A Sugar-Coated Marriage of Poison

Countdown: 21 hours.

I took Nolan to the kindergarten to handle his withdrawal.

As I was about to knock on the principal's office door, I heard a familiar voice inside.

"Is Marcus doing okay? Are his eyes bothering him?"

Suzanne chuckled lightly. "Marcus has recovered so well, and his eyes are doing fine. Justin, we really can't thank you enough."

Justin smiled sincerely. "As long as you're happy, I'd do anything."

Suzanne flashed him a mischievous look and said, "What about Claire? If she knew Marcus was using Nolan's eye, would she get upset? Justin, I don't want to make things difficult for you."

Her familiar voice made me feel queasy.

Suzanne had always been like this. Despite reaping all the benefits, she acted as if she were pure and untouchable, making others eager to cater to her.

Suzanne wasn't even due the day Nolan was born five years ago, but she insisted the doctor induce labor just to get Justin's attention, leaving me alone while he spent the night with her in the hospital.

I cried, pleading with the nurse to bring Justin to see Nolan, but he was more concerned about Suzanne. He passed Nolan to the nurse and told me to stay calm.

Recalling those moments, my eyes brimmed with tears. Just as I turned to go, the late principal pushed the door open.

Seeing Nolan and me, Justin's eyes flickered with a hint of panic. "When did you get here? Why didn't you knock?"

Noticing my glare toward Suzanne, he quickly added, "Claire, don't misunderstand. I just found out that Suz already brought Marcus back from abroad. We happened to run into them and decided to register them at the kindergarten. You…"

"I understand," I interrupted, taking Nolan's hand and turning to leave.

However, Suzanne called after me brightly, "Claire, long time no see."

She pulled the young boy sitting nearby forward and introduced him to Nolan. "Nolan, this is Marcus. Say hi. You two seem to have a connection."

Marcus leaned closer, staring at Nolan's eyes with obvious disgust. "Mommy, his eye is fake. That's so gross."

Nolan's face instantly paled, and he hid behind me in shame.

I trembled with anger, but Justin stepped in just in time, standing awkwardly between us and Suzanne. "Claire, don't be upset. Marcus didn't mean it. He's just a child and doesn't understand. As adults, there's no need to get worked up over a child, right?"

Every word was a defense of Suzanne's son.

Nolan stared at him with disbelief. Just yesterday, Justin had lost his temper over someone else mocking Nolan. Now, he was openly protecting the one who had ridiculed him.

Seeing this, the light in Nolan's eyes dimmed. I lost patience and pulled him away, leaving Justin flustered as he watched our backs. Only after Suzanne called out several times did he regain his composure.

…

Countdown: 19 hours.

I spent that evening on the phone with the principal about Nolan's transfer as he sat on the couch watching cartoons.

Just as we were about to finish, the cartoon cut out. I stepped closer and saw a post from Suzanne. She was nestled in Justin's arms, screaming in delight on a rollercoaster, while Marcus looked at the camera with bright, wide eyes, flashing a playful peace sign.