Chapter 2

On the table, a device emitted a blinding light.

"Dad, can we use this to go back and find Aunt Winters?" Donavan's round eyes turned with curiosity.

"Yes," Kellan replied, his lips curving into a smile. At the mention of Celeste, a rare tenderness flashed across his face.

It was something I had never seen before.

Hearing this, Donavan's eyes lit up.

"I love Aunt Winters the most! She's so beautiful, like a fairy. Mom, on the other hand, looks like an old hag. I don't want an old hag as my mom."

Kellan patted his head. "Don't worry, when we go back to the past, Aunt Winters will be your mom."

Look at that. My ten years of care and companionship meant nothing to them. They were even willing to risk everything to travel back in time to find Celeste.

But none of that matters now.

Just as the father and son disappeared into the light, I rushed in, taking two steps at a time, and reached out to touch the machine as its glow was about to fade.

In the next second, a powerful force sucked me in.I stood on the empty street, suddenly coming to my senses. Everything around me felt both strange and familiar. I had actually traveled back ten years in time.

My heart was racing with excitement, but suddenly I heard a voice beside me, "What are you doing here?"

I looked up and met Kellan's dark eyes.

"Don't tell me you followed us here to cause trouble! Vivienne, give it up. Even if you've come back, we can never be together."

His brows were furrowed, his face full of suspicion.

"Bad lady, don't you dare hurt Daddy and Aunt Winters!"

Four-year-old Donavan stood in front of Kellan, his little fists clenched as if I were his enemy.

I pursed my lips and spoke with a confused expression, "I'm sorry, but have you mistaken me for someone else?"

Kellan hesitated for a moment, but his face still showed distrust.

"Mistaken identity? You think I'll believe you if you act like this? Vivienne, what are you really up to?"

I ignored Kellan and turned to leave.

"Don't you walk away!" Kellan grabbed my wrist. "Explain yourself. Did you deliberately follow us? Are you trying to sabotage my relationship with Celeste?"My hand throbbed with pain from his grip. I forcefully shook off his hand, stumbling back a few steps and bumping into someone behind me.

The girl behind me let out a startled cry. Just as I was about to apologize, a harsh slap landed on my cheek.

Kellan spat on the ground. "Vivienne, you're truly vicious!"

Gritting my teeth, I raised my head. I saw Kellan holding the girl I had bumped into in his arms, his eyes gazing at her as if she were a precious treasure he had lost and found again.

"Celeste, are you okay?" he asked in a soft, gentle voice.

"Are you blind?" Donavan shouted, then jogged over to Celeste's side, his face filled with concern.

Oh, so they do know how to care about people?

I remembered when I was doubled over in bed with acute gastroenteritis, begging Kellan to buy me medicine.

He had frowned, coldly saying, "Can't you buy it yourself? I have to go to the lab for a project. I'm very busy."

Then he grabbed his bag and left without looking back, abandoning me in the room, pale-faced and on the verge of passing out from the pain.