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.