Chapter 4: The Return of the Real Mother

After returning to Hoginia, I immediately made an appointment with the court, planning to finalize the divorce with Zachary on the same day.

However, Zachary flew to Yodruland without informing me.

His secretary smiled apologetically. "I’m sorry, Mrs. Mason, but Mr. Mason has something urgent to deal with. He’ll return in a week."

I was so angry that I was about to buy a train ticket and return home immediately.

Just then, I heard a voice coming from the porch of the villa.

Behind the crystal screen, a soft and melodious voice spoke.

"You must be Erik’s nanny who has taken care of him all these years, right? Nice to meet you."

It was Charlee.

She was stunning, just as beautiful as she appeared in her photos online.

Her beautiful eyes scanned me from head to toe before she commented coldly, "You really do look like a nanny."

I wanted to respond, but I didn’t think it was necessary.

I had never liked competing with other women.

Besides, I would be leaving soon anyway.

However, Charlee continued, "Since you’re here, help us take care of Erik. He has a fever. I’m not feeling well either, so I’m afraid I can’t look after him."

Erik had a fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit.

His face was flushed, and he looked extremely pitiful.

I wanted to suppress the overflowing sympathy in my heart.

But he was the child I had taken care of for five years.

The child who had called me Mom for five years.

So in the end, I stayed.

I took care of him.

I hadn’t seen him for almost six months since Zachary sent him to Yodruland to reunite with Charlee.

To him, I had already become a stranger.

When I gently held him in my arms, he cried and called for his mother.

But I knew he didn’t mean me.

He was calling for Charlee.

She was staying on the third floor now.

The forbidden area of the villa.

A few years ago, not long after I married Zachary, I had accidentally gone up to the third floor.

I had entered a dark yet luxurious bedroom on the right side.

The champagne-colored curtains were drawn shut.

The walls were covered with photos.

All of them were of Charlee.

"What are you doing here?" Zachary’s icy voice suddenly came from behind me.

"Didn’t the housekeeper tell you not to come to the third floor? This is a forbidden area."

His voice was cold and harsh.

At that moment, I realized something clearly.

Zachary would never forget Charlee.

He loved her too deeply.

His heart was like that villa.

There was a place I could never enter.

Now that Charlee had returned, she lived freely on the third floor.

Every day, she sang loudly and danced the rumba.

She even streamed it live online.

Meanwhile, Erik lay in bed, burning with fever.

While he cried helplessly, Charlee was upstairs singing a jazz song.

"Mom... Mom..." Erik pointed weakly toward the ceiling.

His eyes were filled with longing for his mother’s love.

I felt both heartbroken and bitter.

Children are naturally attached to their biological mothers.

Even though I had raised him, he still chose her.

Suppressing my jealousy and bitterness, I carefully cooled his fever.

I changed his clothes and coaxed him to sleep.

He was still young, but his nose had already grown straight.

His delicate features resembled Zachary.

I stared at him in a daze.

Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind.

What exactly were my feelings for Zachary?

I had never dared to think about it before.

Because I was afraid.

Afraid that I had fallen too deeply in love with him.

How foolish it was to fall in love with a man who already loved someone else.

I let out a soft sigh.

Before I realized it, tears had already streamed down my face.

I told myself to stay strong.

I had to cut off everything with the Mason family as soon as possible.

Three days later, Erik finally recovered completely.

At the same time, Zachary boarded a plane back.

I once again scheduled a divorce appointment on the court’s website.

I had taken a week off from the special education school before coming to Hoginia.

While taking care of Erik, I couldn’t help worrying about my students.

So I called my coworkers to check on them.

To my surprise, Esme Gill answered the call and sounded confused.

"Ms. Murray? Haven’t you resigned? Why are you calling?"

My heart skipped a beat.

I forced a smile and said, "What are you talking about? I only took leave. Stop joking."

"No," she replied seriously.

"Your husband resigned for you. He said your home is in Hoginia and that you’ll stay there permanently."