Maya's heart felt sliced open. She was used to hearing people talk about her deceased child, but this time it felt different. Evan, nestled in her arms, wasn't her biological child, yet that little boy had already made her small home feel a little more alive.
Evan squirmed, then opened his eyes.
“Maya, why did you stop?”
Maya gave him a faint smile. “It's nothing. Let's find Cintya first.”
From a distance, Cintya waved excitedly.
“May! You finally made it!”
Maya hurried over. After setting Evan down, she straightened the boy's yellow suit and sunglasses.
“Sorry I'm late.”
Cintya looked at Evan, then stared at Maya with wide eyes.
“Who is this?”
“My nephew,” Maya answered quickly.
Evan lifted his chin. “I'm his master.”
Maya immediately gave his arm a light pinch.
“Ow!”
“He's joking,” Maya said with a stiff smile.
Cintya covered her mouth to hold back a laugh. “This boy is pretty funny. But why are his clothes the same as yours?”
“He chose them.”
“Even though he said earlier that he didn't like yellow,” Maya muttered.
Evan pretended not to hear.
They entered the party room. Music and the hum of conversation greeted them at once. Evan had looked rather aloof at first, but he slowly fell silent when he saw the long table covered with food.
His eyes lit up.
Maya noticed and smiled faintly. “Want to eat?”
“I was merely inspecting the quality of the dishes.”
“Then inspect them while you eat.”
Evan didn't need to be told twice. He quickly grabbed a plate and began choosing his food with great seriousness. He sampled each dish, offering comments like a cooking-show judge.
“The meat is too salty.”
“Don't talk so much. Finish it.”
“The pudding is too sweet.”
“If you don't like it, give it here.”
Evan immediately hugged the bowl of pudding.
“No need. I'll finish it to spare the chef's feelings.”
Maya rolled her eyes, but the corners of her lips couldn't hold back a smile.
For a while, she almost forgot the whispers surrounding them. Almost.
“Maya, are you okay?” Cintya asked softly.
Maya nodded. “I'm used to it.”
“People really don't have anything better to do.”
“They do. But talking about other people's lives is easier.”
Cintya was about to reply when Evan suddenly tugged on the hem of Maya's dress.
“Maya.”
“What?”
“I need to use the bathroom.”
Maya looked down. “Can you go by yourself?”
Evan stared at her in disbelief. “I may still be little, but that doesn't mean I don't know the way.”
“All right. I'll wait outside.”
Maya walked him as far as the bathroom hallway. After Evan went inside, she stood near the door and checked her phone.
A short while later, two women came out of the bathroom. One of them looked Maya up and down.
“Isn't that Maya?”
“The one whose child died?”
“That's right. Now she's bringing someone else's child to a party. Maybe she's looking for a replacement.”
Maya heard every word. Her hand stopped moving over her phone's screen.
The first woman deliberately stopped in front of her.
“Oh, Maya. You came too?”
Maya raised her face. “Yes.”
“Who is that child? Don't tell me you've gotten married again?”
Her friend let out a quiet laugh. “Or maybe she just wants to look happy?”
Maya stared at them for several seconds. Her face was calm—too calm—until both women began to feel uncomfortable.
“Are you done?” Maya asked.
They exchanged a glance.
“What?”
“Your little performance. If you're finished, I want to get through.”
The woman crossed her arms. “We were only asking.”
“No. You're judging something you don't understand.”
Maya gave them a faint smile.
“If you want to know about that child, you can ask me directly. Don't whisper like you're afraid someone will hear you.”
Both women's faces flushed.
“Are you getting feisty now?”
“No. I'm just saving time.”
“Don't act so righteous. Everyone knows your child died because—”
Maya raised a hand, cutting her off.
“Don't finish that sentence.”
Her voice remained gentle, but it made the hallway feel colder.
“My child is dead. I don't deny it. But that death isn't a joke, and it isn't an excuse for you to feel superior to me.”
The two women fell silent.
Maya stepped closer. Her smile was still there, but not in her eyes.
“If you want to talk about my life, go ahead. I can't stop you. But make sure you're brave enough to say it to my face.”
She pointed at her phone.
“Because from now on, I'll record every word you say and send it to the Boss Lady. I'm sure she'll be very interested to learn how her guests show respect for other people's families.”
The woman immediately went pale.
“Are you threatening us?”
“No. I'm giving you a chance to stop before you embarrass yourselves.”
The bathroom door opened.
Evan came out, drying his hands with a tissue. He looked at the two women, then at Maya.
“Are you done scolding them?”
Maya turned around. “I wasn't scolding anyone.”
“Then why do they look like they just saw a ghost?”
The two women left without saying a word.
Maya held back a laugh. “Don't get involved.”
“I'm just observing.”
“You're observing with a smile.”
“I like seeing bad people lose.”
Maya fell silent for a moment. Then, without realizing it, she ran her hand over Evan's hair.
“Thank you.”
Evan immediately brushed her hand away. “Don't mess up my hair.”
“But you looked cute just now.”
“I am never cute.”
“All right. You're absolutely adorable.”
Evan snorted and walked ahead.
After the event ended, Maya said goodbye to Cintya. She carried Evan again because the boy was starting to get sleepy after eating too much.
In the car, Evan woke up as they passed a row of small shops.
“Maya.”
“Hmm?”
“I want ice cream.”
“You don't need any.”
“I want some.”
“We're almost home.”
“Then we'll buy it before we get there.”
Maya looked at the prices of the ice cream at a roadside stand. She counted the money in her wallet. After paying for the clothes, the car fare, and a few household necessities, she didn't have much left.
She chose the two cheapest ice creams.
Evan stared at the thing in his hand.
“What is this?”
“Ice cream.”
“This?”
“Yes.”
“Why is it so tiny?”
“Because your mouth is tiny too.”
Evan unwrapped it with an unhappy expression. He took a small bite, then immediately wrinkled his nose.
“It tastes weird.”
“It's chocolate.”
“Chocolate shouldn't be this cheap.”
Maya shot him a sharp look. “Expensive ice cream doesn't automatically make you more handsome.”
“I didn't say it was supposed to make me handsome.”
“Then what?”
“I just want decent ice cream.”
“If you don't want it, give it back.”
Evan hugged the ice cream tightly. “I'll still eat it. But I'm disappointed.”
Maya chuckled. “You're always disappointed.”
“Because my life with a poor person is full of hardships.”
“Then when your father comes, ask him to buy you a whole truckload of ice cream.”
“I'll ask for two trucks.”
“Don't forget to ask for a house for me.”
Evan turned to her seriously. “Okay.”
Maya laughed softly, assuming the boy was only joking.
But Evan truly remembered what she had said.
When they arrived home, Maya had just opened the door when her phone rang.
An unknown number.
She answered hesitantly.
“Hello?”
There was no answer. Only the sound of heavy breathing from the other end.
Maya frowned.
“Who is this?”
A man's voice came through softly.
“We know the Young Master is with you.”
Maya immediately turned toward the boy, who was sitting on the sofa and eating his cheap ice cream.
Evan's body went rigid.
The man on the phone spoke again.
“Don't take him anywhere. We'll come tonight.”
The call ended.
Maya slowly lowered her phone.
Evan stared at her. His annoyed expression had turned pale.
“Maya…”
Maya immediately crouched in front of him.
“Don't be afraid. They called you the Young Master, so maybe they're people your parents sent to pick you up.”
“What if they're not people Dad sent? They know I'm here.”
“Then we'll make them regret coming.”
Maya stood, locked the door, and checked the windows one by one.
Evan stared at her in confusion.
“Aren't you scared?”
Maya took a broom from the corner of the room and gripped it like a weapon.
“Of course I am.”
“Then why are you still standing?”
Maya turned and smiled.
“Because I already bought that cheap ice cream for you. There's no way I'll let them take a boy who hasn't finished eating it.”
Evan looked at the tiny ice cream in his hand.
For the first time, he didn't complain about the taste.
Instead, he gripped Maya's hand tightly.
Outside the house, a car came to a stop.
Then footsteps approached the door.
Maya raised her broom.
“Evan, hide behind me.”
The boy nodded.
Three knocks sounded.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Someone outside spoke in a deep voice.
“Open the door. We've come to pick up the Young Master.”
Maya looked at Evan.
Evan looked back.
This time, neither of them had any intention of opening the door.