Chapter 203
“Mommy!” Billy called out sweetly, skipping toward me with the most innocent expression I’d ever seen plastered across his little face.
Just as I was about to unleash the hurricane of anger building inside me, Billy affectionately.
y grabbed my hand and pressed his soft cheek against it, nuzzling
“Mommy, I haven’t been home in forever,” he pleaded, looking up at me with those irresistible eyes. “Can we stay for a little while? I have so many toys ! need to pack up!”
The fury I’d been ready to direct at Henry instantly evaporated.
How could I say no to that face? I knelt down and gently stroked Billy’s head, my voice automatically softening.
“Of course, sweetheart. You go pack your toys now, and I’ll wait right here for you, okay?”
Ever since Isabella had sent me those photos–which I immediately recognized were taken in our marital bed at Maple Grove–I’d developed a serious aversion to the house. The mere thought of stepping inside made my skin crawl.
Clearly noticing my hesitation, Billy quietly tugged at Henry’s sleeve, silently
pleading
Henry cleared his throat. “It’s cold out here. Why don’t you wait inside?”
From the corner of my eye, I caught Henry giving Mark a meaningful look. The butler nodded almost imperceptibly before approaching me.
*Mrs. Harding, I’m afraid I need to run an errand for Mr. William. Will you be needing the car later?”
Before I could answer, Mark was already sliding into the driver’s seat and pulling away, leaving me stranded in the expansive courtyard with the bitter wind cutting through my jacket.
I stood there, weighing my options.
Logically, I should grab Billy and find alternative transportation. Standing outside arguing with Henry was the last thing I wanted to do. But Billy was determined to collect his toys, and now I had no immediate escape route.
“The wind is picking up,” Henry observed casually. “Billy might take a while with his things. There’s no reason for you to freeze out here.” His voice softened slightly.
*Look, I was wrong earlier. I apologize. You can hit me, yell at me, whatever you want. But don’t punish yourself by standing in the cold. It’ll take Billy at least an hour to get his stuff together.”
I hesitated, hating that his logic made sense.
With Billy pulling one hand and the cold wind pushing at my back, I reluctantly stepped into the house I’d called home for six years. The moment we crossed the threshold, Billy bounced with excitement.
“Mommy’s the best! I knew she loved me most! See? I told you she’d come in!”
I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d just fallen into some kind of trap.
Billy disappeared down the hallway toward his room, but moments later, his little head poked back around the corner. “Dad! Can you come help me with something?”
Henry, who had been hovering awkwardly near me, immediately responded to the summons. He quickly crossed the room and disappeared into Billy’s bedroom.
“What is it?” Henry asked in a hushed voice. Can’t you see I’m trying to keep your mother company? What if she leaves while I’m up here?*
Billy replied, “I can only stall for about an hour, after that it’s all up to you.”
1/3
Chapter 203
Henry made an OK gesture with his hand. ‘Got it. I’ll do my best.”
Billy added: “Oh, and don’t let the maid serve coffee! Mom doesn’t like bitter coffee; she prefers sweet fruit juice!”
Henry nodded and left the room alone.
I sat on the living room sofa, accepting the coffee a housekeeper offered. As I sipped the bitter liquid, I pulled out my phone to text Betty.
Have you ever thought about finding Billy’s biological father? she’d written. He should take some responsibility and fulfill his paternal obligations, don’t you think?
I smiled wryly. I’d never harbored any expectations about Billy’s biological father. Billy and I were doing perfectly fine on our own. The last thing I needed was another complication in my life.
Speaking of men, Betty continued, Henry seems different lately. Like he actually cares about you.
I suppressed a laugh as I typed back: Even relationship gurus get it wrong sometimes. If Henry actually cared about me, don’t you think I would have noticed by now?
For six years, I’d given everything to this marriage. I’d supported Henry, raised our son, managed our home–all while he remained cold and distant.
A man like that doesn’t suddenly develop feelings. He just doesn’t.
I took another sip of coffee, only now noticing Henry had returned and taken a seat across from me. He silently signaled to the housekeeper, who promptly removed my coffee and replaced it with a glass of fresh fruit juice.
I stared at the new drink in confusion. Henry had never paid attention to my preferences before. How did he know I disliked coffee?
Rather than asking, I picked up the glass and took a small sip. The sweet flavor immediately lifted my mood. “Thank you, Mr. Harding,” I said formally.
His face darkened at my choice of words. “You used to call me ‘husband,” he said, trying to sound casual but failing miserably. “We’re not divorced yet. Calling me ‘Mr. Harding‘ makes you seem so… cold.”
I couldn’t help but laugh coldly at his comment.
When I was warm and affectionate, what had it gotten me? Nothing but heartache and humiliation. Henry Harding–the human iceberg–accusing someone else of being cold was almost too much irony to bear.
I noticed a small flame flickering in Henry’s eyes and, fearing I might anger this man to the point where I couldn’t take Billy away, I decided to speak up: *Human nature is inherently cold, Mr. Harding. I’m naturally a cold person, and I don’t really care what others think of me. You don’t need to worry about
me.”
“But I should thank you, Mr. Harding, for being considerate.”
Even if a stranger showed consideration for me, I would say “thank you, let alone when it was Henry.
At this moment, I still needed something from him.
Even without love, I couldn’t afford to completely offend him.
After speaking, I glanced at the time on my phone,
Billy had been upstairs for almost an hour now. He/should have finished packing his toys long ago. Why hadn’t he come down yet?
The Ex–Wife’s Redemption: A Love
