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Caleb was the sole heir to the Burns family, a powerful dynasty that would never tolerate an heir with any flaws, let alone one who was mute and simple–minded.
I loved children. But I knew that if I had another one, Spencer would be completely cast aside.
So I refused to have another child.
The Burns elders, who already disliked me, regarded me with utter disappointment and loathing.
Not a single soul cared for me, nor for the simple–minded son I brought into this world.
For years, I raised Spencer alone.
I took him to psychiatrists and hired childcare specialists, trying everything I could to get him to speak.
Then came his heart treatment. I personally handled every meal, constantly afraid that even the slightest mistake could put him at risk.
When Spencer finally spoke his first word at age four, it was “Daddy.”
Overjoyed, I recorded it and called Caleb right away to let him hear.
Caleb hung up impatiently. No one in the Burns family cared.
To them, a four–year–old finally saying “Daddy” wasn’t remarkable at all—if anything, it was laughable.
But I was genuinely overjoyed.
That day, I held Spencer in my arms and wept alone in my room for hours.
Choking with sobs, I said, “Mommy loves you. Even if the whole world rejects you, I never will.”
The child nestled against me and, in that eager, ingratiating way of his, happily called out “Daddy” a few more times, as if he understood.
For the next six months or so, that was the only word he’d learned to call me.
Whenever he called, I answered.
I’d truly loved Spencer with all my heart. For so many years, I would have laid down my life for him.
When he was eight, after hearing the Burns family badmouth me countless times, he eventually chose to
believe them.
For the first time, he tearfully asked me, “Why did you have to be my mommy?” No one could ever understand how deeply that wounded me.
When everyone else was ready to abandon him at his lowest, I was the only one who shielded him.
12:44 Thu, Sep 25
Chapter 6
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Yet when he finally learned to speak, when he started to shine and everyone began to notice, accept, and even fawn over him, he cast me aside.
He’d never understand how much it hurt me when he said, “I wish I could have a mom who isn’t so terrible.”
I woke up in a daze.
The window was left ajar, letting in a cold breeze.
My tear–streaked face chilled as the wind brushed over it.
As I sat up in bed, my chest felt constricted.
It turned out that even after accumulating enough disappointment to finally let go, the pain would still find its way back sometimes.
The competition went smoothly.
For these kids, it was their first time traveling so far for a competition. Though they didn’t win first place, they still managed to secure second and fifth place.
Three more made it into the top twenty, earning honorable mentions.
I led a group of cheering children onto the modest award podium adorned with plastic flowers.
When the host introduced me, “Isabelle Stewart, the instructor,” the audience applauded me and my students.
Over the years, I’d stood on countless auction podiums and award stages, my paintings in hand.
They’d won prestigious awards and fetched staggering prices.
Yet the people in the audience had only ever fawned over Caleb, saying, “Congratulations, Mr. Burns.”
Someone had once paid over 300 thousand dollars for my painting, only to boast, “It was painted by Mr. Burns‘ wife.”
To which someone had scoffed, “Which Mr. Burns? As if there’s another in Xiamont.”
Or worse, “Who painted it? Just Mrs. Burns. Her name? Who cares.”
It’d been so many years since anyone had called me “Isabelle Stewart” on stage.
I tightened my grip on the kids‘ hands and bowed to the audience in gratitude.
I smiled brightly, my heart brimming with overwhelming joy,
As I was about to leave the stage, my eyes caught that familiar father–son pair in the corner.
They sat on opposite sides of the audience, as far apart as possible, yet both lifted their gazes to meet mine at
the same moment.
12:44 Thu, Sep 25
Chapter 6
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In this small town, no one knew the renowned Caleb Burns, nor the math prodigy who rose to fame in his youth.
Here, everyone was just ordinary folks.
Even the smallest dreams and achievements were respected.
I could see the disappointment and confusion in their eyes.
Perhaps they’d never understand why such a small achievement could bring me so much joy.
After the awards ceremony, as I was leading the kids out of the venue, Spencer suddenly chased after us.
I was holding a little girl’s hand when he abruptly blocked our path.
Startled by his aggressive demeanor, the little girl shrank back behind me.
Spencer stared at me for a long moment before muttering in a low, displeased voice, “That looks like my tracksuit.”
He was referring to the white tracksuit the little girl was wearing.
Fortunately, the noisy crowd drowned out his words. The girl beside me probably didn’t hear him.
That night, when I had a few kids stay over at my place, the little girl really loved the tracksuit I gave her.
She didn’t mind that it was secondhand. She even said she loved it, so I let her keep it.
While Spencer was talking about the clothes, his eyes remained fixed on my hand holding the kid’s.
I said coldly, “Move aside if you’re done.”
Spencer seemed deeply wronged, his eyes welling up instantly. “I… I want to go back to Granddad’s house with you. I told Dad I’m not going back home.”
12:44 Thu, Sep 25
Chapter 7
