The Art Teacher's Move Made Me Divorce

I came back from a two-month business trip to pick up my daughter from school.

To my surprise, I found that my six-year-old daughter had an exquisitely styled braid.

Although my husband is a painter, his hands are only good for painting, not for braiding hair.

I casually asked her, When did Daddy learn to braid your hair?

"Actually, it was Miss Whitmore from school who did it!"

My daughter's eyes darted around, and her fingers unconsciously clutched at the corner of her clothes.

My smile slowly faded.

Later, I asked Miss Whitmore about it.

But the teacher shook her head in denial. "I didn't braid it. Dorothy said her mom styled her hair like that. She really loves it!"

When my daughter lies, her fingers unconsciously clutch at the corner of her clothes.

The teacher's response confirmed this.

My feelings were complicated.

After returning from a two-month business trip, the first thing my daughter said to me was a lie.

I didn't scold her or call her out on it.

I gave her gifts like I did after every business trip.

"Dorothy, did anything fun happen while you and Daddy were home these two months?"

At first, my daughter avoided eye contact and didn't want to talk, only focused on unwrapping her gifts.

It wasn't until I pulled out her art homework and praised her for improving so much that she said happily, "It was Jasmine who taught me how to draw!"

My heart stirred.

Who was Jasmine?

My daughter suddenly covered her mouth and shook her head. "I didn't say anything! Mommy didn't hear anything!"

No matter how much I asked after that, she refused to say more.

I sighed and decided to ask my husband Sebastian when we got home.

As soon as the car pulled up to the house, I happened to see Sebastian hurrying out of the villa.

When he saw me holding our daughter's hand, he looked surprised at first, then seemed slightly relieved.

"You came back early? I was just busy and forgot to pick Dorothy up from school..."

He suddenly paused mid-sentence, his eyes flickering.

My gaze shifted from Sebastian to the unfamiliar figure behind him.

It was a young woman with quite pleasant looks and demeanor.

Some uneasy suspicions crossed my mind, but I still put on a polite smile.

"And this is?"

Sebastian looked at me, and after a few seconds, said flatly, "Oh, this is the art teacher I hired for Dorothy."

My face remained calm, but I felt uncomfortable inside.

During my two-month business trip, I made time to call him every day.

But he never mentioned hiring an art teacher for our daughter.

The woman's eyes discreetly swept over me before she smiled and stepped forward to greet me.

"You must be Mrs. Reed. Hello, I'm Jasmine Whitmore."

"Jasmine! So you came to see me and Daddy today too! That's great!"

My daughter broke free from my hand and bounced over to Jasmine's side, affectionately hugging her leg.

I watched this scene with a blank expression. Sebastian perhaps sensed something and turned to Jasmine. "Jasmine, you don't need to teach Dorothy tonight. You can head home."

Jasmine and he made eye contact, and her smile stiffened.

"Alright, I won't disturb your family reunion then."

But I smiled faintly and pulled her into the villa by the hand. "Jasmine should stay for dinner."

Sebastian froze, about to say something, but I interrupted him.

"I didn't even know Dorothy had a new art teacher. Now that we've happened to meet, of course I should treat Jasmine to a nice meal. Right, honey?"

Sebastian's deep eyes met mine, and after a moment he looked away.

My heart gradually sank.

He had indeed intentionally hidden Jasmine's existence from me, and even Dorothy's lying might have been taught by him.

At dinner, I pan-fried some cod for my daughter.

But she shook her head in disgust.

"Jasmine doesn't like fish. She says it's too fishy. I don't like it anymore either!"

After saying this, she jumped down from her chair and ran to sit beside Jasmine.

Jasmine glanced at me, unable to hide the smile on her face. "Okay, okay, I'll help my little princess eat."

I was somewhat angry and instinctively wanted to put the fish my daughter rejected into Sebastian's bowl.

At the same time, Jasmine suddenly cut a piece of foie gras for Sebastian.

I was about to tactfully remind her that Sebastian didn't like foie gras.

But before I could speak, he had already naturally extended his bowl to receive it.

I said flatly, "I thought you didn't like foie gras?"

Sebastian nodded slightly and said casually, "Mm, but it's good to change things up occasionally."

A bitter feeling passed through my heart.

Just two months ago, he and our daughter loved the pan-fried fish I made most.

My eyes swept across the dishes on the table.

I realized that aside from the fish I'd personally made, all the other dishes the chef prepared were completely different from usual.

I looked at Jasmine, who seemed so at ease at our dinner table as if it were her own home, and my heart sank bit by bit.

After seeing Jasmine off, Sebastian seemed to notice that I hadn't had much appetite tonight, but only asked flatly, "Tired from the trip?"

I forced a shallow smile. "Sort of. I wanted to come back early, so I took a flight at dawn. I am a bit tired..."

Sebastian nodded perfunctorily and asked me, "When is your next business trip?"

I paused, my smile fading.

"Do you really want me to go on business trips?"

Sebastian's eyes flickered, but he didn't answer the question. Instead, he turned and went to his studio.

Sebastian was a painter, but he preferred oil paintings.

Yet now there was a watercolor painting in the studio.

Sebastian paused and explained, "Jasmine sometimes teaches Dorothy watercolor in the studio."

I lowered my eyes, my gaze falling on the two chairs placed very close together in front of the easel.

Then I noticed the two signatures in the bottom right corner of the watercolor.

Sebastian and Jasmine.

I laughed self-deprecatingly, said nothing, and turned to go to my daughter's room.

She was already asleep, still clutching a sketchbook in her hand.

The sketchbook contained her own drawings of our family of three.

But the further I flipped through it, the colder my heart became.

In the recent new drawings, "Mommy" had changed from having curly hair to straight hair.

Jasmine had long straight hair.

In my daughter's sketchbook, the three of them painted together in the yard, went to amusement parks, went camping and picnickingjust like a real family of three.

My heart felt numb and painful.

At that moment, my secretary called to confirm tomorrow's schedule.

Thinking about everything that happened today, I still pushed all of tomorrow's work to next week.

The next day at breakfast, my daughter was unusually excited.

I thought she already knew about my plans for today.

I smiled and patted her head.

"Dorothy is so happy. Do you already know Mommy is taking you to the amusement park today?"

But my daughter's eyes widened in surprise.

Sebastian, who had been quietly eating breakfast, also stopped. In his eyes was not only surprise but also a hint of awkwardness.

Seeing this, my smile slowly faded.

"You and Dorothy have other plans?"

My daughter said loudly, "Today the school organized a trip to see an art exhibition, and Daddy is going with me!"

Sebastian also nodded, averting his eyes. "You just got back yesterday. I didn't get a chance to tell you."

"It's fine. I'll go with you."

My daughter unconsciously clutched at the corner of her clothes, pouting. She seemed reluctant and even secretly exchanged glances with her father.

Sebastian said flatly, "You just got back from your business trip. You should rest at home. I can accompany Dorothy."

My daughter suddenly threw herself into my arms and acted cute.

"Mommy, can you make us mushroom soup at home? When Daddy and I come back at noon, we can drink the soup. Mommy hasn't made me mushroom soup in so long."

My daughter looked at me with bright, sparkling eyes, looking so pitiful.

Suppressing the bad suspicions in my heart, I still agreed to my daughter's request.

At noon, I took out my phone and called Sebastian.

"The soup is ready. When are you and Dorothy coming back?"

"We..."

On the phone, Sebastian had only said two words before suddenly stopping.

Besides my daughter's voice, there was another somewhat familiar female voice.

It was Jasmine.

My smile completely disappeared as I repeated coldly, "What time are you and Dorothy coming back?"

Sebastian paused, seemingly walking to a quieter place.

"The exhibition was postponed to this afternoon. Dorothy and I will come back tonight..."

My daughter grabbed his phone.

"Mommy, we're not coming back for lunch! We're eating out!"

Before I could say anything, my daughter had already hung up.

The housekeeper glanced at my expressionless face and asked cautiously, "Should I pack the soup and deliver it to them?"

I took the thermos, my tone cold. "I'll deliver it myself."

When I arrived, I found the exhibition had already ended. It hadn't been postponed to the afternoon at all.

My fingers gripping the thermos tightened until my fingertips turned white.

Sebastian had lied to me again.

The driver looked at my lost expression and asked carefully, "Mrs. Reed, should we go home or..."

"Just drive around for a bit."

I gazed aimlessly out the car window until my eyes accidentally caught three familiar figures.

I got out of the car and hurried into a restaurant.

When I finally saw clearly who the three people at the table were, my steps stopped.

A strange pain shot through my heart. I turned around and walked to a corner seat behind them.

A few lush plants separated our seats. They didn't notice me.

"Wow, the restaurant Jasmine brought us to is so delicious! It's way better than what the housekeeper and my mom make. I'm so tired of their cooking. I wish Jasmine could take me out to eat every day!"

But Jasmine's voice carried a deliberate sense of melancholy.

"I'd also like to be with you and... Sebastian every day. But your mom is back now, so I can't go out with you often anymore. Your mom would mind."

My daughter blurted out, "I'd rather Mommy didn't come back! I want Jasmine to stay with us!"

My heart suddenly ached.

Sebastian seemed stunned too. After a long while, he said in a low voice, "Dorothy, you can't talk about your mom like that."

"But Mommy is always away on business trips. She's not like Jasmine, who can be with us every day. I think Jasmine is more like a mom than Mommy!"

"And I heard Daddy on the phone with Grandma the other day saying something about divorce... Daddy, do you want to divorce Mommy?"

My whole body shook, and my trembling hand accidentally knocked against the silverware on the table.

Sebastian seemed shocked by our daughter's words too.

Sebastian was silent for a moment before saying, "If I really divorced your mom, wouldn't you be sad?"

My daughter innocently tilted her head.

"Not sad at all! I have Daddy and Jasmine with me. I'd be too happy!"

My heart went numb, then needle-like pain spread throughout my body.

Sebastian paused. "Forget it. Don't bring this up again, and don't tell your mom. Understand?"

"I know! So when Mommy goes on her business trip next week, let's go on vacation with Jasmine!"

Jasmine pretended to be troubled. "Every time we travel when your mom isn't home. If she found out, wouldn't she be unhappy?"

"If we don't tell Mommy, she won't know!"

Hearing all this, I felt numb.

I never knew how many things my beloved husband and daughter had been hiding from me.

"Oh no!"

While drinking soup, my daughter accidentally splashed some on Jasmine's face.

My daughter tried to help Jasmine wipe it off, but she avoided it and instead looked at Sebastian, her tone slightly shy.

"Sebastian, could you help me wipe my face? I can't see it myself."

Sebastian paused, looking at Jasmine who had moved very close, and agreed.

The napkin gently wiped Jasmine's face.

Through the gaps in the leaves, I watched expressionlessly as Jasmine leaned closer and closer to Sebastian.

Until she suddenly closed her eyes and planted a kiss on Sebastian's lips.

Sebastian's wiping motion instantly stopped.

Jasmine opened her eyes, her face flushed red.

"Sebastian, I'm sorry. I just... couldn't help myself."

After a while, Sebastian withdrew his hand and said flatly, "It's fine."

Jasmine said in a way that only drew more attention, "Dorothy, what just happened between your dad and me was an accident. You..."

My daughter smiled mischievously and nodded. "I understand! I definitely won't tell Mommy!"

Sebastian patted our daughter's head. "Right, there's no need to tell your mom about these things."

As his words fell, the last bit of hope in my heart vanished.

The breath that had been stuck in my chest since last night suddenly dissipated.

I sneered inwardly.

Whatever else they said, I had no interest in listening anymore.

As I stood up to leave, the server picked up the thermos from the table.

"Ma'am, you forgot your item."

Hearing the voice, Jasmine instinctively turned her head and saw me.

She froze.

Sebastian noticed her reaction. "What's wrong?"

Just as he was about to follow Jasmine's gaze and turn around, she quickly looked away and placed her hand over Sebastian's.

"Nothing. I want to try the crme br?le. Can you feed me?"

Sebastian smiled and fed her.

Jasmine turned to look at me again, revealing a provocative smile.

I stared at her coldly for a moment, then turned and left the restaurant.

Things that aren't cherished don't need to be eagerly offered.

Not the soup, and not my sincerity.

On the drive home, I took time to hold a cross-border video conference with several company executives.

"Miss Monroe, the project that headquarters in Italy signed is very important. Many details may require your personal oversight."

"So for the next few months, you might need to travel back and forth between the two countries. Sorry for the trouble."

Most of my family's business empire was in Italy, with only a small portion in the States. But Sebastian didn't want to live in Italy and preferred to stay here.

So I'd rather work harder traveling between both places than force Sebastian to go to Italy with me.

"I'll oversee this project throughout, and I'll also be stationed at the Italy headquarters going forward."

The vice presidents looked surprised.

"Miss Monroe, why the sudden decision to return to Italy? Are your husband and daughter moving there too?"

I shook my head. "No, just me."

After the video conference ended, I contacted my lawyer.

That evening, Sebastian and my daughter didn't even come home for dinner.

It wasn't until after I showered that Sebastian came back carrying our already-sleeping daughter.

I stood there, watching them coldly.

Sebastian paused, also noticing my distant attitude.

My daughter groggily woke up. When she opened her eyes and saw me, she instinctively said, "Mommy... hug..."

I didn't move, only saying flatly, "It's late. Take her to her room to sleep."

With that, I turned toward the bedroom.

A flash of confusion and panic crossed Sebastian's eyes as he spoke, "Evelyn, Dorothy and I didn't mean to miss dinner at home. We..."

I raised my hand to stop him, my tone flat. "Whatever it is, let's talk tomorrow. I'm very tired today."

I didn't look at Sebastian's expression. I just closed the bedroom door and locked it.

As I was about to fall asleep, I heard someone gently knocking on the door.

I ignored it, closed my eyes, and continued sleeping.

After all, I had to get up early tomorrow.

But Sebastian was up even earlier than me.

As I passed the kitchen with my suitcase, I saw him making breakfast.

"Evelyn, I made your favorite for breakfast..."

Halfway through, his gaze moved to my suitcase.

"Your business trip isn't until next week. This is..."

Meeting Sebastian's confused gaze, I handed him the divorce agreement I'd originally planned to leave on the dining table before leaving.

"You don't have to wait until next week to travel. You can go today."