The Flower Bloomed Sixty Times

Xena said calmly, “Whoever eats, cleans up. I’m not going to serve you all anymore. You’re responsible for your own mess.”

Julian frowned and looked at her in open disapproval. “You don’t have a job. Your responsibility at home is to take care of the family.”

Zayden shouted in anger, “Fine, we’ll clean it ourselves! You don’t work, and you’re lazy! Dad won’t want you for much longer anyway. He’s going to be with Ms. Jensen!”

Yannick chimed in, “That’s right! Ms. Jensen is pretty, gentle, and knows how to dance. When she becomes my new mom, no one else will want you. When you grow old, we won’t even visit you or take care of you!”

After that, the two of them ran downstairs in a rage. Soon, the sound of plates breaking and sharp screams sounded from below.

Xena did not even raise an eyebrow. Her expression was icy.

Julian glanced at her briefly. His eyes held no warmth, as if he were looking at a stranger who was acting out.

“Xena, you’re a mother and a wife, not a kid!”

After that, he grabbed a fresh set of clothes and turned to leave. “The project is urgent. I won’t be back for the next couple of days.”

Xena watched his receding back and listened to the noise coming from downstairs. Her eyes welled up with tears.

Her knuckles went white as she gripped the doorframe, and finally, she slammed the door shut.

‘To hell with my responsibilities!’ she thought. ‘To hell with being a mother and a wife!’

Starting that day onward, she would only be herself!

The next morning, Xena went to the city hall to file for a divorce.

“All your paperwork is fine. Come back in a week to pick up your divorce certificate.”

Xena smiled and thanked them. She went to the airport and bought a ticket to leave.

From that day on, Xena stopped taking care of the household for the three of them.

She no longer woke up at 5 a.m. to make them a big breakfast.

Zayden and Yannick were thrilled. They grabbed their allowance and ran out the door in excitement.

“Who even wants to eat the nasty stuff you make? We’re tired of it anyway!”

She stopped pushing the boys to do their homework. She stopped washing their clothes and picking up after them.

The house quickly fell into a mess. Dirty clothes piled up, toys covered the floor, and the school kept calling about the kids’ grades.

She unplugged the phone.

Three days later, the school could not reach Xena and called Julian instead.

He came home with Zayden and Yannick. When he saw Xena sitting in the rocking chair and reading, his face darkened.

“Zayden and Yannick got food poisoning! How can you call yourself a mother?

“You don’t wash their clothes or cook! You can’t even provide the most basic care. Xena, why’re you throwing a tantrum?”

Xena closed her book calmly. “I’m not throwing a tantrum. I made it clear before. Everyone takes care of their own mess.”

“They’re only ten!” Julian frowned at her. His eyes were cold and full of reproach.

“They’re ten, not three! They can take care of themselves.”

She remembered her past life. Before she went to the nursing home, she woke up before dawn every day.

The three men in the Zane family all wanted different breakfasts. Making everything took at least an hour.

She handled all the chores. The house was always clean, tidy, and in order.

And what did she get in return?

She was ignored and looked down on. After a car accident broke her leg, she was sent straight to a nursing home, and she died alone.

Zayden’s eyes turned red with anger, and he shouted, “Mom, you’ve gone too far! You don’t deserve to be a mother!”

“Exactly!” Yannick grabbed Julian. “Dad, I want Ms. Jensen to be my mom! I’m sure she’ll be the best mom in the world!”

Julian said nothing. His eyes stayed on Xena. He seemed to be waiting for her to give in.

Xena smiled slightly. “Then, let her be your mom. I don’t mind.”

The room fell completely silent.

Julian’s face darkened. “Xena, do you know what you’re saying?”

“I do.” Xena took a deep breath. She was about to tell him about the divorce when someone knocked at the door.

Moon’s voice trembled. “Julian, are you home?”

The three of them froze. Then, they quickly went to open the door.

Moon rushed in and threw herself into Julian’s arms. She cried and said, “Julian, I can’t find the bracelet my mom left me before she died! I searched every single place I visited in the past few days. The only place I haven’t checked is Ms. Xander’s room.”

Xena frowned. “My room?”

Moon nodded. “I used the bathroom that day and took the bracelet off. Can I look there?”

“Go ahead! Go ahead!” Zayden and Yannick raced forward and pulled her inside. “Ms. Jensen, don’t cry! We’ll help you find it. We’ll find it for sure!”

The two boys searched the room and scattered things everywhere. The room quickly became a mess.

Julian just watched. He did not try to stop them.

“Stop!” Xena finally stepped forward as Moon smashed the third picture frame.

Moon turned, terrified. “I’m sorry, Ms. Xander. I didn’t mean to! I was just in such a hurry. I—”

Zayden stepped in front of Moon, like a little knight protecting his precious treasure. “Don’t yell at Ms. Jensen!”

Xena suddenly remembered something.

When they were three, Zayden and Yannick had fought to climb onto her lap. They had snuggled into her arms and shouted, “Mom, when we grow up, we’ll always protect you!”

Yannick stood in front of Moon. “Mom, is there a reason you don’t want Ms. Jensen looking in your room?”

Xena felt a lump in her throat.

She clenched her fists. Her voice was tense. “Do you think I stole it?”

“I found it!”

Moon held up a bright green bracelet from the drawer. Tears ran down her face. “This is it!”

Zayden and Yannick shoved Xena. She stumbled back.

“Mom, you’re a thief!”