Forgotten Wife My Ex-Husband Regrets It After I Left (Clara and Liam) novel Chapter 260

Sienna’s POV

“Mom,” he called suddenly, his voice soft.

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“If Bam returns Noah’s pencil case later Noah can use it again, right?”

The question was simple, but there was hope tucked inside it. I nodded. “Of course you can. It’s yours.”

He let out a small breath, like half a sigh of relief. “Noah just doesn’t want Bam to be sad.”

My heart gave a gentle ache. I brushed the back of his hand with my thumb. “You did something good today.

And you’re allowed to still have your own feelings. Both can exist at the same time.”

He tilted his head, thinking it through. “Like sharing but still having?”

“Yes,” I said with a smile. “Just like that.”

The taxi passed rows of trees. Afternoon light filtered through the windows and fell across Noah’s face, making his eyelashes look long.

I watched him and suddenly felt how fast time was moving. It felt like only yesterday he was learning to say his first word; now he was learning about empathy andsmall losses that felt big.

“What kind of pencil case do you want?” I asked, trying to shift his attention.

He thought for a moment. “One that opens in two parts.

With a place for colored pencils and an eraser.” Then he added quickly, “But it doesn’t have to be expensive.”

I laughed softly. “Don’t worry. We’ll find the one that fits best.”

The taxi driver turned the radio on quietly. A cheerful children’s song played, and Noah hummed along, even though the lyrics weren’t quite right. I let him. There was a strange calm in this small togetherness, the taxi, the music, the honest.conversation.

My phone vibrated in my bag. I glanced briefly at the notification, then ignored it. Later. Right now, 1 want to be fully present.-

“Mom,” he said again. “If tomorrow Bam apologizes, what should Noah say?”

I turned to him. “You can say thank you for being honest.

And you can tell him how you feel. Kindly.”

“Like Noah was sad, but Noah forgives you?”

I nodded. “That’s very grown-up.”

He smiled a little, proud. Then he leaned back against the seat and closed his eyes for a moment. His hand was stillholding mine, as if to make sure I was there.

1 looked at the increasingly crowded streets as the city center drew closer. Beneath all of life’s complications, there were small tessons never written in books about sharing, about loss, about choosing to stay kind even when it isn’t easy.

When we arrived at the mall, I held Noah’s hand as we went inside, making sure his small steps werent swallowed by the crowd.

“Let’s go there first,” I said, pointing at the sign for school supplies.

Noah nodded. His face still carried a trace of sadness, but his eyes began to sparkle as we entered the stationery section. Shelves filled with colorful pencil cases, notebooks with cute covers, and backpacks of various sizes were neatly lined up.

Noah immediately let go of my hand, his eyes bright as he scanned the choices. “Mommy, look at this!” he exclaimed, holding up a space-themed pencil case.

I smiled.

“Pick the one you like.”

While Noah was busy comparing one pencil case to another, I stepped a little aside and took out my phone.

Something had been weighing on my mind since earlier at the school. About Bam.

Noah immediately lowered his head. His fingers played with the edge of a pencil case. “Noah is confused, Mommy.

Noah is sad, but also feels sorry for him.”

I stroked his hair. “Then would Noah like to ask Bam directly why he took your pencil case?”

Noah shook his head quickly. “No, Mommy. Bam would be embarrassed.” He looked up at me, his eyes serious. “At school, a lot of kids like to tease Bam. Some prank him, hide his shoes, or laugh when his clothes are dirty.”

My chest felt like it was being squeezed. A child that small already understood empathy better than many adults.I smiled, even though my eyes felt hot. “Noah is a good boy.”

Then I spoke softly, as if offering a small secret. “In that case how about we buy Bam a new pencil case too? Along with a uniform, a bag, and shoes?”

Noah’s eyes widened. “For Bam?”

I nodded. “Yes. But we’ll do it gently, without making Bam feel embarrassed.”

Noah’s face lit up immediately. “Really?” his voice rose with excitement.

“Of course.”

He gave a small jump. “Then notebooks and a drawing book too, Mommy!”

I laughed softly and nodded. “Yes. Everything Noah thinks he needs.”

Noah immediately trotted off to another shelf, pointing at notebooks with plain covers. “This one is good, Mommy.

It’s not flashy.”

I stood there, watching that small back with a swell of emotion I couldn’t quite explain.

Today, in the middle of the mall’s bustle, I saw my child grow not just bigger, but more human.