The contrast was almost too much to watch.
Burton reached out to take his son, but Noah darted behind me in a flash, peeking out at this stranger of a father.
I didn't cry or make a scene anymore. I wiped the sweat and tears off my face with the back of my hand, took my son's small hand in mine, and walked out without looking back.
Outside, the heat rolled over us in waves, the pavement baked pale under the sun.
I canceled the rest of my delivery orders on my phone, fastened Noah's helmet, and rode him home without a word.
He held onto my waist, and his little voice came from behind me.
"Mommy, do we not have to deliver food anymore?"
It felt like a thousand fine needles were rolling over my heart, and I fought down the sting in my nose.
"Mm. It's too hot. We'll take a day off."
He nodded like he understood something, and didn't ask anything else.
On the way back, I used what little I had left to buy a roast chicken, and got Noah the ice cream he'd been wanting for so long.
Once we were home, I dug out the dusty remote and turned on the AC without a second thought.
Noah watched me carefully.
"Mommy, did we spend too much money today?"
A bitterness welled up in me, and I forced a gentle smile for him.
"It's okay."
To save money, the three of us had scraped by on next to nothing. Even a meal with meat was a luxury.
In the worst of summer we wouldn't even run the fan. On nights too hot to sleep, the three of us spread a straw mat on the floor and fanned ourselves with scraps of cardboard.
And even then, that staggering debt was like a bottomless black hole that nothing could ever fill.
Every so often a creditor would show up with red paint, and every few days there'd be another scene.
Burton really was a master director. He'd staged the whole bankruptcy without a single seam showing.
The old AC pushed out a slow, cool breeze, and little by little my heart settled.
After dinner, Noah played quietly with the toy car he'd found.
My phone buzzed. Burton had wired me a large sum of money, then sent a string of messages.
【Honey, the company really didn't go bankrupt. I can explain all of this.】
【You made too big a scene just now. Gabriella's pregnancy is at risk, so I'm taking her to the hospital to get checked first.】
【I'll send someone tonight to pick you and our son up. I'll do everything I can to make it up to you both from now on.】
I let out a scornful laugh and accepted the transfer without the slightest hesitation.
Then I turned around and went online to contact the best divorce lawyer in the city.
We used to believe in Burton completely, willing to suffer through hard days at his side.
But now, I would never pin a single hope on him again.
Time slipped by fast, and the night deepened.
A polite knock came at the door. The young man outside kept his head bowed respectfully.
"Ma'am, Mr. Farley sent me to pick you and the young master up."
I didn't say much, just followed him out smartly, holding Noah, and got in the car.
The car drove straight to our old home.
When I walked into the living room, Burton and Gabriella were sitting on the sofa, patiently reading a picture book with their daughter.
The moment Burton saw us, his face lit up and he stood.
"Laurel, you're here."
He turned and told the nanny to take the girl for a bath and to bed, but the little girl refused to let go of his hand, shrieking.
"Daddy, why are they in our house? I don't like them. Make them leave!"
At her words, Noah gripped my hand tighter and pulled in on himself even more.
Burton went a little stiff. Gabriella smiled, soft and sweet.
"Felicia, be good, go to sleep."
She glanced at me as if by accident, her hand resting on her swollen belly, her eyes bright with open provocation.
The little girl glared at us, indignant, then turned and ran off to the nanny.
