When Evelyn Grant landed at A Country’s airport, it was already past 9 p.m.

It was her birthday today.

She unlocked her phone and was instantly met with wave after wave of birthday wishes—

All from colleagues and friends.

Not even one message from Adrian Bell.

The smile on her face faded.

By the time she made it to the villa, it was already well past ten.

Mrs. Collins opened the door, clearly surprised to see her. "Ma’am… what brings you back all of a sudden?"

"Where are Adrian and Sophia?"

"Sir’s still not home. Miss is upstairs in her room, playing."

Evelyn handed her suitcase over and went straight upstairs.

Sophia was sitting hunched over her little desk in pajamas, totally absorbed in fiddling with something. She didn’t even notice someone had entered.

"Sophia?"

Hearing her voice, Sophia glanced back and called out happily, "Mom!"

Then she instantly turned back around and carried on with whatever she was doing, not even looking up again.

Evelyn walked over and pulled her into a hug, kissed her cheek, only to be gently pushed away. "Mom, I’m busy right now."

It had been two months since Evelyn saw her daughter. She’d missed her like crazy—couldn’t get enough of holding her, wished they could talk more.

But seeing how focused she was, Evelyn didn’t press. "Are you making a seashell necklace?"

"Yep!"

That clearly got Sophia excited. "It’s Aunt Claire’s birthday next week! This is the gift Daddy and I made for her.

We sanded and polished all these shells together—cool, right?"

Something tightened in Evelyn’s throat. Before she could say anything, she heard Sophia cheerfully announce without looking up, "Daddy also bought Aunt Claire other gifts! Tomorrow—"

That sharp pain in Evelyn’s chest deepened. She couldn’t help but ask, "Sophia… do you remember what day it is today?"

"Huh? What?" Sophia glanced up blankly and quickly looked back down, grumbling, "Mom, don’t distract me. The bead order’s all messed up now—"

Evelyn slowly loosened her arms and let go, falling silent.

She stood there at the doorway for a long time. Sophia didn’t even look her way again. Evelyn just pressed her lips together and quietly left the room.

The moment she stepped out, Mrs. Collins hurried over. "Ma’am, I just talked to Sir. He said something came up tonight and asked you to rest first."

"Got it."

Her reply was casual, but what Sophia said still lingered in her mind.

She hesitated, then took out her phone and called Adrian.

The line rang for ages before it was finally picked up. His voice was cold and distant. "I’m busy. Talk tomorrow—"

"Adrian, who’s calling this late?"

Claire Brooks’s voice came through, clear as day.

Evelyn tightened her grip on the phone.

"It’s nothing."Evelyn was about to speak when Adrian hung up on her.

They hadn’t seen each other in nearly three months. She’d flown all the way to Country A, and he couldn’t even bother to come home to see her. Heck, he couldn’t even handle a full phone call.

That was just typical of him—distant, cold, impatient. Always had been. She used to get upset about it, but not anymore. She’d learned to deal.

Before, she would have called him again, probably softened her tone, asked where he was, begged him to spare some time to come back.

But today? She couldn’t bring herself to care that much. Maybe she was just too tired.

The next morning, after thinking about it for a while, Evelyn still called Adrian.

There was a seventeen or eighteen hour time difference between Country A and home. So technically, today was her birthday here.

This trip wasn’t just about seeing Adrian and Sophia. What she really wanted—her only birthday wish—was for the three of them to have a meal together as a family.

Adrian didn’t pick up. After a long time, he finally replied with a message.

[Something wrong?]

Evelyn: [Are you free for lunch? Can you bring Sophia along? Just the three of us.]

[Got it. Let me know the place.]

Evelyn: [Okay.]

After that, radio silence. Not another word from him.

Clearly, he didn’t even remember it was her birthday.

She’d tried to brace herself for that, but wow—did it still sting.

After brushing her teeth and washing her face, she was about to head downstairs when she caught voices coming up from below. Sophia was talking with Mrs. Collins.

“Madam’s here. Is Ms. Sophia upset?”

“Daddy and I already planned to go to the beach tomorrow with Aunt Claire. Now that Mommy's here, if she tags along, it’ll just be super awkward.”

“And Mommy is so mean to Aunt Claire all the time—”

"Miss, your mom is still your mom. You shouldn’t say that. It'll hurt her feelings, you understand?"

“I know… but Daddy and I just like Aunt Claire better. Can't she be my mom instead?”

“…”

Evelyn didn’t catch what Mrs. Collins said after that—her mind had gone blank.

She’d raised Sophia pretty much on her own. But over the past couple years, after Adrian started spending more time with their daughter, Sophia had grown closer to him.

Last year, when Adrian came to Country A to expand the business, Sophia insisted on tagging along. Evelyn didn’t want her to go. She wanted to keep her close. But seeing how much it meant to Sophia, she relented.

She never imagined it’d turn out like this.

Evelyn stood frozen in place like a statue, pale and motionless, unable to snap out of it.

She had cleared her schedule and flown all this way just to spend time with her daughter.

Looking at it now, it felt like a complete waste.

Back in her room, Evelyn began packing. One by one, she stuffed every gift she’d brought from home back into the suitcase.After a while, Mrs. Collins called. She said she had taken Sophia out, and to reach her if anything came up.

Evelyn Grant sat by the bed, feeling completely hollow inside.

She'd rushed over here, putting aside her job, only to find out... no one really cared she was here.

Her arrival? It was basically just a joke.

Much later, she finally stepped outside.

Wandering aimlessly through a country that felt both familiar and distant.

It was close to noon when she suddenly remembered she had lunch plans with Adrian Bell.

Thinking about what she overheard that morning, she hesitated—should she go pick up her daughter for lunch?

Then her phone buzzed.

A message popped up from Adrian.

[Busy at noon. Can’t make lunch.]

Evelyn stared at the screen, her face not showing a single flicker of surprise.

She was used to it by now.

In Adrian’s list of priorities, whether it was work or hanging out with friends—everything came before her.

He canceled plans with her whenever he felt like it, no heads-up needed.

Her feelings? Never really mattered to him.

Was she hurt?

Maybe before. Not anymore.

Now she just felt numb.

The confusion inside grew stronger.

She had come all excited, thinking she’d be reunited with her husband and daughter—but all she'd gotten was their cold indifference.

Without realizing it, she drove to the restaurant she and Adrian used to go to together.

Just as she reached for the door, she froze.

Through the window, she saw Adrian sitting inside—with Claire Brooks and Sophia.

Claire was cozily squeezed in next to her daughter.

Chatting and laughing with Adrian one moment, tickling Sophia the next.

Her daughter looked thrilled, happily kicking her feet while giggling at Claire’s jokes—even happily nibbling on a pastry Claire had already bitten.

Adrian, meanwhile, was grinning, placing food into their bowls, but his eyes didn’t leave Claire’s face for a second.

He looked like all he could see in the world was her.

That was the “busy” he mentioned.

That was the daughter she had risked her life to bring into this world.

Evelyn gave a quiet, bitter laugh.

She stood there for a long beat, just watching.

Finally, she turned away and walked off.

Back at the villa, Evelyn drafted a divorce agreement.

He was her teenage crush, true. But he never really saw her—not the real her.

If not for that accident, and the pressure from his grandfather, he would’ve never married her.

She’d been so naive back then. Believed that if she just gave her all, one day he might notice her.

But life had slapped her awake—hard.

Nearly seven years had passed.

It was time to snap out of it.

After writing up the divorce papers, she sealed them in an envelope and handed them to Mrs. Collins. “Please make sure to give this to Adrian, directly.”

Then, Evelyn pulled her suitcase to the curb, got in the car, and told the driver, “Airport, please.”