Chapter 1 So Annoying

When Elina Ford walked out of the police station, it was already past nine at night.

She pulled out her phone and found a flood of concerned messages.

All from friends and colleagues but none from her husband, Jack Mansor.

The tiredness on her face deepened into a hint of sadness.

She pushed open the front door. The nanny saw her and froze for a second. "Mrs. Mansor, you... oh, I mean, are you okay?"

Elina caught the guilty look in the nanny's eyes. Pressing her lips together, she said nothing.

She headed straight upstairs. When she opened her daughter's bedroom door, she heard her on the phone. "Aunt Elowyn, I did just like you said! Is Mom really going to be locked up by the police?"

Jaslyn waved her arms excitedly, chatting away, completely unaware that Elina was standing at the door.

Elina stood quietly, listening.

Only then did she find out that Jaslyn Mansor, knowing full well she was allergic to peanuts, had secretly added crushed peanuts to her own lunch and called the police to say her mother had done it, trying to harm her.

All because she wanted to get her locked up so she could go out with Dad and Elowyn to celebrate a birthday.

After Jaslyn finished happily chatting with Elowyn Ford, she turned around and finally saw Elina standing there. Her little face stiffened.

Shock and dissatisfaction flickered plainly in her eyes.

She blurted out, "How come the police didn't lock you up?"

Elina's throat tightened. Fighting back the ache, she asked, "You really wanted Mommy to be locked up?"

She had never realized that the daughter she had poured her heart into raising for five years hated her so much.

"If you don't stop me, Dad, and Aunt Elowyn from celebrating, then I won't have the police arrest you," Jaslyn said, her little face showing a look of great generosity.

"Mom, I really don't get it. You and Aunt Elowyn are both Grandma and Grandpa's daughters, but how come you can't do anything? You just work and cook. You're not elegant at all. Aunt Elowyn's different from you. You know how many people envy me when Aunt Elowyn takes me out? She's pretty, she knows how to dress, and she's super gentle. Even Dad thinks Aunt Elowyn is better than you. Mom, can you just go back to work and not come to my birthday party?"

Jaslyn went on and on, praising Elowyn for a long time, before finally getting to the point.

Elina felt like she couldn't breathe. She asked, "So, it doesn't matter to you if Mommy gets locked up?"

"It's not like you'll be locked up for long." Jaslyn pouted impatiently. "You're not gonna scold me again because of this, are you? Aunt Elowyn never nags me when I do something wrong. She's not like you. You're so annoying."

Elina said nothing more. She stared at her daughter for a long time, then left the room without a word.

Behind her, Jaslyn called out, worried, "You're not gonna throw a fit tomorrow and stop me, Dad, and Aunt Elowyn from celebrating, right? Mom, if you dare to stop us, I'll never talk to you again! I'll even call the cops on you!" Her voice was loud enough that even the nanny heard it.

The nanny came over awkwardly and said, "Mrs. Mansor, Jaslyn's still little. She doesn't understand. Please don't take it to heart."

Elina simply hummed in response. Back in her room, she called Jack. She needed to know if he was in on this.

The phone rang for a long time before Jack finally answered, his voice cold. "I'm busy right now, you..."

"Jack, are you ready yet?" Elowyn's voice cut in.

Elina gripped her phone tightly.

"Go ahead, get back to it," she said before Jack could finish, and hung up.

They had been married for six years, but they hadn't really spent much time together. Jack was always busy, flying back and forth overseas, while she worked irregular hours as a doctor.

Whenever she had time off, it was always scheduled around Jack and Jaslyn.

Somewhere along the way, her efforts had become a burden. Her husband and daughter even preferred she didn't take any time off at all.

She should have realized it earlier. In the past, she would have pressed for answers. She would have asked why he was still with Elowyn so late at night, and whether everything important to him now involved Elowyn.

She would have stubbornly demanded to know… Did Jack know Jaslyn intentionally ate peanuts to frame her?

But tonight, she was just too tired. She didn't feel like asking anything anymore.

The next morning, she packed up and went back to work.

When her coworkers saw her, they looked surprised. "Dr. Ford, isn't today your and your daughter's birthday? Why are you back at work all of a sudden?"

"Yeah, Dr. Ford. You're not mad about what happened yesterday, are you? You're still going to celebrate, right?"

"Kids can be such trouble sometimes!" one coworker said with a rueful smile. "Last time my son pissed me off so bad over homework, I whacked him. Guess what? He called the cops! After that, I gave him another spanking."

Everyone laughed, and Elina smiled along with them. She wished it were that simple with Jaslyn, that it was just a childish tantrum.

Around noon, a coworker asked if she wanted anything from outside. She shook her head. Maybe Jaslyn was still too young to remember, but Jack would surely remember that today was her birthday too.

Maybe... they were planning a surprise for her.

But as the afternoon wore on, Jack still hadn't sent a single message.

It wasn't until she checked Elowyn's Instagram that whatever tiny hope she had left was completely shattered.

In a fancy restaurant, birthday candles cast a soft glow on Jaslyn's sweet little face as she closed her eyes to make a wish.

"I hope Mommy never shows up on my birthdays again."

"I hope Aunt Elowyn always stays with me. I hope Dad and Aunt Elowyn stay together forever and ever!"

Elina couldn't even hear the rest of what Jaslyn said in the video.

She had raised her daughter by herself, and Jack was always so busy with work. Then, about six months ago, Jack suddenly started spending more time with Jaslyn. In just six months, their daughter became completely attached to him.

She would be lying if she said she wasn't jealous. But she had been happy to see their bond grow.

She had even thought Jack had finally realized he needed to build a real relationship with his daughter. Only later did she find out it was just an excuse to spend more time with Elowyn, who had returned to the country half a year ago.

She had protested to Jack about it more than once, only to be accused of having an evil mindset.

But was that really the case? Elina had been willing to put up with anything for her daughter's happiness. Even knowing about the affair, divorce had never crossed her mind.

As long as Jaslyn had a complete family, she could endure anything.

But now, it was clear–she was the one making her daughter unhappy.

"Dr. Ford, the director's looking for you."

A coworker's voice snapped her out of it. She hurriedly wiped her tears away and headed to the director's office.

"Lina, are you sure about this? You're really giving up on the training opportunity? It won't be easy to get another chance like this." The director sighed. "You're one of the young doctors our hospital is investing in. Missing this opportunity could cost you future promotions."

The director had been Elina's mentor back in college and had always looked out for her. When the training notice first came out, he had personally encouraged her to apply. But for Jack and Jaslyn, she had given it up without hesitation.

This time...

"I'm going."

"I know your family's always been more important to you than your career... wait, what did you just say?"

"I'll leave in a month, right on schedule."

Chapter 2 Let Them Be Together

The hospital director was in an unusually good mood and even forced her to take the afternoon off so she could properly celebrate her birthday.

Elina walked out of the hospital, feeling hollow and lost.

She checked her phone more than once. Even a single birthday message from Jack or Jaslyn would have made her happy. But no one remembered.

She wandered the streets aimlessly. Ding. Her phone buzzed. She opened it eagerly, only to find it was a birthday coupon from a shopping app.

Staring at the screen, her eyes filled with tears.

She wasn't the type to get sentimental. She quickly pulled herself together and called her parents. "Mom, Dad, want to grab dinner tonight? I'll book a place."

There was a long silence on the other end before a heavy sigh came through.

"Lina, I know you're upset that today Elowyn and Jack are celebrating Jaslyn's birthday, and you want to make her uncomfortable, but she's your sister. Can you really bring yourself to do that? Think about it. If you hadn't gotten pregnant before marriage, the one married to Jack would have been Elowyn... Don't you see? Jack never loved you. Even after having a kid together, his heart still belongs to Elowyn... Lina, I'm begging you. Let them be together."

So this was how her parents saw her.

All she wanted was to have dinner with them. All she wanted was someone to spend her birthday with. Every bit of hope turned to ashes. Something inside her shattered completely.

Elina listened quietly. Was she hurt? She didn't even know anymore. Maybe she had gotten used to it.

Her parents had always favored Elowyn growing up. They constantly reminded her she was two years older, so she should give in to her sister. Whenever Elowyn was upset, it was always Elina's fault. If making Elowyn happy meant letting Elowyn hit her, their parents would even hold her down so Elowyn could get her anger out.

They never denied her material things, but they never once cared about her feelings.

Just like her husband and daughter now. Did it still hurt? Maybe once. Now she was numb.

Her stomach grumbled in protest. She found a small diner on the side of the street and went in, only to realize it was the same one she and Jack used to visit during college. The moment she stepped inside, the owner and his wife recognized her and welcomed her warmly.

They served her a huge burger with way more meat than usual. The owner's wife smiled and said, "It's been so long! You must've missed this. Eat up while it's hot. By the way, did you end up with that handsome guy you used to come here with?"

After all these years, the owner's wife still remembered Jack.

Elina's hand froze halfway to her mouth. "No."

The owner's wife let out a relieved sigh. "Good. You have no idea how many times I wanted to warn you about him. Sure, he looked good, but he was no good. I could tell he was just using you to get close to your sister. I wanted to say something back then, but I was afraid you'd be upset with me. Thank God you were smart."

The woman kept chattering on about people and events from the past.

Elina smiled faintly. Turns out, everyone has seen it clearly—my parents, friends, even strangers. Everyone but her, convincing herself that Jack had only changed because she was too busy.

On her way home, she happened to see Jack's car.

Jack was driving, and Elowyn sat in the passenger seat. They were laughing and exchanging glances full of intimacy, like a couple in love.

Their daughter was asleep in the backseat, her little belly peeking out from under her shirt.

Elina instinctively pulled out her phone. She was about to call Jack, but she stopped herself and hung up. She shook her head. She shouldn't interfere anymore.

When the light turned green, she sped back to the villa and started drafting divorce papers. If she could do it all over again, she would never have slept with Jack the night he got drunk. She wouldn't have gotten pregnant. She wouldn't have wasted the last six years of her life.

At ten that night, Jack came home carrying a sleepy Jaslyn. The little girl mumbled, "Daddy, why do we have to come home? I want to sleep with Aunt Elowyn."

If only Mommy weren't around, then she could stay with Aunt Elowyn all the time. Jack didn't correct her. It seemed like he agreed.

"Elina?" Jack's voice called from downstairs, asking her to come bathe Jaslyn.

Elina didn't move.

A moment later, she heard the nanny's voice. "Mrs. Mansor must've fallen asleep. I'll bathe Jaslyn."

The nanny took Jaslyn from him, hesitating before finally speaking. "Today's Mrs. Mansor's birthday, too. Didn't you celebrate with her?"

Jack froze, then brushed it off. "She's almost thirty. Why would she still care about birthdays? Plus, she's been busy at the hospital."

The nanny sighed and didn't press further. Upstairs, Elina listened to Jack's dismissive tone and smiled bitterly. He seemed to forget that just a few months ago, he had thrown Elowyn a grand birthday party. What had he said back then? Every birthday is important for a woman.

Elina felt like her heart had been hollowed out. Love and indifference really were so obvious.

After her bath, Jaslyn asked Jack, "Daddy, will Mommy be mad that we didn't celebrate her birthday?"

Mad?

In Jack's mind, Elina rarely got mad. The only two times she had were about Elowyn, and after he snapped at her once, she never dared bring it up again. He liked how obedient she had become.

He answered without much thought. "Don't worry. Even if she's mad, she'll get over it quick."

"Yeah! Mommy's a pushover," Jaslyn giggled.

Pushover? Elina stared blankly at the ceiling, unable to sleep the entire night.

Jack didn't come back to the master bedroom.

The next morning, Elina got up, planning to talk to him about the divorce, but he had already left to drop Jaslyn off at school.

Fine then. She applied for an employee dorm at the hospital and started packing.

In the six years of marriage, she had accumulated a lot of stuff.

It took her nearly two hours to sort through everything, but in the end, it was all just memories. Her mouth tasted bitter. In the end, she left with only a few changes of clothes and some medical textbooks.

She tucked the divorce papers into an envelope and placed it on her vanity table. As she closed the door behind her, a gust of wind blew the envelope into the gap behind the vanity table.

Elina moved into the dorm that day.

She thought she would struggle to sleep in a new environment, but surprisingly, she had the best sleep she had had in six years.

Since it was only temporary, she didn't bother decorating or buying unnecessary things. Her life returned to the simple routine she had in college—work, home, work.

Until her phone rang urgently.

Chapter 3 Wishing You Well

Elina woke up groggily, her mind blank for a moment as she was roused from sleep. It wasn't until she came to that she remembered—it was five thirty in the morning. Time to make breakfast for Jack and their daughter.

Jack had a sensitive stomach, and Jaslyn was a picky eater. Breakfast was something she made every day without fail.

Sometimes, when she had the night shift and finished work at six, the hospital would provide breakfast, but she would still rush home on an empty stomach, afraid Jack and Jaslyn wouldn't eat properly.

Six years. Every single day.

She had forgotten that people's hearts could change. Back then, Jack and Jaslyn used to be sweet and caring, showering her with hugs and kisses, telling her how hard she worked. Then it became something they took for granted. Eventually, it turned into annoyance and disgust.

They started craving fried chicken and French fries, drinking bubble tea, and snacking on junk food. They also learned to turn their noses up at the food she made.

Honestly, that alarm clock had been unnecessary for a long time now. She just hadn't been able to let go.

Elina gave a bitter smile, deleted the alarm, turned off her phone, and went back to sleep.

Meanwhile, Jaslyn was excitedly grabbing Jack's arm. "Daddy, let's go! Let's eat out! I want fried chicken! Otherwise, when Mommy comes home later, we'll have to eat her food again!"

Jack knew how much Elina had done for them over the years. Still, the same routine day in and day out had gotten tiresome. He agreed to Jaslyn's request.

By seven in the morning, Elina still hadn't come home. Maybe she had to work overtime.

Jack didn't think too much of it and drove off with Jaslyn.

The nanny ran after them. "Sir, you have a sensitive stomach, and Jaslyn's health isn't strong either. It's better to eat at home. Food outside isn't good for you."

"Marie! Don't be so annoying like my grandma, okay?" Jaslyn jumped into the car and made a face at Marie. "Careful, or I'll tell Daddy to fire you!"

Like she'd believe what her mom said. Mommy is just stingy, too cheap to spend money on me, that's why she didn't want me eating out. Aunt Elowyn has already told me everything. Hmph!

…

The news that Elina was heading overseas for further studies spread fast. A lot of coworkers were curious–Elina was known for being extremely family-oriented. How come she suddenly changed her mind?

The program was said to last at least three years. Was Elina really willing to be away that long. If they remembered correctly, there had been a three-month training program before, and Elina hadn't even considered it. Now it was three years.

Elina's parents, both longtime doctors at the hospital, heard the news too. They couldn't believe she would make that kind of decision until Elina confirmed it herself. "Yes, the list has been posted. I'll be leaving in less than a month."

"Why?" they asked.

Elina lowered her gaze. "Isn't this what you always wanted?"

They fell silent for a long time before asking, "Does Jack agree?"

"I trust you'll convince him to. Not that I planned on telling him before I left anyway." She knew they only cared about whether Elowyn and Jack could end up together. She gave them the answer they wanted. There was nothing more to say.

After hanging up, Elina headed off to do her rounds. Back at the Ford house, just as Elina ended the call, Elowyn's phone call came in. She excitedly told them she had landed the job as Jack's personal secretary and invited everyone to dinner that night.

Rowena Ford asked, "Elowyn, have you been in touch with your sister lately? She…"

"Mom! I'm giving you good news here. Can we not talk about such a downer? I'll text you the address. Be there tonight! Oh, and invite Elina too."

They ended up not inviting Elina after all. When they arrived at the restaurant, they saw Jack and Jaslyn were already there.

Halfway through the meal, Ronald Ford remembered Elina's upcoming trip overseas. "Jack, did you know Lina…"

Even though they hoped Elina would step aside so Elowyn and Jack could be together, they weren't sure where Jack's heart really was. If he had truly wanted to be with Elowyn, divorcing Elina wouldn't have been difficult.

Yet six months had passed, and he still hadn't filed for divorce. Maybe he didn't want to leave Elina? If that were the case, even if Elowyn married him, she would never be happy.

They wanted to use this opportunity to test Jack's intentions.

But just as Ronald was about to bring it up, Elowyn cut him off. "Mom, Dad, what are you trying to say? Today's a happy day! Let's all toast Jack. After all, he personally gave me this job."

She wrapped her arm around Jack's, the intimacy plain as day. But her eyes flashed a warning at her parents.

They picked up on Elowyn's signal. Looking again at how close she and Jack seemed, they figured if Jack didn't want her, he wouldn't let her act that way.

Jaslyn threw her arms around Elowyn and kissed her on the cheek. "I want to be with Daddy and Aunt Elowyn forever!"

Rowena and Ronald pressed their lips together and swallowed the words they had almost said.

Jack noticed their hesitation. "You were saying something about Lina?"

They snapped back to attention. "No, no, let's just have a drink."

Their kids' future was their own business. They decided not to meddle anymore.

Later that night, Elowyn sent pictures of the dinner to Elina with a taunting message, "You lost everything. I'm taking it all back."

Elina looked at the photos and deleted them without hesitation. She found it funny.

Back then, Jack had pretended to pursue her just to get close to Elowyn. There was no way Elowyn hadn't known. She had been flirting with some other rich guy at the time and missed her shot with Jack. And somehow, it was still Elina's fault?

"What's got you so deep in thought? You're off early today, aren't you going to pick up your kid?" a coworker teased, leaning in curiously. "Dr. Ford, you've been acting weird lately."

Elina smiled faintly.

After work, she headed to the farmer's market to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. She noticed some good-looking peanuts and grabbed a few pounds.

No one at home knew she had loved peanuts since she was a kid. Elowyn hated them, so their parents never bought them. After getting married, her daughter developed a peanut allergy, so peanuts were banned from the house too.

Now that she was living for herself, she could finally eat the peanuts freely. As Elina was roasting the peanuts, her phone rang.

It was a number she hadn't seen light up in so long that she had almost convinced herself they would never speak again.

"I heard you're coming for further studies next month?" The voice on the other end was cold. "You're coming all this way, and you weren't even going to tell me?"

Elina lowered her eyes. "No, I was planning to reach out once I got there."

The line went silent.

Elina thought he had hung up, but then his voice came through, sharp and cutting. "Do you remember our bet, Elina? You lost."

"I know. I admit it."

No sooner had she spoken than she heard harsh breathing on the other end. His voice turned cruel and furious. "You admit it? Elina! You dare admit it? Do you remember what you promised me? You really think–"

"Isn't it good that I'm admitting it?" she cut him off, sounding light and breezy. "There's that old saying, right? Success in love doesn't always mean success in life. Maybe this time, our new drug research will actually succeed. I thought you'd be happy."

The man didn't catch the bitterness or heartache hidden in her voice. He hesitated. "You really let it go? You won't regret it?"

"I won't." After hanging up, Elina took the peanuts out of the oven, peeling them one by one and arranging them neatly.

The smell of freshly roasted peanuts filled the air. It had been so long. It took her back to the six months she spent abroad as an exchange student. The time when they first met.

Chapter 4 Divorce Papers

But none of it mattered anymore.

Elina let out a self-deprecating laugh and mechanically stuffed peanuts into her mouth. The rich, nutty flavor mixed with the saltiness of her tears, spreading across her tongue.

It tasted so bitter it nearly suffocated her.

When Jack and Jaslyn came home, the house was still dark. Normally, no matter how late they came back, Elina would always leave a small light on for them in the living room.

But tonight… Jack frowned. He turned on the lights and glanced upstairs.

The nanny hurried down the stairs, carrying a half-asleep Jaslyn. She hesitated before stealing a glance at Jack.

After a long pause, she finally spoke. "Sir, Mrs. Mansor hasn't come home yet. Maybe you should give her a call?"

"She's not home?" Jack sounded surprised.

"Yeah, she hasn't been back since last night. Mrs. Mansor never used to do this..." the nanny said, sighing softly.

She had seen Elina's silent grievances all too clearly. But those were things a nanny had no place to comment on.

Half-awake, Jaslyn rubbed her eyes and spoke up. "Daddy, is Mommy not coming back? That's great! Can we bring Aunt Elowyn here tomorrow?"

"Take Jaslyn upstairs to bed," Jack said in a low voice, then turned and walked out the door.

In the car, he called Elina's cell phone. "You're still at the hospital?"

"Yeah," her voice on the other end sounded tired.

Jack expected her to explain, but after waiting a while and hearing nothing, he grew annoyed. "You just worked the night shift yesterday."

"So?" Elina had been fast asleep. Her voice still carried a hint of drowsiness, but the words that came out were far sharper than usual. She said, "Did you sign the divorce papers on the table? Once you're done, just have someone send me a copy. I'll be staying at the hospital for a few days."

"Divorce papers?" Jack was stunned. "What are you playing at now?"

"You know I don't use divorce to throw tantrums." Elina's voice remained calm as she continued, "Jack, our marriage was a mistake from the beginning. I won't stand in the way between you and Elowyn anymore. You can have Jaslyn. I only want the money I earned myself."

Jack finally understood. His tone was full of impatience. "Elina, are you really that petty? What's so wrong with Jaslyn being close to Elowyn? And me seeing Elowyn? Last night was just a dinner to celebrate her new job. What are you so worked up about? How can you be so twisted? Why can't you just accept her?"

The same words again. Elina couldn't help but let out a soft, bitter laugh. "Think whatever you want," she replied indifferently, then hung up the phone.

It felt as if every drop of blood had been drained from her body. Elina sat quietly against the headboard, the cold seeping into every inch of her bones.

Her phone buzzed again and again with Jack's texts.

"If you're done making a scene, get back here. You don't find it embarrassing to stay at the hospital? Don't go bothering Elowyn again, or don't blame me for getting nasty."

"?"

Elina didn't reply to a single one. Jack stared at the message thread, his face growing darker by the second. He slammed on the gas and rushed back home.

Sure enough, he found the divorce papers Elina mentioned wedged neatly at the corner of the bedroom desk. Her signature at the bottom was neat and composed, clearly not something done in a moment of impulse.

But why? Didn't she work so hard back then just to marry me?

...

The next morning, Jaslyn woke up and ran into Elina's room to check. Finding it empty, she raced over to Jack.

"Daddy, Mommy's not here. She's not coming back, right? Can we bring Aunt Elowyn to live with us?" Jaslyn's voice was filled with barely concealed excitement.

As she spoke, she pulled up her smartwatch. "I'm gonna call Aunt Elowyn right now. That meanie finally left!"

"Eat your breakfast," Jack said sharply, shooting her a cold look.

"Daddy..." Seeing Jaslyn shrink back fearfully, Jack pressed his lips together and forced his tone to soften. "Finish your food. You have school later. We'll talk about bringing Aunt Elowyn over after."

"Yay!" Jaslyn squealed with delight and immediately dug into her meal.

The nanny, who was tidying up nearby, couldn't help but shake her head. She truly felt sorry for Elina.

Meanwhile, Elina, after losing sleep thanks to Jack's calls, dragged herself to work nearly exhausted. Just as she stepped into the hospital lobby, she ran into her parents.

Seeing the dark circles under Elina's eyes, they assumed she must have fought with Jack over Elowyn again.

They couldn't help but lecture her. "Lina, I thought you'd understand after what we said yesterday. Why are you still so stubborn? You've had Jack for six years now. Can't you give him back to Elowyn?"

Ronald chimed in sternly. "Yeah, if it hadn't been for your pregnancy back then, they'd have ended up together. You know, Jack's heart was never really with you. Clinging to him won't change anything."

Elina stared coldly at the "concerned" parents before her, feeling a sharp pain in her chest. She leaned lightly against the wall to keep steady, her lips trembling with rage. "Dad, Mom, you really think it was my fault Elowyn and Jack didn't end up together? Do you know where Elowyn actually was back then? She was sleeping around, got pregnant, and went abroad for an abortion…"

"Shut up!" Ronald snapped, glancing nervously around to make sure no one overheard. He stepped closer, his face dark with fury. "How dare you slander your sister like that? She's never even been married!"

Rowena panicked too. "Exactly, Lina, a girl's reputation is everything. If you still see us as your parents, you'll keep that to yourself. Otherwise–"

"Otherwise what?" Elina forced the tears back, her voice turning icy. She couldn't understand how they could be so biased when she and Elowyn were both their daughters.

Realizing she had said too much, Rowena lowered her voice, backing down a little. "Lina, please, for our sake... just let Jack go back to Elowyn. Okay?"

Elina bit down on her lip so hard she tasted blood. After staying up all night and skipping breakfast, she felt lightheaded and dizzy.

"Don't worry. I've already filed for divorce," she said.

"Really?" Their eyes lit up, though they still sounded uneasy. "Lina, you're not lying to us, are you?"

Elina didn't want to hear another word. She clenched the wall for support as she staggered away, her fingertips turning white from the force.

She couldn't understand how her life had fallen apart like this.

"Dr. Ford, are you okay?" A nurse passing by quickly stepped up to help her. "You don't look well at all. Is it low blood sugar?" the young nurse asked as she handed her a piece of chocolate. "Here, eat this. See if it helps."

"Thanks…" Elina's voice was hoarse as she accepted the chocolate. Her fingers curled tightly around it.

She couldn't understand why even a passing nurse could see she wasn't well, yet her parents, seasoned doctors for over 30 years, couldn't see a thing.

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When I walked out of the police station, it was past nine, my body heavy with exhaustion and something worse—knowing my own daughter had called them.

My phone buzzed nonstop—friends, colleagues, all asking if I was okay. Not one message from Jack.

I pushed open the front door. The nanny froze. 'Mrs. Mansor... are you alright?'

I didn't answer. I went straight upstairs. Jaslyn was on the phone, giggling. 'Aunt Elowyn, I did just like you said! Is Mom really going to jail?'

I stood there, silent. She'd put crushed peanuts in her lunch, knowing she was allergic, then reported me for attempted harm. All so she could celebrate her birthday with Dad and Elowyn.

She turned, saw me, and scowled. 'How come the police didn't lock you up?'

My throat tightened. 'You really wanted Mommy locked up?'

'If you don't stop us from celebrating, I won't call the cops again,' she said, as if granting mercy. 'Mom, you're so annoying.'

Behind me, the nanny whispered an apology. I walked away without a word.

Back in my room, I called Jack. It rang forever. Then—'I'm busy right now, you—'

'Jack, are you ready yet?' Elowyn's voice cut in.

I hung up.

Six years of marriage, and this was my birthday. No calls. No messages. Just silence.

The next morning, I packed my things.

And made a decision: I was leaving.