Chapter 4

Serena's hand, which had been patting Aria's back to help her sleep, froze.

Mist began to well up in her eyes.

Aria was only five years old. She didn't understand anything. She just hoped the family could stay together.

But even this, she couldn't give to Aria.

Serena sniffled, holding back her tears from falling.

She continued patting Aria's little back.

"Of course not. Daddy loves you so much. He's just being a father for the first time and doesn't know how to show his love for you. You can understand Daddy, right?"

"Since he's being a daddy for the first time, I'll forgive him then."

Having gotten the answer that Silas loved her, Aria wiggled her little bottom and fell asleep peacefully in Serena's arms.

Exhausted in body and mind, Serena also fell into a deep sleep.

Ten o'clock in the morning.

At the courthouse entrance.

After waiting for Silas without success, Serena dialed his number again.

No one answered the phone, but behind her came a voice that had been etched into her bones over time.

"Serena, you were the one eager to get married, and now you're the one eager to divorce. Are you really that impatient?"

Silas was still cold as ice. His mocking words seeped into Serena's heart, leaving her helpless.

He was the one who was late, yet when she called to check, it became her being impatient.

Even though they were getting divorced, couldn't he speak to her nicely?

Forget it.

She didn't bring up anything else, just reminded him.

"You're late."

"I only said to meet at the courthouse in the morning. You're the one who came so early impatiently. What, are you hoping I'd be late? Hoping I'd beg you not to divorce?"

She'd signed the divorce agreement and come to the courthouse.

What more did he want?

Not wanting to argue further and have Silas misunderstand, she admitted coldly, her face even colder.

"Yes, I'm already impatient."

Silas choked.

"Leaving with nothing and taking Aria with you, what kind of good life can you two have?"

He moved closer to Serena. "I say one word to her, and you won't allow it, yet you're willing to let her suffer with you."

Serena wasn't surprised.

In his eyes, she was nothing, could do nothing.

Thinking about how worthless she was in Silas's mind, Serena felt something gripping her heart tightly, making it hard to breathe.

After taking a deep breath, she forced herself to speak. "Let's go in. Don't waste time."

"Serena, I gave you a chance. You're the one who didn't treasure it."

Silas was always like this, self-righteous and superior.

Even though they were about to divorce, he was still so aggressive.

This made anger surge in Serena's eyes.

She spoke mockingly: "Silas, I only married you; I didn't give you my brain. How much I've done to get your company where it is today, you know in your heart. I don't need the chance you're giving me. And you as a person, I don't want anymore either!"

A flash of surprise crossed Silas's eyes. Juniper actually had this side to her.

Serena gave her a cold glance and turned to walk ahead.

He thought Serena would beg for mercy, but she didn't say another word, just followed behind him.

For some reason, Silas felt extremely irritated. He clearly didn't want to let her go in, but his words once again turned into weapons.

"Dragging your feet so slowly, are you trying to stall for time, waiting for me to beg you?"

Serena said nothing, silently quickening her pace.

Was she finally getting divorced?

Now that the moment had arrived, Serena still felt somewhat reluctant.

But she knew clearly that there was really no room for reconciliation between her and Silas.

In the silent atmosphere, Silas's phone rang.

He stopped, glanced at Serena, and pulled out his phone to answer.

Serena inadvertently saw that the caller was Luna, and her throat tightened.

Was he that afraid of Luna hearing her voice?

She had finally agreed to divorce; Silas must have already told Luna.

After all, she was finally vacating the position.

She wasn't far from Silas, and it was relatively quiet around them. Even without the speakerphone on, Serena could hear the soft voice with a hint of crying from the other end.

"Silas, I'm in pain. Can you come keep me company?"

So her old condition had flared up again?

Serena wanted to say something, but in the end said nothing.

Today was different from other days. Silas should stay and divorce first, right?

She laughed bitterly at herself for still hoping to be a priority in Silas's heart at a time like this.

But the next second, she heard Silas respond anxiously, "I'll be right there."

Without waiting for Serena's reaction, he left her with: "Luna isn't feeling well. The divorce isn't urgent."

And walked away.

The divorce didn't happen.

And it was because of Silas that it didn't happen.

Yet Serena couldn't laugh.

Sure enough, nothing was more important than Luna.

They had come to divorce, yet her heart felt no relief at all.

Face reality.

Serena left the courthouse in silence.

Seeing it was lunchtime, she didn't go straight home.

Instead, she went to the supermarket.

The noisy, everyday atmosphere of the supermarket seemed to have a calming effect, allowing her heart, broken by the divorce, to be temporarily mended.

When she got home, Aria opened the door for her.

"Mommy, I was very good all morning."

Aria, blinking her big eyes and waiting for praise, warmed her heart that had been patched up but still showed scars.

Putting down the groceries and bending to pick up Aria, she rubbed her face against Aria's.

"Really? Then tell me what you did all morning."

Hearing this, Aria seriously counted on her fingers and began to recall.

"I finished all the milk in my cup, I only watched two episodes of cartoons and then stopped, and I worked on a puzzle for a long time."

"Aria is so good. How about I make you delicious chicken wings as a reward?"

"Yay! Mommy's chicken wings are the best!"

Aria cheered and clapped her little hands.

Landon and Natalie weren't home, which made Serena feel more at ease.

She carried Aria with one hand and the groceries with the other as she got busy in the kitchen.

Seeing she was about to get busy, Aria struggled to get down.

"I want to help Mommy."

"Okay, then these scallions are the first little task I'm assigning you. Can you complete it successfully?"

"Yes!"

Serena smiled, her smile carrying a hint of comfort.

At least she still had Aria.