Chapter 435


    Five yearster, Xara stepped onto the familiarnd of her past pain and youth. Just like five years


    before, the sky was cloudy and rainy when she had left this ce, overwhelmed by despair.


    Even on the ne, Xara couldn’t rxpletely. She covered her ears, fearful of turning back, as if


    Steffan might be there, casting a menacing look. Her greatest fear was crumbling under Jacob’s cries.


    As a psychologist, Xara knew well that severe postpartum depression had gripped her after Jacob’s


    birth. Her actions became uncontroble, leading to numerous instances of self-harm at night, and she


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    had evene close to harming Jacob. Nightmares haunted her even in sleep.


    Despite five years passing, she still relied on sleeping pills to find rest.


    She did not know if Steffan regretted letting her leave back then. She had never dared to stay in one


    ce for more than three months. She did not dare to buy a house. She only had an off- road vehicle,


    driving it everywhere and driving away like a frightened bird at the slightest disturbance.


    This man who terrified her to her core was the father of her child.


    Despite her fear, she found herself returning to this ce.


    The drizzle continued, veiling the scenery in a fog.


    Xara had just gotten to the airport exit with her luggage when she saw Esther wave at her, wearing


    oversized sunsses and holding a bouquet of flowers.


    “Xara, over here!” Esther waved her arms vigorously, trying to catch Xara’s attention.


    However, Xara’s focus was entirely on the young boy next to Esther. He appeared to be slightly over


    eight years old, dressed in a in suit with neatlybed hair.


    His eyes closely resembled his father’s, possessing a deep and calm quality reminiscent of a peaceful


    pond.


    When his gaze turned towards Xara, her heart momentarily raced. Amidst the crowd, she stood frozen,


    uncertain about how to confront her own child.


    For five years, she had chosen her own desires over her son’s needs, abandoning him when he


    required his mother the most. She realized her shorings as a parent.


    Amid the bustling crowd, Xara was pushed toward Esther and Jacob.


    “Jacob, you’ve grown so big.”


    Xara could clearly recall the image of young Jacob chasing her through the rain on the day she


    departed. He was so little, a tiny child, running after the car, tears streaming down his face, pleading


    with her not to go.


    His cries deeply pained her, and she had thought about asking the driver to halt multiple times, But her


    own fragile mental state held her back. She worried that giving in to her vulnerability might have serious


    consequences.


    Having witnessed numerous cases of postpartum depression, Xara feared the possibility.


    Those affected might initially harm themselves, and their negative emotions could eventually be


    directed toward their own children.


    Xara dreaded bing that sort of person. This fearpelled her to implore Steffan repeatedly to


    release her, to spare her from such a fate.


    “Thank you for recognizing me.” Jacob’s tone was distant.


    He and his father had been tracking, her for five years after her departure. They viewed her pictures


    and videos. Jacob understood more than anyone that she was leading a better life without them much


    better, to the extent that she had forgotten she had a child on the other side of the ocean.