Dear Billionaire, I'm Not Your Wife Anymore! - Chapter 5: Chapter 5

I had just parked when I saw Linda across the street.
She was momentarily stunned, clearly not expecting that it would be me picking up Mia today instead of Braden.
She quickly recovered her composure, confidently curving her lips into a smile, opening the Ferrari door and walking toward me in high heels.
I clenched my fists, my heart churning with thick disgust.
She stopped in front of me, her smile alluring: "Hello, Miss Charlotte. I believe you should know who I am by now. I'm Linda—Braden's... good friend."
I stared at her and replied coldly: "I don't care who you are. Stay away from my daughter."
Her expression changed, as if she had caught some kind of amusement: "Charlotte, do you think I'm a bad woman just because I like your husband?"
I couldn't be bothered to respond to her.
But she laughed to herself: "What if I told you that the man I like was taken away by another woman to be her husband—would you think you're quite hateful too?"
I snorted lightly, my tone merciless: "You're the first person who can say 'shameless' with such righteousness."
She slightly raised her hand, her fingertips lightly stroking the sapphire necklace at her throat.
My eyes tightened. Without her saying anything, I knew—that was a gift from Braden. For the past two weeks, he hadn't been home at all, and she was the person he had been with constantly.
I didn't want to waste any more time with her. The school gates had opened, so I stepped forward, walking past her toward the entrance.
Her gaze still fell on my back, those seemingly smiling eyes hiding disdain and provocation.
I walked into the campus faster than she did. The moment I entered the classroom, Mia saw me and her eyes immediately lit up.
She happily ran over with her school bag, proudly introducing me to her classmates: "This is my mommy!"
I crouched down and reached out to hug her: "Mia was really great today."
In that moment, I felt I lacked nothing—her smile was more important than anyone's approval.
After returning home, Mia excitedly pulled me into the kitchen, asking Mary to bring out the cake ingredients we had prepared earlier.
As she put on her apron, she pestered me with questions: "Mommy, what flavor are we making today?"
I put the pre-prepared cookies into the oven, and soon the sweet fragrance of almonds filled the entire kitchen, even reaching the living room.
Mia was so tempted she clapped her little hands: "I want to eat cookies!"
"They'll be ready soon." As I spoke, I deliberately smeared some flour on my face.
She noticed but didn't say anything, instead quietly running to get a tissue and then tugging at my sleeve.
"Mommy, you have flour on your face. Let me wipe it off for you."
I pretended to be surprised: "Oh! Really?"
She stood on her tiptoes and carefully wiped the white powder from my face, her expression extremely serious.
Looking at her, my eyes suddenly felt moist.
She was a child who understood love and knew how to take care of others. I was grateful to have her.
"Mommy, am I great?"
"You're the best." I smiled and patted her head.
The baked cake was finally finished. I used the best ingredients, controlling sugar and calories, making it cleaner, more nutritious, and safer than store-bought cakes.
Time flew by, and it was already 6:30.
Mia lay against the windowsill, looking at the darkening sky, her little mouth pouting: "Why isn't Daddy home yet?"
I didn't say anything. Actually, I had a premonition—after that silent declaration of war at school today, he would likely stay at Linda's tonight.
Just then, the phone rang.
Mary answered and quickly hung up: "Ma'am, sir says he won't be home for dinner tonight. He says he has business entertainment."
I nodded: "Then we'll make dinner for three people."
From now on, no one should affect my and my daughter's good mood anymore.
After dinner, Mia and I went to the lawn to play soccer. I deliberately pretended to trip and fall, dramatically crying out in pain.
She immediately ran over, nervously helping me up: "Mommy, are you okay?"
I pretended to limp, and her eyes turned red with worry, her face full of concern.
This scene made my heart tremble.
She was still so young, yet she already knew how to care for her mother.
That evening, after I bathed her, she lay in her little bed and fell asleep within ten minutes. I quietly closed her door and stood in the doorway, letting out a long sigh.
Night had fallen, but I felt no sleepiness.
I turned and walked into the study, opened the drawer, took out my recent experimental research materials, and began drafting a new experimental plan.
Over these years, in order to be a "good wife," I had suppressed too much. I worried that Braden would be disgusted, worried he would think I was neglecting the family, so I had always carefully hidden these achievements.
But I wasn't going to hide anymore.
Under the lamplight, my expression was more composed than ever before. Confidence grew from within, spreading through every glance and gesture.
Starting tonight, I would step by step walk out of the cage that had imprisoned me.
I wanted to be myself again.