Chapter 4

"Chloe!" Mom hurried forward, her eyes red:

"You just left without a word, kid! Do you know how worried Mom was?"

She reached out to grab me, and I instinctively took a step back.

Her smile faltered, but quickly softened again:

"Look, Mom brought you a cake. Why don't you come home with me for a couple of days?"

"Mom also bought you lots of new dresses, and your room is all decorated, it's your favorite princess style."

If I hadn't died twice, I almost would have been fooled by her again.

I eyed her warily:

"I'm fine, you don't need to worry. Grandma Rose is taking good care of me."

"Chloe, why are you being so disobedient!"

Mom's voice took on a tearful tone:

"Mom is doing this for your own good. How can the education in the countryside compare to the city? You'll fall behind in your studies!"

Just then, the back door of the sedan opened, and Dad and Matteus surprisingly got out of the car.

Dad looked a bit awkward. He adjusted his glasses and said:

"Chloe, your mom is right. Go back with her. Grandma Rose is getting old and can't take care of you properly..."

Matteus stood behind Dad, head down, not daring to say a word, his small hands nervously clutching his shirt.

My heart sank. Dad’s attitude was off!

In the previous two lives, while he didn't object to me going with Mom, he certainly didn't push me away so eagerly!

And his gaze, when he looked at me, was somewhat evasive.

Mom saw I wasn’t speaking and reached for me again:

"Come on, Chloe. Mom even had Aunt Maria cook all your favorite dishes..."

Just then, a figure suddenly rushed over and pulled me behind her.

It was Grandma Rose!

Her face was flushed with anger as she pointed at Mom and scolded:

"Eleanor Vance! Have you no shame! You're divorced, and you're still harassing my granddaughter!"

"I wondered why Chloe wasn't home so late. Turns out you ambushed her here!"

Mom’s face went pale, then green, then white again:

"Mom... I'm doing this for Chloe's own good..."

"Who's your Mom!" Grandma Rose wouldn't listen:

"My granddaughter is doing perfectly fine here! Do you think we need your fake concern?"

"Now get lost! If you dare to bother Chloe again, I'll call the police on you!"

Seeing the two of them, a ridiculous thought suddenly popped into my head.

Mom treated me so badly in the previous two lives—could it be because she had a bad relationship with Grandma Rose?

And since I resembled Grandma Rose, maybe she transferred her hatred for Grandma Rose onto me?

Mom seemed intimidated by Grandma Rose's presence and backed down.

She took a deep breath, picked up the cake box, and her tone softened:

"Alright, I won't take Chloe. But this cake, I made it myself."

She said, opening the cake box.

Inside was a beautiful cream cake, but it was covered with chopped walnuts.

My brow furrowed. I never liked walnuts, even as a child. Mom was here to convince me to come back, so why would she specifically make a walnut cake that I hated?

This made no sense at all!

And it wasn't my birthday today, so why make a cake?

"Chloe, have a bite! Mom made it especially for you."

Mom held a small spoon out to me, her eyes full of expectation.

I didn't take it. Instead, I looked up at her:

"Mom, you know I don't like walnuts, so why did you make a walnut cake?"

Mom paused, then a look of helpless, doting affection appeared on her face:

"Silly girl, of course Mom knows you don't like walnuts, but walnuts are good for your brain! Mom is just thinking about your health!"

Her eyes were clear, and her explanation was perfectly reasonable.

For a moment, I even wavered.

Maybe I was the one who did something wrong, causing Mom to torment me like a madwoman in my previous lives.

She remembered all my preferences, had been meticulously caring for me since I was little, would braid my hair beautifully, and would stay up all night when I was sick.

Dad traveled frequently for work, so Mom was often the one taking care of Matteus and me.

Even though she was busy, she always had patience for us.

When did she start changing?