The Year She Stopped Being Crazy for Him novel Chapter 38

Pressed closely beside him, Gardenia wore a light-colored dress, holding the boy's hand and gently brushing her fingertips against his cheek.

Adrian, wearing the standard school uniform, looked incredibly striking. With his delicate features and flawless complexion, he held onto both of their hands, looking up at his 'father' one moment and affectionately leaning against his mother the next.

The three of them moved in perfect sync, radiating a quiet, profound intimacy. Just standing there, they painted the ultimate picture of a loving, flawless family.

"Natalie," Mia said, clearly confused. "Why is Mr. Carlson with Adrian's mom? Aren't you the only one who's supposed to be close to him?"

She froze. *Close?* That man had never once looked at her with the tenderness he was showing right now.

Natalie squeezed the little girl's hand tight. "That's why you have to keep your eyes open, Mia. Men like that? You stay far away from them."

Mia looked at her, only half-understanding. "Do you not want Mr. Carlson anymore? Then you should just come live at my house and be with me!"

Natalie let out a small, bitter laugh. Then, she caught fragments of the gossip swirling around them.

"They look like a magazine cover. It's just a shame the mom seems a bit... defective."

"She is. You can tell she has a prosthetic. But honestly, that just proves how deep their love is. Look at the guy's watch—that's an auction-tier Patek Philippe. To be that insanely rich and still openly marry a woman with a disability? He must be absolutely obsessed with her."

The words drifted in one ear and out the other. Natalie truly didn't care, acting as if she had absolutely no connection to the perfect little family in front of her.

She led Mia over to their seats.

Because the two kids were close, the teacher had seated them next to each other.

"Adrian!" Mia ran over and took the seat right beside him.

Gardenia was seated to Adrian's left in the very first chair of the row. Mia unknowingly took the seat meant for Hassan. As a result, the only seat left for Hassan was the one directly next to Natalie.

She sat in her designated spot. The moment the man sat down beside her, the familiar, faint scent of cedar wafted over—laced distinctly with another woman's perfume.

Her brow furrowed involuntarily.

She froze. Slowly, she turned to look at him, her eyes terrifyingly empty.

His words pierced her like a jagged knife.

Even now, he still firmly believed she wanted a divorce because of the baby issue.

"Hassan, I don't want anything. I want a divorce."

Her voice trembled slightly, teetering on the absolute edge of a breakdown.

He fell silent for a long moment before his voice dropped to a glacial chill. "Natalie, you don't need to worry. Even without a child, as long as I say so, you can comfortably remain Mrs. Carlson."

"Oh, really?" A mocking smile pulled at her lips. "And what? Help you raise your mistress's son? Sit back and watch the two of you play house in public while I, the dutiful wife, stay home and draw your bathwater? Is that the plan?"

"Gardenia is not a mistress."