Chapter 4 A Wish That Would Come True

I wiped Millie's tears away.

"Mom, you cut the cake. I don't want any."

So, I lowered my head and started cutting the second slice. Maybe my hands were shaking too much, because the knife accidentally nicked my fingertip.

Millie grabbed my hand at once. "Mom, you're bleeding!"

Jonathan only frowned for a second before stepping in front of Sandra. "Sandra, don't look. You get dizzy at the sight of blood."

Sandra immediately lowered her head, her voice soft. "Nancy, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I've been afraid of blood ever since I was little."

He comforted her gently. "It's okay. Nancy's a black belt in martial arts. A little cut like that's nothing to her."

For that ridiculous split second, I actually nodded in response. However, the next thing I wanted to do was cry. A heartbeat later, I finally realized I should pull my hand back.

All at once, a flood of memories came rushing back. My stomach had been in so much pain at the time that I couldn't eat for three days, but I still had to appear in court.

Jonathan had said, "Nancy, you're tough as nails."

The family of one of my clients had cornered me outside my law firm and screamed at me for half an hour.

Jonathan had said, "You're so good at martial arts. It's not like he could actually beat you."

At one point, I worked until 2 a.m. and came home so exhausted that I'd collapsed into a squat in the entryway.

Jonathan had been wrapped in a blanket on the couch. He barely looked up before saying, "You're a top attorney. Stress comes with the job."

Back then, I thought he was right.

I was strong, so I could handle it. I didn't need anyone to comfort me. I didn't need anyone to take care of me.

Only now did I realize it wasn't that I didn't need those things. It was that he couldn't be bothered to give them to me.

Millie kept digging through her bag. She was looking for a Band-Aid, but she couldn't find one. So, I got up to buy one at the convenience store next door, and Jonathan followed me.

For a moment, I thought he'd finally remembered to care about me.

"Honey, you're already heading in there. Grab Sandy a hot milk while you're at it, okay? She saw the blood, and she's gone pale."

He even winked at me. "Thanks, honey."

If this had happened before, I probably would've agreed without a second thought. But now I stood outside the convenience store, looking down at the finger that was still bleeding.

A quiet laugh escaped me. "Jonathan… I'm bleeding. Did you even notice?"

Millie's voice came from behind me as she said flatly, "Mom, looks like your pain sensors finally came online."

Jonathan frowned. "What's gotten into you two today? I just asked you to pick up a cup of hot milk. Do you really have to be so sarcastic?"

I didn't answer. I went inside and bought a box of Band-Aids. When I returned to the table, Sandra had already finished two whole slices of cake.

Jonathan sat beside her, gently wiping frosting from the corner of her mouth with a napkin. The slice in front of Millie hadn't been touched.

The first thing Jonathan said when he saw me was, "Where's the hot milk?"

"I didn't buy it."

"Why not?"

I raised my hand with the Band-Aid on my finger and let out a quiet sigh. Then, for the first time in a long time, I finally dropped my usual accommodating attitude. "I suddenly realized… sometimes I deserve to be taken care of too."

Sandra set down her fork, her eyes instantly turning red. "Nancy, are you upset because of me? Then. I won't eat anymore. I really don't want to come between your family."

She immediately pressed a hand to her stomach. "Jon… my stomach doesn't feel so good."

Jonathan's expression changed in an instant. He glared at me, his voice sharp. "Nancy, you're a lawyer. You're an adult. You and Millie are really picking a fight with a pregnant woman. Aren't you ashamed of yourselves?"

He hurried to support Sandra, panic creeping into his voice. "What's wrong? Did you eat too much cake? Or did they upset you? I'm taking you to the hospital. That woman and that kid are impossible."

As I watched him help Sandra out the door, it felt like something inside my chest went hollow.

Millie reached over and took my hand. "Mom, I made a birthday wish."

She looked up at me. "If it's possible… I don't want that man to be my father anymore. I don't want him at all."

I looked down at the Band-Aid on my finger. Then, my eyes drifted to the birthday cake that had been swapped out.

I crouched down in front of her and spoke with complete certainty of a woman who'd finally come to her senses. "Millie… your wish is going to come true. I'm sure of it."