After the Clouds

Winona Warren never imagined that on her birthday, her son would hand her a walnut cake that could kill her.

As her consciousness began to blur, she heard Asher Rhodes' furious voice. "Carter, don't you know your mother is allergic to walnuts?"

Carter Rhodes' childish voice rang out with startling clarity. "I do. But I want Ella to be my mom instead. Dad, you want that too, don't you? Even if I..."

A crushing wave of suffocation overwhelmed Winona before she could hear the rest of Asher's answer.

In the second before she completely lost consciousness, Winona had only one thought. If she woke up, she would never be Asher's wife or Carter's mother again.

After five hours in the emergency room, Winona Warren's condition finally stabilized.

When she regained consciousness, every breath brought pain. Her entire face was swollen beyond recognition.

She struggled to open her eyes and instinctively searched for two familiar figures, but the hospital ward was empty.

Her phone sat on the cabinet beside her. She tried to lift her arm to reach it, but the distance was too far. Just as she attempted to push herself up, a nurse entered to change her IV and quickly stopped her.

"You just got out of the ER. You can't move around. Let me get that for you."

The nurse kindly handed her the phone while switching out the IV bag. "Don't you know you're severely allergic to walnuts? You need to remember this from now on—never eat anything with walnuts. You're lucky they brought you in when they did, or you'd be dead."

Winona did not know how to respond.

What was she supposed to say? That her son knew about her walnut allergy and deliberately chose a walnut cake anyway?

Her gaze fell on her body, covered in medical equipment. She forced the words out with difficulty. "Where are they?"

She could not bring herself to call Asher Rhodes and Carter Rhodes, her husband and son, right now.

The nurse paused for a moment before asking, "You mean your husband and son? They dropped you off, paid the bills, and left in a hurry. They said they had something to deal with. You should probably give them a call."

She muttered under her breath, "I don't know what could be more important than your own wife and mother. Hearts of stone."

The cutting words made Winona's chest ache. There was only one person who could make those two leave so quickly.

She opened her phone. Her chat with Asher was still nothing but the messages she sent.

She opened her social media app, and Ella Levine's post sat at the very top.

[Thanks to my two on-call heroes for saving me from a cockroach. A house really can't be without men.]

The attached photos showed Asher holding a broom, looking completely out of character as he caught a cockroach on the floor. Carter stood in front of Ella with his small arms spread wide, shielding her.

The sight of those two familiar figures stung Winona's eyes until they reddened. The suffocating sensation crept back over her.

They abandoned her after she nearly died, all to help Ella kill a cockroach.

Carter was the one who caused her allergic reaction in the first place. Yet neither of them showed a trace of guilt. Not even a hint of concern.

Winona's lips twisted into a self-mocking smile. Of course. Carter probably wished she had never woken up.

As for Asher, even though he might not have known about Carter's plan, deep down, he likely felt the same way. He wanted Ella to be his wife.

Why would two people who disliked her this much stay at the hospital to watch over her?

Winona set down her phone and stared at the harsh fluorescent lights overhead. Memories from the past surged forward.

She and Asher had grown up in the same residential compound. One could call them childhood friends.

Asher excelled academically from a young age. He skipped several grades and went abroad to study in preparation to return home to take over the family business.

She was quiet and reserved by nature. As a child, when everyone was playing together, she only dared sit on the sidelines and watch. As she grew older, she became even more invisible.

Yet somehow, this unremarkable girl fell for the dazzling Asher during her teenage years. She always assumed her secret crush would end abruptly the day Asher married someone else.

What she never expected was that the first thing Asher did after returning home was seek her out and ask if she would marry him.

The sudden surprise left her stunned. She could no longer suppress the feelings that had been growing wildly in her heart since she was a child and agreed without hesitation.

Just like that, she became Asher's wife.

It was only during one drunken night that she learned the truth from Asher. He had a girlfriend he loved deeply while he was studying abroad.

The woman made him a promise. If he proposed 99 times, she would say yes on the 100th proposal.

Asher believed her. From mountain peaks to famous landmarks, from remote beaches to historic cathedrals… He had proposed to her at every such location.

On graduation day, he planned an elaborate proposal ceremony to mark the 100th time and intended to return home immediately after to hold their wedding.

However, in front of all their friends and classmates, the woman rejected him for the 100th time. She said she did not want to marry so soon and told him to wait three more years.

Asher completely lost his patience. In a fit of anger, he returned home and decided to marry someone—anyone.

Winona just happened to be that someone, the woman who lived closest to the Rhodes family. Nothing more.

After learning the truth about their marriage, she told herself it did not matter. She believed that love could grow over time, and Asher would eventually fall in love with her.

A year after their wedding, she gave birth to their son, Carter. Her relationship with Asher grew closer as well.

To outsiders, they looked like a happy family of three.

However, a month ago, Asher's first love, Ella, returned. He seemed to have forgotten about those 100 failed proposals from their time in university. He could not help but gravitate toward Ella again, showing her care and consideration.

He even started staying out all night. Even Carter often went with him to see Ella.

Winona thought that after six years of marriage and five years as Carter's mother, she had to hold some place in their hearts.

It was only today that she finally woke up from the fantasy she had woven for herself.

Six years, and she never managed to warm Asher's heart.

Even the child who came from her own body was just like his father. Neither of them had room for her in their hearts.

The sound of the door opening interrupted Winona's thoughts.

She instinctively looked toward the entrance. One tall figure and one small figure stood in the doorway.

Asher pushed Carter forward, his expression stern. "Go apologize to your mother."

Carter twisted his fingers together and slowly shuffled toward her bedside, his voice barely above a whisper. "Mom, I'm sorry."

Winona turned her head away without responding. She did not miss the reluctance in Carter's eyes.

Asher said in a measured tone, "Carter didn't mean it. He didn't know you're allergic to walnuts. I've already scolded him. He won't bring you anything with walnuts again. There was an emergency at the office just now. I saw you were still unconscious, so I went back to handle some work."

It was clearly the height of summer. The air outside rolled with waves of heat. Yet Winona felt like it was a hundred times—no, a thousand times—colder than the depths of winter.

From the moment she woke until now, Asher had not sent her a single message. The only two things he had said to her after walking through that door were lies.

When she remained silent, Asher frowned in displeasure. "Come on, it's your birthday. Don't be angry with a child. We prepared a gift for you. See if you like it. I'll put it on you once you're discharged."

As he finished speaking, he pulled out a gift box and opened it to reveal a diamond necklace inside. Anyone could tell they had randomly picked it up from a store on their way over.

Winona glanced at it briefly before looking away. She said softly, "I have a gift for you both too."

Asher asked reflexively, "It's your birthday. Why would you give us a gift?"

Carter also looked at her with confusion.

The corners of Winona's mouth lifted into a relieved smile. "It's only fair to return the gesture, isn't it? Don't worry, you'll see the gift in a few days. I'm sure you'll love it."

She would give them a signed divorce agreement. It was exactly what they both wanted.