Both of us came from a humble village background, relying on our hard work throughout our school years. We were fortunate enough to be admitted to a good college, which paved the way for decent job opportunities in the bustling city. Through years of dedication and perseverance, we managed to establish ourselves and find stability in our careers.

Erik and I fell in love in college. As we faced financial hardships immediately after graduation, we felt too embarrassed to ask our families for money. We resided in the most economical rental house available to us at that time.

He held my hand with sincerity and said, "Honey, I know how hard for you to be with me."

However, despite that, he still cheated on me and divorced me.

I paused, then still walked to the bed and lay down.

Erik sat by the bed in silence for a long time, then hesitantly said, "Honey, can you stay home and take care of Ashton? Ashton is our son, after all.

"How can you bear to leave him alone at home at such a young age? Think about his studies and his daily life."

I replied calmly, "Starting tomorrow, I will hire a nanny to take care of Ashton."

Upon hearing my words, Erik stood up suddenly and looked down at me.

With a hint of disbelief in his tone, he questioned, "Claire, you can handle the housework easily. Is it necessary to hire a nanny?

"Besides, we are still paying off our mortgage. How can we afford to hire a nanny?"

I looked up at him and chuckled. "I'll use the money we give your mother to hire a nanny."

Erik's expression changed, and he said with dissatisfaction, "How can that be possible? My father died early, and my mother raised me alone. She doesn't have any pension, so as a son, isn't it my duty to give her some living expenses?"

I sat up, fixing my gaze on Erik, and retorted, "Yes, as a son, it is your duty to give her living expenses, but as her daughter-in-law, I have no such obligation.

"You have your mother to look after, and I also have parents.

"Why don't you just use your salary to pay your mother's living expenses?"

Erik was so angry that he disregarded the possibility of waking Ashton up. He yelled, "What are you talking about? It's totally unreasonable! I have to pay the mortgage. How can I have extra money?"

Looking at Erik's gloomy face, I let out a chuckle. "It's your house. Of course, you have to pay the mortgage."