Chapter 28: Chapter 28

Chapter 28

When I woke up again, I found myself alone in the dimly lit room, the faint glow of the lamp barely illuminating the entire space. Enzo had left while I was still asleep. Other than the soreness in my body, I didn't feel discomfort because my clothes had been changed. Everything seemed as if nothing had happened, if not for the lingering pain.

I sighed softly and muttered, "What time is it now?"

Suddenly, light streamed in from the outside, and a woman entered – the housemaid. She saw that I was awake and offered a slight bow, despite not having knocked before coming in.

"Madam, now that you're awake, please come downstairs for a meal. Mr. Enzo is waiting down there," she said, her tone not particularly respectful toward a mistress. I understood this well, as I wasn't a wealthy person. If not for Enzo bringing me here, they probably wouldn't have paid much attention to me either.

Although Enzo had dismissed all the other housemaids because they sided with Diana instead of me, the remaining staff still didn't treat me any differently. Sometimes I overheard them making unfavorable remarks about me, but I understood the difficult circumstances of those who worked for a living. If they lost their jobs because of my selfishness, I would be no better than a despicable person.

Ignoring her indifferent and disrespectful attitude, I nodded and replied, "I'll join you later, please go ahead."

The maid gave me a quick glance and left without saying anything, as if she had fulfilled her duty. I exhaled and slowly got out of bed, my eyes widened as I looked into the emptiness. The pain from my lower back shot straight into my brain, causing my whole body to tremble and weaken. This pain was too intense to endure for long, and I quickly grabbed onto the bedpost, breathing heavily. Once I had calmed down, I managed to make my way down the stairs, clumsily and cautiously, like a child.

Enzo and Min were already seated at the dining table. Min looked up at me with her eyes shining and said, "Mom, come sit here with me!"

I forced a slightly strained smile, attempting to appear as normal as possible so as not to arouse any suspicion. But "normal" was not something that could escape Enzo's notice. He glanced up from his half-read newspaper and gave me a brief look.

I was about to ask about the birthday party from yesterday when Min spoke up, "Mom, where's my birthday present?"

I suddenly remembered that I hadn't given Min her birthday present yet, due to... that incident... with Enzo. Feeling embarrassed, I stammered, "Oh, I left it in your room, dear. Make sure to check."

Min's face lit up, and she happily replied. Suddenly, she asked a question that caught me off guard, "Why did Mom sleep so much today?"

"Huh?" I was slightly startled by her inquiry.

Min continued while eating, "Dad said you were tired, that's why you slept so much... Are you not tired anymore?"

I shot a quick glance at Enzo, relieved that at least he wasn't saying anything inappropriate to Min. I managed a slightly forced smile and replied, "Mom's not tired anymore, thanks, dear."

...

The following days and months passed without anything particularly special happening. We lived as a seemingly ordinary family, and I had stopped bringing up the topic of divorce. It was almost as if... I had forgiven him, despite my earlier resolve to never return to Enzo. Perhaps I was too content seeing our daughter, Min, happy with both her parents.

Enzo no longer restricted my activities or forced me to stay home alone. I could go wherever I wanted, as long as I informed him before leaving. Enzo was right – Min would grow up well if she had the love of both her parents. Ultimately, I couldn't be selfish and only think of myself. I wondered if other women would do the same in my shoes.

But amidst the seemingly perfect circumstances, I became delusional, thinking that I deserved this and forgetting that what awaited me was not luck, but a series of unfortunate events that would cause immense pain.

It had been a while since Min started attending school, yet I hadn't participated in any parent meetings or activities. After all, I was Min's mother, so it was only natural for me to be involved. I started to learn more about Min's school and her class.

I asked a servant in the house:

"Do you know which school Min attends?"

She looked at me with a cold attitude and said:

"Does Mr. Enzo not inform you? You are Lady Mindian's mother, yet you don't know these basic things?"

I hesitated upon hearing that and didn't know what to say. I lowered my head slightly and replied:

"It's because I didn't know that I asked you all."

"We don't know either. Miss Mindian's main school is not even known by her birth mother, so how would hired help like us know? Please refrain from asking nonsensical questions; we still have work to do, or else we'll be scolded by the master." They spoke to each other with a loud tone, as if they wanted me to hear it that way.

I ascended the stairs in silence, but before reaching even a few steps, I heard unpleasant words from them.

"She spends the whole day doing nothing, just wandering around the house and eating. She's served like a queen by us, while she contributes nothing of value."

"Of course, she's no different from those cheap prostitutes out there. Just because she gave birth to Mr. Enzo's child, she's now treated as a queen. Or maybe I could give birth to a child for Mr. Enzo as well and change my fate to one of luxury like hers."

"Come on, she must have used some kind of spell to make Mr. Enzo bring her here. I mean, besides swaying her hips like a prostitute, what else does she know? The other day, she was cooped up with Mr. Enzo in the room all day until evening. Someone as cheap as her will eventually bore Mr. Enzo, and he'll cast her aside."

Every humiliating and filthy word they uttered was directed at me. Their joyful and amused laughter as they badmouthed me shattered me and left me feeling despondent. I couldn't tell Enzo that they were speaking ill of me and looking down on me, because if I did, they would only scorn and despise me even more.

Now, I am very much like the former Enzo – unemployed, penniless, and deeply embarrassed. I spend my days wandering aimlessly around this mansion, not going anywhere. At night, I engage in those activities with Enzo, where I don't need to work and can fulfill the role of a wife and mother, as Enzo once said.

Due to Min's limited time at school and her return in the afternoon, we had some distance between us. Min grew closer to Enzo and no longer hesitated to express her emotions when she was around him. From this, I began to realize the unusual situation. I don't know if it can be termed "unusual," but our roles – Enzo's and mine – had been completely reversed.

In the past, Enzo was a man without a job, without money, and extremely careless. He never cared about Min or even bothered to pick her up from school once. At that time, it was just me doing everything, including taking care of Min and accompanying her to school.

But now, everything is the opposite. I am the one without a job, without money, and stuck at home waiting. After leaving the company, Enzo would pick up Min, or she would be chauffeured by his personal driver. In short, my presence was no longer necessary.

Min's status suddenly changed, and with it, our lifestyle and routines changed as well. As the only daughter of Enzo Robert, she had to learn everything suitable for a lady. There were always prying eyes on her. She had to study a lot, practically without weekends. Despite being only four years old, she had to learn two foreign languages, piano and fencing on weekends, as well as the rituals of the aristocracy. They wouldn't allow me to watch, which made me feel even more distant from her. She had no time for me.