As her words left her lips, both Reaghan and Norella turned to her, surprise flickering in their eyes.
Reaghan quickly dropped Norella’s hand, his cheeks turning a shade of red. “No need for a hospital. A band-aid will do.”
Raiden’s gaze shifted to her, sharp and expectant, silently demanding the first aid kit.
Once, a look like that would have sent her scrambling, her hands already reaching for the kit before he could show a hint of impatience.
But now? It didn’t matter. She didn’t care anymore.
“The kit’s in the second drawer of the TV cabinet,” she said, unmoving, her voice steady.
Raiden’s jaw clenched and the flicker of irritation in his eyes didn’t go unnoticed.
Instead, Norella crouched down, her fingers swiftly finding the first aid kit. “Raiden, it’s right here, iodine and cotton swabs, too.”
Reaghan leaned in with a curious gaze and Norella’s eyes sparkled. “Reaghan, you’re growing up fast. Do you think you can help Auntie clean the wound?”
“Of course!”
With a serious nod, Reaghan carefully dabbed iodine on the wound, his little breath gently blowing on it as if it could ease the pain.
Norella’s lips curled into a proud smile. “Our Reaghan is something special. Raiden, he’s learned so much from you.” Her gaze lingered on Raiden, her eyes soft with warmth.
Raiden cleared his throat, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, his ears turning a subtle shade of red.
Reaghan puffed out his chest. “Of course! When I grow up, I’ll protect Dad and Aunt Norella.”
A surge of bitter emotion swirled in Astrella’s chest.
She couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh, bitterly amused at herself.
The day after she gave birth, she started washing Reaghan’s diapers, which continued until he was three.
When Raiden had insisted their child shouldn't be subjected to rote learning, she had stayed home, carefully teaching him each lesson.
Years of meticulous effort, yet none of it had ever been acknowledged or appreciated.
To them, father and son alike, no matter how much she did, it was met with cold indifference.
She turned, heading back to her room and overheard Norella’s warm laughter behind her.
“Reaghan, Raiden, you two are wonderful; you’ve given me the warmth of a real family.”
Reaghan kissed Norella’s cheek.
“Aunt Norella, you’re better than my mom. Why don’t you stay and be my mom instead?”
Astrella pressed her lips together, her gaze steady and silent. She turned and entered her room, the laughter and words echoing in her ears.
She opened the bookshelf, tossing aside parenting books and children’s lesson plans, dumping them into a bamboo basket before dragging it outside.
Only Norella was in the living room; Raiden and Reaghan had gone to the kitchen to wash the dishes.
Engrossed in a TV shopping ad, Norella turned quickly at the sound of movement.
Her brows knitted in confusion. “What’s in the basket?”
Astrella’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Just some useless things. I’m thinking of selling them for scrap.”
Norella stood, lifting the lid and finding the basket brimming with early childhood education books. “Why are you throwing away books? That’s so uncultured! These are good books. How can you be a mother like this? No wonder Reaghan isn’t close to you.”
Astrella opened her mouth to respond, but her gaze shifted to Raiden emerging from the kitchen. She clamped her lips shut, swallowing her words instead.
Norella’s tone softened instantly, her gaze shifting to Raiden as her lips curved into a warm smile. “Raiden, look at these books Astrella is planning to throw away. What a waste! If we used these to educate Reaghan, maybe he’d turn out as impressive as you one day!”
Raiden glanced at the bamboo basket, wiping his hands slowly. “No need. We weren’t raised with books back then and didn’t we turn out fine? Don’t trouble yourself over it.”
At his words, Norella’s eyes suddenly welled with tears, her voice thick with emotion.
“Raiden, are you still upset about me leaving to study abroad? I never said goodbye, leaving you to bear the pain alone. It was my fault. I came back to make it right. Please, let me do more for you.”
