Chapter 3

Lucas and I did end up going to the Maldives.

He was incredibly excited, making three full pages of travel plans.

I didn't want to be a spoilsport, so I tried to keep my spirits up and accompany him.

Thirteen or fourteen-year-old boys are full of energy.

During the day, I'd go skydiving, surfing, and scuba diving with him, and at night, I'd have to accompany him to the night market to catch hermit crabs.

After a whole day, my body felt like it was falling apart.

I'd hit the bed and fall asleep instantly, not even having time to feel sad about the divorce.

When we returned from the Maldives, I originally wanted to get some good rest.

But then Lucas started criticizing my cooking.

"Mom, your food isn't bad, it's just... lacking variety."

I glared at him. "You've been eating my cooking for years, and now you're complaining?"

He scratched his head, chuckling. "It's not complaining, exactly. Just a little bored. If you could add more variety, I swear I'd grow to six feet three."

"Get out of here." I playfully slapped his face, laughing.

After all these days, I finally understood.

This kid was finding every possible way to keep me busy, just so I wouldn't have time to be sad.

My judgment in choosing a husband might have been terrible, but the child I bore was a treasure.

What was there to be sad about anymore?

I decided to look for a job.

Although Daniel had promised me a million dollars and committed to timely monthly child support payments.

A million dollars, once you start spending it, isn't actually that much.

Lucas's various extracurricular classes alone cost nearly two hundred thousand a year.

Not to mention daily expenses.

If I just stayed at home, my savings would be depleted in no time.

After being a homemaker for over a decade, my work skills were almost nonexistent.

I thought I'd start with something easy to learn and manageable, then switch to something better once I gained some experience.

I shared my idea with Lucas.

After all, if I went back to work, I might not have as much time to take care of him.

He thought for a moment, then said, "Of course I support you working, Mom. But finding a job is like finding a partner; you need to think it through before you act."

Hearing his little adult talk, I burst out laughing, unable to resist teasing him. "Have you ever looked for a partner, for them to be the same?"

He argued earnestly, "Well, if you just settle for the first one you find, and then you meet someone better, would you break up, or just keep dragging it out?"

I thought about it, and he had a point.

If I just took any job, and then a better opportunity came along, taking time off for interviews and such would be a hassle.

Lucas continued, "Finding a job isn't urgent, but something else is."

"What is it?" I asked him.

"Cancel my training classes."

"No!" I refused him flatly.

"Mom!" he wailed.

"Learning so many talents every day, I'm your son, not a slave."

After friendly negotiation, we decided to cancel the equestrian and fencing classes.

For now, we kept cello and rugby.

Our lives slowly settled into a routine.

That day, I was ordering something from a link my best friend, Brooke, had sent me.

Lucas leaned over and watched for a while, then suddenly asked, "Can Brooke make money doing this?"

"Yeah, pretty well." I answered casually, still processing my payment.

He tugged my hand, his big eyes sparkling as he looked at me. "Mom, I think you'd be really good at this."

My heart fluttered.

Brooke always had a keen eye; she'd done very well in e-commerce years ago.

This time, she'd moved into a newly launched community group-buying platform.

While it didn't have many users yet, the shopping process was convenient, and the distribution channels were flexible.

Its development prospects looked promising.

Most importantly, it had a one-click reselling feature, so I wouldn't have to worry about sourcing products—perfect for a beginner like me.

"Alright, I'll go ask Brooke about it."

If there was one thing I gained from fifteen years as a homemaker, it was my purchasing skills.

I'm a bit picky; when I buy things, I not only look at the price but also demand high quality.

I often compare three different options and do thorough research.

So, my friends always came to me for recommendations.

As Lucas said, doing something like this platform truly suited me.

With Brooke's help, my online shop was quickly set up.

I was very strict about the quality of the products I resold; I had to try them myself and approve them before listing.

So, although I didn't make a lot of money at first, I quickly built up a loyal following.

Almost a month passed in the blink of an eye.

Daniel suddenly showed up at my door.

He said he wanted to withdraw the divorce registration application.