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The Son I Raised Was Never Mine - Hot engsub fullepisode🔥
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00:00Frank, my trophy husband of 10 years, would never know that I had already decided to transfer 15% of
00:05Haze Group shares to him.
00:07Until the day of the physical exam, I discovered that the son born to my husband and me both with
00:11type O blood, actually had type A blood.
00:14Looking at the son who was a miniature version of my husband, I said nothing, and calmly did only two
00:21things.
00:22First, I secretly plucked a strand of my son's hair.
00:26Mom? Just tucking your hair, keep playing.
00:30Second, I tore up the share transfer agreement I had prepared.
00:33Watching Ethan walk into school, I turned and went to the DNA testing center.
00:38I spied it. What's the soonest I can get the results?
00:41Standard is five business days. Expedited would be before 4 p.m. today at three times the cost.
00:45I spied it.
00:47When I handed over the sample, my hand trembled a little.
00:50After swabbing my own cheek cells, I sat in the waiting area, staring at the clock on the wall as
00:56the minutes and seconds ticked by.
00:57During that time, I contacted a private investigator.
01:02I want you to look into my husband, Frank, especially his whereabouts over the past few months.
01:07At 3.40 p.m., my phone rang.
01:10The results were in.
01:11I opened the electronic report and scrolled straight to the end.
01:15DNA analysis indicates that the probability of a parent-child relationship between Vivian Hayes and Ethan Miller is 0.0001%.
01:23Based on genetic marker analysis, Vivian Hayes is not supported as the biological mother of Ethan Miller.
01:30Even though I had been prepared, the moment I saw those words, I still panicked for an instant, then leaned
01:36against the wall and sat down.
01:37Not my child.
01:38I had raised a child who was not my biological child for nine years.
01:42Then where was my child?
01:48I immediately went to Methodist Hospital, where I had given birth nine years ago, and met with the obstetrician from
01:54back then, who was now the department head.
01:56I got straight to the point and asked,
01:58Dr. Thompson, I'd like to pull my delivery records and InShent files from that year.
02:03It's been so long, the records may have already been archived.
02:06I need to see them.
02:07Now.
02:07After some effort, someone from the records room finally brought out a folder.
02:12I opened it and found that the records were extremely sparse.
02:15Only the admission and discharge times, the method of delivery, and the newborn's wait.
02:20There was no detailed labor and delivery process.
02:23No nursing handoff notes.
02:24No pediatrician examination report.
02:27Is this all?
02:28This is all that's in the system.
02:30Paper records for standard optotactic cases are kept for 10 years, and yours is about to reach the end of
02:35that period.
02:35What about the newborn's footprints?
02:37The blood test records?
02:38Those should be in the newborn records, but we couldn't find them.
02:41It couldn't be more obvious.
02:43Something was wrong here.
02:44An overly brief medical record.
02:46A missing newborn file.
02:48And a son who was not my biological child, but looked just like my husband.
02:52My phone rang.
02:53It was Frank.
02:56Where did you go?
02:58I picked up Ethan.
02:59I'm out taking care of something.
03:00I'll be right back.
03:01I only then remembered that school had already let out, but fortunately I had informed the teacher earlier.
03:06I said this and hung up the phone.
03:08After dinner, I excused myself with a headache and went back to my room early.
03:12I have a headache.
03:13I'm going to bed early.
03:15Frank stayed in the living room helping Ethan with his homework, and the sound of their conversation drifted over faintly.
03:21Dad, is mom upset?
03:24Mom is just tired.
03:26Finish your homework and go to bed early.
03:28Once they were both asleep, I began quietly searching the entire house.
03:32The master bedroom, the living room, Ethan's room.
03:35I searched everywhere and found nothing.
03:38Finally, I looked at the computer in the study, thinking the truth had to be in there.
03:43Footsteps sounded outside the door.
03:45I exited the document.
03:53When Frank pushed the door open and came in, I was tidying up the desk.
03:57He glanced at the computer screen, which had already returned to the desktop.
04:01A photo of the two of us taken three years ago at Santa Monica Beach.
04:04Not asleep yet?
04:05Organizing some old documents?
04:07I answered while casually turning off the monitor.
04:10He stood there for a moment, as if he wanted to say something.
04:13But in the end, he just nodded.
04:15Get some rest soon.
04:16I sat in the darkness, listening to the sound of his footsteps gradually fading away.
04:21That night, I didn't open the computer again and lay in bed with my thoughts in chaos.
04:26The next morning, I still let Frank take Ethan to school.
04:30He looked at me, picked up the car keys.
04:32Alright.
04:33Once they were out the door, I immediately went to the study.
04:37I turned on the computer and entered the password, our wedding anniversary.
04:41Wrong.
04:41I tried his birthday.
04:43Wrong.
04:44Our son's birthday.
04:46Still wrong.
04:46I tried the date of our first date, his mother's birthday, the day the company was founded.
04:51All wrong.
04:53The system prompted me to try again in 15 minutes.
04:56I sat in the chair, staring at the login screen.
04:59This computer we had bought together was now locked to me.
05:06That evening, Frank came home from work and said while taking off his jacket.
05:10I have a business trip to Chicago tomorrow.
05:12Not sure how long it'll be yet.
05:14I came out of the kitchen carrying a dish.
05:16So sudden.
05:17Who are you going with?
05:18It was arranged last minute.
05:20Vivian, can you not be like this?
05:21I watched him in silence, not understanding why such a casual question from me would provoke such a big reaction.
05:27You question everything?
05:29You suspect everyone?
05:32I'm just going for work.
05:33I turned away to serve the rice, my hand trembling a little.
05:37It was just a casual question.
05:39He said nothing more and went straight into the bedroom.
05:41Dinner was eaten in silence.
05:43Ethan seemed to sense something and, surprisingly, didn't pick at his food.
05:47After his shower, Frank came out and picked up his coat from the sofa to hang it in the closet.
05:52A small receipt fell out of the pocket and landed at my feet.
05:58After he left, I picked it up and took a look.
06:01It was a perfume receipt, quite expensive, purchased yesterday afternoon.
06:05I had never heard of the perfume's name, but I knew it wasn't for me.
06:09In 10 years of marriage, Frank had never given me a gift again.
06:14Sorry, crazy day at the office.
06:16I used to explain it away for him.
06:18He wasn't romantic, he was busy with work and was a practical man.
06:22Which one do you like?
06:25Buy whatever you want. I don't have time to shop.
06:27Now, it seemed that it wasn't that he wasn't capable of romance.
06:30It was just that his romance wasn't directed at me.
06:33I noted down the information on the receipt.
06:35Early the next morning, after Frank left for the airport, I called the Nordstrom counter.
06:41I'd like to look up this receipt.
06:43Yes, from yesterday afternoon.
06:44One moment.
06:45Found it.
06:47Purchaser was a Ms. Wendy Davis.
06:49Wendy Davis.
06:50That name rang a bell.
06:51Frank's secretary, hired half a year ago.
06:54A divorced woman in her 30s.
06:56Driving to the airport, I didn't know what I wanted to confirm.
06:59Maybe the perfume was for a client.
07:01Maybe I was overthinking.
07:03I waited outside the International Departures Hall for half an hour before I saw Frank and her.
07:11Wendy was wearing a Burberry trench coat, pulling a small suitcase, walking over together with Frank.
07:17Frank's face wore a relaxed smile, I hadn't seen in a long time.
07:21Then in front of the security checkpoint, Wendy stopped and very naturally reached out to straighten Frank's collar.
07:27Frank didn't dodge.
07:28He lowered his head and said something in her ear.
07:30Wendy laughed, then stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the lips.
07:33Frank's hand rested on her waist.
07:35Staying there for a short moment before they parted, as if it had long been a habit.
07:39The last bit of self-deception I had been clinging to vanished completely.
07:43So all those late nights working overtime, all those impatient looks directed at me, now I knew the reason for
07:49them.
07:50Watching their intimate figures, a suspicion gradually surfaced in my mind.
07:55Could the child who was not my biological child have something to do with this woman in front of me?
07:59On the drive back, I called the private investigator I had hired days ago.
08:04Look into one more person for me.
08:07Wendy Davis.
08:08I want to know everything about her, especially whether she has any children.
08:11The investigator worked quickly.
08:13By the next afternoon, I had received the investigation report.
08:16Wendy Davis, 32 years old, divorced five years ago, had a 10-year-old son named Leo Davis,
08:22attending a charter school on the west side of town.
08:25That date suddenly leapt out at me.
08:27Wendy's son was only one week younger than Ethan.
08:29For the first time in 10 years, I felt my blood surge upward.
08:36I sat on the sofa, holding the report the investigator had sent.
08:41Then a thought struck me, and I ran into the study.
08:47My fingers hovered over the keyboard, then slowly typed in Wendy's birthday.
08:52The desktop opened.
08:54There was only one folder named Work Backup.
08:58I clicked into it.
08:59It was full of subfolders, organized by year, starting from 11 years ago.
09:04The earliest folder contained scanned old photos.
09:07Frank and Wendy were wearing high school uniforms, standing under an oak tree.
09:1119-year-old Frank was smiling, his hand resting on Wendy's shoulder.
09:16Wendy had her hair in a ponytail and was looking up at him.
09:19The next photo was from college.
09:21They were in the library.
09:22The next was a graduation photo.
09:24The two of them in caps and gowns, holding hands.
09:27We have to cancel Napa.
09:29The company's in a rough patch.
09:30That year, Frank told me the company was having difficulties, and we canceled our wedding
09:35anniversary trip to Napa Valley.
09:37I closed the folder, a churning discomfort rising in my stomach.
09:41A decade of deception.
09:42I looked at the wallpaper on the screen, our wedding photo, and felt a wave of nausea.
09:52At 3 in the afternoon, I drove to the west side of town.
09:55That charter school was even more run down than the investigator had described.
09:59The dismissal bell rang, and children poured out of the school gate.
10:03I sat in the car, my hands gripping the steering wheel.
10:06He walked out alone.
10:07No one was there to pick him up.
10:09He looked left and right, then slowly walked forward along the sidewalk.
10:12I held my breath.
10:14That child, Leo.
10:15No, that was my child.
10:17The way he walked slightly resembled me, with a mild inward turn of his feet.
10:21When he raised his hand to fix his hair, I saw a birthmark on his wrist.
10:25In the same spot as mine.
10:26I saw that there was dust on his eyelashes.
10:29His lips were a bit dry.
10:30And the edges of his sneakers had already started peeling.
10:33His eyes were empty.
10:35Not like those of a 10-year-old child.
10:37I covered my mouth to keep myself from making a sound.
10:40He walked further away and disappeared around the corner.
10:43I collapsed onto the steering wheel and broke down sobbing.
10:46For that child walking home alone.
10:49For these 10 years of misplaced lives.
10:51And for myself.
10:53Living like a fool in a play arranged by others.
10:56Then I wiped away my tears and started the car.
11:11At the law firm, I placed the USB drive in front of attorney David Lee.
11:15In it were backups of all the photos.
11:18Along with the DNA test report.
11:20Scanned hospital records.
11:21The perfume receipt.
11:23And information on Wendy Chen and Leo.
11:25I want a divorce.
11:26I want him to leave with nothing.
11:28I want custody of the child.
11:30I want him to pay the price he deserves to pay.
11:34Walking out of the law firm.
11:35I remembered what Frank had said 10 years ago.
11:38When he proposed in Central Park.
11:40Vivian.
11:41I'll give you a lifetime of stability.
11:44So his lifetime was only 10 years.
11:46No.
11:47Maybe not even 10 years.
11:48I took out my phone.
11:49And called the company's second largest shareholder.
11:52Also an old friend of my father's.
11:54Uncle Robert.
11:55Regarding next week's board meeting.
11:56There are some things I'd like to discuss with you first.
11:58Frank had probably forgotten.
11:59This company's name is Lynn.
12:01He was able to become CEO.
12:03Because I had persuaded my father to give him a chance back then.
12:05I could lift him up.
12:07And I could also make his fall very, very ugly.
12:15Two weeks after Frank left.
12:17I liquidated everything under my name that could be converted to cash.
12:21These days.
12:22Every afternoon I went to the area near that charter school on the west side.
12:26Once when it rained.
12:27He didn't have an umbrella.
12:29He waited for half an hour under the awning of the convenience store by the school gate.
12:33And in the end ran home in the rain.
12:37I sat in the car.
12:39The rain blurring the car window.
12:41On Friday afternoon.
12:42I arrived near the school early.
12:44When I saw Leo come out.
12:46I got out of the car.
12:47And pretended to be a passerby walking past.
12:50The folder in my hand fell in front of him.
12:53He paused for a moment.
12:55Then bent down and picked it up for me.
13:02Thank you, kiddo.
13:03Has your mom not arrived yet?
13:05He shook his head.
13:07Mom is working overtime today.
13:10Then how are you getting home?
13:12I took an unopened bottle of water from my bag and handed it to him.
13:15By bus.
13:16Have some water.
13:17He hesitated for a moment.
13:19Then took it and said thank you quietly.
13:21I noticed that when he spoke, he habitually pressed his lips together slightly.
13:25Just like me.
13:26The shape of his eyes was also similar.
13:28Hooded lids.
13:29The outer corners slightly downturned.
13:31Does your mom often work overtime?
13:33He nodded.
13:34Then shook his head.
13:36Sometimes.
13:38What about your dad?
13:39He didn't speak and looked down at his shoes.
13:40Those sneakers had already started peeling at the edges.
13:43And the left shoelace was broken.
13:45I didn't ask anymore.
13:47Go buy yourself a new pair of shoes.
13:49I took $40 from my wallet and pressed it into his hand.
13:52He stepped back.
13:54No, I can't take this.
13:56Just take it as thanks for helping me pick up the folder.
13:59I put the money into the side pocket of his backpack and turned to leave.
14:05I glanced back.
14:07There was a somewhat lost look in his eyes.
14:12That night, I stood at the doorway of Ethan's room.
14:15He was playing with the Lego set Frank had just bought him.
14:19A limited edition spaceship.
14:20Quite expensive.
14:22I walked in and ruffled his hair.
14:24Mom?
14:25What's wrong?
14:26Is your homework done?
14:27Finished it a long time ago.
14:29Dad said if I make the top ten in the midterms, he'll take me to Disney World.
14:34I smiled.
14:35That's great.
14:36The moment I turned around, my smile vanished.
14:41Frank's completely different treatment of the two children was like a thorn lodged in my heart.
14:46My biological son was wearing peeling shoes and riding the bus alone, while this child was enjoying everything.
14:54Frank, who had been away on business for two weeks, finally came home.
14:59He sat down his suitcase, and his first words were,
15:02Where's Ethan?
15:03Why is it so quiet?
15:05I signed him up for an after-school program, two hours in the evening.
15:09Why sign him up all of a sudden?
15:10He's only in fourth grade.
15:11I didn't answer.
15:13I smelled that perfume scent on him.
15:15He walked over to hug me.
15:17I turned aside to avoid him.
15:19Why do you smell like perfume?
15:21Who did you go to dinner with this time?
15:24Vivian, you're getting paranoid again.
15:25It rubbed off from dinner with a client.
15:27Can you stop being like this?
15:29I suddenly found it laughable.
15:31Only now could I see how bad his acting was.
15:34I took an envelope from the coffee table drawer and slowly pulled out the photos,
15:39laying them out on the table.
15:48Frank's face turned ugly.
15:50He picked up one of the photos and threw it back onto the table.
15:54You followed me?
15:57I smiled.
15:59Does it matter?
16:01What matters is,
16:02what would happen if these photos showed up at a board meeting or were sent to your clients?
16:07He collapsed onto the sofa across from me,
16:10his hands covering his face.
16:12What do you want?
16:12I stared at him, my voice somewhat cool.
16:15First, fire Wendy and guarantee you won't see her again.
16:17Second, tell me what happened at the hospital ten years ago.
16:20You're insane just based on a few photos.
16:22Frank, don't forget the company is named Hayes.
16:24My voice was icy.
16:25You are where you are today because of me.
16:26I can give and I can take away.
16:28I almost softened, but I remembered Leo's peeling shoes,
16:32remembered how he looked waiting alone for the rain to stop.
16:35For the sake of our ten years of marriage and our child,
16:38as long as you do what I say, we can keep going.
16:41After all, we still have Ethan.
16:44I turned and went to the bedroom, brought out a document, and handed it over.
16:49It was a pregnancy test report showing I was five weeks pregnant.
16:53Frank looked at the pregnancy test report, paused for a second,
16:57then looked up and stared at me.
17:00You're pregnant?
17:01Five weeks.
17:02The doctor said this time it's very stable.
17:04His expression shifted again and again.
17:06So, as long as you cut ties with Wendy completely,
17:09make her leave the company and our lives,
17:11I can let the past go.
17:12I continued.
17:13We still have Ethan, and now there's this child too.
17:16Frank's gaze fell on my belly.
17:18There was an obvious struggle in his eyes.
17:20I need to think.
17:21That night, the light in his room was turned off very late.
17:27The next morning, as I was drinking coffee,
17:30I watched Frank walk out with dark circles under his eyes.
17:33I pushed a glass of water toward him.
17:36He silently took it but didn't look at me.
17:39I've thought it over, Vivian.
17:42We...
17:43No need to say it.
17:44I cut him off and pulled the divorce agreement out of the folder,
17:47placing it on the table.
17:49His expression turned furious.
17:51What do you mean?
17:52Don't we have another child on the way?
17:54I said coldly.
17:56I told you I was pregnant,
17:57and you needed an entire night to consider whether to break up with her?
18:00We have a child on the way.
18:02Can't you think about the child and about Ethan too?
18:05Child?
18:05I suddenly laughed.
18:07Are you talking about the child I raised for ten years?
18:10Who turned out to be yours and Wendy's?
18:13Frank's face instantly went pale.
18:15He stumbled backward into the table.
18:18How do you know?
18:20When did you find out?
18:22I held my phone up in front of him,
18:24the screen showing a photo of the DNA test report.
18:27The password was Wendy's birthday.
18:29You've been using it for ten years, right?
18:36His breathing quickened,
18:38tinged with panic.
18:40Let me explain.
18:42My voice was very calm,
18:44tinged with mockery.
18:46Explain how you switched the babies when I was giving birth.
18:49Explain how you got Wendy into the company.
18:52Or explain how the two of you have been laughing behind my back for ten years
18:56at how stupid I was.
18:58I took a step closer.
19:00The most ridiculous thing is
19:01that occasional guilt you showed when looking at that child.
19:04Was it guilt for deceiving me
19:05or guilt for not treating your own son better?
19:08Leo.
19:09Frank suddenly seemed to remember something.
19:11Where is Leo?
19:12I want to see him!
19:13Too late.
19:14I turned and pulled open the door.
19:17Your son,
19:17no,
19:18our son,
19:19is now somewhere you can't find him.
19:21Your and Wendy's son is still upstairs sleeping,
19:23unaware of what choice his biological father is now facing.
19:26Frank rushed over and grabbed my arm,
19:28furious.
19:29Vivian,
19:29you can't do this!
19:30That's my child!
19:32I shook him off.
19:33From the day you switched the babies,
19:35you were no longer fit to be a father.
19:38Now please,
19:39leave my home.
19:42After I closed the door,
19:44I heard the sound of him pounding on it.
19:48Then came the sound of a car driving away.
19:51I knew where he was going to find Wendy,
19:53and also to find the biological son he had lost for 10 years.
19:57But he wouldn't be able to find Leo.
20:06Three days earlier,
20:07when the private investigator had given me the information on Wendy,
20:10I had already gone to see the child again.
20:13I told him the truth.
20:15He was unusually calm.
20:16In those eyes that resembled mine was a maturity beyond his years.
20:20I always felt like I wasn't my mom's child.
20:23Otherwise,
20:23why would she be willing to leave me here to fend for myself?
20:26I held his hand and said I would take him away,
20:29to start over.
20:30He was silent for a long time,
20:32then gently nodded.
20:34Yesterday afternoon's flight,
20:36my personal assistant accompanied him abroad.
20:39Over there was a good school,
20:40a house,
20:41new friends.
20:42Once I finished handling things on this end,
20:44I could go reunite with my son.
20:46The divorce agreement had been sitting on the table for three days.
20:50Frank finally came.
20:52He stood outside the door,
20:54dark circles under his eyes and unshaven.
20:57I hadn't seen him like this in a long time.
21:00Vivian, let's talk.
21:05I leaned against the doorframe in my loungewear,
21:07not letting him in.
21:09The agreement is written very clearly.
21:10There's nothing to discuss.
21:11I can't divorce you.
21:12For the sake of our 10 years as husband and wife and our child.
21:16Which child?
21:16The one in the videos or the one upstairs?
21:19Frank's face instantly went pale.
21:21A week earlier,
21:22Wendy had sent over a pile of files.
21:24When I opened them,
21:25they were videos,
21:26one after another.
21:27In the videos,
21:29Leah was crying,
21:30being beaten,
21:31locked in a dark room.
21:32There was another clip where the child was only five or six
21:34and was whipped on the back with a clothes hanger for spilling milk.
21:37The email had only one line.
21:39Thank you for raising my son for all these years for me.
21:42I watched them all night.
21:43And by dawn,
21:44I had thrown up three times.
21:45He seemed to want to explain.
21:47Those videos,
21:48Wendy,
21:48she sometimes couldn't control herself.
21:49That's your son.
21:50You went to see her every week
21:51and all you noticed was that she changed your perfume
21:53and got new nails.
21:54You never saw the wounds on your son's body.
21:56He couldn't say a word.
21:57I've already hired a lawyer.
21:58If you don't want to sign,
21:59we'll go to court.
21:59The evidence of switching babies,
22:01the photos of your affair,
22:02and those videos,
22:02they will all become evidence.
22:03Are you crazy?
22:04He said in a low voice.
22:06The company is about to go public
22:07and at a time like this.
22:09Before I closed the door,
22:10I said one last thing.
22:11So sign it
22:11while I'm still leaving you some room.
22:16The door closed.
22:18He stood outside for a long time before leaving.
22:21Three days later,
22:22Frank signed.
22:23Four days after the divorce,
22:25Frank and Wendy's wedding photos
22:26appeared on Instagram.
22:28Wendy was wearing a white wedding dress.
22:30Frank had his arm around her,
22:31but his expression was a bit stiff.
22:33The caption read,
22:3510 years of waiting.
22:36Finally together.
22:37I took a screenshot,
22:38then turned off my phone.
22:40In the afternoon,
22:41attorney David Lee called.
22:42Ms. Hayes?
22:43All the materials are complete.
22:44The transfer records
22:45from the baby switch back then,
22:46his and Wendy's communication logs,
22:48plus the abuse videos
22:49and medical records,
22:50it's enough to file a case.
22:51Thank you for your hard work.
22:52Understood.
22:53He paused for a moment.
22:54But are you really not going to see him
22:55one last time?
22:56He came to the office yesterday
22:57and wanted me to pass on a message.
22:59He said he knows he was wrong.
23:00Too late.
23:01Early the next morning,
23:03the plane took off.
23:04My personal assistant
23:05came to pick me up at the airport.
23:07She said to me,
23:09Leo has been doing a bit better this week.
23:11He's starting to be willing to talk.
23:13Yesterday,
23:13he even asked when you would arrive.
23:15My heart beat faster for a few moments.
23:19The car stopped in front of a white house.
23:21In the garden,
23:23a thin little child was crouching
23:25on the ground watching ants.
23:30I walked over and crouched down in front of him.
23:33I'm your mom.
23:33He looked at me for a long time,
23:35then gave a small nod.
23:37I carefully embraced him.
23:39He didn't pull away.
23:41I'm sorry.
23:42Mommy came too late.
23:43He trembled a little in my arms.
23:45For the next two weeks,
23:46I didn't work and focused entirely on being with him.
23:49I took him to the park.
23:50The first time he rode the carousel,
23:52he gripped the railing tightly.
23:54I took him to the library
23:56and discovered he liked books about stars.
23:59At night,
24:00only after he had fallen asleep,
24:02would I dare to gently stroke his hair.
24:05He still didn't talk much,
24:07but occasionally he would smile at me.
24:09At three in the morning,
24:11the bedroom door was gently blown open
24:13a crack by the wind
24:14and faint sobbing sounds
24:15pierced my ears like needles.
24:17I jolted awake
24:17and almost immediately guessed it was Leo.
24:20Pushing open his door,
24:21moonlight filtered through the sheer curtains,
24:23casting mottled shadows on the floor
24:25and illuminating his small figure
24:27curled up on the bed.
24:28His hands were tightly clutching the blanket,
24:30knuckles white.
24:31His forehead was covered in cold sweat.
24:33His brows were furrowed into a deep frown.
24:36I walked over quickly,
24:37carefully sat on the edge of the bed,
24:39and gently wrapped my arms around his cold shoulders.
24:41His body stiffened for an instant,
24:43then he threw himself into my arms
24:44like a startled fawn,
24:46his crying suppressed and desperate,
24:47his tears instantly soaking my pajamas.
24:49That storage room was so dark,
24:51I called out for so long
24:52and no one answered.
24:53Rats crawled onto my feet.
24:54My heart felt like it was being repeatedly cut
24:56by a dull knife,
24:57a dense and relentless pain.
24:59Tears fell silently onto his hair.
25:00I thought of the videos Wendy had sent.
25:02Of that child locked in the dark,
25:04shivering.
25:04I thought of the old and new scars
25:06crisscrossing his body.
25:07I wished I could tear apart
25:08everyone who had hurt him.
25:13When he had cried himself tired
25:15and his breathing had gradually steadied,
25:17I picked up the small lamp by the bedside
25:19and gently lifted his sleeve.
25:21On his arm,
25:22light brown scars crawled like ugly centipedes,
25:26marks from being whipped with a clothes hanger.
25:28On his back,
25:29there was still a faint bruise,
25:31left from when he had bumped into the corner
25:33of the storage room wall as a child.
25:35I gently traced those scars
25:37with the pads of my fingers,
25:39with a touch's light
25:40as if I were afraid of shattering a treasure.
25:43Does it hurt?
25:44He shook his head,
25:45tears still clinging to his lashes.
25:46Biting his lip,
25:47he said quietly.
25:48It doesn't hurt now,
25:49it's just that sometimes I dream about it,
25:51dream that I'm locked inside again,
25:52calling for mom,
25:53but mom's not there.
25:54I'm sorry,
25:55mommy came too late.
25:56From now on,
25:57mommy will never let you suffer again.
25:58That night,
25:59I held him on the sofa
26:00and sat there until dawn.
26:01I told him about how
26:02when I was little and afraid of thunder,
26:03my dad would hold me in his arms,
26:05counting stars and singing nursery rhymes.
26:07I told him about how
26:07when I first took over the company,
26:09I was bullied by senior employees
26:10and hid in the stairwell to cry,
26:11then wiped my tears
26:12and went back to negotiate.
26:13I told him about
26:14the mischievous interns at the company
26:15who spilled coffee on important contracts
26:17and turned pale with fright.
26:18He listened very quietly,
26:20occasionally looking up at me
26:21with those eyes
26:21that looked so much like mine,
26:22and asking,
26:23Weren't you scared then, mom?
26:25I was scared,
26:26but I knew that
26:27as long as I grit my teeth
26:28and push through,
26:29things would get better.
26:30And now,
26:31I have Leo,
26:31so I can't afford
26:32to be scared even more.
26:33He nodded,
26:34half understanding,
26:35and his little hand
26:36quietly gripped my finger.
26:38A few days later,
26:39I made a point of taking Leo
26:41to the Griffith Observatory
26:42on the outskirts of the city.
26:44We took a bus
26:44through stretches of wheat fields,
26:46the wind carrying the scent of grain.
26:48Leo leaned against the window,
26:50his eyes full of wonder.
26:52When I fell,
26:53the observatory dome
26:54slowly opened,
26:55and the sky full of countless stars
26:56spread across the deep blue canopy
26:58like crushed diamonds,
26:59so Dazzling One
27:00couldn't look away.
27:01The guide pointed
27:01at the constellation Orion
27:02and told the legend
27:03of the hunter Orion.
27:05Leo's eyes shone like stars,
27:06and the corner of his mouth
27:07slowly curved into a faint smile.
27:09On the way home,
27:10the bus swayed gently.
27:11He leaned against my shoulder
27:12and said quietly,
27:13Mom,
27:14the stars so far away,
27:16but just being able to see them
27:17makes me feel at ease.
27:19I held his hand tightly,
27:20feeling the warmth of his palm.
27:22My heart filled with tenderness.
27:23I knew that the wounds
27:25buried deep in his heart
27:26wouldn't disappear completely
27:27because of one trip
27:28to the observatory,
27:29just like those old scars.
27:30No matter how much care
27:31you give them,
27:32they still leave faint marks.
27:33But as long as I stayed
27:35by his side,
27:35warming him bit by bit
27:36with love and patience,
27:38the starlight would eventually
27:39pierce through the darkness
27:40and illuminate the road
27:41ahead of him.
27:45That afternoon,
27:46we were making cookies
27:47in the kitchen
27:47when the doorbell rang.
27:49Claire went to answer the door.
27:50I heard her say,
27:52Mr. Miller?
27:53The flower sifter in my hand
27:54dropped onto the counter.
27:55He was dragging
27:56an old suitcase in his hand.
27:58Vivian,
27:59I've been searching
27:59for half a month.
28:00I wiped my hands,
28:02walked out of the kitchen,
28:03and pulled the door shut.
28:04Now you know.
28:06You can leave.
28:07He looked toward
28:08the thin little figure
28:09in the kitchen and said,
28:10I want to see the child.
28:12Our child.
28:13These days I keep dreaming.
28:15Dreaming of him
28:16when he was little.
28:17Dreaming of Wendy
28:18hitting him.
28:19I never knew.
28:20You should have known.
28:21You just chose not to.
28:22He looked at my belly
28:23and asked,
28:24Is the child still there?
28:25Of course the child
28:26is still there.
28:27The doctor says
28:27everything is fine
28:28and the baby
28:29will be born next spring.
28:30His face darkened
28:31and his emotions
28:32suddenly became
28:32very agitated.
28:33He charged toward me.
28:35I sidestep to dodge.
28:36He stumbled and crashed
28:37into the entryway cabinet.
28:38Vivian!
28:39I want to see my son!
28:40You can't do this!
28:41Frank!
28:42What you should be worried
28:43about right now
28:44isn't where my son is.
28:45But whether your son
28:47can be born safely.
28:48If you want your son
28:49to be born safely,
28:51deal with Wendy first.
28:52Settle the messy accounts
28:53between yourselves.
28:54After saying this,
28:56I threw him out.
28:57Now even looking at him
28:58disgusted me deeply.
28:59As I closed the door,
29:00I saw Frank collapse
29:01onto the ground,
29:02running his hands
29:03through his hair.
29:04He looked utterly pathetic.
29:05Fine.
29:06Let them put on
29:07their own dog-eat-dog show.
29:12Not long after,
29:13attorney David Lee called.
29:14Miss Lynn,
29:15it got very ugly
29:15but the situation
29:16isn't as favorable
29:17as we'd hoped.
29:18It turned out that
29:18Frank and Wendy
29:19had already divorced
29:20and were now battling
29:21in court against each other.
29:22Wendy was shouting
29:23herself hoarse in court,
29:24exposing how Frank
29:25had used his position
29:26to transfer money
29:27to her over the years,
29:28how he had promised
29:28to divorce and marry her,
29:30and how his attitude
29:31had abruptly changed
29:32after learning I was pregnant.
29:33I gripped my phone tightly,
29:34listening to the words
29:35on the other end,
29:36but my expression
29:37remained very calm.
29:38However,
29:39Frank shifted all the blame
29:40onto Wendy,
29:41saying she coerced him
29:42into switching the babies.
29:43The trial lasted
29:44a full two days.
29:46In the end,
29:46Wendy was sentenced
29:47to three years
29:48on multiple charges
29:49including child abduction,
29:50document forgery
29:51and commercial fraud.
29:52Frank,
29:52on the other hand,
29:53got himself off
29:54completely clean.
29:55He wept in court,
29:56saying he was also a victim,
29:58manipulated by Wendy
29:58for ten years.
29:59That excuse
30:00sounded utterly absurd,
30:01but the jury bought it,
30:03or rather,
30:03the lawyer Frank hired
30:04was truly formidable.
30:06Before hanging up,
30:07attorney David Lee
30:07said quietly,
30:08Miss Hayes,
30:09I'm sorry,
30:10this result is far
30:10from ideal.
30:11If you're willing,
30:12we can plan the next step.
30:13It's enough.
30:14I cut him off.
30:15At least my child is back.
30:18Leo was doing his homework.
30:20I walked over
30:21and asked him,
30:22Liko,
30:22mommy made sure
30:23the bad people
30:24were punished,
30:24but maybe not heavily enough.
30:26Do you blame me?
30:27He looked up.
30:28Mom,
30:28I know very well
30:29who has been good to me
30:30and who hasn't.
30:31I covered my mouth,
30:33unable to hold back tears.
30:34He lowered his head
30:35and continued writing,
30:37adding quietly,
30:37You look really ugly
30:38when you cry.
30:39I laughed out loud,
30:41crying and laughing
30:42at the same time.
30:46These days,
30:47I had been desperately
30:49trying to make up
30:49for ten years
30:50of lost maternal love.
30:52I transferred
30:52my company shares
30:53into his name.
30:54Though he was still young,
30:56I knew what
30:57the security meant.
30:57The school I found
30:59was the best private
31:00international program
31:01in the area.
31:02The principal looked
31:03at his previous transcripts
31:04and frowned deeply.
31:05For the past ten years,
31:07Wendy had barely paid
31:08any attention
31:09to his studies,
31:10essentially leaving him
31:11to sink or swim
31:12on his own.
31:13His schoolwork
31:14lagged far behind
31:15that of children his age.
31:16I hired three private tutors,
31:18rotating through English,
31:20math and science.
31:21Leo worked very hard,
31:23studying late
31:24into the night every day.
31:25One morning before dawn,
31:27I brought him milk
31:28and saw him slumped
31:29over his desk asleep,
31:31still clutching a pen
31:32in his hand.
31:33I didn't wake him.
31:34I just gently draped
31:36a blanket over him.
31:37On Friday afternoon,
31:39I want to pick up
31:39Leo from school.
31:40The school gate
31:41was crowded with parents.
31:42Leo ran out
31:43carrying his new backpack,
31:45his face flushed
31:46from exercise.
31:47Mom!
31:47I passed my math quiz today!
31:49Just as I was about
31:50to take the test paper,
31:52out of the corner of my eye,
31:53I caught a figure
31:54behind the glass window
31:55of the Starbucks
31:56across the street.
31:57Frank,
31:58sitting in the corner
31:59with dark stubble
32:00on his chin,
32:01looking very haggard,
32:03not a trace left
32:04of the confident,
32:05commanding presence
32:06he'd once had
32:07as the company's CEO.
32:08Leo followed my gaze.
32:10I took his hand
32:11and said,
32:12Come on,
32:13let's go home.
32:16Just as I turned around,
32:18hurried footsteps
32:19sounded from behind.
32:20Frank had already
32:21crossed the street
32:22and was blocking our way.
32:24Vivian,
32:24can we talk?
32:30I motioned for Leo
32:31to get in the car first,
32:32then looked at the man
32:32before me and said,
32:33There's nothing left
32:34to talk about between us.
32:35Wendy is already in prison.
32:36I've taken care of everything.
32:37I've cut ties with her completely.
32:39Frank,
32:40Wendy was sent to prison
32:41by the lawyer I hired.
32:42Does that have to do with you?
32:43Weren't you the pathetical victim
32:44crying the hardest in court?
32:46I know I was wrong, Vivian.
32:48For the sake of the child,
32:49please forgive me this once.
32:51His gaze fell on my belly.
32:52Child.
32:53Yes, our child.
32:54I slowly smoothed
32:55the wrinkles from my jacket.
32:56Oh, that.
32:57It was fake.
32:58Frank froze.
33:00His eyes widened enormously.
33:02I took a step forward
33:03so he could see
33:04my flat stomach more clearly.
33:06It's been months.
33:07If I were really pregnant,
33:08I should be showing by now,
33:09shouldn't I?
33:13His gaze lingered on my belly
33:15for a very long time.
33:17It doesn't matter.
33:18It doesn't matter
33:19even without this child.
33:20We still have Leo.
33:21We still have 10 years of feelings.
33:23Frank, stop dreaming.
33:24Wake up.
33:25He acted as if he hadn't heard me
33:26and suddenly seemed
33:27to remember something.
33:28He pulled a Tiffany blue velvet box
33:30from the briefcase
33:31he was carrying.
33:32Then came the second.
33:33The third.
33:34He placed all the boxes
33:36on the ground.
33:37The small velvet boxes
33:38lined up on the ground
33:39in a row.
33:39It was somewhat laughable.
33:41I bought one every year.
33:42I just never gave them to you.
33:43Now I'm giving them all to you, okay?
33:44Please, just give me
33:45one more chance.
33:46I crouched down
33:47and opened the nearest box.
33:48Inside was a diamond necklace.
33:49The pendant in the shape
33:50of an iris.
33:51My favorite flower.
33:52Once upon a time,
33:53I would have been ecstatic
33:54over such a gift.
33:55Now, all I felt was disgust.
33:56A nauseating sensation.
33:58I stood up,
33:59put the necklace back
33:59in the box,
34:00and said,
34:01Frank, the time
34:01when I loved you most
34:02was when I would be so worried
34:03I couldn't sleep
34:03if you didn't reply
34:04to my messages.
34:05When I would make soup
34:06and bring it to the office
34:07when you worked late.
34:08When everything felt worth it
34:09the moment you said
34:10you've worked hard, honey.
34:11That time when I loved you most
34:12is long gone.
34:13To me now,
34:14these are no different than trash.
34:15He seemed to want to say something,
34:17but nothing came out.
34:18Quickly,
34:19his shoulders slumped.
34:20His whole body looked
34:21as if his spine
34:22had suddenly been ripped out.
34:23I didn't look at him again.
34:25I turned and walked toward the car.
34:26To me,
34:27none of it mattered anymore.
34:31Three years later,
34:33late autumn,
34:34Leo had grown much taller,
34:36his height reaching my shoulder.
34:37Mom,
34:38can you come to the
34:38parent-teacher conference
34:39next week?
34:40Of course.
34:41For my son's
34:42parent-teacher conference,
34:43I'd go even if the sky
34:44were falling.
34:45In these three years,
34:46Leo had become so mature
34:48and considerate
34:48it broke my heart.
34:49He would make his own pasta
34:50when I worked late
34:51and he remembered
34:52to bring two umbrellas
34:53on rainy days.
34:54His grades had climbed
34:55from the bottom
34:56to the middle of the class
34:57and he spoke English
34:58better than some local kids.
35:00Teachers said
35:01he had resilience.
35:02Neighbors praised him
35:03for being well behaved.
35:04So polite.
35:06He really is.
35:06Only I knew
35:07what lay behind
35:08this maturity.
35:09On weekend evenings,
35:10we made dumplings together.
35:12The dumplings Leo made
35:13were always excessively neat,
35:15every fold identical.
35:17Leo,
35:17in front of Mom,
35:18you don't have to be this obedient.
35:19The hand he was using
35:20to pinch the dumplings
35:21paused for a moment.
35:22I crouched down
35:23and looked into his eyes.
35:24You can throw tantrums.
35:25Be difficult.
35:26Say no like other children do.
35:28Mommy doesn't love you
35:29because you're well behavedly.
35:30I love you simply
35:31because you're you.
35:31But if I do something wrong,
35:33will you not want me anymore?
35:35I pulled him into my arms.
35:36Never.
35:37The most right thing
35:38I've ever done in my life
35:39was finding me.
35:40He didn't speak for a long time.
35:42Finally,
35:42he nodded gently.
35:45Leo's elementary school
35:47was holding an open house.
35:48I deliberately ended
35:49my company meeting early
35:50and drove to the school.
35:51The autumn sunshine
35:52was just right,
35:53filtering through the gaps
35:54in the leaves
35:55and spilling onto the playground.
35:56Warm and pleasant.
35:58Leo was participating
35:59in a relay race,
36:00running the last lick.
36:01His small figure
36:02was like a gust of wind,
36:03charging toward the finish line
36:05with everything he had.
36:06The moment he crossed
36:07the finish line,
36:08I couldn't help but stand up
36:10and applaud and cheer.
36:11He happened to look back
36:12right then
36:12and when he saw me,
36:13a radiant smile
36:14spread across his face.
36:16A smile so pure and bright
36:17that it made me feel
36:18all the sacrifices
36:19had been worth it.
36:20As the event was winding down
36:21and parents were leaving
36:22in twos and threes,
36:23I was holding Leo's hand,
36:25about to head to a nearby
36:26ice cream shop
36:26to make good on the promise
36:27of finish the race
36:28and you get a sundae.
36:29When a woman in a faded,
36:31cheap trench coat
36:31suddenly rushed over
36:32and blocked our path.
36:34It was Wendy.
36:34She was out of prison.
36:36Her hair was dry and brittle,
36:37hastily tied at the back
36:38of her head.
36:39Her face was sallow
36:40from prolonged malnutrition.
36:41Only her eyes,
36:42shot through with red veins
36:44and gleaming with venomous resentment,
36:46stared fixedly at me.
36:48Vivian,
36:48what gives you the right
36:49to take my son away?
36:51Her voice was shrill
36:52and grating,
36:53like fingernails
36:54scraping across glass,
36:56instantly drawing
36:56sidelong glances
36:57from many nearby parents.
36:59Some stopped in their tracks
37:01and eyed us curiously.
37:07I instinctively pulled Leo
37:09behind me,
37:09shielding him completely,
37:10and looked coldly at Wendy.
37:12Leo was never your son.
37:13You gave him nothing
37:14but abuse and neglect,
37:15not a shred of maternal love.
37:16You are not fit to be his mother.
37:17I carried him for nine months
37:18and gave birth to him!
37:19My blood runs through his veins!
37:21Wendy was so agitated
37:21she tried to lunge at me,
37:23but fortunately the school
37:24security guards arrived
37:24just in time and stopped her.
37:26She struggled,
37:26her hair coming loose,
37:27looking somewhat deranged.
37:28The company is gone
37:30and now I'm not even allowed
37:31to see my own son!
37:33Leo peeked out from behind me.
37:34There wasn't a trace of fear
37:36on his small face.
37:37He looked at Wendy
37:38with eyes that were calm
37:39beyond his years.
37:40I don't have a mother like you.
37:42You hit me,
37:42locked me in a dark room,
37:44never once cooked me a meal,
37:45and never once came
37:46to pick me up from school.
37:48Mom Vivian is my real mom.
37:50She does homework with me,
37:51takes me to the park,
37:52and makes me good food.
37:54Wendy froze,
37:54as if she had never imagined
37:55that the child she had carried
37:57for nine months
37:57and given birth
37:58to would say such words to her.
37:59She stared blankly at Leo.
38:00A few seconds later,
38:01she suddenly broke down
38:02into a bitter, piercing wail.
38:04I was forced back then!
38:05Frank only cared about your money!
38:07Do you know how much pressure
38:08I was under?
38:09I had no choice but to hit him!
38:10Pressure is not an excuse
38:11for abusing a child.
38:13I took out my phone
38:13and opened a pre-safe folder.
38:15Inside were Leo's medical records
38:16from that time,
38:17photos of the scars on his body,
38:19and backup copies of the videos
38:20of Wendy abusing him.
38:21These are all evidence.
38:22If you keep,
38:23immediately have my lawyer
38:23file a motion
38:24and apply for restraining order
38:25permitting you from coming
38:26within 10 meters of Leo.
38:27Just then,
38:28a familiar figure
38:28came running over in a hurry.
38:30It was Frank.
38:31He looked even more haggard
38:32than three years ago.
38:33More than half of his hair
38:34had turned gray.
38:35The wrinkles at the corners
38:36of his eyes
38:36were deep enough to trap dust.
38:38He was wearing
38:38an ill-fitting jacket
38:39and looked utterly disheveled.
38:44When he saw Wendy,
38:46his brow immediately furrowed,
38:47and his tone
38:48was full of impatience.
38:49What are you doing here?
38:51Didn't I tell you
38:52to stay away from them?
38:53Frank's gaze fell on Leo,
38:55his eyes incredibly complicated.
38:57Guilt,
38:58reluctance to let go,
38:59and a hint of helplessness.
39:00Vivian, I'm sorry.
39:01He opened his mouth
39:02as if to say something,
39:03but in the end
39:04only turned to me
39:05and said quietly,
39:06I didn't speak.
39:07I just watched him coldly.
39:09This man,
39:10who back then,
39:10for personal gain
39:11and selfish desires,
39:12switched his own
39:13biological son.
39:14Leaving Leo to suffer
39:15for 10 years,
39:16and then after the truth
39:17came out,
39:18shifted all the blame
39:19onto Wendy
39:19and got himself
39:20off scot-free.
39:21Now his repentance
39:22and apology
39:22were worth absolutely
39:24nothing in my eyes.
39:24Mom, let's go.
39:26I don't want to see them.
39:27I crouched down
39:27and smoothed his wind-messed
39:29hair from his forehead,
39:30my voice gentle.
39:31All right,
39:32let's go have that sundae.
39:33I took Leo's hand
39:35and turned to leave,
39:36not sparing a single glance
39:37back at Wendy
39:38and Frank behind us.
39:39From behind us
39:40came the sound
39:41of Wendy's wailing
39:42and Frank's attempts
39:43to calm her,
39:44along with the murmuring
39:45of the surrounding parents.
39:46But all of that
39:47no longer had anything
39:48to do with us.
39:50Leo held my hand tightly,
39:52his step steady,
39:53not looking back.
39:54That afternoon,
39:55I took Leo
39:55to eat his favorite
39:56chocolate sundae.
39:57He got it all over his face,
39:59like a little kitten.
40:00I took out a tissue
40:00and gently wiped
40:01the ice cream
40:02from the corners of his mouth.
40:03Mom,
40:03the sundae is really sweet.
40:06Every day from now on
40:07can be this sweet.
40:08I looked into his bright eyes.
40:10My heart completely clear
40:11and at peace.
40:12The dust of the past
40:13might occasionally
40:13be stirred up by the wind,
40:15but as long as Leo
40:16and I were together,
40:17walking forward side by side,
40:18we would surely move
40:19toward a brighter,
40:20warmer future.
40:21Those who had hurt us
40:22would ultimately
40:22be left behind
40:23in the dust,
40:24never able to affect
40:25our lives again.
40:28The late autumn rain
40:29came without warning.
40:30At dismissal time,
40:32heavy raindrops
40:32pelted noisily
40:33against the ground,
40:34and the school gate
40:35was crowded with parents
40:36picking up their children.
40:37Holding an umbrella,
40:38I stood under the old oak tree
40:39we had agreed on
40:40and saw from a distance
40:41Leo walking out
40:42with his backpack,
40:43side by side
40:43with a classmate.
40:44A faint smile
40:45on his small face,
40:46this was the first time
40:47he had voluntarily
40:47walked out of school
40:48with a classmate.
40:49Just then,
40:50a woman in a red raincoat
40:51suddenly rushed over,
40:52grabbed Leo's arm,
40:53and said in a sharp voice,
40:54Leo, come with me.
40:56Your mother is suffering
40:56in there.
40:57How can you be here
40:57living the good life?
40:58Who are you?
40:59I don't know you.
41:00I'm your aunt.
41:01That woman, Vivian,
41:01is a liar.
41:02She snatched you away
41:03from your real mother.
41:03You can be dumb and bun.
41:04With me,
41:05I'll take you to see your mom.
41:06The surrounding parents
41:07turned to look.
41:08A few kind-hearted people
41:09wanted to step forward
41:10and ask what was going on,
41:12but were forced back
41:13by Kelly's fierce glare.
41:15Leo's classmate
41:16was so frightened
41:17he stood rooted to the spot,
41:19not knowing what to do.
41:23My heart clenched.
41:25I rushed over quickly,
41:26cried Kelly's hand off
41:27with one motion,
41:28and shielded Leo behind me,
41:30my voice cold as ice.
41:31Let go of him.
41:32You have no right
41:34to touch my child.
41:36Kelly stumbled a step.
41:37After studying herself,
41:39she looked me up and down,
41:40her eyes full of jealousy
41:41and venom.
41:42Thief!
41:43You stole my sister's man,
41:44stole her money,
41:45and now you've stolen her child!
41:47How can you live with yourself?
41:49Conscience?
41:49I gave a cold laugh.
41:50The videos of your sister
41:51abusing Leo back then,
41:52the transfer records
41:53her and Frank conspined
41:54to switch the babies,
41:55and the proof that you,
41:56who as in the know,
41:57accepted benefits from Frank.
41:58I have all of it right here.
41:59Tell me,
41:59if this really went
42:00to the police station,
42:01whose conscience would be
42:02the one that come and hold up?
42:03The murmuring around us
42:05grew louder and louder.
42:06Some parents took out their phones
42:07and started recording video,
42:09and someone had already
42:10quietly contacted
42:11the school security guards.
42:12Kelly's face flushed red
42:13and then turned pale.
42:14Looking at the crowd
42:15that had gathered,
42:16a hint of panic
42:17crept into her eyes.
42:22She was still putting up
42:23a brave front,
42:24but had unconsciously
42:25taken a step back.
42:26I just want the child
42:27to know his real family.
42:29Leo suddenly stepped out
42:30from behind me,
42:31his small body
42:31standing very straight,
42:32his eyes steady
42:33as he looked at Kelly.
42:34Know his real family?
42:35I don't have an aunt like you,
42:36and I don't have a mother like that.
42:37Mom Vivian's my real mom.
42:38She doesn't hit me,
42:39doesn't lock me up,
42:40cheats with meals,
42:40take me to school
42:41and protect me.
42:41Go away.
42:42I don't want to see you
42:43ever again.
42:43Kelly stood stunned.
42:44Looking at the clear
42:45yet distant expression
42:46in Leo's eyes,
42:47she opened her mouth
42:48but couldn't say
42:48a single word.
42:49At that moment,
42:50the school security guards
42:51and the homeroom teacher
42:52hurried over.
42:53Seeing the scene,
42:53the homeroom teacher
42:54immediately stepped
42:55in front of us.
42:56I must ask you
42:56to leave the school
42:57entrance immediately
42:58or we will call the police.
42:59Kelly saw more and more
43:00people gathering around
43:01and knew that continuing
43:01to make a scene
43:02wouldn't end well for her.
43:03She shot me a vicious glare,
43:05muttered,
43:05just you wait,
43:06turned and rushed
43:07into the rain,
43:08quickly disappearing
43:08around the street corner.
43:09The rain was still falling.
43:11A few strands of Leo's hair
43:12were damp from
43:13the splashing rainwater
43:13plastered against his forehead.
43:15Did that scare you?
43:16Mom,
43:16I'm not scared
43:17because I knew
43:18you would come to save me.
43:20Silly child,
43:21Mommy will always
43:21be by your side.
43:22No matter what happens,
43:23I won't let anyone hurt you.
43:25Mrs. Hayes,
43:25I really didn't expect
43:27something like this to happen.
43:28Leo has had
43:29quite a fright today.
43:30Would you like to take him
43:31to the office first
43:31for some hot cocoa?
43:32Thank you,
43:33Mrs. Wong.
43:34I nodded and,
43:34holding Leo's hand,
43:35walked into the school building.
43:39In the office,
43:40the warmth of the hot cocoa
43:41traveled through the cup
43:42to his palms.
43:43Leo held the cup
43:44and said quietly,
43:45Mom,
43:46was what that aunt said
43:47true?
43:48Was I really born from Wendy?
43:50I crouched down,
43:51looked into his eyes,
43:52and said seriously,
43:53Leo,
43:54you are Mom's biological son.
43:55As for who gave birth to you,
43:56that's not what's important.
43:58What's important is
43:59who raised you with love,
44:00who is willing to go
44:01to any lengths to protect you.
44:02In Mom's heart,
44:03you are my treasure,
44:04the person I most want
44:05to protect in this lifetime.
44:06He blinked,
44:07his eyes reddening a little,
44:08but he nodded firmly.
44:09I understand, Mom.
44:11I only recognize you as my mom.
44:13That night,
44:13for the first time,
44:15Leo voluntarily told me
44:16about how Wendy
44:16would occasionally bring
44:17Kelly to the house.
44:18Aunt Kelly always cursed
44:19at me for being stupid,
44:21said I wasn't as well-behaved
44:22as Ethan,
44:22and would secretly
44:23take my things.
44:24Back then I used to thought,
44:25if only I had a mom
44:26who truly loved me.
44:27I pulled him into my arms
44:29and gently patted his back.
44:30That will never happen again.
44:32Mommy will give you
44:33all her love
44:33and make sure you're happy
44:35every single day.
44:36The rain outside the window
44:37gradually stopped,
44:38and moonlight filtered
44:39through the clouds,
44:40illuminating a corner
44:41of the room.
44:43I met Daniel
44:44at a community book club.
44:45I had accompanied Leo
44:46to borrow books,
44:47and was drawn in
44:48by a sharing session
44:49on women's autobiographies.
44:51Daniel was the host,
44:52in his early 40s,
44:53and spoke with a gentle
44:55yet compelling voice.
44:56After the session ended,
44:57he stopped me at the door
44:58and said,
44:58Your perspective just now
44:59was very unique.
45:00Could I get to know you?
45:02That was how
45:02our conversation began.
45:04Daniel was a locally born
45:06Chinese American,
45:07his family originally
45:08from San Francisco.
45:10Divorced for five years,
45:11his daughter lived
45:12with her mother.
45:13He was a middle school
45:14history teacher
45:15and volunteered
45:16at the community center
45:17in his spare time.
45:18For our first official date,
45:20we went to the
45:21California Science Center,
45:22and of course,
45:23Leo came along too.
45:25Daniel didn't try
45:26too hard to win
45:27the child over.
45:28In the space exhibition area,
45:30he naturally started
45:31talking about
45:32the Apollo program.
45:33You know why astronauts
45:34bring a knife to space?
45:35Leo shook his head.
45:37To fix equipment.
45:38The most dangerous thing
45:39in space is a loose screw.
45:41Leo's laugh
45:41was very relaxed.
45:49Another spring had passed
45:51when Daniel came over
45:52for dinner at our home.
45:53After the meal,
45:54Leo did his homework
45:55and Daniel and I
45:56had tea on the patio.
45:58The night was cool.
45:59He draped his jacket
46:00over my shoulders.
46:02Leo has made
46:03some new friends recently.
46:05I saw him playing
46:06basketball with classmates.
46:07I was a bit surprised.
46:08The child had always
46:10been alone before.
46:11Children need time.
46:12And so do you.
46:14He paused for a moment.
46:15That night,
46:16I told him about
46:17what happened 10 years ago.
46:19Daniel listened quietly.
46:20Only after I had finished,
46:21did he gently take my hand.
46:23Walking through all
46:24of that alone,
46:24it must have been so hard.
46:26Those words made
46:27my eyes redden.
46:28So what I had needed
46:29was someone to see
46:30the weight behind the strength.
46:32Mom,
46:32if you like Uncle Daniel,
46:34you can be with him.
46:35When he said this,
46:36Leo was assembling
46:37a model airplane.
46:38Why are you suddenly
46:39saying this?
46:39I stared at him stunned.
46:41Because when you look at him,
46:42you smile,
46:43a real smile,
46:44not the fake kind.
46:45I sat down beside him.
46:46And what do you think about it?
46:47I hope someone loves you
46:49the way you love me.
46:50You deserve that.
46:51I hugged him.
46:52He had grown up
46:53without my noticing.
46:55Falling in love with Daniel
46:56was different from
46:57how it was when I was 20.
46:58No wild passion,
46:59no anxiety.
47:00It was a steady
47:01kind of intimacy.
47:02After dinner,
47:02we would take walks together.
47:03Listening to me talk about
47:05the trivial things at work
47:06and things about Leo's school,
47:07even the sale items
47:08at Whole Foods,
47:09Leo gradually accepted
47:10this rhythm.
47:11One day when I came home
47:12from working late,
47:13I saw them playing chess
47:14in the living room
47:14and soup was simmering
47:16in the kitchen,
47:16the aroma filling the house.
47:18In that moment,
47:19I realized that the happiness
47:20I'd thought was out of reach
47:21had long since landed
47:22gently in the palm of my hand.
47:23All right,
47:25you're welcome.
47:27You
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