When I awoke again, Lucas had reverted to his little tyrant ways.
Seeing him blatantly complain, I felt a mix of alienation and heartbreak for the first time.
Everyone wants to be a gentle mother, but for his future, I had to force myself to be strict. I never expected that my silent love for him would end up being met with misunderstanding and resentment.
By the bedside, Mr. Walker and Mrs. Walker were trying to pacify him, finally winning him over with promises of rewards.
As I watched this warm yet glaring scene, I coldly interrupted, "Enough. Lucas needs to rest. Mom and Dad, you should go. I’ll stay and watch over him."
"Grandpa and Grandma, Lukie doesn’t want you to leave," Lucas clung to Mrs. Walker’s clothing, casting wary glances at me, making it look like I was his abusive stepmother.
Seeing this, the elderly couple looked at me with disapproval. Mrs. Walker gave me a sharp glare and said curtly, "He’s your son, not your enemy. Do you have to make him hate you completely to be satisfied?"
"I know you never received motherly love yourself, but that doesn’t mean you can be so selfish! Lukie has a father and grandparents who love him. He’s not unwanted..."
Mrs. Walker’s words struck a raw nerve. I cut her off coldly, "Mom, enough. I know my life has been difficult, but there’s no need for you to keep reminding me."
The atmosphere grew tense, and with Mr. Walker’s reminder, Mrs. Walker reluctantly fell silent, no longer daring to speak.
Suppressing my anger, I pointed to Lucas, who was quietly shrinking into the background, and said with a blank expression, "You can shower him with affection as you please. But don’t criticize my methods. Your interference will only harm him in the end. Don’t regret it later."
Artificial insemination is a serious matter. I need to understand how such an accident happened, and why Lucas is so obsessed with this so-called pretty auntie.
In the end, everyone will have to face the consequences of their actions.
After Mr. Walker and Mrs. Walker left, the room fell silent. Lucas, now without his supporters, coldly turned his back on me.
I bit my tongue and tried a few soft words before he finally revealed something.
It turned out that every year, whenever I was away on business, Jarvis would take Lucas abroad to visit a woman named Sarah.
“The pretty auntie looks so beautiful playing the violin on stage, like a princess in a castle. Daddy was mesmerized. Mommy, Lukie wants to learn the violin too. Can you sign me up?”
“Then why have you never told me about this?” I asked, gripping his shoulders, my voice barely above a whisper.
Lucas blinked innocently, but his words were cutting: “Daddy told me not to tell you. Besides, I like the pretty auntie. She buys me lots of cool Transformers and doesn’t scold me like you do. You always say I can’t eat this or that.” He pouted and gave me an involuntary eye roll.
His spoiled demeanor was clearly learned from Mrs. Walker.
After Lucas was born, his digestive issues meant I had to constantly monitor his diet for his health. I never imagined that despite being the mother who spent every day with him for five years, I would be outdone by a woman he had only met a few times.
After all my years of careful nurturing, what had I received in return?
“You like her a lot?” I sat by the bed, my throat feeling as if it were constricted.
Even now, the pain of five years of love felt real, my heart aching.
Lucas’s eyes lit up at my question, and he arrogantly nodded, “Yes, I like her a lot. She’s prettier than you and so gentle. She always lets me do what I want, unlike you, who’s so annoying.”
Faced with constant rejection, I scoffed and moved away from him.
Seeing Lucas’s puzzled look, I took a deep breath and said firmly, “Since you like her so much, let her be your mother. From now on, don’t bother me, the person you dislike. I’m not your mother anymore, and I won’t take care of you. I mean it.”
Expecting me to console him, Lucas, disappointed by my response, tried to threaten me as he used to.
I had no more patience and sharply retorted, “No crying. Look at yourself now—who would want to be your mother?”
Lucas, frightened, began to cry softly. Seeing the detective's message on my phone, I ignored him and walked out of the room.