Chapter 3

Civil Affairs Office.

Asher walked through the divorce application process with me, his face dark. As soon as we exited, he got into Sarah's car.

The two embraced and kissed passionately before driving off in a rush, right in front of me.

At that moment, I felt as if an invisible shackle had been lifted. I wasn't as bothered anymore.

I was more excited about my new life a month from now.

After returning home, I started packing my things, planning to move out as soon as I got the divorce certificate and the money.

I thought Asher and Sarah would start their new life together in the house next door.

Surprisingly, both of them showed up at the dinner table on time, and they had picked up my daughter from kindergarten.

At the table, Asher attentively served food to Sarah, while my daughter tried to do the same with her little chopsticks.

Sarah ate the food with a sweet smile, even giving the little girl a kiss on the cheek.

The daughter's round, dark eyes instantly lit up, and she happily stood up to hug Sarah's face and kiss her back.

I coldly observed the interaction between the three, silently speeding up my eating.

Seeing my behavior, Asher sneered and continued to add fuel to the fire by asking my daughter:

"Sweetheart, who do you like more, Mommy or Daddy?"

My daughter glanced back and forth between Asher and me, her eyes filled with conflict.

I felt certain in my heart that she would choose me.

After all, I had carried her for nine months and spent the most time with her.

The deep bond between mother and daughter surely wouldn't be easily swayed by choosing Asher.

My daughter wrestled with the decision for a moment, then suddenly turned and hugged Sarah beside her, exclaiming happily:

"I like Aunt Sarah the most! I think she's as beautiful as a fairy princess."

I knew my daughter was a bit of a looks snob, and that she'd been obsessed with fairy princesses in cartoons lately.

Her answer was both unexpected and predictable.

I couldn't help but press further: "But if you had to choose between Mom and Dad?"

Even though we're divorced, we still need to consider her wishes regarding custody.

Confusion clouded my daughter's eyes. She hesitated before answering.

"Then I choose Dad, because Dad will let me go play with Aunt Sarah."

Asher had opened a children's photography studio.

Since he couldn't handle it alone, I'd stopped working after we married to help out at the studio.

Holidays were always the busiest times, which meant less time to take our daughter out.

But my daughter shouldn't have had much time to interact with Sarah.

Before I could think it through, my daughter started chattering away with Sarah about their vacation plans.

Through my daughter's childish babble, I finally learned that every school break when Asher said he was sending our daughter back home to stay with her grandparents, he was actually sending her to be with Sarah.

And I had been kept in the dark this whole time.

No wonder our daughter was always so happy when Asher took her to see Sarah.

In front of me, Asher kept chiming in to chat with Sarah about photography.

The three of them looked more like a happy family.

My heart sank deeper and deeper.

I couldn't help but yank my daughter out of Sarah's arms, gripping her little hand tightly.

"Why don't you choose Mommy? Don't you love Mommy anymore..."

My daughter, frightened by my grotesque expression, started wailing and hitting my hand.

"Waaah! Mommy looks like a witch, so scary! I don't want you anymore, I want Aunt Sarah! Fairy godmother, come save me!"

Sarah, who hadn't planned to intervene, rushed over to hold my daughter when she heard her call, gently comforting her.

Asher shoved me away, snapping coldly:

"You're an adult getting mad at a child? No wonder your daughter doesn't like you."

With that, he took Sarah's hand and left abruptly.

Before leaving, my daughter glanced at me timidly.

Noticing my stare, she quickly buried her face in Sarah's shoulder, muttering: "I wish Aunt Sarah could be my mom."

The three of them departed together, leaving me alone at the dinner table.

I collapsed to the floor, wrapping my arms tightly around myself.

I couldn't distinguish the emotions swirling inside - a complex mix of loneliness, sadness, and relief intertwined.

The room fell silent, with only the sound of quiet sobs breaking through.