, despite her family's objections, she had thrown herself into this messy marriage without hesitation.
But after loving Blair for eight years, Bianca was simply exhausted.
He never saw her worth, never considered working on their marriage. His decision to marry her had been driven by a sense of responsibility after she got pregnant before marriage.
Their marriage was a tomb, and the only one buried in it was Bianca.
She should have realized this long ago.
Blair paused at the door, and for a brief moment, Bianca thought he might be listening to her. After exhaling deeply, she finally said, "I don't want to stay with you anymore. Let's get a divorce."
The moment the words left her mouth, Bianca felt an unexpected sense of relief.
But just then, Blair pressed his phone to his ear. She couldn't hear the person on the other end, but his voice became urgent as he responded, "Okay, I'll be there soon."
After hanging up, he wrapped his arm around Sandra and walked out of the Golden Residence hall.
And yet, the words she had just spoken-thinking they might offer some release-seemed to fall on deaf ears.
It wasn't until Blair's figure had completely disappeared that Bianca finally let out a bitter laugh.
Lila returned after seeing them out and, seeing Bianca still standing there, dazed, called out, "Mrs. Avery?"
Snapping out of her trance, Bianca walked over to the sofa and sat down. She then instructed, "Lila, please help me prepare dinner."
In the past, she would have done everything herself, thinking it might earn her some affection from Blair.
Even though they barely saw each other once or twice a year, she used to put her heart into it. But in reality, Blair had never truly acknowledged her efforts.
Now, she was tired and, for the first time, remembered that she had once been the cherished daughter, doted on by her parents and brother, never having to lift a finger.
After dinner, Bianca went upstairs to the study to prepare a divorce agreement.
The Watts family wasn't exactly poor, and as a pediatric surgeon, Bianca wasn't lacking financially. She could provide a good future for Winnie.
But after five years of silently enduring everything, the result had been Blair's coldness and cruelty.
So she made it clear in the agreement: Blair's income after marriage should be split in half with her, and he would need to pay an additional 700 thousand dollars per month for Winnie's support.
But thinking about Winnie, Bianca wasn't sure who Winnie would want to live with.
She had completed half of the agreement when she realized she needed to ask Winnie for her opinion. So, she left Golden Residence with the unfinished document in hand.
After Winnie was born, Blair bought her a villa, and Bianca stayed home for four years to take care of Winnie before returning to work at a hospital.
As her job changed, she had spent less and less time with Winnie.
Chapter 4
In the past six months, she had been attending a training course at a regional hospital in a neighboring area.
The two times she had seen Blair recently, she had let her romantic fantasies take over, thinking that having a second child would somehow bring him back and make him stay home.
Even though she had no free time, she swapped shifts with her colleagues, working three consecutive overnight shifts just to get a day or two off.
But she had never considered that having a second child wasn't something she could do alone. It required time, and Blair could have come to her if he wanted to.
The problem was, most of his time was spent with Diane.
She arrived at Harmony Residence just after nine in the evening.
As she stepped out of the car, a notification from a video app popped up: [The person you watch most often, 'Diane,' has posted a new video.]
Bianca hadn't meant to watch it, but out of habit, she clicked on the video anyway.
It was just one image-Blair bending down in front of Diane.
The caption read: [Had a drink, caught a chill. I made one call, and you came right over. It's so good to have you here right now.]
Bianca felt a sharp ache in her heart as she read those words.
If they were really so in love, maybe it was time for her to step back, to let them be happy together.
If she divorced, all she wanted was Winnie and her fair share of the assets. Anything beyond that, she didn't need.
She put her phone away and walked into the living room.
When Katelyn saw her, she hesitated for a moment before saying, "Mrs. Avery?"
"Where's Winnie?"
"She's upstairs, playing with her Barbie dolls."
No sooner had Katelyn spoken than they heard Winnie's surprised voice from upstairs. "Mom?"
It had been so long since Bianca had seen Winnie, and her heart tightened with longing. She quickly rushed upstairs, scooped Winnie into her arms, and kissed her all over her face.
Just as she was about to ask something, Bianca noticed Winnie wiping her face repeatedly, rubbing it so hard that her skin turned red before she stopped.
Bianca's heart skipped a beat, and the words she had wanted to say got stuck in her throat.
With wet eyes, she looked at Winnie, her heart in turmoil.
Before she could speak, Winnie excitedly blurted out, "Mom, you came back just in time! I was about to call you! I'm starting kindergarten soon, and I want to go to Sunshine Kindergarten on East Street."
Winnie's eyes lit up when she mentioned the school.
Bianca was a little puzzled, but since Winnie seemed so determined, she didn't want to disappoint her. Besides, it was just kindergarten. If it didn't work out, they could always change later.
"Alright, we'll go to East Street," Bianca agreed.
Winnie jumped up, beaming. "Thanks, Mom! You're the best!"
Watching her daughter so happy, Bianca felt unsure how to bring up the next topic.
Instinctively, she touched her belly. When she looked up again, she asked Winnie seriously, "Winnie, would you like a little brother or sister?"
Winnie seemed eager to return to her room but paused to think for a moment before answering thoughtfully, "I'd like a little brother."
Bianca felt a sharp pang in her chest. Her eyes became misty as she quietly asked, "What if Mommy is scared?"
The risk of amniotic fluid embolism from her first pregnancy was long past, but the emotional scars from that experience still lingered in her heart.
Winnie looked at her seriously and said, "Mommy, you can't be selfish. Didn't you have me, too?"
Bianca felt like she had been struck by lightning. She stood frozen, her face draining of color, unable to move.
Chapter 5
After a long silence, she finally found her voice, asking in a choked whisper, "Aren't you afraid of losing Mommy?"
Since Winnie's birth, Bianca had been the one to care for her, day and night-soothing her to sleep, feeding her, and always putting her needs first.
For the past four years, she hadn't had a full night's sleep.
All she wanted now was to know if Winnie still loved her.
But Bianca saw Winnie furrowing her brow. "Oh, I'm going to bed now," she said, before quickly running off to her room and slamming the door shut.
Bianca stood at the top of the stairs, frozen, feeling like ice.
Soon, she heard Winnie's excited voice from her room. "Diane, I can go to East Street Kindergarten now! After you finish work, you can pick me up. That way, you won't have to work so hard anymore.
"Also, also, Diane, don't get pregnant! I heard from Mom that having a baby is really dangerous. You lose a lot of blood, and it could even be life-threatening. Let Mom have the baby. She's already had me, so she's not scared.
"I miss you so much, Diane. I want to hear you tell stories, and I want to snuggle with you..."
Bianca stood outside the door, her heart aching as she remembered how Winnie had pulled away from her earlier. It felt as though her heart had shattered into a thousand pieces.
She had thought that if she divorced Blair, at least Winnie would still be hers. But she never imagined that Winnie would start to grow closer to outsiders, just like Blair had.
It turned out that all her sacrifices in her marriage had been for nothing. No one cared about what she had done or given up.
After what felt like an eternity, Bianca finally dragged herself downstairs, utterly exhausted.
When Katelyn saw her in a daze, she moved forward to ask if everything was alright, but Bianca waved her off, signaling that she didn't want to talk.
As soon as she left Harmony Residence, Bianca dialed Blair's number.
She tried calling several times, but no one picked up. She didn't give up, though-she kept calling.
Normally, after one or two missed calls, she'd give up. But tonight, it felt like she had lost all control and just couldn't stop dialing.
Finally, Blair answered. "I'm busy, what's-"
Before he could finish, Bianca cut him off, "I need to see you. Right now. Immediately."
On the other end of the line, Bianca was practically screaming, her voice desperate and frantic.
She didn't care about how she sounded anymore. Her raw emotions spilled out, causing Blair to frown in irritation.
Once she calmed down a little, Blair said, "We'll talk about it next month, okay?"
Without waiting for her to respond, he hung up the phone.
As the dial tone beeped in her ear, Bianca felt too numb to even cry.
This was how it had always been with Blair-she was left with no place to release her anger.
The last five years had worn her down.
She was done with the marriage. She was getting the divorce, but she had to fight for custody of Winnie.
Even if Winnie was getting closer to Diane, Bianca had to try.
Winnie was her daughter-she had carried her for nine months and raised her through sleepless nights. She would not give up on her so easily.
With her decision made, Bianca saw Blair's Rolls-Royce pull up outside Harmony Residence.
She turned her head toward the sound. Through the windshield, she saw Blair sitting in the driver's seat, with Diane beside him, holding a bouquet of flowers.
Blair saw her too, and their eyes met across the distance, neither of them saying a word.
In the past, Bianca would have been too afraid to make a scene about Diane. But now, she just didn't care.
Chapter 6
After a long, tense silence, Blair opened the car door and got out. He walked around to the passenger side to open the door for Diane, as though he hadn't even noticed Bianca.
But she called out to him, "Blair, we need to talk."
Blair ignored her, still focused on opening the door for Diane. Without thinking, Bianca rushed over, slapped his hand away, and angrily shouted, "Blair, you can be with anyone you want, but Winnie is my daughter. How dare you let an outsider come between me and my child?"
Only then did Blair finally look at her. His gaze was cold and distant, as if he were looking down on her. His voice was heavy as he said, "Diane is more suited to be a mother than you."
With that, he pushed past her and opened the car door.
Bianca stood frozen in place, the full weight of his words slowly sinking in.
It took her a moment to understand the true meaning of what he had said.
Was he suggesting that Winnie should call Diane "Mom"?
The car door opened, and Blair held the top of the car while reaching out his hand to Diane.
As their fingers intertwined, Bianca turned around.
Seeing this heart-wrenching scene, she was surprisingly calm.
Maybe it was because she had come to terms with everything, which made her feel strangely at peace in that moment.
In the past, she would have been crying uncontrollably by now.
But now, all she wanted to ask Blair was what he had meant when he said, "Diane is more suited to be a mother than you."
"Blair, what do you mean by that?"
Bianca's lips trembled, and her voice wavered.
Diane got out of the car, her hand still resting on Blair's arm. In the moonlight, their long shadows stretched across the road.
It seemed like Blair hadn't heard Bianca at all. He kept walking with Diane, heading toward Harmony Residence.
It was hard to remember how many times she had been ignored.
Her heart had long been broken, but when it came to her daughter, she couldn't let go.
So she stepped forward, not even knowing where the strength came from, and grabbed Blair's wrist. She raised her voice, demanding, "Blair, talk to me!"
Finally, Blair stopped and turned around. His gaze was cold and indifferent as he looked at her. He twisted his wrist, easily pulling his hand away, and said flatly, "You're busy with work, and Winnie is still young. She needs someone to take care of her. When you're pregnant with the second child, Winnie will be under Diane's care."
Blair had always been like this-making decisions without consulting her, always delivering the news in a way that felt like an order.
But this time, Bianca wasn't going to let him make decisions without a fight.
When she had decided to go to the neighboring area for training, Bianca had already arranged a nanny for Winnie.
But it wasn't until last month that she found out the nanny had been dismissed by Blair.
During the six months she was away, Diane had moved into Harmony Residence, living a "happy family" life with Blair and Winnie.
Bianca hadn't made a scene because she still held onto a faint hope, thinking Blair still recognized her as Mrs. Avery.
But now, she realized that, without her knowing, even Winnie had been taken from her.
How could she leave with dignity after all this?
When it came to the matter of who would raise her daughter, Bianca was too emotional to think clearly. Her voice rose in frustration. "I can take care of my own child. I don't need anyone else!"
Blair ignored her protests and simply said, "It's decided."
Bianca's anger flared. Breaking from her usual calm, she shouted, "I said, I can take care of her myself!"
Chapter 7
The tension in the air thickened. Seeing things getting out of hand, Diane, standing behind Blair, quietly suggested, "Blair, why don't you and Ms. Watts talk for a moment? I'll go check on Winnie."
Blair nodded, and Diane walked toward Harmony Residence.
Just then, Bianca called out to her, "Diane, stop!"
As Diane turned around, Bianca slapped her across the face.
It was Bianca who struck her.
By the time Blair realized what had happened, he rushed over, pushing Bianca away, and quickly held Diane, looking at her with concern. "Are you okay?"
Diane covered her face, tears welling up in her eyes, looking hurt and innocent.
Blair was frantic, trying to comfort her, but Bianca felt no sympathy for Diane.
What kind of woman would get so close to a married man with a child?
Of course, it wasn't just Diane's fault-Blair wasn't exactly innocent either.
Bianca was about to speak when a small figure suddenly dashed out of Harmony Residence.
It was Winnie, running so fast that she hadn't even put on her shoes.
As she ran closer, Winnie threw herself into Diane's arms, hugging her leg and looking up with concern. "Diane, does it hurt? Let me blow on it for you, okay?"
Winnie had been about to go to bed, but when she saw Blair's car through the window, she knew he was back with Diane. So, she hurried downstairs to greet them.
When she got to the door, she saw Bianca slap Diane. In a rush, she ran out, even losing her shoes along the way.
Bianca stood there, watching as Blair and Winnie comforted an outsider. In that moment, she could almost hear her heart breaking.
But still, she refused to believe that the rose she had so carefully nurtured would now turn its thorns on her.
She reached out with trembling hands, whispering under her breath, "Winnie..."
Before she could finish calling her name, Winnie spun around, furious, and ran straight at her. She began hitting her with tiny hands, shouting, "Bad mom, bad mom! You hit Diane! You're a bad mom! I don't want you, bad mom!"
Bianca froze, her face going pale. In that instant, it hit her-everything she had fought for, the custody she thought she deserved, was just a fantasy.
Her husband, her daughter-none of them needed her.
She was standing there like a joke.
What was even more ridiculous was that she had gone so far as to have a second child for a man who didn't even love her.
How long Winnie hit her, what else she said-Bianca couldn't even remember.
The words "bad mom" were enough to crush all her hopes.
Bianca stood there for a long moment before bitterly smiling. Without looking at Blair or Winnie again, she turned and walked away.
Behind her, Blair and Winnie continued to comfort Diane, completely unaware that Bianca had already left.
As she rounded the corner, Bianca couldn't resist looking back one last time at the two people she had cherished for so long.
One big, one small, holding Diane's hand-together, they walked toward Harmony Residence, looking like the perfect little family.
Bianca laughed softly, but the ache in her chest was too much to bear. She couldn't shed a single tear.
These five years had drained her completely.
She had always put them first-but not anymore.
After leaving Harmony Residence, Bianca walked alone for a long while, reflecting on the past five years. She had known for some time that she shouldn't keep wasting herself on this relationship, but she had refused to face it.
Now, she understood. From now on, she would learn to love herself.
Bianca took a cab back to Golden Residence, went straight to the study, and started drafting a new divorce agreement.
She decided to split the assets evenly. As for Winnie, she was giving up custody.
Chapter 8
Once the agreement was neatly placed on her desk, Bianca got back into her car and drove through the night to the neighboring region.
After resting for a night, she headed to the hospital early the next morning.
Today, her university friend, Mollie Hahn, was working in the obstetrics department.
Mollie knew a bit about Bianca's marriage, but when she heard that Bianca was determined to terminate the pregnancy, she was surprised. "This baby was hard to conceive. Why not keep it? Even if things aren't going well with your relationship, you could always raise the child on your own."
Bianca sat across from her calmly. "Mollie, I'm a woman, and the greatest self-discipline for a woman is knowing when not to have children. Besides, my life matters too. I've made my decision. Please schedule the surgery for this morning."
The old Bianca was gone. From now on, she would love herself and those who loved her in return.
As for those who didn't love her-she was done with them.
When Bianca woke up, she found herself in a hospital room.
Mollie came to check on her, advising her to rest for two more days before being discharged. Once she left the hospital, she should rest for a month.
Bianca agreed, already determined to follow through with the full month of rest.
Her body was hers to care for, and she would take good care of it.
After Mollie left, Bianca picked up her phone. As expected, there was no call from Blair.
What had happened the night before might have been a small, insignificant incident for them, but for Bianca, it marked a turning point in her life.
She had finally come to terms with who they were, and in a way, that realization was liberating. It was better than living in constant turmoil and internal conflict.
Without thinking, she opened a video app, and the first video that popped up was from Diane, with a small note above her name saying: [This person may be someone you know.]
In the video, Diane was holding hands with a child. From the back, Bianca immediately recognized that it was Winnie.
The caption read: [The feeling of being needed is so wonderful.]
The background was unmistakably the living room of Harmony Residence.
Bianca smiled faintly, perhaps out of habit, and then long-pressed the screen and tapped [Not Interested.]
Her days of secretly watching had come to an end.
After being discharged, Bianca hired a nanny and spent the entire month resting as planned.
A month later, she paid the nanny, changed into a fresh dress, applied a bit of makeup, and drove to Ylagos.
Today was the 15th of the month again-the day for her and Blair's routine attempt to conceive a second child.
Truth be told, Bianca had never been satisfied with the physical side of their relationship. Every time they were intimate, Blair went through the motions, eager to finish so he could go see Diane.
But tonight, she wasn't going back for the second child. She had other plans-she was determined to talk to Blair about divorce.
By the time she arrived at Golden Residence, it was already 7 p.m., and Lila had prepared dinner for her.
After eating, Bianca went upstairs to the study.
The divorce agreement was still sitting on the desk, exactly as she had left it last month-untouched.
There was no doubt about it: Blair hadn't come home for another month.
As the evening dragged on and it passed 9 p.m., Bianca began to grow impatient. Just as she was about to give up, there was a knock at the door.
When the door opened, it was Lila.
"Mrs. Avery, Mr. Avery called earlier. He said he won't be home tonight because of some business. He asked you to come back next month instead."
Bianca heard this and let out a bitter laugh.
Chapter 9
Next month?
She could come back this month, but who knew about next month?
She had been trapped in this cage long enough, and she was done. She was tired.
After a brief pause, she stood up and said to Lila, "When he comes back next time, remind him that I've left something for him on the desk."
Lila nodded obediently. "Understood, Mrs. Avery."
Bianca grabbed her bag and left Golden Residence.
She got into the car, but she had no idea where to go.
Eventually, she found herself driving toward a crowd of young people spilling out of a place called "Ylagos Grand Hall."
The crowd quickly dispersed, but three figures remained, and Bianca couldn't take her eyes off them.
Blair and Diane were holding Winnie's hands, one on each side, gazing at each other.
"Diane, you're so pretty, like a fairy," Winnie said with a smile.
"Your piano playing sounds beautiful! When I grow up, will you teach me how to play?" she asked sweetly, her voice full of admiration.
"Please, Diane," Winnie added, playfully shaking Diane's arm.
Diane, wearing a white long gown, looked exquisite-like a star falling into the dark night, radiating brilliance.
She leaned gently toward Winnie, her expression soft. With a playful touch, she tapped the tip of Winnie's nose with her finger and smiled. "As long as you like it, I will definitely teach you."
Winnie jumped up excitedly, then turned to Blair and asked, "Daddy, isn't Diane amazing?"
Blair smiled and nodded. "Yeah."
He was a man of few words, but that simple "Yeah" carried all the warmth and admiration he felt.
Winnie grinned even wider. "When I grow up, I want to be as amazing as Diane."
Through the car's windshield, Bianca watched the scene unfold.
The admiration in Winnie's eyes had never been directed at her.
But then again, it made sense. After their marriage, she had focused entirely on Blair and Winnie, letting herself slip and losing touch with the things she once enjoyed.
To Winnie, she was just a woman who spent all her time in the kitchen, while Diane was the pure, untouchable ideal.
That thought pierced Bianca's heart, and the pain spread, heavy and suffocating.
At the entrance of the hall, Winnie stretched out her arms and bounced on her feet, calling out, "Diane, I want you to carry me!"
Blair quickly stepped in. "Winnie, Diane is in a dress. It's not easy for her to carry you. Wait until we get to the car."
As she heard this, Winnie's face dropped, clearly disappointed.
Diane, noticing this, immediately bent down to pick her up, smiling at Blair. "It's fine, as long as Winnie wants me to carry her."
Blair smiled warmly, his eyes full of affection for both of them.
Diane carried Winnie as they descended the stairs, with Winnie leaning into her and rubbing her cheek against hers. Blair followed behind, holding up the hem of Diane's dress.
A man who could command the business world and never back down from a challenge was now bending down to lift the skirt of a woman's dress.
They all got into the car, and the vehicle drove off.
This was the "something important" Blair had mentioned.
Bianca couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh.
She sat in the car for what felt like an eternity until her phone suddenly rang.
It was the hospital calling.
She answered professionally, "Mr. Norton."
Bianca had trained in pediatric surgery, and after four years of being a full-time mother, she had returned to the hospital in a junior position.
On the other end, Darren Norton said, "Your training can be cut short. You can return to work next week."
Bianca hesitated for a moment before asking, "Isn't there a position for the volunteer medical outreach to the countryside? I'd like to sign up."
Chapter 10
Darren sounded surprised. "The countryside work is tough and won't do much for your career advancement. We have a spot available, but there's no obligation to go..."
But Bianca was firm. "Mr. Norton, I'm willing to go. Think of it as a break for me."
Seeing her determination, Darren didn't argue further and agreed. "Alright, you can go for two months."
*****
A month passed in the blink of an eye.
Winnie had started school a month ago.
After two months of unsuccessful attempts at a second child, Blair was once again pressured by his family, so on the 15th of the month, he returned earlier than usual.
It wasn't even six o'clock when he arrived at Golden Residence.
Lila was surprised to see him back so early. "Sir, back so soon today?"
Blair didn't explain. As he walked toward the second floor, he said to Lila, "If Mrs. Avery returns, tell her to come to the bedroom."
Lila nodded, watching him head upstairs.
Blair passed by the study without stopping, heading straight for the bedroom.
He had come back for one reason-only to discuss the second child. There was no need to go anywhere else.
After a shower, Blair waited for her in bed.
Seven o'clock. Eight o'clock. Nine o'clock...
Three hours passed, and Bianca still hadn't returned.
Just as Blair was beginning to lose patience, he finally heard footsteps outside the door...
When the door was gently pushed open, Blair instinctively reached out to turn off the light.
The room was immediately consumed by darkness.
As he untied the sash of his robe, Blair spoke up, "It's getting late. Let's just get started-I have something else to take care of later."
When the door opened, light from the hallway spilled in, casting a shadow on the figure in the doorway, making it hard to make out clearly.
Lila, hearing Blair's words, froze. She hesitated, then quietly spoke up, "Sir, it's me."
Blair paused, realizing who it was. He turned the light back on and looked at Lila with a puzzled expression. "She still hasn't come back?"
Lila, sweating slightly, said, "No."
The mood in the room immediately shifted, growing tense.
Lila could tell Blair wasn't happy. She was at a loss for what to say but finally tried to comfort him, "Mrs. Avery usually comes home early. Last month, she was back before six. She must have gotten held up today."
Blair caught the hint in Lila's words but didn't respond much. Instead, he simply said, "I understand."
Lila was about to suggest that Blair rest for the night, but before she could say anything, he abruptly sat up from the bed.
She swallowed her words.
Five minutes later, Blair had changed and left Golden Residence.
Lila saw him off at the door, but a nagging feeling told her she'd forgotten something.
It wasn't until Blair's car was out of sight that she remembered-Bianca had asked her to remind him of something in the study.
As soon as Blair left Golden Residence, he received a call from Diane.
"What's going on?" In the dim light, Blair's expression was calm, soft, and without any edge.
Diane's voice floated through the phone. "Blair, I have an important performance tomorrow, but Winnie's kindergarten is having a parent-child event. I'm afraid..."
Before she could finish, Blair already understood what she was trying to say.
"I got it. I'll have Bianca go in my place."
Diane let out a sigh of relief. "I've already talked it over with Winnie. Just tell Bianca."
Blair replied, "Alright, just focus on your performance."
After the call ended, Blair pulled the car over to the side of the road.
He opened his call history but couldn't find the familiar number he was searching for.
It took him a while to realize that Bianca hadn't called him in a long time.