Chapter 2

A soft thud at her feet jolted Amelia from her daze.

She looked down, bewildered, and saw a small blue fondant cake on the floor.

"Mommy, I told you I don't want you to make my birthday cake!"

Nathan's dissatisfied voice cut through the air. He looked up at Amelia with a frown. "It's ugly and tastes awful. Don't you understand what I'm saying?"

What was this?

Amelia drew in a sharp breath.

Had she traveled back into the past?

She really did—she was back to Nathan's birthday party a year ago!

Nathan continued his chatter without pause. "I want a cake made by Ms. Nikki!"

"Mommy, I think the cake you made is delicious. If Nate won't eat it, I'll eat it all," came the soft, sweet voice of her daughter.

Hearing that voice again, Amelia looked down at Evelyn's delicate, childish face, and tears blurred her vision.

She crouched down and gently cupped Evelyn's cheeks in her hands. Evelyn was warm and tangible, and it made Amelia's heart surge with certainty.

She had truly come back to the past.

This time, she would never let her daughter be hurt again.

Evelyn glanced at Nathan and said, "You can't speak to Mommy like that. Aren't you afraid she'll never make you a cake again?"

Nathan waved her off dismissively. "Eat it yourself. I don't care."

He tugged on Nicole's hand. "I want Ms. Nikki to be my Mommy. She'll make me lots of yummy food, and she'll take me horseback riding and rock climbing. Mommy doesn't even know what horseback riding is, and it's embarrassing.

"Daddy likes Ms. Nikki, so I like her too!"

Christopher frowned. "What nonsense are you talking about?"

Nicole, dressed in sleek leather, laughed openly and confidently, completely at ease.

She draped one arm over Christopher's shoulder, acting like they were old pals, while the other hand ruffled Nathan's hair. "Being your daddy's wife isn't easy, you know. He and I are buddies, thick as thieves."

She added, her tone soft but firm. "And Nate, didn't I teach you not to speak to your Mommy like that? Are you going to ignore my advice too?"

Nathan pouted and scooted closer to Nicole. He flung Amelia's birthday gift to the floor, too.

"But Mommy's gifts are always cheap pens. She never gives me toys like you, Ms. Nikki. You made me a model airplane yourself! And it can actually fly! That's way better than anything Mommy gives me!

"Daddy said that someday you'll design real airplanes, and he can ride in one you designed. That sounds amazing. You're not like Mommy, who's just a clueless country bumpkin who doesn't know anything!"

Amelia looked at the child she had raised, standing so close to Nicole, and a small, bitter smile tugged at her lips. How had she never noticed this before?

Nathan was Nicole's biological son. Of course he would be attached to her, even if he didn't yet know she was his real mother.

In her previous life, Amelia had treated Nathan as her own and raised him, all to win Christopher's favor. And yet, they had always taken it for granted.

Not anymore. She would no longer swallow her pride and let Evelyn suffer for their sake.

Amelia bent down and picked up the pen, her face calm, without a trace of anger. She smiled faintly and said, "Ms. Randall, you do know how to take care of children. I'll leave Nate and Christopher in your hands from now on."

Nicole froze, clearly not expecting Amelia to say that. There was no argument, no pleading, no meekness. Only a calm and steady smile.

Then Nicole turned to Christopher. "Chris, did what I said make Mia misunderstand? If it did, I won't say anything more. That was my mistake."

Christopher frowned as he looked at Amelia. "You're an adult, so stop throwing childish tantrums. You can’t just blurt out nonsense like that."

He was clearly defending Nicole, as if Amelia were deliberately disrespecting her.

Amelia met his cold and detached gaze. It was the same as always. Here, in front of everyone, he shielded Nicole, showing Amelia not a shred of consideration.

He acted as if it were his right, simply because he was certain Amelia would never leave.

This time, she wouldn't be like before. She would no longer swallow her anger just so her daughter could celebrate her birthday with her father. She wouldn't force herself to smile and endure, staying until the party came to an end.

She had been reborn, and she wouldn't be so foolish again!

She would become her daughter's support and the source of her strength. Whatever others had, she would give to Evelyn herself.

Calmly, she turned away from Christopher and took her daughter's hand. "Come on, Evie. Mommy is taking you to celebrate your birthday."

This time, she wouldn't let her daughter endure cold stares or unfair treatment.

Evelyn glanced longingly at Christopher, but in the end, she chose to leave with her mother.

They had only taken a few steps when someone blocked their path. "Mr. Zephyr has instructed that no one may leave until Mr. Nathan's birthday celebration is complete."

Amelia's chest sank at the sight of the hands holding them back.

Christopher had always given Nathan the spotlight, showering him with so much affection that everyone assumed Nathan was his firstborn son, while Evelyn was merely his illegitimate daughter.

Now, they weren't even allowed to leave Nathan's birthday early.

But did he even remember that Evelyn's birthday was today too?

Of course he wouldn't. When Evelyn was born, and Amelia was struggling through a difficult labor and hemorrhaging, he had been with Nicole.

He had brazenly called it a moral obligation. Nicole was alone and needed care, so he had to stay with her. Once she gave birth, she went abroad to advance her career.

Now she had returned with dual degrees in fintech and aerospace engineering. Top companies were lining up to recruit her, but she hadn't accepted a single offer. She intended to join Northon's Aerotech Institute 511, better known simply as Institute 511. It was known for its strict standards and high demands on newcomers, and Christopher had been helping her navigate the introductions and approvals.

In her previous life, Amelia had never paid attention to any of this. She had been so focused on Christopher and oblivious to Nicole's career ambitions. She had foolishly raised someone else's child for five years, sacrificing her own future for a man and a child, content to stay home and play the perfect wife and mother.

Looking back, it was pitifully foolish.

Amelia sneered. "Mr. Zephyr's rules won't hold me."

Before, she had cared too much about Christopher, and was willing to play the obedient wife in the family.

Now that she was reborn, she would no longer tether herself to him as his assistant. She would live brilliantly with her daughter, return to her career, and reclaim her place at the top!

Christopher's expression tightened, and the chill in his attitude became impossible to ignore.

Amelia sneered inwardly. He was probably wondering why his once-compliant, gentle wife had suddenly defied him in public. His anger was predictable.

She would never again play the role of the self-sacrificing wife.

Without hesitation, Amelia yanked off her wedding ring and hurled it to the floor. It bounced several times across the smooth surface before coming to a stop.

The clink of metal hitting the floor drew sharp gasps from everyone around.

"Christopher, let's get a divorce. Nate stays with you, and Evie stays with me. I'll have the divorce papers delivered to the board tomorrow morning."

If he loved Nathan and Nicole that much, she would let them be in this life.

Amelia had humiliated Christopher in front of everyone.

His eyes darkened as he stared at her. "How long are you going to make a scene? Nate is still a child. Do you really want to divorce me over something so trivial?"

In the eyes of a man who didn't love a woman, everything she did was unreasonable.

Amelia wouldn't make the same mistake again. She would no longer endure his coldness with Evelyn. She wouldn't continue raising a son—or rather, a foster son—for him.

She wanted nothing to do with either of them anymore.

"Yes, I do," she said coldly.

Then, she turned her gaze to the security guard. "Step aside."

The security guard was shaken by the scene. He stepped aside and didn't try to stop them again.

As he watched Amelia leave with Evelyn, Christopher's face grew stormy, his expression turning unbearably grim.

Nicole asked, "Did Mia misunderstand something? I'll go explain things to her. Don't take this lightly, Chris. Women can do anything when they're angry."

She started moving to intercept Amelia, looking as if she were anxious to smooth things over.

"No need for that. She won't divorce me," Christopher said coldly, his voice icy.