Raina‘s POV:
"I‘ll have to think about it.I‘ll call you back in a few days," I said, checked the time, and stood up in a
hurry.
Susan‘s promise was tempting, but I didn‘t commit anything to her right away.I knew better than anyone
else that there was no free lunch in this world.
"Very well.I‘m living a miserable life now, and I desperately need your help," Susan groaned and wiped
her tears.
I ignored her crying while keeping my face expressionless.
"Here‘s my phone number.Call me when you make up your mind," Susan said seriously.
When I got home, I saw Dad sitting on the sofa with a long face.
"Are you just coming home? It‘s late. Where have you been?" he asked, his face darkening.
"I went to ask some of my friends to help us deal with the news about the wedding," I lied.
Looking at my father‘s serious face, I felt a little guilty.
Fortunately, he didn‘t ask further.He took out a bunch of papers and handed them to me.
Then, he said coldly, "Sign this."
"What‘s this?" I asked curiously.
"It‘s a movie contract."
"Why are you suddenly asking me to sign a movie contract?"
"I have raised you for so many years, Raina.Since you‘ve lost your chance to marry Charles Moore, it‘s
time for you to get out there and make your own money," he said flatly.
I felt like I‘d just been struck by lightning.I explained hurriedly, "No, I haven‘t lost my chance to marry
Charles.I can still make the wedding happen.I just..."
"Raina, I have given you more than enough time and countless opportunities, and you‘ve exhausted
every last ounce of my patience," Dad rudely interrupted me.
Then, he added, "You should be thankful I‘m still helping you get a job.Sign the contract."
Staring at my father‘s cold eyes, I gritted my teeth, picked up the pen, and signed the movie contract.
Charles‘s POV:
After breakfast, I drove James to the kindergarten.
On the way, I asked him, "James, would you like to accompany me somewhere? I will talk to your
teacher later so that you‘ll be excused from your classes."
"Where are we going?" James asked, looking at me curiously.
"To see Mommy," I answered with a smile.
"Really?"
James‘s eyes lit up and an excited smile brightened up his face.He agreed without hesitation and
looked absolutely thrilled the entire trip.
When I pulled over at the tennis courts, James jumped out of the car, I quickly stopped him.
"Why are you stopping me, Daddy? I want to see Mommy," James pouted.
"I have something to tell you first,"
"What is it?"
James sat back in the seat, his eyes full of inquisitiveness.
"Daddy‘s hand is injured.I can‘t play tennis today.Can you act with me later and tell Mommy how badly
I‘m hurt so 10:51 that she‘ll worry about me?" I asked in a low voice.
James thought for a while and then nodded.
"Sure.But I have one condition."
"What is it?"
I shook my head, amused by my little boy‘s words.Since when did he learn to bargain with adults?
"From now on, you must take me with you whenever you go see Mommy," James replied firmly.
"Well, that condition should have conditions of my own.You can‘t come with me all the time.There are
some occasions that I can‘t take you to."
"That‘s okay.Just take me when you can."
James put on a big smile, gave me a high five, and ran to the tennis courts in a flash.
Watching him race away, I couldn‘t help smiling.
James was as lively and witty as Scarlett when she was a child.
"Hello, Uncle Spencer and Uncle David," James greeted David and Spencer politely.
"Really, Charles? You‘re going to pursue your wife using your kid? You‘re really hell–bent on this, aren‘t
you?" Spencer teased.
"Yes, because if I am not, I won‘t stand a chance," I backfired.
David patted me on the shoulder to comfort me.
"Where is Mommy, Daddy?" James looked around for Caroline.
"She’s not here yet, buddy.Why don’t I teach you how to play tennis in the meantime?"
"Okay!"
It was the first time that James tried to play tennis, so his movements were a little reluctant and
awkward.
Before long, I caught a glimpse of Caroline walking toward the tennis courts.
Even through the iron wire net, I still recognized her slender figure.She was wearing casual clothes
today, making her look vigorous.
I gestured to James to get ready.
He nodded and beamed, letting me know that he got my hint.I managed to pick up the tennis racket
with my left hand.
Then, I began to teach James the basics of playing tennis.
James listened carefully and then shouted excitedly, "You‘re so awesome, Daddy! Even though your
right hand is injured, you can still play tennis so well with your left hand and teach me!"
David and Spencer exchanged glances.
David pinched the bridge of his nose while Spencer swallowed his lips.
"Dude, you are so lame,"
Spencer said bluntly, "I don‘t care as long as I get her attention.You two look too stiff.Loosen up!"
I whined and glared at the two of them.
David and Spencer simply nodded and then stepped aside.
With a satisfied smile, I continued to teach James how to play tennis while glancing at Caroline out of
the corner of my eye.
As soon as she entered the courts, she saw James, After whispering a few words to Corey, Caroline
hurried over.
"Mommy!"
James immediately dropped the ball in his hand and ran toward Caroline.I wasn‘t able to stop him, so I
just slapped my forehead in frustration.
"Mommy, Mommy, I‘ve missed you so much!" James exclaimed, hugged Caroline tightly, and clung to
her like a baby koala.
"What are you doing here?" Caroline asked in surprise.
"Daddy is teaching me how to play tennis.Daddy is so amazing.His right hand is hurt, but he can still
play with his left hand,"
James replied enthusiastically, held Caroline’s hand, and towed her toward me.
"Are you here to play tennis, too, Caroline?" I said by way of greeting.
"Yes, I am,"
Caroline responded indifferently. Looking at her cold gaze, I lowered my eyes, afraid that she would
see the disappointment in them.
"Mommy, Daddy‘s hand hurts.Can you blow away his pain? Please?" James pleaded, raising my
injured hand and showing it to his mother.
I looked at him with appreciation.It seemed that I had made the right choice to take James here with
me today.
He truly was my son.
"Your daddy can take care of his own pain, sweetie," Caroline smiled and stroked James‘s hair.
"No, I can‘t." I got close to Caroline and gave her my injured hand.
"Go to the hospital and see a doctor if your hand hurts.Making me blow on it won‘t fix it," Caroline
snarled, her face darkening and her eyes narrowing.
"So, are you admitting now that you really are my mommy?" James asked with eyes brimming with fear
and expectation.
Caroline flashed him a weak smile but didn‘t answer.
It broke my heart to see the disappointment in James‘s face! When Caroline was about to turn around
and leave, I frowned in pain.
"I‘m really hurt, Caroline.I need help."
Then, my whole body quivered, and I fell toward Caroline.She instinctively reached out to support me.
"Your hand is injured, yet you still came here to play tennis and even tried to teach your son how to
play.Are you trying to get yourself disabled?" Caroline glared at me.
"Do you still care about me?" I asked and leaned on her on purpose.
A faint fragrance wafted from her body, and I greedily sniffed it.
Her scent made me think about all the wonderful memories we shared together, those I could still
remember of course—the sweet hugs, the soft kisses, and all the times we made love.
In my mind, she didn‘t look icy and distant like this. Remembering that the warm, loving woman I once
had was no longer the one that was in front of me now, I felt my chest constrict.
"Mommy, don‘t blame Daddy.It‘s my fault.I wanted to learn how to play tennis, so I pestered him to
teach me," James explained.
Caroline pushed me away and told James, It‘s not weekend.You‘re supposed to be in school.Why are
you here now? Is it just a coincidence?"
James and I looked at each other and were rendered speechless.
Caroline flashed me an accusatory stare, and all I could do was look away and try to bite down my
guilt.
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