Chapter 350
Isabella held Maggie’s hand with one hand and tugged at Franklin with the other. “Let’s go! Let’s eat together!”
Maggie paused, wanting to gently pull her hand away, but just then, she heard Isabella say softly, “I think… it’s been a really long time since Mommy and Daddy had a meal with me together.”
She froze.
Looking at the way Isabella smiled so brightly, holding both her and Franklin’s hands, surrounded by classmates with their moms and dads beside them–Maggie’s heart suddenly tightened.
Back when she found herself unexpectedly pregnant, she had insisted on keeping the child. In those early years, Franklin had taken no part in raising Isabella.
And now, just as he was finally beginning to be present in Isabella’s life, the two of them–mother and daughter–had already grown used to being apart more than they were together.
Which meant that, all this time, Isabella had never truly experienced the life of a child with both parents present.
And in that regard… Maggie owed her.
She had brought her into this world and raised her, yet had given her barely anything resembling a normal childhood.
No matter what would happen between her and Franklin in the future, they would always be Isabella’s parents. When it came to their daughter’s future, even after divorce, they would still need to sit down and make decisions together.
So having a meal like this, just the three of them… it wasn’t really a big deal.
“Mommy?” Isabella tugged at her hand, looking up.
Snapping out of her thoughts, Maggie glanced at Franklin, as if silently asking for his opinion.
་
But when she looked up, she found him already watching her from the side–as though he knew exactly what she was thinking.
He said, “What do you want to eat?”
Maggie looked away. “You decide.”
“Alright.”
Not long after, they got into separate cars and headed to the restaurant.
Time
Chapter 350
Once seated in a private dining room, Isabella sat between them. Franklin passed the menu to Maggie to let her order. Then he asked casually, “Coming to Wilson Group this afternoon?”
“I have other things. Won’t be coming.”
“Mm.”
He poured her a cup of tea. She thanked him, then asked, “Isabella’s birthday’s coming up. Any plans?”
It had been two years since Maggie had last celebrated Isabella’s birthday with her.
Last year, she had intended to fly to Country A for it. But Franklin hadn’t responded to her messages, and Isabella had seemed to be having so much fun that she hadn’t asked for her mom. So Maggie had put it off until the very day of the birthday before making the trip.
And in the end… what she got after going all that way was indifference.
Thinking of that memory, her voice grew colder. “You decide”
By then, they’d be divorced. Isabella’s custody would be with him. Whatever he wanted to do–he could decide. As for her, there was no guarantee she’d even be there.
Just as that thought passed through her mind, she heard Isabella say, “Can Mommy be with me on my birthday?”
Maggie gave her a gentle smile but didn’t immediately say yes. “We’ll see. If Mommy’s free, I’ll come.”
Isabella’s smile dimmed a little. “Okay…”
Franklin was still busy. After placing their order, he answered several back–to–back calls. Maggie didn’t speak to him much after that.
Once the meal was nearly finished, Maggie was ready to leave, but Isabella clung to her arm, begging her to stay a little longer.
She couldn’t say no.
Franklin seemed to have wrapped up his business as well. Without a word, he accompanied them to a nearby arcade.
Maggie had no intention of talking to him, and he seemed to pick up on it. He didn’t push, just stood a short distance behind them, watching her teach Isabella how to play the games.
After a while, Isabella noticed that he hadn’t joined in and grew a little worried. “Daddy, do you want to come play
too?”
Franklin glanced at Maggie, who still showed no reaction, then smiled faintly. “No need. I’m happy just watching you two play.”
Chapter 350
“…Okay then.”
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