Indispensable

Freya was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly shook her head.

"No, Rouge, thank you for your concern. I'm not unhappy..."

"Is that so?"

Rouge looked at the beautiful young woman before her, reached out to stroke Little Ace's cheek, and spoke slowly.

"Sorry, perhaps I'm meddling. It's just that, if it hadn't been for Ye Mu and all of you, I wouldn't have had the chance to watch Little Ace grow up. So, if possible, I'd like to repay you too... But sadly, I'm only an ordinary woman. All I can do is keep you company and talk..."

Rouge's words brought hesitation to Freya's face. Perhaps it had truly been too long since she had someone she could confide in, and in the end, she could not help speaking.

"I'm just feeling a little lost right now..."

"Lost... Can you tell me about it?"

Freya looked into Rouge's concerned eyes, thought for a moment, then lowered her gaze slightly and voiced the thoughts in her heart.

As Freya spoke, Little Ace in her arms seemed to grow sleepy again. He drifted off drowsily, drool trickling from the corner of his mouth.

"That's all. I know it isn't really wrong, but I keep feeling like I've changed... like I'm no longer who I used to be..."

"I see!"

Rouge immediately understood Freya's problem and spoke with a faint smile.

"I've felt that way too..."

"Huh?!"

Freya froze, staring wide-eyed at Rouge.

"And more than once..."

That left Freya even more astonished.

"Come, sit down. I'll tell you about it slowly."

After the two sat down by the bed, Rouge stroked Little Ace's forehead. Her face filled with remembrance as she spoke to Freya.

"Did you know? Before I met Roger, I actually hated men."

Those words greatly shocked Freya.

Seeing