When my son, Fraser Kaufman, brought that dark green drink to me, I knew they were finally taking action.

I didn't take the drink. Instead, I silently stared at Fraser, who looked both nervous and expectant.

For fifteen years, I had never looked at him like this.

I knew exactly what that drink was.

It was the latest product from my husband Antonio Kaufman's pharmaceutical company.

It was called Love Eraser.

A straightforward name, whoever took it would never feel anything for the people they once loved deeply.

And I truly love Antonio and our son.

A psychic once said I had a sentimental heart, destined to be consumed by my own feelings.

How true those words were.

For eighteen years, I stood by Antonio, walking with him from a dark basement to a corporate office.

We had a son, Fraser. For fifteen years, I raised him and watched him grow from an infant to a promising young man.

They were my everything.

I loved them with all my heart.

But when Fraser was eight, Antonio's first love reappeared.

Her long black hair was styled in an elegant updo, and she wore a flowing white dress. With a coy smile, she waved gently at Antonio.

"Silly, you're not as handsome as before."

Antonio fell for her in an instant. Though he had long since achieved success and fame, he was defenseless against her charm.

He had once told me how much he hated her for choosing to study abroad over staying with him.

It was I who pulled him back from the brink when he stood on that bridge in despair. I stayed by his side as he went from a nobody to the CEO of a major company.

And my son, Fraser, fell for her too.

Fraser had always been smart yet detached, just like his father.

But when she ruffled his hair, he blushed and called her "Rene" in the sweetest voice.

Just like that, Irene effortlessly stole both my husband and my son.

They became an inseparable trio, while I became an outsider.

I raged, screamed, and cried through endless nights.

But all they said was, "Don't act like some shrew. It's disgraceful!"

Irene never called me that. Instead, she left a letter behind, saying she was returning my family to me.

She made sure Antonio was the one to receive that letter.

Then, without a word, she disappeared.

Her departure did not save my family.

It shattered completely.

Antonio clutched that letter with reddened eyes, accusing me of being unreasonable and driving Irene away.

Fraser, seething with rage, smashed his schoolbag against my head and swore he would never call me his mother again.

From that moment, my home was devoid of life.

Antonio moved into his company residence. For seven years, he never shared a bed with me.

For seven years, Fraser never spoke to me unless he had to. Not once did he call me Mom.

And now, now he was offering me a drink.

He gazed at me with anticipation, waiting for me to drink the Love Eraser.

The dark green drink rippled, forming a whirlpool.

Fraser's hands holding the glass were shaking slightly. After all, he was only fifteen, and not good at hiding his emotions.

I let out a self-deprecating laugh, "What kind of drink is this?"

I knew it wasn't any normal drink.

But I still hoped I was wrong.

I was born with a sentimental heart, deemed to get hurt.

"Just an ordinary drink. Drink it." Fraser fluttered his eyelashes, avoiding my eyes.

He had learned to lie.

I looked away, forcing myself to remain calm.

"Where's your dad? Today's my birthday. You're making me a drink, and he should at least get me a cake."

My voice dripped with mockery.

Mockery of the fact that in the past seven years, I had never once celebrated a birthday.

"Today's your birthday? Oh, right, it is. That's why I came home early." Fraser lifted his gaze slightly. "Dad will be back soon. He just has something to handle first."

Just then, the front door opened.

Dressed sharply in a suit, Antonio strode in. His face, always cold and indifferent, now held a hint of expectation.

Just like Fraser, he was waiting for me to drink the Love Eraser.

Once I drank it, my sentimental heart would cease to love.

I would no longer be a hysterical shrew to embarrass Antonio.

Antonio and Fraser could then stand proudly beside Irene, making her the rightful mistress of their home.

And as for me, once I no longer loved them, how could I possibly make a fuss?

This was their plan.

I scoffed and took the glass.

At the doorway, Antonio pressed his lips together and stepped forward, only to hesitate midway.

I glanced at his empty hands and asked, "Forgot to bring my gift?"

"What?" Antonio frowned.

That had become his habit. At some point, he started frowning impatiently every time he spoke to me.

"Dad, it's her birthday. Didn't you just say you bought her a gift? Did you forget?" Fraser quickly covered for Antonio.

Antonio feigned realization. "Right, of course, I remembered. I bought you a gift, your favorite piano. I left it at the office. I'll bring it home tomorrow."

He was a much better liar than Fraser.

I nodded calmly and lowered my gaze to the drink.

The room fell into a chilling silence.

They were waiting for me to drink the Love Eraser.

But I refused.

Eighteen years of devotion had boiled down to bitter resentment.

How could I possibly accept this?

Even now, they were still lying, pretending to remember my birthday.

I must tear off their masks!

Sweeping my gaze over them, I slammed the glass onto the table.

"Thanks, but I'm not thirsty."

"You have to drink it, thirsty or not. It's our son's goodwill!" Antonio grew anxious at once.

He stepped forward, picked up the glass, and handed it to me. "Drink it. Don't make our son upset."

Fraser nodded eagerly.

I wanted to laugh.

Instead, I sneered, "Relax, I won't delay your little love affair with Irene. She's waiting for you, isn't she?"

I knew Irene must have returned. Otherwise, why would Antonio suddenly move into the lab and work tirelessly to develop the Love Eraser?

Antonio's expression darkened, his fingers tightening around the glass. Finally, he realized that I was taunting him. I knew exactly what was in that glass.

Fraser's face turned pale, guilt flickering in his eyes.

I smirked, "It's okay. I just want to know whether this was all planned with Irene from the start."

The Love Eraser had been in development for years, which meant they had been scheming against me all along.

They had truly gone to great lengths to get rid of me.

"Well, since you've already figured it out, I'll just be honest with you!"

Antonio quickly composed himself. He had always been detached, never one to be ruled by emotions.

Now, he laid his cards on the table.

"We started considering this seven years ago." Antonio looked at me, his voice carrying resentment. "You only have yourself to blame. You're completely unreasonable, nothing but a shrew!

"I wouldn't abandon my wife, and our son can't sever his blood ties with you. So, using the Love Eraser to fix you is the best option."

Fix me?

So, loving them was wrong.

"Hahaha! Fascinating. Absolutely fascinating!" I gave him a thumbs-up.

Antonio had never seen me act so brazenly before. He flushed with anger. "What's with that tone? There's no point arguing now. Just drink it!"

He pointed at the drink, issuing his final order.

Fraser also urged me, "Drink it, and you can still be my mother. If you don't, then we're done!"

Perfect.

Suddenly, I was feeling a little thirsty.

"Alright then. Cheers."

I sneered, lifting the Love Eraser.

No more doubts. No more love.

It was time.

They stared at me nervously and hopefully.

I didn't disappoint them. I downed it in one gulp.

I thought, "Let this drink shatter my sentimental heart.

"I'm done with you two!"

The bitterness of the Love Eraser sent me into a dizzy haze.

I slept for two days.

On the third morning, I opened my eyes.

I lay on the familiar large bed. Everything around me remained unchanged as if I was still the mistress of this house.

I glanced at the clock. It was 7:35 a.m.

Startled, I rushed out of bed, intending to make Fraser's favorite breakfast.

But after two steps, I froze and wondered what I was doing.

The instinct of a mother was powerful, still shackling me even now.

But once I beat that instinct, indescribable disgust surged through me.

It became worse, especially when I thought of Fraser's cold face and his seven years of rejection toward me.

Who did he think he was?

I'd rather have anything than have him!

I strode back inside and opened the long-sealed window. I used to drown in my own depression and loathe the morning sun.

For the first time in years, I let the light in.

Sunshine spilled into the room, and I squinted, gazing outside. There, in the garden, bloomed the roses I had planted with my own hands.

They were vibrant, lush, and beautiful.

I still remember when I had first planted them, Antonio had held me close and whispered, "Grace, you're my rose. You bloom in my life and fill it with fragrance."

I frowned. A sudden wave of nausea struck me.

How utterly sickening!

Back then, I had been so touched I wept, answering his words with a passionate kiss.

Now, I shook my head vigorously, dispelling those revolting memories.

I was no one's rose anymore. I was my own rose!

I would no longer bloom for someone else. Instead, I would bask in my own radiance.

A soft laugh escaped me, a rush of newfound passion and vitality swelling within.

This was rebirth!

The Love Eraser really worked.

Like an excited young girl, I ran to my vanity and started rummaging through my makeup.

It had been years since I last put on any makeup. Antonio had long stopped taking me to parties, and Fraser had never wanted me at his school events.

I had become a forgotten woman, losing all interest in my once-beloved luxury cosmetics.

But now, the interest was back.

Half an hour later, my hair was elegantly pinned up, and my lips were painted a fiery red. As I stared at my reflection, I couldn't help but think of those vibrant roses outside.

"Grace Parrish, you still got it," I thought.

I opened my wardrobe, pulling out high-fashion pieces one after another.

So many of these clothes had been gifted to me, yet I had never even touched them.

Now, not only would I touch them, but I would wear them.

In the end, I chose a white dress, wrapping myself in soft elegance.

I looked stunning.

"Grace Parrish, you really do still have it."

I chuckled at myself inwardly, reminiscing about the past.

White dresses had always been my favorite.

Antonio had loved them on me, too. He once said he fell for me hardest when he saw me playing the piano in a white dress at our school's New Year gala.

Even after marrying him, I still wore white dresses, just for him.

Then, his first love returned, wearing a white dress and an updo just like me.

In an instant, I became nothing but a stand-in.

I let out a cold laugh, eager to climb to the third-floor piano room.

The place had always been well-maintained by the maids, yet I hadn't set foot in it for years.

Ever since Irene came back, I had never touched the piano again.

My fingers brushed over the keys, and for a moment, it felt like another lifetime.

Then, the door swung open. Fraser said irritably, "Hey, you're awake? Why haven't you made breakfast yet? Don't you know I'm running late to school?"

We had plenty of maids, but I was always the one who made Fraser's breakfast.

Because he only ate what I cooked. Even after seven years of rejecting me, he never rejected the breakfast I made.

I looked at him and said coldly, "Don't you have hands? Can't you make it yourself?"

Fraser looked stupefied, then delighted. "You don't love me anymore? The Love Eraser really worked!"

Of course, it did.