Chapter 4

I twisted his ear and said coldly, "Have you forgotten what the doctor said? You're getting cavities and still sneaking sweets!"

Seeing Henry wince in pain, Derek quickly accused me, "If he wants to eat, let him eat! Who are you to control him?"

I replied calmly, "I'm his father. Why shouldn't I be able to control him?"

Derek finally realized what Henry had just called me.

He fell silent, his gaze darting between me and Henry.

I let go of Henry's ear, and he immediately clung to me, trying to appease me.

"Dad, I only had a little bit. I won't get cavities."

His face, covered in cream, smeared all over my clothes.

I held him at arm's length with disgust and said irritably, "When your mom finds out later, I won't stop her from scolding you!"

Henry was in the process of losing his baby teeth and liked sweets, resulting in several cavities.

Whenever he had a toothache, Lila would be heartbroken, but she couldn't resist his pleading and often turned a blind eye.

During this vacation, Lila got an urgent work call and had to leave. I was strict with Henry, so he snuck down to the gala to steal sweets.

Seeing my serious face, Henry hugged my leg pleadingly.

"Dad, I promise I'll never do it again."

The manager standing nearby was trembling, his voice lowered.

"You... you're Miss Lawrence's husband?"

I nodded lightly.

"Yes."

He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and quickly forced a smile.

"We didn't recognize such an important person. Would you and the young master like to go upstairs to freshen up?"

Looking at the mess of cream all over me, I was about to follow the manager when someone suddenly grabbed me.

Turning around, I saw it was Ava.

She opened her mouth, but it took a while before she could speak.

"You... you're married? And you have a child?"

I pulled my clothes free and nodded indifferently.

"Yes, I got married right after graduation."

Lila and I met because of photography.

I was on location abroad when I happened to encounter Lila, who had fallen down a hillside while hiking.

It was a remote area with poor signal. I went to great lengths to rescue her.

While waiting for help, she curiously looked at some of my past work and started chatting with me.

As we talked, we discovered we had many common interests.

By the time we returned home, we were already together.

To my surprise, her family didn't look down on my background.

Lila smiled and looked at me with determination in her eyes.

"Ethan, your character and personality are what made me choose you."

I thought that because of my past with Ava, I would find it difficult to love someone again.

But Lila made me understand that love is mutual.

Looking back on my previous life, all that pain and struggle now seemed so distant.

The son in my arms was urging me.

"Dad, let's go back to find Mom. I miss her."

But Ava wouldn't let us go. She stared at me intently, refusing to give up.

"Are you trying to make me jealous on purpose? Didn't you say you'd only love me in this lifetime?"

"Did you say that?" a female voice sounded from behind me, followed by a chorus of greetings from around us.

"Hello, Miss Lawrence. Hello, Mrs. Lawrence. Boss."

Looking back, I saw that Lila had come downstairs at some point.

She held onto my arm and looked at Ava, her tone neutral.

"Is this your ex-girlfriend?"

Afraid she might get jealous again, I quickly explained.

"We were together briefly when we were young, just for a month. We haven't been in contact for ten years."

These words, hastily distancing myself from Ava, made her face pale.

I thought for a moment and added, "Besides, I never said I'd only love her in this lifetime."

Ava stared at me, understanding the meaning behind my words.

That promise was made by me in my previous life.

Living this life anew, we had both chosen different paths, so naturally, that promise no longer held.

She said reluctantly, "But... but we have so much history. How could you forget everything and be with someone else!"

Derek's face had already turned as sour as it could get. I sighed helplessly.

"Why not? Aren't you with Derek now? You're getting married next month, yet you're here accusing me. Isn't that a bit much?"

My words silenced Ava, her face alternating between pale and flushed. She was about to say something else when Derek, unable to watch any longer, intervened.

"Ava, let's go. He's married now, he has nothing to do with you anymore. I'm the one who's always been by your side!"

But as soon as he grabbed Ava's arm, she slapped his hand away.

Looking at the red mark forming on the back of his hand, Derek's face suddenly turned bright red.

In the past, Ava would have surely held his hand and fussed over him, but now, she didn't even spare him a glance.

Derek shot me a vicious look, his eyes filled with undisguised resentment.

Lila smiled enigmatically, looking Ava up and down before speaking slowly.

"I thought some young girl had taken a fancy to my husband, but it turns out it's an ex-girlfriend."

"Trying to rekindle an old flame before breaking up with your current partner? Isn't that a bit shameless?"

Ava's face turned pale, and she hurriedly tried to explain.

"No, I... I..."

I raised my hand to interrupt her.

"Ava, what happened between us is in the past. I have a family now, and you have someone who loves you. I wish you happiness."