Mr. CEO Your Wife Has Wanted a Divorce for a Long Time novel Chapter 461

**Freedom 461**

Isabella eagerly presented Maggie with the gift from Franklin, her small hands trembling with excitement. Just as Maggie reached out to take it, Isabella suddenly yanked it back, her grip tightening around her mother’s hand. “Mom, please, open mine first!” she insisted, her voice a blend of enthusiasm and urgency.

Maggie hesitated for a heartbeat, taken aback by her daughter’s fervor. The air felt thick with anticipation. “…All right,” she finally conceded, a soft smile creeping onto her lips as she surrendered to Isabella’s request.

With delicate fingers, Maggie unfastened the box, her heart fluttering with curiosity. As she lifted the lid, her breath caught in her throat. Nestled within was an exquisite oil painting, framed with care. The subject? None other than herself, captured in a moment of serene beauty.

In the lower right corner, a neat inscription read: To my mom, happy birthday.

A wave of emotion washed over Maggie, striking her deep in the chest. Her hand, which had been poised to admire the frame, froze midair, caught in a moment of disbelief and warmth.

Isabella, sensing her mother’s reaction, gently tugged at her hand, her eyes wide with hope. “I finished it half a month ago. Do you like it, Mom?”

Maggie blinked, pulled from her reverie by the innocent eagerness on Isabella’s face. Her heart swelled, heavy yet warm with pride. “I love it,” she replied, her voice sincere and full of affection. “You’re getting better and better at painting, Isabella.”

At those words, Isabella’s face lit up like a sunrise, her joy infectious. “If Mom likes it, I’ll paint you another one next time!” she declared, her enthusiasm bubbling over.

“Okay,” Maggie said softly, the bond between them feeling stronger than ever.

Only then did Isabella remember Franklin’s gift, her expression shifting slightly as she handed it over with a hint of reluctance. “Mom, I have to go to school now, or I’ll be late. I promise I’ll come back tonight and have dinner with you and Great-Grandma, okay?”

Maggie nodded, a bittersweet smile gracing her lips. “…All right.”

As if on cue, Old Mrs. Miller and Helen appeared at the doorway, their presence a comforting reminder of family.

Isabella waved enthusiastically, her voice ringing out with youthful exuberance. “Bye, Great-Grandma! Bye, Aunt Helen!”

With her backpack slung over her shoulder, Isabella hopped into the car, her excitement palpable as she sped off to school, leaving Maggie standing in the doorway, a mix of emotions swirling within her.

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