Chapter 4

With a childish voice, he called out, "It's stinky here, Grandma. Let's go home with Nolan."

After saying this, he reached out to grab my hand.

I subtly avoided his hand without showing any reaction.

"Why did you bring the child here?"

"It's all because of you, Mom. Dad told me everything. Why are you still hung up on this? You're both getting older. Wouldn't it be better to stay at home and take care of Nolan peacefully?"

"Why do you have to imitate young people these days and talk about divorce? It's all nonsense."

"I've met Aunt Stratton. She's a nice person, and her interactions with Dad are completely above board. It's not as sordid as you think."

Dashiell went on, criticizing me thoroughly.

My expression gradually turned cold.

"So why exactly did you come here? To be your father's messenger?"

His expression faltered for a moment. "I came to check on you. You moved out of the house so hastily, and you don't have anyone to take care of you. Of course we're worried about you."

That's what he said, but his eyes involuntarily scanned the somewhat dilapidated room, unable to hide the disdain in his gaze.

His wife, meanwhile, stood obediently to the side."That's how it is then. You've seen the person, and there's nothing wrong. You can go back now."

Dashiell didn't say anything, he just motioned for Nolan to come and hug my legs.

I patted his head.

Suddenly, I remembered that Dashiell used to be like him when he was little.

He looked all soft and pale, during those nights when I worried about making ends meet, lighting a lamp to do side jobs.

When he was little, waking up in the middle of the night, would always snuggle up next to me.

Using massage techniques he'd learned from who knows where.

He'd rub my forehead.

Telling me that when he grew up, he'd buy me a big house, he'd make sure I lived a good life.

His hands were so small then, his words so childish, his voice so soft and tender.

But now, he looks at me with eyes full of impatience.

Looking at this house with utter disdain.

Yet when he was little, this was his favorite place - his grandmother's house.

Even a child you've raised yourself can grow up to become so unfamiliar.

Let alone a spouse, perhaps it's because I never truly understood them.

I pushed Nolan back.

Gesturing for my daughter-in-law to take the child out first.

My daughter-in-law didn't say much.

She took the child out.

I looked at the child in front of me, now two heads taller than me.

I felt a bit dazed.Time had flown by so quickly, Dashiell was already so grown up.

"You said you've met Aunt Stratton, when was that?"

My voice was steady, but Dashiell was growing impatient.

"Mom! Now is not the time to obsess over this. The company is being affected. Can't you stop fighting with Dad? He's getting on in years now, and it's not like he can do anything with Aunt Stratton. Can't you just treat her like any of his old friends?"

"Besides, at his age, who doesn't have friends? You're the only one, Nolan, who doesn't socialize with others. It would do you good to go downstairs and chat with the uncles and aunties in the neighborhood. I think you're just too idle, that's why you're overthinking things."

Dashiell rattled off this string of words.

My face darkened completely.

"I'm too idle? Dashiell, who washes and hangs your father's clothes? Who cooks the meals your father eats? Who picks up and drops off Nolan?"

"Who keeps your house clean?"

"Get out! Get out of my house! I don't want to see you anymore!"

I grabbed whatever was nearby and hurled it at him.

Dashiell lifted his legs and headed straight for the door.I slammed the door loudly. "You're really getting more stubborn with age. Dad's working so hard out there to support the whole family, what's wrong with you doing some housework?"

"I really don't understand what you're fussing about. Dad's right, you're getting old and more and more stubborn."