Chapter 4

The words on the envelope's cover were in Jason's handwriting.

"Forever willing to forge ahead through thorns for your dreams."

I stared at those words for a very long time.

My mind flashed through these five years of caring for his parents, doing laundry and cooking, cleaning the house.

I thought of the envy and heartache I felt watching my former colleagues full of passion, working overtime preparing interview manuscripts.

Suddenly I laughed out loud.

So he did know how to protect someone's dreams after all.

I photographed everything and put it back in place, finally making my decision.

"Hello, Ms. Kelly. I heard the station is selecting someone to go to Central Asia as a war correspondent, and no one has signed up yet."

"If you don't mind, I'd like to go."

Kelly paused, then said happily.

"Great! I thought it was such a shame when you applied to transfer to logistics. This is a rare opportunity. It might be a bit dangerous, but your resume will be completely different when you return."

"Prepare yourself well then. You'll be leaving in the next few days."

Hanging up the phone, I started packing.

There was nothing left in this house that I cared about.

Except for the sweater Mom had knitted for me before she died—I had to take that.

She'd knitted me plenty of clothes when I was young, but later I grew up and Mom grew old, her eyesight not what it used to be.

I didn't want her to strain herself, so I told her not to knit anymore.

After I got pregnant, I suddenly became very sensitive to cold.

Mom secretly knitted me a sweater anyway. Her eyes were red from straining them, but she waved it off casually.

"Homemade ones are warmer. I picked out good yarn."

"You care about the child in your belly, and I care about my child too."

I was both touched and heartbroken. I'd never brought myself to wear it.

But now, that sweater was gone.

Remembering the scene when I came home, I was about to call Jason to ask.

But then I saw Mia had posted on Instagram.

"Hehe, I just mentioned the babies were cold since they were just born, and someone brought over sweaters~ Thanks on behalf of the babies, Daddy~ Of course, this mommy's alteration skills aren't bad either, if I do say so myself."

So Jason had gone to celebrate those puppies' birth with her.

In the picture, they had their heads together, bodies pressed close.

Each held three puppies in their arms.

And I recognized at a glance.

The 'dog clothes' those puppies wore were altered from the sweater Mom had knitted for me.

When I pushed open the pet shop's glass door, I happened to catch Jason and Mia eating cake with the same spoon.

Jason had severe germophobia.

At home, his dishes had to be disinfected and stored separately, and serving utensils had to be used when sharing food.

Once, after cleaning the house all day, I was exhausted and parched, so I drank from his cup.

He didn't say anything at the time, but that night, the cup appeared in the trash.

Afterward, Jason explained to me that it was an occupational habit from working at the hospital.

Turns out it depends on the person.

Seeing me, Mia raised an eyebrow and smiled sarcastically.

"Hermione's here? Jason and I have never drawn boundaries since childhood—I hope you don't mind."

"Jason, what did I tell you? There's no way she'd divorce you."

"After all, a woman who failed in her career and can only rely on handouts from her husband—without you, how would she support her child and take care of her parents? She followed you all the way here. She's really clingy."

"Sigh, compared to her, I'm just too thin-skinned. Guess I'll just have to keep being a strong independent woman~"

Jason affectionately pinched her nose.

"Fine, you're the smartest, okay? You've been clever since childhood."

Then he looked at me, as if forgiving a child who didn't know any better.