After Rebirth, I Refused to Pick up My Neighbor's Son Again

At the school gate...

The moment I saw Elisha, it felt like ages had passed.

I rushed over and held her tightly in my arms.

Her chubby little hands wiped my tears as concern filled her tender face.

"Mommy, what's wrong? Did Grandma scold you again?"

Ever since giving birth to her, Amanda had never shown us any kindness.

It had made Elisha incredibly sensitive.

I quickly shook my head, unable to cherish her enough.

"No, honey, Mommy just missed you."

She pressed her lips, revealing adorable dimples that had been absent for too long.

Her smile brought tears to my eyes again.

Tilting her head, she hugged my neck. "Mommy, even though it's only been a day, I missed you too."

As she spoke, she planted a kiss on my cheek.

At that moment, I stood crying in the crowd like a fool.

After calming down, I held her hand tightly.

Don't worry.

In this life, I would do anything to spare you from even a hint of suffering.

I brought Elisha to a restaurant for lunch.

I hesitated but decided to ask her.

"Elisa, Mom wants to ask you something. If I and your dad...  "

"Mom, I choose you."

Her words cut me off.

She pulled the uneaten burger from her mouth and looked at me calmly.

I just wanted to test the waters to see if she would be upset about me divorcing her dad.

But I never expected her to step ahead of my question.

At nine years old, her gaze was as firm as a wise little adult.

She grabbed a fry, dipped it in ketchup, and handed it to me.

"Mom, every day when I come home from school, you don't seem very happy.

"I love it when you smile, just like me now."

Her dimples appeared on her face again.

"If separating from Dad makes you smile, then Elisa will be happy, too."

Pathetic, tears welled up in my eyes again.

I endured for so long, all in the hope that Elisha would be healthy and happy.

But today, I realized that her hopes were just the same.

After leaving them, we will definitely be better off.

I took Elisa to my mother's place.

My mom adored her granddaughter, and Elisha loved going to stay with her, too.

It was just that in the past, I took Elisha home too often, and Troy would hint that it was laughable to visit my mom so frequently.

I knew it was Amanda's words.

At this moment, all I wanted to say was...

"Fuck you all!"

Once I settled Elisa, I went to Troy's office to find him.

I couldn't wait a moment longer for the divorce.

I rarely visited his investment consultancy firm.

People there didn't recognize me, thinking I was there for a job interview.

I must have interrupted the young receptionist playing video games.

She handed me a cup of water with a paper cup, head down, clearly annoyed.

"Mr. Anderson is busy with business; you'll have to wait."

I didn't respond; I just sent Troy a text.

He asked me to wait for ten minutes.

I had barely sat down when a few salespeople behind me started whispering.

Apparently, one of them took a two-hour leave, and Troy docked him a day's pay.

"Troy is just a big-shot nobody. Without his wife's father, Mr. Oscar Finch, he's nothing."

"His wife must be blind to marry such a loser."

The group was furiously venting when the receptionist, who had just joined in, quickly silenced them.

"Stop, stop, he's coming out."

The door opened, and Troy scanned the room, his gaze finally resting on me.

"Honey, come on in."

As I got up, the people behind murmured, "It's over, we're doomed."

Once the door closed.

Troy was over the moon about a deal my dad had introduced.

Hearing I was there to discuss a divorce only added to his joy, his fists clenched in barely concealed excitement.

Leaving, the salespeople looked at me dejectedly.

I smiled slightly and shook my head gently at them.

They smiled back, understanding the gesture.

After all, they weren't wrong. Troy really was a fool.

In my past life, I loved him for his good temper and the way his smile lit up like sunshine.

So I didn't mind that he wasn't well-off.

But as time went on, I realized that his easygoing nature didn't mean he was easy to communicate with.

Sometimes, when we disagreed, he'd shut down, his indifference more painful than any harsh words could be.

And you could never expect him to empathize with you.

The day Helen sued me, he was out dining with clients.

When our daughter was pushed in front of a truck, the police took Helen away.

I thought, as a father, he'd at least offer some words of comfort.

But to my utter despair, ignoring my heart-wrenching sobs, he just mused.

"Helen is suffering from losing her son, too."

So yes, I was truly blind.

What were the two biggest regrets of my past life?

One was picking up Helen's child.

The other was not divorcing him sooner.

But I had come to realize things weren't as simple as they seemed.