Chapter 6

Her words were soft, but they instantly silenced the voice on the other end of the line.

"Divorce?"

Arthur paused for only half a second before his tone turned unmistakably mocking, "Elaine, how long are you going to keep up this act?"

Arthur naturally didn't believe Elaine would divorce him.

She had loved him for so many years, throwing herself into the Smith family right after graduating at twenty, willing to abandon her master's degree without a second thought. How could she possibly want a divorce?

He figured she was just throwing another tantrum because he had left with Emily, trying to force him to give in.

But knowing Elaine was truly hurt this time, his tone softened slightly, "Alright, I know you're upset this time. But the situation is unusual—the virus is so dangerous outside, and I can't get away. Just hang in there a little longer."

He lowered his voice, using his usual placating tone that never held any sincerity, "Once things settle down here and the virus eases, I'll come back immediately. Then... I'll take the kids to the amusement park, okay?"

By this point, Arthur's mood had improved.

In the past, whenever he softened his attitude slightly and offered a vague promise, she would always swallow her grievances like before.

After all, she loved him so much—loved him to the point of nearly forgetting who she was.

As Arthur's soothing platitudes continued through the phone, Elaine found it laughable.

This amusement park promise was one Arthur had made two years ago.

She refused to be blinded by these empty promises anymore.

Elaine took a deep breath and firmly interrupted him, "Arthur, I'm not joking, and I'm not being dramatic. I've made up my mind. If you don't agree to the divorce, I'll take legal action. I'm giving you time to consider, but don't try to pacify me."

As soon as the words left her mouth, Elaine felt the massive weight that had been pressing on her heart shift slightly.

She was Elaine, and she admitted she was heartbroken over her failed marriage.

But she wouldn't let herself stay trapped in this quagmire forever, continuing to entangle herself with such a man.

She had once believed love could conquer all.

She thought that if she loved him enough, she would receive equal affection in return and have a happy, perfect family.

But reality had delivered a brutal blow.

The cruel truth made her realize that endless forbearance and sacrifice couldn't buy respect or loyalty.

She couldn't keep basing her life around a man.

She had her value and couldn't continue drowning in this spoiled relationship.

"Come pick up the children today. After that, we'll go our separate ways."

She didn't want to hear any more explanations from Arthur.

She'd heard those words too many times, each time just empty promises.

Now, she just wanted to end it all quickly.

She would live for herself and take back control of her own life.

"Elaine, be reasonable!"

Arthur's voice instantly rose, clearly angered by her attitude, "Flight controls are so strict now, even private jet routes need multiple approvals. How could I possibly just come pick them up..."

Before he could finish, Emily's gentle, fragile voice came through, "Actually, I miss Vera and Julius too. Yesterday when I was packing, I saw the drawings they gave me and got lost in thought for a while."

Arthur's anger immediately dissipated.

"Why are you looking at those? I told you to rest properly."

"I just wish they could be here with me."

Emily sighed softly, "But with the virus so severe, it's inconvenient. It must be hard for Elaine to take care of two children alone. Maybe you should find a way?"

Arthur paused, and then his instructions to someone nearby came through the phone.

"Barry, contact the epidemic prevention department for clearance. We need to send our private jet to pick up the children. Remember to bring Vera's princess bed and Julius's toy chest."

Having arranged everything, he turned back to Emily with a gentle voice, "There, now you can stop worrying."

Throughout this entire exchange, he hadn't given Elaine a chance to say another word.

Listening to the dial tone, Elaine's fingers slowly released their grip on the phone.

She knew it.

All that talk about not being able to pick them up was just an excuse to brush her off.

One word from Emily about missing the children, and Arthur had arranged everything.

There was no expected sting in her heart—just numbness.

Arthur's efficiency was truly astonishing.

Early the next morning, three fully disinfected black sedans were parked outside the villa.

Barry entered with several servants in protective gear, his attitude respectful yet distant, "Mrs. Smith, Mr. Smith instructed us to pick up Vera and Julius."

Elaine stood in the center of the living room, watching the servants navigate confidently toward the children's rooms, her voice steady, "The children's regular medications are on the first shelf in the foyer. Vera is allergic to mangoes, and Julius can't have cold drinks. Please make note of that."

"Yes, Mrs. Smith."

Barry quickly recorded this on his tablet without any small talk.

Sounds soon came from the children's room. Vera was being helped into her princess dress by a servant. Seeing Elaine enter, she looked up and asked, "Will Dad and Emily come? I want Emily to braid my hair."

Julius hugged the Transformer toy Barry had brought, "Barry says Emily bought me lots of snacks, and they're all on the plane!"

Elaine's fingertips curled slightly. She didn't answer, just helped straighten Vera's dress, but the moment she touched her, the child instinctively pulled away.

As if her touch carried some unwanted burden.

Elaine gave a bitter smile but continued with her instructions, "Listen to your father when you get there."

"We know!"

The children replied in unison, their eyes full of excitement, but neither asked if she would join them.

When the cars reached the private airstrip, only a helicopter waited there.

The cabin door stood open, with several bodyguards in protective gear standing guard.

After exiting the car, Vera lifted her dress and ran toward the helicopter. As she passed Elaine, a servant holding her hand, she only turned back to wave, "Bye, Mom!"

Julius shouted while running, "If Emily lets me, I'll call you, Mom!"

Elaine stood motionless, watching them being escorted onto the helicopter.

The rotors began to spin, the sound growing louder.

Barry approached her, "Mrs. Smith, would you like a ride home?"

She shook her head, watching the helicopter rise and shrink to a tiny dot.

Her heart felt the calm she had anticipated, yet with an indescribable dull ache.

He was the one who owed her, but seeing the children leave without any reluctance left her feeling hollow.

Even for this final goodbye, he hadn't shown his face.

Perhaps it was better this way—cleaner.

She turned toward her car, and as she started the engine, her eyes regained an unprecedented clarity.

Was she sad?

Of course.

These were people she had loved and raised for four years.

But she was Elaine, not just a parasitic vine trapped in the identity of Mrs. Smith.

From today onward, her life would be her own.

Elaine returned to the villa alone.

With the children gone, the villa was so quiet she could hear her breathing.

Elaine stood in the center of the living room, her gaze sweeping across every inch of the place.

Arthur had bought this villa before their marriage, decorated in the cold style he preferred.

For four years, she had tried to fill every corner with children's toys and the warmth of home cooking, yet had never managed to make it truly feel like home.

Now that the children were gone, that deliberately cultivated warmth disappeared with them.

Only the shadows of Arthur and Emily remained.

Elaine didn't want to stay another second.

But halfway to the door, she stopped.

Where could she go?

Kathy had disappeared, and Elaine hadn't returned to her mother's house in ten years.

At this moment, she felt like a homeless person.

Feeling dejected, Elaine looked down and suddenly noticed the photo frame on the shoe cabinet—her college graduation picture.

In the photo, she smiled with hope, twenty years old, her eyes still bright with anticipation for the future.

At this moment, Elaine suddenly remembered scenes from her college days.

She remembered herself in a lab coat, holding test tubes.

She remembered her professor patting her shoulder, saying, "Elaine, you're the most talented student I've ever seen."

Back then, Hazel, her medical field senior, always said her eyes held a special light.

But that light had been extinguished by Arthur's late-night returns and her children saying they didn't want her as their mother.

Elaine forced a smile at the empty air, laced with self-mockery.

If she hadn't gotten married, wouldn't she be in a lab with Hazel right now?

At this thought, Elaine's eyes suddenly grew hot.

She couldn't let herself die here.

She needed to go back—back to her field, to reclaim the glory that should have been hers.

The moment this idea emerged, the uncertainty in her heart was instantly replaced by determination.

Where to go? To the place she belonged.

To the place where she could shine again.

Having made her decision, Elaine swiped open her contacts list.

Scrolling down the list, she stopped at the name "Hazel."

She stared at the name for half a minute, hesitating for a long time before finally pressing it.

The phone rang only once before being answered, Hazel's tone slightly urgent, "Elaine? Are the kids sick again? With this virus going around..."

"Hazel."

Elaine interrupted her, her voice tight, "I want to come back to the lab."