Chapter 1

When Eloise Windsor opened her eyes, she found herself back in 1989.

That year, she was 30 years old. Her husband, Sebastian Moore, was 35 years old.

Sebastian had just become the youngest academician at Bostesh Academy of Sciences. He was a nationally recognized talent with a promising future.

They also had a pair of twins that were 10 years old. Hence, everyone called Eloise lucky for marrying such a good man and being blessed with two sons.

However, the first thing Eloise had done upon returning to the year 1989 was to contact a lawyer and have two copies of a divorce agreement drafted.

Then, she called Sebastian's office. His assistant, Taylor Lopez, picked up. Upon finding out it was Eloise calling, he immediately said, "Mr. Moore is busy at the moment, Mrs. Moore."

When Eloise went to the academy instead, the security guards stopped her at the gate. "Sorry, ma'am. Mr. Moore isn't accepting visitors for the time being."

She proceeded to wait three whole days before bringing the divorce agreement to Sebastian's first love, Iris Jones.

Sliding the document toward Iris, Eloise said calmly, "Figure out a way to get Sebastian to sign this divorce agreement. Once he does, he and the kids are yours."

Iris stared at Eloise in shock. She couldn't believe that Eloise, the woman who had loved Sebastian for 17 years, would suddenly divorce him.

Frowning, Iris asked, "Eloise, what game are you playing at?"

There was a small smirk on Eloise's face, but her gaze remained calm and unbothered.

"I'm just tired of living my life like this," she said. "Since Sebastian and the boys like you more, I don't want them anymore. I'll step out of the picture so that the two of you can be together."

"Are you willing to give it all up? Do you know many people are jealous over the fact that you're an academician's wife?" Iris didn't buy it. Her eyes narrowed, trying to figure Eloise out.

"I know, but Iris, I don't want it anymore. I'm giving them to you," Eloise replied, looking straight into Iris' eyes.

Iris' fingers tightened around her cup. Her usual gentle expression vanished. "Eloise, I don't need you to give me anything!"

For a moment, they were silent. Then, Iris chuckled and picked up the divorce agreement.

"Well, if you're backing out willingly, I won't waste my energy on you," she said. "At least you know your place. But let me warn you. Don't even think about wanting them back once they're mine."

Eloise chuckled. "Don't worry. I don't want them anymore."

She truly didn't want her husband or twin sons any longer. In her previous life, she had kept them by her side, only to live a lonely life and died miserably.

Eloise refused to let the events of her past life repeat themselves.

Iris put on her sunglasses. Her wavy hair and elegant dress drew a ton of attention everywhere she went.

Eloise watched as Iris left in a cab. For some unknown reason, she decided to get in another cab and follow her.

At the academy, Eloise watched as the guards welcomed Iris and gestured for her to take a seat. After waiting a short while, Sebastian came rushing down before leading her into the academy.

Eloise lowered her gaze, and a hollow laugh escaped her lips. The fact that Iris had effortlessly entered the place Eloise had never once set foot in throughout her previous life was ridiculous.

She decided to return to the Windsor residence, where she spent a long time discussing her decision to get a divorce with her family.

…

By the time Eloise came home that evening, the house was brightly lit, and the aroma of food wafted through the air.

She heard Benjamin Moore excitedly say, "Ms. Jones, come eat! Dad has cooked a lot of delicious food!"

Elijah Moore chimed in, "Ms. Jones, this is the first time I've seen Dad cook. You've got to try it!"

Eloise froze in place.

In her previous life, she had died without tasting Sebastian's cooking.

Even when she was still recovering after giving birth to the twins, Sebastian had merely bought takeout from the academy's cafeteria for her since there was no one home to cook for her.

Then, she heard Iris' gentle and amused voice. "Sebastian, I can't believe you still remember that I love shrimps."

Sebastian's voice was calm and gentle, sounding nothing like his usual cold self. "I've always remembered. Here, take these. I've already peeled the shells for you."

Eloise froze in place, her hands curling into fists. She remembered that Sebastian hated shrimps.

When Eloise and Sebastian got married, Eloise had cooked up her favourite shrimp dish. However, Sebastian's complexion had darkened immediately before he got up to leave the table.

Shocked, she had spent a long time coaxing him. That was when she'd found out he hated shrimps. It was to the point where he couldn't stand looking at it.

That day, Sebastian had only agreed to return to the dining table after she had thrown all of the shrimps away.

Then, for the next ten years, shrimps never showed up on their dining table.

So, he had only refused to look at shrimps because of Iris' departure…

"Dad, I like Ms. Jones a lot. I really want her to be my mom!" Benjamin exclaimed.

"Yeah! Dad, I don't want to stay with Mom anymore," Elijah added. "I want to stay with Ms. Jones instead."

Eloise couldn't stand listening to their conversation anymore. She took a step back before turning to leave.

Soon, it started to rain heavily. Memories poured down on her like raindrops, striking her relentlessly.

In her previous life, she was married to Sebastian for 60 years. Even until death, she had never once felt happy.

That was because Sebastian's heart had always belonged to Iris.

…

Eloise and Sebastian had grown up in a military compound. They had known each other since they were young.

Sebastian was her first crush. She fell for him when she was 13. Sebastian was her first crush. He was the most handsome and talented boy in the compound.

However, Sebastian had already fallen for Iris.

The two had dated for a few years, but upon graduating from college, Iris had suddenly decided to study abroad.

Sebastian had waited for her for many years. But when he turned 25, he ended up receiving a breakup letter from Iris. Heartbroken, he'd agreed to find someone to marry and settle down.

Eloise had always kept tabs on the Moore family. So when she heard about his decision, she immediately confessed to him and volunteered to marry him.

She would never forget Sebastian's calm and cold expression when he asked, "I have someone I love. Are you sure about this?"

Eloise had nodded fervently, confident that she'd be able to win him over eventually.

But after their wedding, Sebastian would always keep his distance and treat her coldly, no matter what she did.

It was only when Iris came back did she realize that the difference between being loved and not was painfully obvious.

In her past life, Sebastian had never asked for a divorce. He allowed her to keep the title of his wife. However, he had given Iris all of his love.

Even their sons were exactly the same. They grew more indifferent toward her with each passing day.

In the end, she spent the rest of her life waiting and hoping for things to change.

Eloise had lived out her days in a nursing home. Since she had a hard time moving and her family never had time to visit her, the caretakers would treat her horribly.

She had often tried to call Sebastian and the twins, but they'd always be too busy to visit her. Over time, they wouldn't even answer her calls.

Before she died, she had borrowed her neighbor's phone to call Sebastian.

Sebastian had picked up and said "hello" twice before forgetting about the call. She heard him, her two sons, grandsons, and great-grandsons all gathered together to celebrate Iris' birthday over the phone.

It sounded so lively.

Tears fell from her cloudy eyes. During her final moment, Eloise thought about how she'd choose to love herself if she were given another chance at life.

She wouldn't waste her life on Sebastian ever again.

…

That night, Eloise sat on the bench by the road for a long time. When she finally returned home, the house was empty. However, the dining table was a complete mess.

Glancing at the table, she proceeded to walk right past it.

On her dressing table sat a signed copy of the divorce agreement. Seeing Sebastian's signature on it, Eloise felt relieved.

She was finally free from that cage that had trapped her for over 60 years.

She had just tucked the divorce agreement away when someone slammed her door open.

Benjamin, the older twin, looked at her angrily and roared, "Mom, how can you be so lazy? Why didn't you clean the table when you saw how messy it was?"

Elijah, the younger twin, followed behind. He frowned and scolded, "You're so petty. You had walked away when you saw us eating with Ms. Jones. Now, you're even refusing to clean up the table!"

Meanwhile, Sebastian's gaze was cold as usual. He said, "It's just a meal. Why are you making a fuss over it? Don't forget your duty."

Chapter 2

Eloise's voice remained calm. "Whoever eats should clean up after themselves. I'm done serving the three of you. From now on, take care of your own messes."

Sebastian frowned. His eyes sharp with disapproval. "You don't have a job, so it's your job to stay home and care for the family."

"Fine, we'll just clean up after ourselves!" Benjamin snapped. "Not only do you not have a job, but you're also lazy. It won't be long until Dad abandons you and gets together with Iris!"

Elijah chimed in, "Exactly! Not only is Iris beautiful, she's also a dancer. Once she becomes our new mom, nobody will want you. And when you're old, don't expect us to look after you. We won't go and visit you, either!"

Once the twins finished yelling, they stormed down the stairs. Seconds later, sounds of plates shattering could be heard from downstairs.

Eloise didn't even blink. Her expression remained calm and indifferent.

Sebastian glanced at her indifferently, as if she were just a stranger throwing a tantrum. "Eloise, you're a mother and a wife, not a three-year-old child."

With that, he grabbed a change of clothes and turned to leave. "I have an important project ongoing. So, I won't be home for the next two days."

Eloise watched him leave and listened to the chaos coming from downstairs. At that moment, she couldn't help but tear up slightly.

She gripped the doorframe so tightly that her finger turned white. Then, she slammed the door shut.

To hell with her duty.

To hell with her responsibility that came from being a mother and a wife.

She promised to herself that from that day onward, she'd only live for herself!

…

Early the next morning, Eloise went to the courthouse to apply for a divorce.

"All the documents are in order," the staff said. "Please remember to return in a week to retrieve your divorce certificate."

Eloise smiled and thanked the staff before heading to the airport to buy a plane ticket out of town.

From that day onward, she had stopped cleaning after her husband and sons. She no longer woke up at 5:00 am to make breakfast for them.

Benjamin and Elijah were thrilled. They'd take their allowance and dashed out the door excitedly. "Who wants to eat her food? We've grown tired of it a long time ago!"

Eloise stopped urging them to do their homework. She also stopped washing their clothes and picking up their toys.

The house quickly turned into a mess with dirty clothes piling on top of each other. The floor was littered with toys, and the teachers from the twins' school kept calling to talk about their academic performance.

Eventually , Eloise unplugged the phone.

…

Three days later, the school called Sebastian after failing to contact Eloise.

When he brought Benjamin and Elijah home and saw Eloise cozied up in the rocking chair, his expression darkened considerably.

He roared, "Benjamin and Elijah got food poisoning after eating some food. What kind of mother are you? You refuse to cook and do the laundry. Now, you won't even provide for their basic needs. Eloise, what on earth are you trying to do?"

Eloise closed her book calmly and said, "I'm not trying to do anything. Like I said before, everyone should take care of themselves."

"They're only ten years old!" Sebastian frowned as he looked at her, his gaze filled with cold reproach.

"They're ten, not three. They're old enough to manage."

At that moment, Eloise thought back to her previous life.

Back then, she had always been the first one up in the morning. The twins and Sebastian all had different preferences for breakfast. Just preparing breakfast alone would take her more than an hour.

Not to mention, Eloise was the one who handled every chore in the house. The house was always neat.

But what had all that hard work gotten her?

In the end, she was neglected and scorned. All that hard work had gotten her thrown into a nursing home after breaking her leg in a car accident. It resulted in her dying alone.

Benjamin's eyes reddened as he yelled, "Mom, you're awful! You don't deserve to be a mother."

Elijah clung to Benjamin and exclaimed, "He's right. Dad, I want Ms. Jones to be our mom instead! She'll definitely be the best mom ever!"

Sebastian didn't answer him. His gaze remained fixed on Eloise, as if waiting for her to give in.

Eloise merely smirked and answered, "Let her be your mother then. I have no objections."

The air froze instantly.

Sebastian's expression darkened as he asked, "Eloise, do you know what you're saying?"

"I do," Eloise replied. She took a deep breath, planning to bring up the divorce when someone knocked on their door.

"Sebastian, are you home?" came Iris' voice, all choked up.

Sebastian and the twins' expressions immediately changed as they quickly went to open the door.

Iris threw herself into Sebastian's arms, crying sorrowfully. "Sebastian, I can't find the bracelet my mom left me before she died. I've looked everywhere, except Eloise's room…"

Frowning, Eloise stood up and asked, "My room?"

Iris nodded. "I took it off when I used the bathroom the other day. Can I go and check…"

"You should check!" Benjamin and Elijah immediately went to grab her hands.

One of the twins then said, "Ms. Jones, don't cry. We'll help you look for your bracelet. I'm sure we'll definitely be able to find it!"

They proceeded to charge into Eloise's room and started rummaging through everything, leaving the room in a complete mess.

Sebastian merely watched, making no attempt to stop them.

Just as Iris was about to smash her third picture frame, Eloise couldn't stand it anymore.

"Stop it!" she shouted.

Iris looked back timidly and apologized, "I'm sorry, Ms. Windsor. I didn't do it on purpose. I was just so anxious that I…"

"Don't bully Iris!" Benjamin snapped, standing protectively in front of her.

At that moment, a memory came flooding back in Eloise's mind.

When they were three years old, Benjamin and Elijah had fought hard to sit on her lap. They'd squeeze into her embrace and shout, "Once I grow up, I'll protect Mom forever!"

Elijah also stood protectively before Iris as he asked, "Mom, are you feeling guilty? Is that why you won't let Ms. Jones continue searching for her bracelet?"

Eloise felt her throat tighten, and she clenched her hands into fists. Her voice trembled as she asked, "Do you both think I've stolen it?"

"I found it!" Iris exclaimed. She took an emerald bracelet from one of the drawers and cried with joy. "This is my bracelet!"

Benjamin and Elijah shoved Eloise hard, making her stumble backward.

"Mom, you're a thief!"

Chapter 3

Eloise's body trembled as she stared at Benjamin and Elijah in disbelief.

Both boys were looking at her with anger and disgust.

"How could we have a mother like you? It's humiliating!" Benjamin exclaimed.

"Dad, I don't want her to be my mom anymore," Elijah chimed in. "Having a mom like her is just disgraceful!"

Sebastian stood beside Eloise, exuding a chilling pressure. His gaze was cold as he asked in a deep voice, "Do you have anything else to say?"

Judging from the look in their eyes, the three of them were already convinced that she had done it.

Eloise clenched her fists as anger coursed through her. She wanted to question them, to defend herself. But in the end, she only squeezed out three words, "It wasn't me."

Suddenly, Iris grabbed Sebastian's sleeve and said, "Sebastian, just forget it. It's fine now. I've found my bracelet. I'm sure Ms. Windsor hadn't done it on purpose…"

The more Iris pleaded on Eloise's behalf, the angrier Sebastian became.

His chest heaved as he suddenly raised his voice. "Eloise, how are you supposed to set an example for the kids if you keep lying after being caught red-handed? You need to understand your mistakes today!"

Benjamin and Elijah had already retrieved a wooden paddle and handed it to Sebastian. Their eyes sparkled as one of them exclaimed, "Dad, punish her like we'd normally do in our family!"

Sebastian took the paddle and slowly walked toward Eloise.

Eloise instinctively took a step back, ready to flee. However, when Benjamin and Elijah suddenly rushed forward to grab her arms, she felt her strength being drained away.

A strong sense of helplessness had washed over her.

She extended her hand obediently, letting the paddle strike her palm with full force. The sting was instant and searing.

When Eloise saw Iris' triumphant and satisfied smile, she turned and met Sebastian's cold and merciless gaze.

At that moment, Eloise couldn't help but remember a time when her mother, Catherine Lewis, had passed away in her previous life.

Catherine had left her a pink diamond ring. One day, after Iris visited, she realized that the ring was missing.

Back then, Catherine had just passed away, and her hatred toward Iris had reached its peak. She had made a huge scene over it and searched Iris' bag despite Sebastian's and the twins' disapproval.

She had indeed found the ring in Iris' bag, but she was the one who ended up being punished instead.

Her husband and kids claimed she had purposely put the ring in the bag to frame Iris. They warned her not to do as she wished just because Catherine had passed away.

Eloise's eyes reddened at the memory.

She had thought that her heart had already gone numb, but her heart couldn't help but throb in pain.

At that moment, Benjamin and Elijah said at the same time, "Dad, I want to hit her too! Since Mom did something wrong, we'd also like to help her understand her mistakes!"

Sebastian paused momentarily before handing the paddle to Benjamin. "Alright then. Let today's incident serve as a warning. Don't be morally corrupt or break the law!"

His words were like a slap to Eloise's face.

With a surge of strength, Eloise smacked the paddle out of Benjamin's hands. Her entire body trembled as she met his infuriated gaze.

Her eyes were filled with stubbornness and shame as she coldly said, "I'll say this one more time, I didn't steal her bracelet! The one that's truly morally corrupt is Iris and you, Sebastian!"

Sebastian's gaze was ice cold. "What nonsense are you spewing? Since you refuse to admit your mistake, you might as well just stay in the basement and reflect on your actions!"

He grabbed Eloise's wrist and dragged her toward the basement.

Benjamin and Elijah stood beside Iris.

"Ms. Jones, why don't you come and live with us!"

"Yeah! Why don't you be our mom instead, Ms. Jones? I'm sure you'll be the best mom in the whole wide world!"

Eloise trembled. She gasped for breath as Sebastian pushed her into the basement.

As soon as the door closed, she heard Sebastian say gently, "Iris, can I trouble you to take care of the kids for a few days?"

Darkness enveloped Eloise.

She curled herself in a corner, holding her trembling body tightly as tears began to fall.

The basement was her biggest nightmare.

Back when she had first married Sebastian, she had been attacked and knocked out from the back when she was running errands. When she woke up, she realized she was locked in a basement.

The place was damp, dark, and moldy. There was also a grotesque man with calloused hands in there with her.

That was the most terrifying moment of her life. However, Sebastian had broken down the door and charged in just in the nick of time.

Sebastian's hands, which were usually meant to hold a pen, picked up a rock and smashed it cruelly on the man's head.

The man's eerie and horrific screams, accompanied by the stench of blood, had strangely comforted her.

That day, Sebastian had been extremely gentle as he held and soothed her. The memory alone had fueled her will to spend the next 60 years with him, to live out her life with him.

However, that gentle Sebastian who had carried her out of the basement was already gone.

Chapter 4

Slowly, Eloise got used to the dark and overcame her fear. She began to count every second as she listened to the noise coming from above.

Sebastian, Benjamin, and Elijah were helping Iris move her belongings into the house. Then, the three of them proceeded to cook a meal and bought Iris a cake to celebrate her arrival.

She heard Sebastian's voice, gentle and warm, as he said, "Iris, I've taken two days off from work. I'll stay home and help you settle in."

The whole situation was ridiculous.

Back when Eloise was about to give birth, she had asked Sebastian to take two days off and stay with her.

However, he had merely said sternly, "My job is not like others. I can't take leave whenever I want. You chose to marry me, so you should've expected something like this to happen. Eloise, you need to be more independent."

Eloise listened as her kids fought to clean the dining table. "Ms. Jones, your hand is so pretty, it's not fit to do rough chores. We're big kids now. We can clean the table instead."

Then, she listened as they stopped Iris from doing the laundry and brought her to the couch. "Ms. Jones, don't come here. We don't want you to smell the dirty clothes."

As they washed the clothes, Eloise heard one of them complain, "Mom is just so lazy. She can't even compare to your pinky!"

Sebastian also chuckled as he said, "Iris, the boys are big now. It's time they learn to take care of themselves. You don't need to do these chores."

It was ridiculous.

The whole situation was utterly ridiculous.

How could someone be so hypocritical?

It turned out that after working tirelessly for the household, she couldn't even measure up to Iris' pinky.

Eloise bit her lip as she listened to their conversation, unable to stop herself. First, she chuckled. Then, her chuckles quickly turned into sobs as tears rolled down her cheeks.

…

Two days later, Eloise was finally let out of the basement. Her vision spun from hunger.

As she stepped out, she saw Sebastian and the kids wearing matching outfits with Iris. They looked like a happy family of four.

Sebastian just looked at her coldly as he said, "We'll close this chapter. From now on, just do your part and don't cause any trouble."

Her sons held Iris' hands, bouncing with excitement.

"Mom, look," Benjamin said. "Ms. Jones bought us these beautiful clothes. They're so much nicer than the ones you made us!"

"Dad, Ms. Jones, let's just go!" Elijah exclaimed. "I want to check out the new amusement park!"

Eloise watched as the four of them turned to leave. It wasn't until their laughter slowly faded into the distance and their figures disappeared completely did Iris look away.

In just two days, the living room had changed completely.

The couch she had brought with her after marrying Sebastian had been replaced with a trendy leather couch.

The pillows and ornaments she had carefully made had been tossed into the trash. All of the decorations had been changed into Iris' favorite minimalistic decor.

The house that she had poured all of her hard work into decorating was now filled with traces of Iris. The only thing that remained was Sebastian and Eloise's wedding photo on the TV cabinet.

In the photo, Eloise was smiling brightly, but Sebastian's eyes were filled with sorrow.

Eloise looked at the photo before taking it out of the frame and tearing it into pieces. Then, she made something simple for herself before washing up and packing her things.

She took out everything she had made with her own hands and slowly threw them away. Then, she sorted through their clothes.

After ten years of marriage, she had sewn almost all of their clothes herself. Since the clothes she made weren't comparable to the ones Iris had bought, there was no point in keeping them.

Once she gathered every piece, she started a small fire in the backyard and began throwing the clothes in one by one.

She threw in the first button-up she made for Sebastian and the undergarments she had sewn with a flushed face. She burned them all.

Eloise had made even more clothes for Benjamin and Elijah, as she had started making baby clothes while she was pregnant. All of those tiny blankets, baby shoes, and onesies, she burned them all.

She burned all of the hundreds of clothes she had spent countless nights making over the past ten years.

Soon, smoke billowed in the backyard.

Then, the back door was kicked open.

Sebastian stood there anxiously. However, his eyes quickly turned cold.

When he noticed the pile of clothes that had yet to be burned, his eyes widened. "What are you doing?"

Chapter 5

Benjamin and Elijah rushed into the backyard. When they saw their clothes in the firepit, they rushed forward and pushed Eloise away, snatching the clothes from her hands.

"Mom, what are you doing?" Benjamin yelled. "You've gone too far. Just because we complimented the clothes Ms. Jones bought us doesn't mean you have to burn all of our clothes!"

Elijah followed suit. "We don't want a petty mom like you! The clothes Ms. Jones bought for us are better! Way better! They're a thousand times better than the ones you make!"

Iris stepped forward, holding the twins back. With teary eyes, she apologized, "I'm sorry, Ms. Windsor. I shouldn't have bought them new clothes…"

Sebastian's jaw clenched tightly. Sympathy flashed across his eyes as he reached out to wipe away Iris' tears. "Iris, you haven't done anything wrong. You don't need to apologize."

He then turned to Eloise and demanded, "Eloise, apologize now!"

The setting sun cast a golden light across Eloise's flushed face. However, her eyes were ice cold as she stared at the group of four and scoffed.

Without a word, Eloise grabbed the rest of the clothes and threw them in the firepit before turning to return to her room.

She slammed the door shut. Outside, she heard Benjamin's and Elijah screamed.

"Where's the pillow on my bed?"

"My toy! It's gone!"

"Our rocking horse! The bean bags! Our stress balls and our wooden helicopter…"

Their sorrowful cries tore through the air. "All of our clothes and toys are gone! Dad, we don't want this bad mom anymore…"

The lighting in the room slowly dimmed until only a faint flow remained.

Eloise sat on the floor, hugging her knees. Her expression remained blank. She felt like someone was squeezing her heart tightly, and the pain suffocated her.

"Eloise, open the door!" Sebastian roared as he knocked on the door.

Then, he rattled the doorknob violently. "Come out! We need to talk! If there's a problem, then we should fix it. Don't throw a tantrum like a child!

"Eloise, Benjamin and Elijah are your sons. Do you think you still deserve to be their mother after doing something like that?"

Suddenly, the door swung open. Eloise stood there, looking at Sebastian in exhaustion. Her eyes were cold as she said calmly, "I don't deserve it, but Iris does."

Sebastian's breath was caught in his throat. He clenched his hand into a fist. "What do you mean by that?"

Eloise looked into his indifferent eyes. "You heard me. Sebastian, I had been living in my delusions for the past ten years. Since you love Iris so much, I'm willing to back out and give you two my blessings."

"Eloise! Benjamin and Elijah are your sons!" Sebastian's eyes became sharp.

He took a deep breath and continued, "I've already talked to you about it before we got married. I've given you a marriage, children, and the status you have today. What more do you want?"

Eloise closed her eyes tightly. In her previous life, she had chosen to tolerate their actions and waste her life away because of those things.

With tears in her eyes, she said, "Sebastian, I don't want these things anymore. We—"

Before she could finish, Benjamin and Elijah rushed forward, hands clenching into fists.

"Good then!" Benjamin shouted. "You don't even know how to make money. You don't know how to do anything other than the housework."

He added, "But you keep nagging us about our homework. You don't let us watch TV or let us go out and play whenever we want. You don't deserve to be our mother!"

"We want a mom like Ms. Jones," Elijah chimed in. "She's beautiful, elegant, and she knows how to dance!"

"Alright. Benjamin and Elijah, your wishes will come true soon," Eloise said hoarsely as she looked at her sons.

Sebastian frowned. "What do you mean—"

He was cut short as the door was slammed shut in their faces.

Eloise leaned against the door, tears streaming down her cheeks. With her head down, she slowly slid to the floor.

Her voice was barely a whisper as she said, "Sebastian, I don't want anything this time. I don't even want you anymore."