Chapter 2

Hearing my answer, father and son both embraced me excitedly.

Ethan's voice choked up again.

"Sophie, thank you..."

"Thank you for being willing to forgive me, and thank you for being willing to be Henry's mom."

Henry was still young and only knew to burrow into my arms, thanking me along with his dad.

Smelling the scent on them, I felt dazed.

After all these years, they still had the gardenia fragrance.

It was my favorite scent from before.

I used to buy laundry detergent with this scent to wash their clothes.

Henry would always cling to my legs when I hung up the laundry, acting cute:

"Mommy smells so good! So nice!"

Ethan would also tell me:

"Every time I smell the gardenia scent on you, it makes me feel so at peace."

This was a scent that belonged exclusively to our family of three.

Now, they were holding another woman's body with this scent.

An indescribable revulsion and rejection welled up inside me.

I pushed them away and held my breath.

"What's that smell on you? It's too strong."

Ethan sniffed his sleeve, then his whole body stiffened.

Henry explained for him.

"It's gardenia fragrance. Dad said it was Mom's favorite before..."

Before he could finish, Ethan covered his mouth.

"It's just ordinary laundry detergent. If you don't like it, we'll change to a different one tomorrow."

Ethan carefully explained it to me.

The next day, the scent on them had changed.

It was the fruity fragrance I used to hate most.

But Henry kept asking me if I liked it.

Looking at his innocent smile.

I could only nod against my will and persuade myself once again to let go of the past.

I wasn't Charlotte anymore.

I had to work hard to play Sophie well, until the day she came back.

Coming quietly, leaving quietly.

That way, I could still deceive myself.

At least in memories, our family was still as beautiful as ever.

For Ethan and Henry now.

"Sophie's" feelings were the most important.

Because he thought "Sophie" didn't like it.

Ethan took off his wedding ring, leaving a white ring mark.

Because he thought Sophie didn't want to see anything related to Charlotte.

Henry also put away the bracelet on his wrist and never wore it again.

Slowly, the father and son erased all traces of me from themselves, bit by bit.

And I could only watch helplessly.

Close to my discharge date, my period came, and I lay in bed trembling with pain.

Henry ran into my arms and hugged me, using his warm little body to warm my stomach.

Ethan specifically took leave from the company and went home to make me almond milk.

Everything was just like before.

But I knew they still hadn't recognized me.

Ethan brought the milk to my lips.

"Be good, drink it while it's hot. The pain will go away after you drink it."

It was clearly sweet milk, but it stung my eyes.

I turned my face away. "I don't want it."

Ethan's hand holding the cup froze, his tone anxious.

"Wasn't this your favorite drink before? Why don't you want it suddenly?"

"Is your stomach upset?"

As he spoke, he turned to call a doctor.

But my words interrupted him.

"Ethan, I'm allergic to almonds. I never drink this stuff."

"Who is this person you're talking about?"