Chapter 17 I Have No Son

My heart felt like it was bleeding out, one drop at a time. "Did your dad tell you that?" "No, that's just what I think." A bitter smile curled at my lips. "If I were to let you choose your own mother, who would you choose?" "I would pick Aunt Alexis without hesitation." Charlie let go of my leg. "Dad would pick her too. To be honest, I don't want you as my mom either." He glanced up at me and said firmly, "So, why don't you just stop being my mom? After all, Dad, Grandma, and I don't like you. I'll ask Aunt Alexis to be my mom instead." I forced a smile, my throat dry and aching. "Alright. From now on, I'm no longer your mother. But Charlie, I hope you know that it's not you who don't want me but it's that I don't want you anymore." When Charlie heard this, his eyes instantly brightened up. "Really? Do you promise? Pinky swear now!" He lifted his tiny hand and looked at me with naive joy. "I don't need you." Despite the burning ache in my heart, I forced myself to extend a