Chapter 2

Though my laugh was very soft, it still startled the family of three inside.

When Autumn saw it was me, she immediately assumed the demeanor of the lady of the house.

"You're finally back. Where have you been all night? Don't you know how pitiful little Ethan was, crying because he couldn't find you?"

"Hurry up and make him some porridge. He's been craving it all night and kept praising it to me!"

Before I could open my mouth to speak, Ethan threw an apple at me.

The apple hit my injured leg, making me gasp in pain.

"I don't want her porridge! Who knows where she was last night, not even caring about her own son!"

Beside him, Zachary's face darkened. Seeing my disheveled appearance, anger flashed across his face.

"Where the hell did you run off to yesterday? The child was seriously ill in the hospital. I called you and said he wanted porridge. How could you have no reaction at all? Do you even deserve to be called a mother?"

I didn't respond to their accusations, only asked coldly in return, "Which hospital was the child at yesterday?"

Zachary sneered and raised an eyebrow at me, as if looking at an idiot, his tone full of self-righteousness.

"Don't tell me you didn't know which hospital your son was in. I clearly sent you a message yesterday!"

Zachary had indeed sent me a message, but he quickly recalled it. I had no idea where the child was.

I held up my phone. Our chat window was filled with glaring green screens, each message followed by a conspicuous red exclamation mark.

Zachary looked confused and instinctively pulled out his own phone, but couldn't find our chat.

Just as he was frowning in puzzlement, Autumn beside him suddenly burst into tears.

"I'm so sorry, Zachary. I didn't know this would happen. Last night while I was helping Ethan fall asleep, your phone kept going off."

"I was afraid it would disturb you two, so I blocked her. I'm the one who recalled that message, because Ethan said he didn't want to see his mom!"

Zachary's frown deepened.

He seemed somewhat displeased with Autumn.

But Ethan wouldn't allow Autumn to be scolded by his father. He jumped up from the couch like a hero, standing in front of Autumn.

"Dad, what are you trying to do? Don't yell at Autumn! Mom isn't completely innocent either."

"Even if she couldn't reach you, I was only at our family's private hospital. Was it really that hard to come and check?"