Chapter 3

I was malicious and petty?

Maya had deliberately reached for my child's injured hand.

And I had no idea how someone standing perfectly fine could suddenly lose her balance on flat ground.

Watching them protect Maya as if I were some kind of predator, I couldn't help but laugh sarcastically.

"I'm sorry, my dear sister."

Maya weakly stepped out of Dawson's embrace.

"It's okay, I'm sure Serena didn't mean it."

Dawson's expression softened slightly.

"I'll have my assistant buy another gold bracelet later. You don't need to be jealous of Maya."

I didn't even bother to laugh anymore.

My child would never want anything from him ever again.

On discharge day, Dawson had promised to pick me up.

But by the time I got back to the Reed house, there was still no sign of him.

It just so happened that Maya updated her social media that day.

"Taking baby for vaccinations, but I'm afraid of needles. Glad someone was there with me. Feeling so safe."

The accompanying photo showed a baby lying on a man's shoulder, taken from behind.

I didn't need to look carefully to recognize that it was Dawson.

The sudden ringtone pulled me from my immersion in thought.

"Serena, I've contacted a very authoritative surgeon, but he can't come to the country right now. You'll need to go to him."

"Okay."

For the first time in days, the gloom lifted slightly.

"I'll get ready and leave with you tomorrow."

"Go where?"

Nathan frowned, somehow having appeared behind me.

I suppressed my joy and said flatly.

"A friend found what she says is a really good postpartum care center. She insists I go check it out."

He didn't ask further, just said in a deep voice.

"Maya said she's coming back to stay for a few days. If you don't have anything else, you should leave soon."

I clenched my fingers, my heart still trembling.

Ten years of closed research. Before leaving, the last place I wanted to stay a little longer was the home where my parents once lived.

Five years ago, because I didn't give up my current job opportunity to Maya.

Maya left home in distress.

My parents went after her and were killed in a car accident.

Since then, Nathan had probably hated me.

"I'll leave tomorrow."

"Good."

Before dinner, Dawson finally returned home with Maya.

"Dawson, when that needle went into the baby's arm today, I couldn't bear to watch. Thank goodness you were there."

Maya was still excitedly sharing with him, but he quickly walked toward me.

"Serena, I met with more doctors today about our son's finger, that's why I was delayed picking you up. Nathan said you came back here, but I didn't know. Why didn't you tell me?"

Jealousy flashed in Maya's eyes, but she quickly recovered her smile.

I tested the formula's temperature, put it in the baby's mouth, then replied coldly.

"I forgot."

He paused, somewhat ingratiatingly trying to hold the baby.

"Let me hold him."

I naturally wouldn't let him touch even a hair on my child's head. I turned slightly to avoid his touch.

His expression darkened and he said nothing more.

That evening, my son's whimpering woke me.

Before my sleepy eyes could open, voices from outside the door reached my ears.

"Dawson, can my baby call you daddy?"