It was already ten o'clock at night when Athena returned home after a long day at work.
It was pitch-black in the house. None of the lights were left on in wait for her.
She fumbled for her house slippers in the dark, but just as she put her flats into the shoe cabinet...
The lights in the living room suddenly flickered on, and the successive bangs of party poppers invaded her ears.
Immediately after, Sheryl brought the carefully prepared cake up to Athena with Anne's assistance.
"Happy birthday, mommy!"
"Happy birthday, Athena!"
Welcomed with the warm scene in front of her, Athena was so moved that she teared up. Today was her birthday.
"Mommy, you're one year older. You're a big girl now. Don't cry," said Sheryl with a stern expression.
Athena was instantly amused by her precious daughter's witty words.
As per regular birthday routine, Athena made a wish and finished cutting the cake.
Sheryl scurried back to her room and cheekily brought out a box from the room.
"Mommy, here is a gift for you."
Looking at the exquisite gift box in Sheryl's arms, Athena subconsciously assumed it was Anne's arrangement, but Anne looked rather dumbfounded.
With elation written all over her face, Sheryl looked at Athena giddily and urged, "Mommy, quick, open it, and have a look."
Following Sheryl's instructions, Athena opened the box and the jade-colored dress laying in it startled her.
"Mommy, I'm sure it will look good on you," Sheryl promised confidently.
Judging by the fabric of the dress, Athena had no doubt that this dress was worth quite a fortune.
She was not as pleased as Sheryl had imagined. Instead, she turned to speak to Sheryl with a straight face.
"Stand still. Where did you get the money to buy this dress?"
She knew that Sheryl had a habit of saving her pocket money by avoiding unnecessary spending, but the little allowance she gave her was far from enough to buy clothes.
Subsequently, Anne retrieved the dress and took a look at it. Realizing it was limited edition, she was at a loss for words.
Athena's demeanor turned Sheryl a little nervous. She squeezed her small hands together and asked, "Mommy, don't you like it?"
Her large, beady eyes softened Athena's heart, and she couldn't bear to blame her daughter. Still, thinking about her future, she could only maintain a straight face.
"I'm asking you whether you were the one who bought this dress."
Seeing the grim expression on her mother's face, Sheryl cowered slightly. "It was me. If mommy doesn't believe me, there's a handsome mister who can bear witness."
'Handsome mister?'
Athena and Anne exchanged a curious glance.
"What 'handsome mister'? Didn't Mommy instruct you never to take other people's things? Why are you so disobedient! What if he's a bad guy?" The more Athena thought about it, the more she felt that something was out of place. Her anger rose sharply.
Sheryl had never seen her mother so cross before. She couldn't help but break out in a wailing fit.
"I just wanted to buy a lovely dress for Mommy. Mommy is so beautiful, but the clothes you wear are old and worn. I didn't take anything from handsome mister. I really bought this one on my own."
Athena's heart suddenly ached for her, and she was overwhelmed with a mixture of many different emotions. Consumed by guilt, she pulled Sheryl into an embrace. "I'm sorry, Sheryl. Mommy shouldn't have lost my temper at you."
Seeing Athena's tears flow down her cheeks, Sheryl sensibly stopped crying. Instead, she sniffled as she took out the Centurion Card.
"Mommy, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have lied to you. I bought the dress with this."
Sheryl carefully observed Athena's expression while Anne immediately recognized the origin of the card.
"Isn't this my brother's Centurion Card?"
"Uncle Rick said that with this, not only could I protect mommy, but I could also buy beautiful things to please her. That's why I took it," Sheryl confessed, lowering her head in remorse.
After all, she had promised Uncle Rick that this was their little secret.
After figuring out the ins and outs of the incident, Athena was moved and self reproach. Sheryl had been kind- hearted and absolutely adorable since she was a wee kid. How could she suspect that Sheryl had done something that she shouldn't have?
"Sheryl, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have doubted
you."
"I shouldn't have made you angry, Mommy."
The warm sight filled Anne with envy. In order to cut the experience short, she changed the topic.
"Sheryl, why don't you tell us more about the handsome mister you mentioned?"
Earlier, she had immediately rushed over once Sheryl called her. Yet, she didn't bump into this handsome mister.
Sheryl's eyes immediately lit up and she spilled the entire story from start to end.
"Our dear Sheryl is so smart!" After listening to the Sheryl's story, Anne planted a big kiss on Sheryl's forehead. Athena was also rather gratified to learn that her daughter was too sharp-witted to be bullied.
"Mommy, if you really can't find daddy, I think that handsome mister can also be my daddy." Recalling the words and actions of the handsome man during their short encounter, she felt that he was the perfect match for her beautiful mother.
Hearing this, Anne was reluctant. "Darling Sheryl, don't you want Uncle Rick anymore?"
"Well..." Sheryl seemed to be in some sort of a dilemma. "Well, let's try to find daddy first."
Having to decide between Uncle Rick and Mister Handsome was too difficult a choice for Sheryl to make!
"Anne, you should take this."
After coaxing Sheryl to sleep, Athena sent Anne downstairs and handed her the Centurion Card.
Anne hesitated to accept it as she continued to fight for her brother who was abroad.
However, Athena was adamant. She shook her head and began, "Anne, you know how I feel about this. I'm not looking for a romantic partner right now. I just want to find Sheryl's father."
In fact, in the depths of her heart, she no longer believed in the existence of romance in this cruel world. noveldrama
After all, her father's betrayal was still fresh in her mind.
Faced with Athena's persistence, Anne had no choice but to accept the card. Before leaving, she attempted to comfort Athena.
"Athena, I have no doubt that Sheryl will grow up safe and in perfect health."