Chapter 5

I couldn't sleep. I just lay there, staring blankly until dawn.

Around seven, I heard James talking outside, along with a woman constantly saying "okay, okay, okay."

I guessed it must be the housekeeper.

After a while, the front door closed, and the sound of a car engine started. James had left for work.

I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling with my mind in chaos, starting to ponder.

I've never been an outgoing person. Otherwise, I wouldn't have secretly had a crush on James for so many years.

But now, not only had my secret crush succeeded, but I had also become his wife. Although I was shocked, I felt more of an indescribable joy.

I thought this was a chance given to me by heaven, but I didn't expect to have played such a bad hand in this marriage.

Low emotional intelligence really is a fatal flaw.

Lost in these thoughts, the bedroom door suddenly opened.

A woman wearing a housekeeper's uniform walked in. When she saw me, she quickly apologized.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't know there was someone inside."

"It's okay, I was just about to get up."

I smiled at her, and she finally relaxed and slowly walked in.

"The master has gone to work. I thought this room was empty. Didn't you used to sleep in your own room?"

My own room?

I suddenly remembered that yesterday when I went to get clothes, there seemed to be a bed in that room.

So, I had been sleeping in another room all along.

In other words, were we living separately?

Thinking about it this way, James's series of unusual behaviors yesterday all made sense.

Too embarrassing to face anyone.

I buried my face in my hands, already regretting my actions many times over.

Coco probably heard our conversation and came running to the bedroom door barefoot, looking at me eagerly but not daring to come in.

"Coco, come here to Mommy."

I called to him gently, reaching out my arms.

Hearing me say this, the little one excitedly rushed over to me.

Then he suddenly pounced on me, knocking me back onto the bed, showing his little tiger teeth and grinning happily.

"Mommy."

He said, not forgetting to nuzzle his head against my chest.

It melted my heart.

He really is my adorable baby boy.

No matter how much James hates me right now, this son is my own flesh and blood. I must treat Coco well.

I greeted the housekeeper and took Coco out, spending some quality time just the two of us.

I took Coco shopping, bought him lots of nice clothes, and also got some normal clothes for myself.

After all, my post-marriage dressing style was really hard to accept.

I held Coco as he happily ate ice cream in my arms. The little guy was so happy, his mouth full of cream.

I gently wiped his face.

"Coco, what was Mommy like before?"

Coco looked at me, pouted, and then spoke in a somewhat aggrieved tone.

"Didn't like Coco."

Then he added.

"Mean."

Children don't lie, but his words made my heart ache.

So, I had changed so much before that even I couldn't recognize myself.

Then, why did James choose to marry me?

Was it because he liked me?

If so, he really had peculiar taste.

"Mommy, I want to eat that!"

Coco, sitting in my arms, suddenly stretched out his chubby little hand, pointing at the family bucket newly launched on the McDonald's poster.

Indeed, children can't resist the "real fragrance" theory.

Me: "Let's buy it!"

An hour later, Coco and I sat with our heads down on the sofa in James's office, looking just like two little kids who had done something wrong.

The cause was the family bucket emitting a delicious aroma now sitting on the coffee table in front of us.

It all started because Coco thought his dad must be working hard alone in the office while we were out having fun, so he wanted to share his "delicious food" with his dad.

James's workplace happened to be near the mall, and I couldn't bear to refuse the little guy's request, so we cheerfully went to James's office.

But in James's eyes, Coco's "delicious food" was nothing but "junk food".

So, what followed was this interrogation.

"Why did you buy this junk food for Coco to eat?"