Chapter 4

Sebastian walked up beside me, completely oblivious, even with a hint of nostalgia and a smile in his voice: "Do you notice? This is exactly how we decorated for Liam's birthday a year ago, before we divorced."

"He still remembers every detail to this day."

"Amelia, you carried him for ten months. He loves you so much. Now that you've seen him, can you really bear to leave?"

I could no longer contain my anger, and retorted word by word: "Why wouldn't I be able to bear it?"

"Sebastian, you should know very well that birthday party was a humiliation for me."

Five years into our marriage, Sebastian had taken up with a starlet.

Her name was Scarlett Rose, strikingly beautiful, but with a carefully crafted public image of innocence.

My husband Sebastian doted on her.

He often brazenly brought Scarlett home, and upon seeing me, his eyes were filled with undisguised contempt: "Amelia, look at yourself. No figure, no ability, just a freeloader."

"Learn from Scarlett. She's already an Oscar-winning actress at such a young age."

"I'm embarrassed to be seen with you in public."

Even our son Liam, whom I had carried for ten months and raised with care, preferred Scarlett.

"Mom, why are you my mother?"

"If dad's wife was Scarlett Rose, I could brag to others that I have an Oscar-winning actress for a mom."

"But you're just a housewife. When my classmates ask about you, I feel ashamed."

My heart was overwhelmed with helplessness. I wanted to defend myself but didn't know where to begin.

It was Sebastian who had completely destroyed my career opportunities.

Yet he turned around and accused me of being a freeloader.

I had carried Liam for ten months and devoted myself to him wholeheartedly.

But I still couldn't compare to Scarlett, who only saw him once a week.

What finally made me determined to divorce was on Liam's birthday a year ago.

He rarely spoke to me gently: "Mom, all my friends have nice birthday parties. I want one too."

He pleaded with me.

I immediately organized the entire birthday party.

That evening, Liam invited all his classmates to our house, and Sebastian invited many business partners.

Then Scarlett showed up.

She brought a $20,000 Lego set as a gift and gracefully sat down next to Sebastian.

Liam's classmates were very envious and asked, "Liam, what's your relationship with the famous Scarlett Rose? Why is she so nice to you?"

At that moment, I was about to bring out the cake I had made myself.

But I heard Liam's clear voice answer, "Scarlett is my mom."

His classmates obviously didn't believe him and pointed at me, saying, "She's your mom."

Liam looked at me with disgust in his eyes: "No, she's not my mom. She's just our housekeeper."