Beyond the Divorce

Chapter 416 Totally Different

Ava’s questions surprised me, and I responded vaguely before quickly getting up. “Ava, Mommy doesn’t

have time to take you today. You can take a walk to the kindergarten with grandma, okay?”

“Mommy, when will you get home? When are we going to the island?” Ava slid off her chair and approached me excitedly.

I knew I couldn’t make promises, or she’d question me endlessly. I almost slapped myself for bringing it up. Even if we were going, I should’ve kept it a surprise. But now, I couldn’t fulfill my promise. I had to

make it happen no matter what, or I would let my family down.

I looked at her excited expression and thought before saying, “We’ll go when I return from Solaris, okay?”

I thought taking my parents on vacation would be perfect since Matthew derailed our plans last time. Afterward, I put my small suitcase in the trunk and said goodbye to Ava before leaving for work.

I saw someone standing at the neighborhood entrance. The woman appeared much skinnier

last saw her. She had graying hair and a worn–out expression as she looked toward

anxiously.

we were once familiar, Grace had become

had visited in the morning, anxiously scanning the area. I knew she was waiting for Ava. Her desperation was evident from how she kept glancing inside the

passing as she craned her neck

do it. After all, she wouldn’t recognize

must be longing to see Ava, so she might do something if I ignored her. I couldn’t bear to

considered calling my mom and telling her not to come

one’s

stop her

forever.

thoughts in mind, I opened the door and exited

1. me. I realized she looked so wom that I barely recognized her. She didn’t look like the plump and well-

I used

the past. After all, she had cared for me and Ava, especially when