I only snapped out of it when Atlas kissed me, his agile tongue playfully circling in my mouth. He embraced me tightly.
"You look so beautiful in sportswear, baby." He looked at me with narrowed eyes. "How can sportswear make you look like a fairy? Are you a goddess?"
"You surprised me. Why are you so handsome?" I couldn't help but tease him back.
He said earnestly, "It's my fault. I shouldn't have looked so good and made you worry."
His words amused me, and I dove into his arms.
"We're too much."
He laughed and kissed me again before reluctantly letting me go, whispering sweetly, "I'll kiss you good tonight."
Suddenly, he lifted me up and strode outside.
As he walked, he said, "We'll be late if we don't hurry. Our princess is going to scold us."
I patted his back. "Put me down. The servants might see us."
Instead, he gave my butt a playful smack. "Behave."
I laughed until tears welled up in my eyes.
He finally put me down at the staircase and held my hand as we descended together.
My mom looked at us in our matching couple outfits with a content smile on her face. I felt a little bitter. I knew they loved me, but why did they have to strip away my memories?
Was it just because they loved me?
A love like that was selfish.
"We're going to join Ava and Jenny for the parent-child day, Mom. We'll be back after it's over," I said.
She looked pleased. "Good. Go ahead. I know she's been looking forward to it for days. She even asked me if you were really coming back this morning. Go quickly. She'll worry if you're late."
We got into the car and headed to the kindergarten.
The road was clear, and we arrived with some time to spare. It was still early, but many parents were already there, which showed just how enthusiastic everyone was.
One of the onlookers couldn't believe it and exclaimed, "Is that… Atlas? Is he here for the parent-child day?"
"Looks like he's really been enchanted by that… woman? Unbelievable..."
"Yeah, my goodness..."
"Don't speak nonsense. A while ago..."
Those people huddled together and spoke in hushed tones. I knew exactly what they were talking about. It was that incident with the chubby kid that had happened some time ago.
I pretended not to hear anything and took the kids away from the gossip. It was natural to hear different opinions with so many people around.
Besides, they weren’t entirely wrong. I didn't match up to Atlas. After all, I had once been someone else's wife. It was a label I couldn't escape in this lifetime.
But I sincerely thanked the heavens for his unwavering love. Atlas loved me as if it had been me from the beginning. I would always remember that and use this lifetime and the next to love him. That was the only way to repay his steadfast feelings.
I didn't want him to be caught up in such an awkward situation, but I knew we had to face it.
Atlas held me and completely ignored those whispers. He lifted Ava and hugged me as I held Jenny. Together, we returned to our seats, unabashedly facing the curious gazes of the onlookers.
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