Chapter 3

When Serena arrived at her friend Juniper Scott's house carrying Aria, she hesitated for a long time before knocking on the door.

She had barely any money on her and only a few contacts she could reach out to on her phone.

During the years of marriage to Silas, she had cut off almost all her social connections. Her daily life revolved around nothing but Aria and trying to read Silas's moods, hoping to return to how things used to be.

But the meals at home were reheated over and over, and her heart grew cold again and again.

She couldn't wait for Silas to come home, and it drove her nearly crazy.

Marriage hadn't made her better.

Marrying the man she'd fallen in love with in her youth hadn't made her life happy either.

After hesitating several times, Serena finally knocked on the door.

While waiting, she felt somewhat anxious.

Juniper was her childhood best friend. Five years ago, they had a huge fight because Serena insisted on marrying Silas, and after that, she hadn't contacted her for five years because of her family.

Showing up suddenly like this was really hard to explain.

The moment the door opened, and Juniper saw Serena, she froze.

Serena swallowed: "Could I... stay at your place?"

The moment she finished speaking, Juniper pulled her inside: "Why did you come out in such heavy rain? Where's Silas? Did you two fight?"

Serena held onto Aria, pressed her lips together, not knowing where to start.

"Oh my, Serena's here!"

Just then, Juniper's father, Landon Scott, and mother, Natalie Carter, came out from the kitchen.

Only then did Serena realize they had also staying here recently.

"Long time no see, you're getting more and more beautiful, Serena." Natalie greeted her warmly: "Come, sit down, dinner will be ready soon."

Juniper first took Serena to the guest room.

"This is the guest room. It's a bit small, hope you don't mind. If it doesn't work, you can sleep in my room tonight."

"No, this is fine."

Juniper enthusiastically made the bed for her, and after getting her settled, took her to the living room for dinner.

"Come, Aria, you're at a growing age, eat more meat."

At the dinner table, Natalie took the initiative to put a big chicken leg on Aria's plate.

"Thank you, Grandma!" Aria grinned.

"Oh my, such a good girl." Natalie smiled from ear to ear: "Serena, you've raised this child so well."

Serena smiled gently.

"Serena, coming over so late, does Mr. Sterling know? I heard Mr. Sterling just landed another big project recently, truly young and successful!"

Landon suddenly said, "Our family's projects have been really difficult lately. If we could work with Mr. Sterling, things would surely go much smoother."

Serena gripped her utensils tightly, hearing the hidden meaning in his words.

She knew that Landon and Natalie were so warm to her because she had married Silas.

But she had no say in front of Silas before, so how could she possibly have any now?

She put down her utensils and said quietly, "Silas and I are getting divorced. I just left home today, had nowhere to go, so I had to trouble Juniper."

The smiles on Landon and Natalie's faces instantly froze.

Then, Natalie slammed her utensils on the table, her attitude completely changed, and said sarcastically, "So you're getting divorced. Serena, I'm not trying to criticize you, but someone like Mr. Sterling is what so many people want but can't have. You finally got him, and instead of finding ways to keep him, you're actually getting divorced? How useless can you be..."

"Exactly." Landon's face also darkened: "You're a woman with a small child, how are you going to live in the future?"

When she was useful, they said Aria was well-behaved; when she wasn't, they called her a burden.

How realistic.

Aria was scared by this sudden change of attitude and shrank into Serena's arms.

Serena couldn't say anything to Juniper's parents, so she could only hold Aria tighter.

Juniper couldn't take it anymore and slammed her bowl down: "Mom, Dad, what are you saying? Can't you see what state Serena and Aria are in? If you ask me, the divorce is good. She should have left that scumbag Silas a long time ago."

She looked at Serena, softening her tone: "Serena, my parents speak bluntly, don't take it personally. Just stay here as long as you want."

Serena felt warmth in her heart: "Thank you, Juniper. But I won't stay long. I'll find a job and a place as soon as possible, and move out once I find one."

That night, after showering, Serena got into bed with Aria.

Aria lay in the unfamiliar bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

Suddenly, she asked in a small voice: "Mommy, does Daddy not love me?"