Lin Yueyao gently ruffled Shen Xuan's hair and asked softly, "Why would you say that, Xuan'er?"
She assumed he was just feeling insecure and tried to reassure him, he was still a child who needed both of his parents present in his life, "Don't worry. Mommy won't divorce Daddy."
But Shen Xuan blinked up at her with those clear, innocent eyes and said, "But if you don't divorce Dad, how can Aunt Bai become my mom?"
Yueyao's entire body stiffened as her mind went blank for a moment.
"…What did you just say?"
She would rather believe she had misheard than accept that those words had actually come from his mouth. That he was asking her to divorce his father so that he could marry another woman to be his mother!
But Shen Xuan repeated himself, crystal clear, "I want you to divorce Dad so Aunt Bai can marry him and be my mom. I want you to divorce Daddy!"
A child's words should have been pure and innocent, but right now, they felt like countless shards of glass stabbing into Yueyao's heart. This was her biological son, the son she had striven to give birth to.
"If Bai Zhi becomes your mom… then what about me?" she asked, her voice trembling. She didn't want to believe, but these words came out of his mouth. Her vision blurred with tears, but she forced herself to stay calm.
Her own son wanted another woman to take her place. How was she supposed to accept that? How was she supposed to react?
Shen Xuan lowered his head, fiddling with the hem of his little shirt. He went back to being the quiet, reserved child he always was.
Yueyao stared at him, her mind churning with confusion and hurt.
No… this wasn't like Xuan'er. He wouldn't say something like this out of the blue.
She grabbed his small shoulders frustrated, "Tell me, Xuan'er. Did someone tell you to say this? Who told you? Who is poisoning your mind?"
Silence.
He didn't say anything apart from keeping his head bowed and silent.
"Who was it?" Yueyao's voice shook as she pleaded, shaking his shoulders, devastated! "Was it your grandma? Was it… was it Bai Zhi herself? Tell Mommy... Tell me... Who was it?"
Still, Shen Xuan kept his lips sealed not uttering another single word.
Panic rose within her, burning through her chest like wildfire... "I'm asking you!! Talk to me...!"
Before she could finish, Shen Xuan burst into tears, wailing, "You're so mean! I don't want you! I want Aunt Bai! I want Aunt Bai! I want Aunt Bai to be my mommy!"
Yueyao's breath caught in her throat hearing those clear words, her son didn't want her. Her heart felt as if it had been ripped apart and torn into pieces!
"What are you doing, Yueyao?" A sharp voice suddenly cut through the tense air.
Yueyao turned around and saw Shen Xiao standing at the wardroom door, his handsome face frosty and stern.
She blinked in confusion. Shouldn't he be with Bai Zhi at this hour? Why was he here? Did he come for her?
Hope flickered in her eyes, but before she could speak, Bai Zhi appeared behind him. Her delicate face was framed perfectly by her soft curls as she smiled gently, "Yueyao, are you alright?"
The light in Yueyao's eyes immediately dimmed feeling hopeless.
Of course. How could she have been so foolish to think Shen Xiao would come for her? He was only here because of Bai Zhi.
Still crying, Shen Xuan ran straight to Shen Xiao and clutched his pant leg, "Daddy! Mommy is so mean! She's a bad woman! I don't want her to be my mom! I want Aunt Bai! I want Aunt Bai to be my mommy! You have to divorce that woman as soon as possible!"