Sienna’s POV
“For helping. I hesitated, but I had to push forward and be here.”
He looked at him with a soft voice. “You don’t have to thank me, Sienna.”
I inhaled a small breath. I had a longing to say something that was deep inside me, but the words were still lodged in my throat.
Noah yelled out in the living room, “Mommy! Daddy!
Look, I’m jumping!”
Liam smiled. “We’ve got our backs on us for now.”
I also smiled and we left the kitchen together.
The living room rug was the perfect backdrop for Noah’s bounce, which he described as like a performance on ice. “I can jump high!”
He jumped. Not high. Nevertheless, his eyes were filled with pride.
With great enthusiasm, Liam remarked that practicing will help him become an athlete in the future.
Noah couldn’t contain his laughter. “Daddy’s not telling the truth!””No, it’s not true,” said Liam before raising him up.
“Nooo! Put me down! Mommy, Look! Look!”
My eyes filled with joy as I watched them. They were so sweet. Almost forgotten, the warmth in Liam’s eyes was evident as he lifted Noah and laughed with joy throughout the room.
I said in a playful manner, “You two are very noisy.”
“This isn’t loud,” Noah protested in response. “Happy!”
Using his hands, Liam placed his arms on the ground and stroked his hair. “Go for your jacket. We’re going to the park.”
Before leaving for his room, he boasted with pride that Noah would be content.
At the moment of his disappearance, a slight silence was heard. But Liam came closer, just one step further than usual, which reminded me of him.
“Sienna,” he called softly.
I turned. “Hm?”
“I see you smiling, that’s great,” he said.
My heart raced too fast. “I’m putting in effort.”
He said, “You are doing great, I guess.” Mid second his gaze flicked back and forth again to me: “I want to see youlike this more.”
His words caught me off guard. The honesty in his eyes was something I had experienced before, but it’s now returning.
I was taken aback and hesitated. “What’s the game?”
‘ “Lego! Daddy and I were building an enormous house, but Mom had to join in too. He was overjoyed!”
After laughing, I wiped my hands on the kitchen towel and then proceeded to walk towards them. “Is this a large house?” asked. “Mommy’s proficiency in constructing Lego houses is lacking.”
“Noah will teach you, Mommy. Daddy is not good either,” he said with a playful giggle.
As Liam took a jab, his eyebrow was raised in a mocking tone. “Good for you,” he said. This particular architect is characterized by his diminutive size and extreme workload.
Noah made me burst out laughing. While Noah poured outhis Lego pieces, I laid back on the floor with my legs under the small table.
The carpet was adorned with brightly colored blocks.
I sighed, “Good morning,” and took a piece. “Mr. Architect?”
“Mom, start with the door,” Noah said, lifting his chin like an adult. He continued, “I want to go inside. Every house has a door.”
By pretending to be in a tough spot, I realized the thought made me feel more at ease.
Sitting next to me, Liam had my shoulder almost touching mine. It was as if the heat from inside his body had blended in with the cool temperature coming out of the AC.


Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Forgotten Wife My Ex-Husband Regrets It After I Left (Clara and Liam)