Our unexpected return was met with exuberance from the entire family. Jim was quick to act and sent the driver to fetch the two little ones from school. It was a clear sign that Ava had really missed us. And of course, when she arrived at home, she joyfully shouted for us at the door. "Daddy! Mommy!"


    With a forceful push, she barged in, her short legs moving frantically as she ran straight into my arms. "Don''t you want us anymore, Mommy?"


    Iughed, holding her tight. "Of course I do. I''ve missed you so much."


    As smiled mischievously, which made me question if he doubted my sincerity.


    "Why were you gone for so long? What could be more important than me?" she yfully scolded. "You''ve taken Mommy''s side, Daddy. You don''t care about what I think at all!"


    Her words elicitedughter from everyone. No one knew where she had learned to say that.


    That night, she clung to me and adamantly refused to go back to her own room to sleep, which was unprecedented.


    As shey with me on the bed, she whispered that her dad had left for a foreign country. "He said he''s going away to make money, Mommy. Do you think he can make money?"


    I patted her. "That depends on if he works hard. If he does, he''ll be able to make a lot of money."


    "He said he''ll be back to visit me once he makes some money. I hope he makes money soon so he''ll be back earlier." Ava looked very concerned, which she really shouldn''t be at her age.


    My heart felt like it was being torn apart. "Don''t worry. That''s something he has to go through himself. You''ll need to go through something like that when you''re older too, so don''t worry too much about him." Ava just looked at me, assessing the truth in my words.


    I knew in my heart that she still felt attached to Matthew. It seemed she had truly matured and rapidly developed a mindset beyond her years. That had probably started the moment she learned about the issues between me and Matthew.


    She had begun to think about issues beyond her age in her tiny heart. That was something I dreaded. I had hoped she would be able to remain the carefree child she used to be.


    But I knew that had be impossible.


    People say that children from


    single-parent families will inevitably have psychological issues. I fully agreed with that notion now. Since thest time Matthew visited her, had known about the ''thoughts hidden in her heart. She liked As, but it was clear that he


    rece Matthew''s position in her


    heart.


    I hadn''t forgotten the day she tried to entertain As. It had be an indelible wound in my heart.


    I earnestly said, "Actually, it''s a good


    thing your dad went abroad.


    Everyone needs to grow, even


    adults. Once he goes abroad, he''ll be able to see many things he can''t see at home and learn many things he can''t learn in Foswood.


    a better person in the fe beText ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    "Really?" Her childlike voice was full of skepticism.


    "Of course. You''ll see a different version of him when hees back. Trust me, he''ll definitelye back. He loves you and he can''t bear not to see you."


    Ava nodded, stopped talking, and soon fell asleep.


    I carried her back to her room. Jenny was already asleep. I quietly stepped out.


    Then, I went to As''s study. He was in the middle of a video conference, so I quickly retreated. I cut some fruit, poured him a ss of water, and ced it in front of him before leaving.


    We had been away from home for so long, and many things had fallen out of sync. I didn''t know how far business had progressed.


    I called Johnson to get an update. He told me that he had already started working, and everything was going very smoothly.


    "Chloe, when Matthew left, I gave


    him some money. He was very


    grateful and promised to pay me back. I didn''t dare say it was from you. He asked me to tell you that he''ll either achieve sess of


    death."


    I chuckled, saying, "Let''s hope for the best. He needs to tread carefully on the road ahead. He ended up in this situation because of his choices." Johnson sighed.


    I reminded him, "Work hard and be responsible at work. This is different from before because we''re building our own brand. I trust you to take charge of this for me." Johnson confidently replied, "Just leave it to me."