Under Chloe Miller’s deliberate guidance, my son stepped forward to ask for a refill of noodles.
“Rachel, he’s grown up now. Let him ask on his own—it’s a good exercise for him,” Chloe said.
I sneered inwardly but kept my expression calm.
Glancing at the little girl slurping soup beside us, I spoke evenly:
“Emily, your bowl is empty too. Why don’t you go ask for more noodles, just like your brother?”
As soon as I said that, Emily Miller jumped up with her bowl.
Ever since she was young, Chloe had instilled in her that whatever my son had, she must also have.
Emily ran off carrying two bowls, leaving Chloe wide-eyed in panic, unable to stop her in time.
Watching Chloe’s flustered expression only confirmed the suspicion gnawing at me.
The bitterness in my chest deepened—my husband and my best friend had betrayed me together.
I drew in a sharp breath, forcing myself to stay calm.
The next second, the rough, irritable voice of the shop owner shattered the quiet inside the noodle shop.
“Shameless! You ordered just one portion, and how many times have you asked for more? Didn’t your parents teach you any manners, little girl?”
“Get out! You’re not welcome here!”
The owner’s face was ferocious as he barked at Emily. Startled, she froze and burst into loud sobs, clutching her bowl.
Chloe’s expression shifted instantly. She rushed forward, trying to whisper something to the owner.
But he ignored her, even casting her a reassuring glance before continuing his vicious tirade with more confidence.
Watching this staged performance between the two of them, I knew without a doubt—if I still didn’t see through it now, the past twenty-something years of my life had been wasted.
I no longer cared about the farce before me. Taking my son’s hand, I turned and prepared to leave this place of trouble.
Chloe looked back, surprised that I walked away so easily.
Her expression hardened.
She had gone to such lengths to lure me on this trip, carefully designing this trap.
She hadn’t expected me to avoid falling into it.
This was something she was determined to pull me into, no matter what.
Once vague and misleading messages were posted online, no one would bother to check the details.
Back at the hotel, I immediately began packing, preparing to leave.
My son looked at me in confusion but stayed silent, standing obediently nearby.
“Mommy, we’re not traveling anymore? We’re going home?”
Looking at my sweet, well-behaved boy, my heart softened.
He wasn’t such a little kid anymore—some things I could begin to tell him.
Taking a deep breath, I looked at him seriously.
“If I divorced your father, who would you choose to stay with?”
At my words, his pupils shrank. His small hand clenched tightly.
He didn’t ask why I would want to divorce his father—he just looked at me with unwavering determination.
“I’ll choose you. Mommy, you’re so good. If you want a divorce, it must be because Dad did something wrong to you.”
Hearing my son’s words, I couldn’t stop the tears from spilling.
Of course I was heartbroken. I had been married to Daniel Carter for eight years, pouring so much of my heart into our marriage.
It had been love at first sight. Back in college, he had pursued me eagerly.
We had married and started a family smoothly.
To support his startup, I had even handed over part of my own family’s resources to help him.
I once believed we would live happily for a lifetime.
But in the end, years of love couldn’t withstand betrayal.
Daniel had cheated. And Emily was only one year younger than my son.
