In his bowl was a huge piece of braised pork belly.

And braised pork belly was the one thing he hated most of all!

Cedric Grant looked at Sophia Shaw, feeling wronged.

’How could Mom forget everything?’

Sophia Shaw turned and put a shrimp into Vincent Grant’s bowl.

Vincent Grant picked at it, a strange expression on his face.

He was allergic to shrimp!

Sophia Shaw had always known that.

In the end, Vincent Grant just smiled and put some food into Sophia Shaw’s bowl.

Sophia Shaw pushed it aside, not touching it from beginning to end.

Vincent Grant then gave Cedric Grant a piece of his favorite sweet and sour pork.

Cedric Grant’s hand trembled, unable to pick up the sweet and sour pork no matter how he tried.

It kept falling back into his bowl.

’Even Dad remembers my favorites, so how could Mom have forgotten?’ 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

His mom used to be the one who cared about him most. Every day, she would specially record his diet—what he liked, what he disliked, and what was best for his digestion. She knew it all like the back of her hand.

Without comparison, there is no hurt.

Vincent Grant’s kindness was like rubbing salt in Cedric Grant’s wound. He was so upset that his lip quivered, on the verge of bursting into tears.

After dinner, Sophia Shaw and Leah Evans voluntarily stayed behind to clear the table.

When she collected Vincent Grant’s bowl, she saw that it was completely empty.

’He... ate the shrimp?’

’Was that really necessary?’

Sophia Shaw didn’t dwell on it, nor could she be bothered to care whether Vincent Grant had actually eaten it or not.

While they were washing the dishes, Leah Evans answered a phone call.

Sophia Shaw meticulously cleaned each bowl one by one, stacking them neatly in the dishwasher.

Cedric Grant walked in, tears shimmering in his eyes, and asked, "Mom, why did you give me braised pork belly? Did you forget I don’t like it?"

Sophia Shaw froze.

She truly had forgotten.

"Sorry. If I’d remembered, I wouldn’t have."

Her sense of humor wasn’t so twisted that she would torment a child in such a manner.

"Mom."

He couldn’t hold back his tears anymore, and they started streaming down his face.

Hurt.

Heartbreak.

His pride was deeply wounded!

’It would have been better if Sophia Shaw had said she did it on purpose. At least that would prove she cared about him—that she was angry and acting out because of it.’

’But she said she forgot...’

’He had seen Sophia Shaw freeze. She wasn’t lying.’

’She had really forgotten what he liked!’

’How was that possible?’

’How could she!’

No matter what, Cedric Grant couldn’t understand how the mother who once obsessed over his diet could forget just like that!

"Mom, you have a really good memory, so why did you forget! You’re going too far."

Faced with Cedric Grant’s hysterical accusations, Sophia Shaw blinked slowly, set down the bowl in her hand, and met his gaze calmly.

She was surprised herself that she had forgotten Cedric Grant’s preferences.

But she didn’t feel a shred of remorse.

She waited until his sobs quieted before speaking softly. "Cedric, isn’t your memory also quite good? And yet, you still forgot my birthday."

Hearing this, Cedric Grant let out a sharp hiccup.

For a moment, he forgot to cry. He stared blankly at Sophia Shaw.

’He knew his mom’s birthday was in January. He seemed to have... really forgotten it.’

Cedric Grant hung his head in embarrassment, but retorted stubbornly, "But I’m just a kid. My memory isn’t perfect. It’s normal for me to forget things. You could have reminded me."

"If you’d reminded me, I would have prepared the best gift for you."

"You didn’t forget your Auntie Joanna’s birthday, though. Did she have to remind you?" Sophia Shaw retorted.

Cedric Grant: "..."

He opened and closed his mouth several times, but was once again rendered speechless.

’Auntie Joanna never told him when her birthday was. He had gone to great lengths to find out.’

’He thought about it every day; he didn’t even need to mark it on the calendar.’

Sophia Shaw had already read the answer in his expression. "See? The only one you care about is your Auntie Joanna, and the only one you’re willing to make an effort for is her."

"Relationships are a two-way street. I can only be good to you if you’re good to me."

"If you don’t have me in your heart, why should I be expected to obsess over every little detail about you?"

Cedric Grant’s face was beet red. He stammered for a long time, completely unable to form a single coherent sentence.

"And as for the ’best gift’ you mentioned, I assume you mean the freebie Joanna Sherman didn’t want."

"I don’t need handouts. You don’t have to give me any more in the future."

’So Mom knew!’

Cedric Grant’s already burning face felt as if it had been slapped again.

Red, hot, and painful!

He was so mortified he couldn’t face anyone, wishing he could dig a hole and bury himself in it!

Sophia Shaw ignored him and turned back to tidying the dishes.

The person who once occupied her every thought could now stand right beside her without commanding any of her attention. Her focus was entirely on the dishes.

Cedric Grant silently watched Sophia Shaw’s focused expression, her lashes lowered. She was sending him a silent message:

Even the dishes... were more important than him!

After tidying the dishes, Sophia Shaw walked outside to see her grandmother and Vincent Grant standing in front of the house.

Across from them, a photographer in a professional uniform was setting up a tripod.

Leah Evans, June Evans, and Yancy Shaw watched from a short distance, none of them looking pleased.

Seeing Sophia Shaw, her grandmother pulled her over cheerfully. "Faye, hurry! Vincent said he’s arranged for us to take a new family portrait."

"Hah!" Leah Evans scoffed. "When we actually needed him for a photo, he disappeared without a trace, as if he’d dropped dead. Now that we don’t need him, he shows up to put on a performance!"

Her grandmother was hard of hearing and didn’t catch that, but June Evans did, and she joined in with a cold smile.

Those humiliations were bone-deep; they couldn’t be forgotten just by wishing it so.

"Only someone as shameless as him would pull a shameless stunt like this!"

Grandma positioned Sophia Shaw next to Vincent Grant, then called for June Evans and Yancy Shaw to come over with the baby and find their places.

"Let’s go," Yancy Shaw said. He was reluctant but didn’t want to embarrass his mother.

June Evans had no choice but to follow.

"Lily, you come too," Grandma beckoned to Leah Evans.

"I think I’ll pass." The thought of being in the same frame as those two scumbags made Leah Evans’s stomach churn.

Grandma had intended to have Cedric Grant sit with her in the front row.

Sophia Shaw gently placed Bun in her arms. "Grandma, Bun wants to be with you."

"Ah-wah-wah-wah."

Bun played along perfectly, her big, round eyes wide as she employed the same tricks she used to charm her online fans.

She blinked and blinked at Grandma, not forgetting to stick out her little tongue.

Grandma beamed with delight, making a little cradle with her hands and letting the baby nestle in her lap.

Cedric Grant, who had only taken a few steps, had no choice but to retreat to his original spot, standing between Sophia Shaw and Vincent Grant.

Deep down, Cedric Grant was actually quite satisfied.

’It seemed like their family had never taken a portrait together. Finally, he would have a picture with his mom and dad.’

’He would treasure it forever.’

"Lily, come on over." Just as he was thinking this, he heard Sophia Shaw call out.

She pointed to the spot beside herself, gesturing for Leah Evans.

Leah Evans understood immediately. This time, she was more than happy to oblige. "You got it!"

She dashed over, squeezing in between Sophia Shaw and Cedric Grant.

She leaned toward Sophia Shaw and struck a wide, star-shaped pose.

This immediately pushed the father and son, Vincent Grant, out of the circle of the Shaws.

Cedric Grant was shoved against Vincent Grant, and his eyes reddened once more.

He opened his mouth, his voice full of hurt, "Dad, Mom..."

’Mom wouldn’t even take the family photo he wanted with him.’

Cedric Grant was so heartbroken it felt as if his heart was being torn in two.

’He wished his dad would step in and help him.’