After finishing his dinner, Mason set down his cutlery. “Mommy, I’m done eating.”


    “You’re eating so little today. Usually, this whole te of ribs wouldn’t be enough for you alone. Is your stomach bothering you?” N asked.


    “No, I’m really full,” Mason replied.


    “Okay, go y for a while then,” N told him.


    After dinner, N yed with Mason for a bit before taking him for his bath and getting him ready for bed.


    Once he was in his pajamas and tucked under the covers, N prepared to read him a bedtime story as usual.


    However, he suddenly looked up at her and asked, “Mommy, is Uncle Oliver not visiting me anymore?”


    N paused for a moment before asking, “Why would you ask that?”


    “Before, Uncle Oliver would call me every day, but he hasn’t called for several days now. And he hasn’te to our house either,” Mason answered.


    Although Mason was young, he was sensitive and perceptive enough to notice that something had changed between N and Oliver.


    After a few seconds of silence, N told him, “Buddy, things between Uncle Oliver and me areplicated. I can’t really exin it to you right now, but I promise that Uncle Oliver really likes you. He has his own life too, and he can’t always focus on us.”


    ‘Mason’s eyes dimmed, and he lowered his head. “I understand.”


    Seeing his downcast expression, N felt a pang of sadness.


    “If you ever miss him, you can call him, you know,” she said softly.


    Mason didn’t respond. Instead, he looked up at her and asked, “Will you and my dad be together?”


    “Do you want me to be with him?” N asked.


    “I don’t know, but I want to be with Daddy,” Mason replied.


    Seeing the hope in his eyes, N pressed her lips together and tucked the nket around him. “Sleep now.


    After coaxing Mason to sleep, N left his room. She didn’t return to her bedroom but instead sat down on the sofa and called Damon.


    “N, why are you calling me sote?” Damon asked.


    Taking a deep breath, N spoke slowly. “Tonight, Buddy asked me if I would be with you and then said he wants to be with you. Did you teach him to say that?” N?velDrama.Org content.


    “Yes,” Damon admitted without hesitation.


    “This is between us. Can you not involve the child?” N snapped.


    <b>+25 </b>


    Sensing the anger in her voice, Damon spoke softly. “N, this isn’t just between us. It involves Buddy too. It’s about us as a family.”


    “We are not a family,” N stated.


    Damon sighed. “I admit I used a bit of a trick to get you back, but my intention is to bring you and Buddy back. I can protect you both now, and I won’t let anything happen to you again.


    “N, I love Buddy just as much as you do. I want to give him aplete family so he can grow up happy. Even if you don’t want to be with me, you should think about him, right?” Damon tried.


    “You did this on purpose. You know how much I care about Buddy,” N shot back.


    “Mm, you can punish me however you want, as long as you’re willing toe back,” Damon replied.


    Feeling both angry and helpless, N thought she could haveshed out at Damon if he had still been as stubborn as before. Now that he was so soft and understanding, it felt more like punching a pillow. No matter how much she wanted to be mad, she simply couldn’t.


    After a moment of silence, she spoke calmly. “L