The Ex-Wife's Redemption: A Love Reborn Chapter 217

Billy's gaze shifted to Henry after hearing his father's voice. His big innocent eyes filled with confusion as he asked, "Why can't Mommy make a baby by herself?"

He turned back to me, blinking those crystal-clear eyes, waiting expectantly for my answer.

How was I supposed to respond to that?

I was almost certain Henry had deliberately steered the conversation this way, leaving me to handle this awkward topic.

"Billy, that's not something you should be asking about!" My tone was probably sharper than I had intended.

When it came to sex education, I was admittedly traditional.

He was far too young for these discussions—some things weren't meant to be explained so bluntly.

My son's face crumpled instantly. His lower lip jutted out in that heartbreaking way that always made me feel terrible.

"Mommy, it's just a question," he said, his voice small and hurt. "Why are you being mean to me?"

I immediately regretted my harshness. The look of hurt on his face was unbearable, but I still had no idea how to explain reproduction to a five-year-old.

I was caught in a dilemma, wanting both to protect his innocence and to provide an age-appropriate answer.

Henry stepped in at exactly the right moment. "Mommy is a girl, and girls get embarrassed about these things," he said gently.

He knelt beside Billy, careful with his injured arm. "Let Daddy tell you how babies are made. Daddy plants a tiny seed in Mommy's tummy. The seed grows bigger and bigger until it becomes a baby. When the baby is big enough, it comes out of Mommy's tummy. That's how you were born."

His explanation was simple yet effective, perfectly tailored for a child's understanding while making the adult aspects seem innocent. I couldn't help but give Henry an appreciative glance.

That face—it was still the face I'd once fallen for. For a long time, I'd convinced myself that I was only drawn to Henry because he resembled Sam.

But the truth was, I had always seen them as completely different people. I'd never once confused them.

The problem was that we weren't right for each other. Fate had drawn clear boundaries between our futures from the very beginning. We were never meant to have a happy ending.

Henry noticed my gaze lingering on him. He gently ruffled Billy's hair, but his words were clearly directed at me. "Pregnancy is really hard on Mommy. If she doesn't want another baby, we shouldn't force her." Though Henry couldn't possibly understand the physical toll of carrying a child for ten months, he seemed to genuinely appreciate the sacrifice.

Billy struggled to understand, glancing at my stomach. "I don't want Mommy to be in pain," he declared firmly. "No baby sister then."

Henry's lips curved into a smile. "That's my boy. You're so thoughtful."

The picture of fatherly affection and filial devotion before me was something I had once desperately longed for. Now it only filled me with a hollow ache.

My heart had already turned to ash. What good were Henry's efforts now?

From my peripheral vision, I noticed Henry watching me intently. When he realized I was no longer looking at him, disappointment flashed across his face. "Can't you give me another chance?" he asked softly. "Even in court, a convicted person gets the right to appeal their case. Could I have that opportunity at least?"

The question hung heavily between us.

During those days in the hospital, Henry had done a lot of thinking. Though there was already so much distance between us, he still wanted to try his best.

I didn't turn around to face him. "Once a relationship breaks, no amount of mending can erase the cracks," I said, my back still to him. "The fractures in my heart are too deep to ever fill. Do you really think we can go back to how things were?"

I paused, gathering my courage. "Henry, I've never asked you for anything. Can I ask for just one thing now? Please finalize our divorce. Please?"

In the past, I'd always demanded the divorce with commanding tones. This time I was begging.

The disappointment in my heart was unspoken but obvious.

Henry sucked in a sharp breath. His lips pressed into a thin line as reality shattered whatever fantasy he'd been nurturing.

He remained silent, taking a cigarette from his pocket as he walked toward the balcony beside me. His retreating figure seemed profoundly lonely.

"Henry, with your health issues, how can you still smoke?" Isabella's voice suddenly cut through the room. "Please stop! Your stomach hasn't fully healed, and your arm is still injured!"

The concern in her saccharine voice grated on my nerves. I immediately turned to Billy. "Sweetheart, would you like to play somewhere else?"

Though young, my son was remarkably perceptive. The moment he heard Isabella's voice, he'd glanced sideways at her before quickly nodding his agreement.

As I led Billy toward the third-floor children's room, I heard Henry scolding Isabella: "How many times do I have to tell you? Stop hovering around me! What business is my health to you?"

His voice grew harsher. "The only reason you're here today is because my mother requested it! You're a guest in the Harding house—know your place and don't meddle in other people's affairs! Understood?"

Henry was also deeply unhappy about Isabella's presence at the Harding family dinner.

If he hadn't wanted to avoid making a scene in front of relatives and friends at such an occasion, Henry probably would have called security to throw Isabella out.

How could he possibly like a woman who had lied to him repeatedly, who could lie to his face without the slightest hint of shame or nervousness?

Now, he only wished she would stay far away from him, the farther the better.

He had thought that if he acted cold enough toward her, she would take the hint and back off.

But Henry didn't know what was wrong with her—she deliberately kept coming near him, putting on an air of having been greatly wronged, which only made him more irritated.

After hearing Henry's harsh words, Isabella didn't get angry. She smiled until her eyes curved into crescents. "Henry, don't be upset. I'm just concerned about your health, nothing more."

The more gentle and caring she acted, the more impatient Henry became. He stopped walking, turned around and glared at her fiercely. "I told you I don't want to see you! Are you deaf? Security!"

"Henry, please don't get angry. It's not good for your health. If you don't want me here, I can leave on my own. Why bother calling security to escort me out?"

"Don't worry, I just wanted to check on your condition. As long as you're alright, I don't mind what happens to me."

While saying this, Isabella's small mannerisms never stopped.

She was either pulling at her hair or taking out perfume to spray around. She deliberately kept moving closer to Henry.

Henry found these actions increasingly irritating. He unbuttoned his collar with his uninjured left hand, his face full of anger. "Don't you find this annoying? Do I really need to call security?"

Seeing that Henry was truly angry, Isabella took off running toward the children's room where Sophia and Billy were.

As she ran, she kept spraying perfume.

Strangely enough, although she was spraying perfume, the corridor didn't smell of perfume at all. Instead, there was a pungent, acrid odor.

Henry, afraid she would disturb Sophia and Billy, chased after her.

But...

For some reason, the more he ran, the more he felt short of breath. His heart began pounding uncontrollably, beyond what he could bear.

Isabella watched him staggering toward her with unsteady steps, and the corners of her mouth lifted in a satisfied smile.