Lamia's only responsibility was to pick up Ashton from home and drop him off at school.
I even gave her a considerable amount of pocket money every month.
However, she still left Ashton alone at home. It became apparent that her own grandson was not even as important to her as the new man she had met during her hiking.
Finally, when she left Ashton unattended to hang out again, Ashton was lost.
Lamia didn't return until late at night when I finished work. As I arrived home, I discovered that Ashton was nowhere to be found. Frantically, I rushed to the park and saw Lamia leaning affectionately against an old man, with his hand wrapped around her waist.
For four hours, from four in the afternoon until eight in the evening, Lamia didn't notice that Ashton was missing.
Suppressing my anger, I searched the park but to no avail. With no other options left, I went to the police department to report Ashton's disappearance.
While chatting with her friend on her phone, Lamia was berating me, criticizing me about how incompetent I was as a mother.
I remained silent, absorbing the whispers of those around me and inwardly berating myself for not spending enough time with Ashton and failing to fulfill my duties as a mother.
Fortunately, a kind-hearted person later sent Ashton to the police department. I learned that Ashton had seen a woman in the park whose silhouette resembled mine from behind. Believing it was me, he chased after her for a long time, eventually losing his way. Thankfully, a kind person found him and took him to the police department.
His clothes were torn from the wrestling, and his knees were bleeding. When he threw himself into my arms with tears on his face, I felt my heart break.
No mother in the world could bear to see her child go through such suffering. I might have been unable to see him again.
That night, Erik and I lay in bed for a long time, unable to sleep.
After a long while, he hugged me from behind and said carefully, "My mother is really not suitable for taking care of children. Ashton is still so young, and he needs someone who can properly take care of him.
"My superior has been appreciating my efforts recently, and I will probably be promoted soon. Would you be willing to stay at home and take care of Ashton?
"I can't bear to see you suffer."