Redesign My Life

After two days of unanswered video calls to her son, Beatrice Sinclair couldn't stop worrying. She pushed aside her work and flew back from abroad overnight.

As soon as she reached the front door, she heard cheerful laughter from inside: "Auntie Valerie is amazing! Not like Mom, who can't do anything."

It was her son Eric Getty's voice.

Beatrice frowned slightly. Eric was home, so why wasn't he answering her calls?

She pushed open the door suspiciously and saw a pair of beige high heels at the entrance.

In the living room, Theodore Getty was wearing casual clothes with his collar slightly open, leaning down and holding a strange woman's hand. Together, they were guiding Eric in decorating cookies.

The woman had golden curly hair and wore an apron around her waist. After putting the cookie dough in the oven, she lowered her head and affectionately nuzzled Eric's forehead with her nose, her voice gentle: "Eric, you're so good. You learned so fast."

Eric smiled with his eyes curved like crescent moons, pulling Theodore's hand and asking innocently, "Dad, can I let Valerie be my mom?"

Theodore crouched down, ruffling his hair, and asked: "Why?"

Eric thought for a moment, then said seriously, "Auntie Valerie can dance and make desserts. She's way better than Mom. Mom can only do laundry and cook..."

His innocent words made the woman laugh, while Theodore's eyes stayed on her the whole time, a hint of affection in his smile.

When he saw Beatrice, his smile froze for a moment, then his expression darkened, like someone had ruined his mood: "Why are you back?"

Beatrice stood frozen in place. The warm family scene before her made it seem like she was the outsider intruding on someone else's family.

"I came to see my son," she said quietly.

Eric glanced up at her, softly called "Mom," then leaned back toward Valerie.

The woman turned around and smiled politely at her: "You must be Beatrice. I'm Valerie Talbot, Theodore's college classmate."

Hearing that name, Beatrice's heart trembled.

So this was Valerie Talbot, Theodore's first love from college.

Before she married Theodore, someone had warned her that Theodore had an unforgettable first love named Valerie.

But she had liked Theodore so much back then, she didn't think twice and married him without hesitation.

Five years of marriage, and she had always been a dedicated housewife, even turning down opportunities for promotion abroad.

She never expected that after less than a month on this business trip, her husband would bring his first love home.

Valerie touched Eric's head beside her, her smile gracious and appropriate: "Today Theodore and I picked up Eric from school, and he said he wanted homemade cookies, so I came back to teach him. You don't mind, do you?"

She untied her apron with natural, smooth movements, as if she were the lady of the house.

That apron was a gift from Beatrice's mother, and Beatrice herself rarely used it.

Beatrice's fingers tightened slightly, but her face remained calm: "No."

She looked at Eric, her voice soft: "Eric, why didn't you answer my calls?"

Eric's little head drooped down, his eyes seeking help from Theodore.

Theodore frowned, his tone full of impatience: "Can you stop bothering Eric all the time? He needs space, too."

Beatrice was stunned, her heart sinking.

During this month-long business trip, every time she finished work and returned to the hotel, the first thing she did was video call Eric. She never imagined it would earn their disgust.

Beatrice crouched down, opening her arms toward Eric: "Eric, I've been away so long. Don't you miss me?"

Eric didn't answer her question or walk toward her. Instead, he instinctively burrowed into Valerie's arms.

Beatrice's heart was stabbed with pain.

Seeing the awkward atmosphere, Valerie tried to smooth things over: "Beatrice, Eric might be tired. Don't take it personally."

Beatrice glanced at her and said coldly, "This is our family matter. It has nothing to do with you."

Valerie's lips twitched, her expression somewhat embarrassed.

Theodore immediately said with displeasure: "Beatrice, you just got back and you're already making everyone unhappy."

Beatrice looked at him and found it laughable: "How am I making you unhappy? Is it wrong for me to come back to my own home?"

"Valerie just came to help take care of Eric. Now you're acting like you're here to settle scores. Who are you performing for?" Theodore said with annoyance.

Beatrice glanced at Valerie and asked back, "Theodore, who exactly is the lady of this house?"

Theodore's face darkened as he slammed the plate down heavily on the counter: "Beatrice, do you have to talk about this in front of Eric?"

Eric jumped in fright and kept burrowing into Valerie's arms.

Beatrice didn't want to argue with him. She turned to Eric: "Eric, come here."

Eric stared with frightened eyes, hesitating for a long time before finally shuffling toward her reluctantly.

But Theodore forcibly pulled Eric to his side, his tone angry as he glared at Beatrice: "It's exactly this unreasonable attitude of yours that makes Eric dislike you!"

Seeing the tense atmosphere, Valerie quickly stepped forward to mediate: "Theodore, don't be so harsh. Beatrice is doing this for Eric's good, too."

She pulled Eric closer to her: "Eric, be good and go comfort your mom."

Eric pouted. Not only did he not apologize, but he grabbed Valerie's fingers even tighter, muttering quietly: "I don't want to. Mom can't do anything, and she restricts me. Dad and I both don't like her."

Beatrice felt like something was stuck in her throat, not knowing what to say.

It was one thing for her husband not to understand her, but even her son hated her.

Just then, the oven made a crisp sound.

Eric instantly forgot everything, happily pulling Valerie toward the kitchen: "The cookies are ready! Let's go get them!"

Theodore also left Beatrice behind and naturally followed them.

The three of them gathered around the oven, their harmonious silhouettes painfully glaring.

Beatrice felt like a huge stone was blocking her heart, making it ache terribly.

She turned around in a daze and went back to her room, her eyes instantly welling up.

Maybe this marriage had always been her deceiving herself. Five years had passed—it was time to wake up from the dream.

Beatrice opened the drawer. Inside lay a divorce agreement.

She took out the divorce agreement, her fingers trembling slightly. After a long moment, she finally signed it.

When she came out again, she saw Valerie holding Eric and building blocks together.

"Auntie Valerie, can you please not leave tonight?" Eric clung to Valerie's arm, acting cute.

Valerie looked troubled, but Theodore spoke up, his voice carrying a gentleness Beatrice had never heard: "It's too late today. Why don't you just stay?"

Valerie's cheeks flushed, looking somewhat conflicted: "That doesn't seem right. Beatrice just got back..."

"It's fine." Theodore interrupted her, his tone cold yet frank. "She doesn't get to make decisions in this house."

Beatrice stood at the stairway, watching Theodore's gentle and caring manner toward Valerie. Her heart felt shattered, and even her last bit of hesitation vanished into thin air at that moment.