She Quit Her Family and Found Herself novel Chapter 13

The voice came from the room on her left. Hulda stopped walking and turned toward the slightly ajar door. Through the wide gap, she had a perfectly clear view of the scene inside.

Sylvie was propped up in the hospital bed. Miles's small body was leaning over the mattress, his little hands tightly gripping Sylvie's. Herbert was sitting in a chair a short distance away, a warm, gentle smile on his face.

Anyone looking in would easily mistake them for a perfectly loving family of three.

Sylvie's eyes were brimming with pure adoration. She let Miles rock her arm back and forth, her voice soft and sweet. "I'm perfectly fine. It breaks my heart to see my sweet little Miles so worried."

After speaking, she pressed a tender, affectionate kiss to the boy's forehead.

Miles didn't pull away at all. Instead, his cheeks flushed with a ridiculously cute, bashful smile. But the words that came out of his mouth chilled Hulda to her very core.

"It's all my mom's fault. She doesn't know anything and always ruins everything. She's the reason you ended up in the hospital! I hate her! Unless she comes here and apologizes to you, I'm never going to be nice to her again. I'll never forgive her!"

Sylvie's eyes widened, as if she were shocked to hear Miles say such a thing. Her eyes reddened, looking both victimized and deeply touched.

Herbert finally spoke up, his tone taking on a slight edge. "Miles, children shouldn't get involved in adult matters."

Miles pouted in defiance. "I'm not just getting involved! Mom really is awful!"

He let go of Sylvie's hands, marched over to Herbert, and looked up at him with utter seriousness. "Dad, you should divorce Mom. Let Sylvie be my real mom, okay?"

Seeing this, Sylvie wrapped her arms protectively around Miles. "Mr. Jewell, please don't be so harsh on him. He's just a child. He doesn't understand. Kids need patient, scientific guidance from their parents."

Listening to Sylvie's gentle defense while watching his son sob uncontrollably in her arms, Herbert's frustration boiled over. "Hulda can't even raise a child properly. What exactly is she good for?"

Standing out in the hall, Hulda felt a sharp, sudden pain in her chest, even though she thought she had already made her peace with everything.

"Please don't speak about her like that. Everyone has their own limits when it comes to energy, education, and understanding. I'm sure she's already trying her absolute best. It's just..." Sylvie was about to keep talking when she glanced up and spotted Hulda standing outside the door.

Her face instantly tightened in panic. "M—Mrs. Jewell..."