Indeed, this matter needs to be clearly explained to Doris.
I also really want to know, after Doris knows I am her mother, will she accept this fact?
However, regardless of whether she accepts it or not, it won’t change my decision to divorce.
...
The Xavier Manor.
Doris had just changed her shoes and pulled into the house, her little face full of anticipation: "Auntie, will you teach how to sew doll clothes now?"
"Okay."
I was about to go inside with her when Timothy Xavier ca over.
"Doris, wait a mont. Daddy has sothing very important to tell you today. After that, we can sew clothes, okay?"
Doris paused, then returned to the sofa and sat down obediently.
The little girl nodded seriously: "Okay, Daddy, go ahead."
I sat on the side, my palms sweaty, I was so nervous I almost held my breath.
Timothy Xavier turned on the TV, playing a child-friendly educational animation about childbirth.
There were no particularly graphic scenes, just watercolor animations showing a baby growing in a mother’s belly and the pain during childbirth.
I was initially worried Doris would be scared, but her eyes were wide open, watching intently, even asking softly, "Daddy, does the baby really stay in mommy’s belly for so long?"
Timothy patiently explained to his daughter: "Yes, during this ti, mommy has to endure a lot of discomfort. But to ensure you are born healthy, she has to bear it all on her own."
Doris listened, her eyes slightly red, watching the painful expression of the animated mother giving birth without looking away.
"So it was really hard for mommy to give birth to ..."
After the animation ended, the little girl quietly said this.
Timothy said, "Exactly. That’s why in this world, no one loves a child more than their mother, right?"
Doris nodded vigorously, her little brow furrowed: "Then...from now on, I should be good to mommy. I want to be obedient and make mommy happy."
Timothy smiled with relief and said, "Doris, actually, Auntie Ellison...is your mother. Just like that, she went through so much pain back then to bring you into the world."
With every word he spoke, my heartbeat quickened.
In the end, I felt my heart was about to leap out, and I watched Doris’s reaction closely.
The little girl was first stunned, her eyes wide open, looking incredulously at Timothy, then turning to look at , her small mouth slightly open, as if she didn’t understand.
Timothy reached out and gently patted her head, his voice carrying a hint of apology: "It’s Daddy’s fault that you and Mommy were separated all these years. But Mommy has always loved you. She’s been spending these days with you at the hospital, teaching you to make cookies, telling you stories, making you delicious food. You’ve felt it, haven’t you? Doris is a smart kid and should recognize who your real mommy is in the future."
As soon as he finished speaking, Doris suddenly jumped off the sofa, her little face flushed, shouting, "Daddy, you’re lying! My mommy is Serena Sawyer! Not her! I don’t believe it!"
After saying that, she turned and stumbled towards her room, slamming the door shut.
I felt a block in my chest, and I hurried to her door, wanting to knock but not daring to.
Timothy also ca up, looking at the tightly closed door but not going in.
I regretted it a bit, speaking sullenly: "We shouldn’t have told her this kind of thing so early, it was too abrupt."
Timothy’s tone was calm yet firm: "It wasn’t abrupt. Sooner or later, she has to go through this process. Doris just can’t accept it for now. After she calms down, she will understand. Don’t worry, this girl isn’t as fragile as you think."
I nodded, having no choice but to let Doris be alone for a while, hoping she could co to terms with it.
When Timothy saw heading towards the guestroom, he frowned and stopped : "Zoe, how long are you going to stay in the guestroom?"
He walked in front of , blocking my way, his eyes full of seriousness and sincerity: "You are the mistress of this house, your room is the master bedroom!"
I suddenly snorted, looking up at him: "Timothy Xavier, when you let Serena Sawyer move into the master bedroom, why didn’t you say I was the mistress of this house?"
Timothy’s face instantly darkened, and his hand at his side clenched unconsciously.
After a long silence, his voice carried a trace of guilt: "I know I’ve wronged you in the past. I’ve already clarified things with Serena. For all the hurt I caused you before, if you give a chance, I can make it up to you."
I looked up at him and spoke word by word: "But so pains have long been like needles stuck in my heart, they cannot be removed or erased."
As soon as I finished speaking, Timothy suddenly stepped forward, reaching out to hold tightly in his arms.
His tone was urgent, like a headless fly, asking: "Zoe, then tell , what exactly should I do for you to return to how you were?"
I struggled to break free from his embrace, stepping back several steps, and said: "We have been married for four years, aside from a few close people, who knows I am your wife? Timothy Xavier, do you dare to publicly acknowledge our relationship now? If you want to start over, at the very least, you should give the rightful status I deserve!"
I knew very well inside, he wouldn’t do it.
Sure enough, Timothy’s brow instantly furrowed, asking: "Are these empty titles really that important to you?"
I sneered and said: "Precisely because I used to think these were empty titles, the whole world believed you and Serena Sawyer were a match made in heaven! When I was splashed with dirt by Serena’s fans calling the third party, where were you? Timothy Xavier, you tell , what is an ’empty title’? I’ve been your wife for four years, yet without a legitimate identity, is this the ’empty title’ you’re talking about?"
He opened his mouth but didn’t say a word for a long ti.
After a long ti, he seed to speak with difficulty: "You should know, my every move now affects the stock price of Xavier Group. The company is going through a turbulent ti recently, if I make our marriage public, it’s equivalent to admitting I had an affair during marriage! When that happens, Xavier Group’s stock price will plumt, affecting the livelihood of thousands of employees, I cannot ignore their well-being."
What a perfect excuse!
Looking at his earnest expression, my throat felt bitter.
"Zoe, please wait a little longer, believe , when the ti is right, I will definitely give you a grand wedding and announce in front of everyone that you are my wife."
As he spoke, he tried to take my hand.
I imdiately avoided him, a mocking smile forming at my lips: "Timothy Xavier, you said the sa thing when you proposed to back then. It’s been four years, and I am still hiding in a place without light, like a mouse, as your Mrs. Xavier!"
Timothy finally had nothing to say.
I glanced across his stern yet helpless face, and as I turned, I laughed.
Just now, Timothy personally admitted his ’extramarital affair,’ and the recorder in my pocket recorded it.
This is the solid proof of his infidelity in our marriage and evidence of our marriage breakdown!
...
Until the evening, Doris hadn’t eaten or drunk anything.
Timothy personally brought her favorite food to her room, but in the end, it was brought back untouched.
I asked worriedly: "She still refuses to eat?"
Timothy sighed, placing the food aside, and said: "She keeps asking for Serena, no matter what I say, she won’t listen."
I remained silent, unsure of what to say or what I could do for Doris.
At this mont, Timothy Xavier looked at and said, "If you must divorce , then don’t step into Doris’s life. It would be better to just let her continue with the mistake than face more upheaval."
My heart tightened, and I couldn’t help but ask angrily, "Timothy Xavier, are you threatening !"
Timothy’s expression remained as cold as ever. He said, "If she accepts you but still can’t have a complete family, then what is the purpose of all my efforts now?"
I wasn’t manipulated by his words. He wanted to use our child to coerce , but he couldn’t be more delusional about it.
I spoke each word deliberately and said, "Timothy Xavier, everything you are doing is just redemption for the sins you created. Doris is my daughter; that was decided the mont she was born. It doesn’t change on a whim from you, Timothy, nor does it change with our marital status!"
Just then, a soft voice suddenly ca from the stairway upstairs: "I want to take a bath..."
Both Timothy and I were startled and looked up to see Doris standing at the top of the stairs, just watching us.
Timothy hesitated for a mont and asked, "Doris, do you want the maid to bathe you, or... would you like your mom to do it?"
Doris glanced at and said sullenly, "Let her do it!"
A hint of comfort passed through my heart; I didn’t expect Doris would let help her bathe.
I thought maybe it would be a long ti before she accepted .
So, I went upstairs to Doris’s room.
The sound of running water echoed in the bathroom as I adjusted the water temperature in the bathtub, whispering, "Doris, it’s ready for you to bathe."
Doris resembled a puppet, expressionless, doing whatever I instructed.
My heart ached, and I softly said, "Doris, I know you can’t accept this imdiately. Let’s take our ti; there’s no rush, okay?"
Doris ignored and asked, "Can you hand the little ducky over there?"
"Sure."
I stood up and walked toward the shelf.
But I didn’t expect there would be shower gel on the floor.
I slipped to the ground, a sharp pain shooting through my arm.
Suddenly, Doris aid the showerhead at , and cold water splashed on my face in an instant.
It was then I realized that while adjusting the water temperature earlier, Doris had done sothing on the side.
Enduring the pain in my arm, I propped myself up.
Doris kept spraying with the showerhead, her young voice sharp and piercing, her eyes filled with hostility: "It’s all your fault, wicked woman! If it weren’t for you, my mom could live here, our family wouldn’t be separated! It was you who seduced my dad!"
Water dripped down my hair, the cold touch making my fingertips tremble.
The long-suppressed grievances and bitterness suddenly surged up.
I couldn’t hold it any longer. I took a step forward, seized the showerhead from her hand, and threw it heavily on the ground.
"Rember this!" My voice carried a trembling I hadn’t even realized, yet it was incredibly forceful, "I am your mother! Serena Sawyer is not!"
Doris suddenly broke into loud sobs: "You’re lying! My mom is a big star, not you!"
Her sharp cries brought Timothy in.
He pushed the door open, seeing the ss everywhere and my soaked clothes, his brows imdiately furrowed.
"What happened?"
Timothy hurriedly picked up Doris, looking at with a questioning gaze.
Helplessness and despair overwheld in layers.
I didn’t say a word, turned, and left the bathroom, enduring the pain all over my body as I returned to my room.
As soon as I closed the door, the tears finally couldn’t be contained any longer.
...
That night, I tossed and turned, yet couldn’t fall asleep.
After calming down, rembering Doris’s look still sent a chill down my spine.
Yes, I couldn’t hold on any longer.
Early the next morning, the villa was incredibly quiet.
I quickly tidied myself up and grabbed my bag to go to work.
This should be the last ti I appear here.
However, just as I was about to leave, I happened to et Timothy entering from outside.
Timothy looked up at and proactively explained, "I just took Doris to my mom’s place, to let her stay there for a few days."
Hearing this, I clenched my fingers and said, "If I’m not mistaken, Serena’s also at your mom’s place, right?"
Timothy did not deny it; he just avoided my gaze, his voice pressed very low, "Doris cried a lot last night, and for now she can’t be apart from Serena. You should also think about it, learn how to be a mother."
The stifling pain in my chest almost made it hard to breathe, and I said through gritted teeth, "Timothy Xavier, you were the one who took Doris away from , you let Serena assu the ’mother’ role by her side, depriving of four years of being a mom! Now how dare you turn it around and accuse of not knowing how to be a mother?"
Timothy’s expression finally changed, yet he only frowned and did not retort.
I walked straight out, but he suddenly grabbed my wrist and said, "Zoe, stay by my side, I’ll find a way to make Doris accept you."
I extricated my hand from his, retorting, "And if I don’t?"
In Timothy’s dark eyes was a hint of coldness and ruthlessness, "Unless you want Doris to forever see Serena as her mom. If you want to lose Doris, then by all ans, leave."
"Ha!"
I laughed in disbelief, the wound in my heart seed to tear wider, "Timothy Xavier, I’ve realized, a forced union is pointless. She’s just like you, no matter what I do, I can’t warm her heart. She hates like this, chasing after being her mom ans nothing, right? Let her be! Let her recognize whoever she wants as her mom!"
Under Timothy’s look of disbelief, I resolutely left.
In the morning, I had an interview task, coincidentally right next to Attorney Quincy’s firm.
There was an hour left before my scheduled interview ti, and I used this opportunity to visit Attorney Quincy.
I gave her a copy of the recording where Timothy himself admitted to "infidelity" yesterday.
After all, to divorce Timothy Xavier, one must be absolutely thorough.
Hannah Quincy saw this, nodded, and said, "Now, the evidence is very substantial. In terms of assets, he’s the at-fault party, so you can claim a significant portion. Regarding your daughter’s custody... do you still want it?"
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