Dear Billionaire, I'm Not Your Wife Anymore! - Chapter 7: Chapter 7

Braden rarely ate dinner at home that evening. Mia clung to him, chattering nonstop.
I didn't want to get too close. Watching the father and daughter laugh and talk, I didn't even know what I was doing sitting at that dining table.
After dinner, I took a shower as usual. When I came out and changed clothes, my daughter was nowhere to be seen in the room.
I searched around and finally heard her voice coming from Braden's room.
Just as I was about to push the door open, I heard her cheerful voice: "Aunt Linda, have you gone abroad already?"
I froze, instinctively pulling my hand back and pressing against the door.
"Yes, I just arrived today. I really wish Mia could come too!" Linda's voice was soft, coaxing and intimate.
"We'll see each other soon. Daddy said he'll bring me to see you in two days."
"Then I need to prepare lots of gifts for you—pretty little dresses, Christmas hats, and your favorite cream cake."
"I want lots of princess dresses and a beautiful crown!" Mia's voice was bright, innocent and sincere.
"Of course, I'll have everything ready for you in advance." She laughed as she agreed, her tone incredibly doting.
I leaned against the door, listening to the two voices intertwining in the air. My heart felt like it was being pricked by countless needles, even breathing caused dull pain.
"Let's hang up now." Braden's voice finally spoke.
"Okay, then I'll wait for you both."
"Mia, goodbye, love you!" Linda said something in German.
"I love you too!" Mia replied in perfect German.
I closed my eyes, my chest churning. The next second, I took a deep breath and pushed the door open.
I had already put on a smile, gentle as if I hadn't heard anything.
"Mia."
"Mommy!" She turned and smiled at me, her little face full of excitement. "Daddy and I are going abroad to play. Do you want to come with us?"
She asked earnestly, her eyes clear and expectant. In her small world, she just hoped all the people who were good to her could play together.
I walked over and gently ruffled her hair: "Mia, Mommy needs to talk to Daddy. Can you go play in the toy room first?"
"Okay, sure!" She nodded obediently and jumped off the bed to run outside. Mary's voice came from outside: "Mia, I've cut some fruit for you. Come eat."
I closed the door.
I turned around and looked at Braden sitting on the sofa. He was leaning back, his shirt unbuttoned to the third button, with some strawberry jam from his daughter on his chest.
"Let's talk." I spoke first.
He looked up at me, as if he already knew what I was going to say.
"I don't want you to take Mia abroad this time. If you want to spend Christmas with your mother and grandmother, please go alone. I want Mia to stay in the country with me."
"My grandmother and mother haven't played with Mia for a long time. It's only ten days." His tone was flat, as if this was a matter of course.
I looked at him, my chest rising and falling slightly as I suppressed my emotions from breaking through my voice.
"You can come too." He looked at me, speaking casually.
I smiled, a bitter smile. My fists clenched and unclenched at my sides. Finally, I stared at him and asked the question I should have asked long ago:
"I can go, but can you guarantee—that Linda won't get close to my daughter?"
He tugged at his already loose tie—this was his signal of impatience.
"She has no ill intentions toward Mia. You don't need to be so sensitive." He spoke blandly, even with some disdain.
My body trembled slightly, anger almost breaking free.
"Fine, then I'll go abroad with Mia." I took a deep breath, enunciating clearly: "I don't care about your affair with Linda, but please keep her away from my daughter."
I wasn't trying to argue, nor was I being jealous. I just didn't want my daughter to be drawn into another woman's world by her gentleness.
Braden's mother and grandmother lived abroad year-round. His last visit to see them was in August. I knew I couldn't stop this trip. If that was the case, I could only accompany them.
I walked back to my room, the anger and exhaustion in my heart like tidal waves, pressing down on me until I could barely breathe.
Just then, my phone rang.
I looked down and saw it was an international number.
I hesitated for a few seconds, then finally answered: "Hello?"
"Charlotte," came a familiar, deep male voice from the other end, "how are you considering it? Have you decided to join the project?"