Chapter 416

Totally Different Ava’s questions surprised me, and I responded vaguely before quickly getting up. “Ava, Mommy doesn’t have time to take you today. You can take a walk to the kindergarten with grandma, okay?”

“Mommy, when will you get home? When are we going to the island?” Ava slid off her chair and approached me excitedly.

I knew I couldn’t make promises, or she’d question me endlessly. I almost slapped myself for bringing it up. Even if we were going, I should’ve kept it a surprise. But now, I couldn’t fulfill my promise. I had to make it happen no matter what, or I would let my family down.

I looked at her excited expression and thought before saying, “We’ll go when I return from Solaris, okay?”

I thought taking my parents on vacation would be perfect since Matthew derailed our plans last time.

Afterward, I put my small suitcase in the trunk and said goodbye to Ava before leaving for work.

However, I saw someone standing at the neighborhood entrance. The woman appeared much skinnier since I last saw her. She had graying hair and a worn–out expression as she looked toward the gate anxiously.

I was surprised to see the woman. Although we were once familiar, Grace had become a stranger now.

She had visited in the morning, anxiously scanning the area. I knew she was waiting for Ava. Her desperation was evident from how she kept glancing inside the house.

She didn’t notice my car passing as she craned her neck to look inside. I considered ignoring her, but my heart couldn’t bear to do it. After all, she wouldn’t recognize my new car.

I parked near the gate and stayed in my car to consider the situation, I knew Grace must be longing to see Ava, so she might do something if I ignored her. I couldn’t bear to imagine what Grace would do.

I also considered calling my mom and telling her not to come out. However, I understood the longing one could have for one’s family. Grace was.

and I couldn’t stop her from seeing her granddaughter forever.

With these thoughts in mind, I opened the door and exited my car to approach her. Still, she didn’t notice 1. me. I realized she looked so wom that I barely recognized her. She didn’t look like the plump and well-

groomed Grace I used to know.

I didn’t resent her much in the past. After all, she had cared for me and Ava, especially when I was with Matthew. She had genuinely cared for Ava because of her maternal Instincts. I would have done the same if I put myself in her shoes.

This drama had hurt everyone involved. After the pain, I couldn’t hold onto grudges forever.

“What are you doing here?” I asked quietly, without any form of address. I tried to keep a neutral tone but couldn’t call her “Mom” anymore.

However, Grace still looked toward my house and did not hear my words. I felt upset seeing this, so I grabbed her arm, asking again, “Why are you here?”

This time, she flinched and jerked backward. When our gazes met, she nervously struggled to escape my grasp.

She looked wary as she said, “What’s it to you?

I fell silent before asking. “Are you here to see Ava? She hasn’t come out yet–you’ll have to wait a little longer.‘