Forgotten Wife: My Ex-Husband Regrets It After I Left novel Chapter 122

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Sienna’s POV

I stood in front of the grand gate of the private elementary school, gazing at the school’s name elegantly engraved on a marble plaque. The gate was tall, made of sturdy black iron, adorned with purple bougainvillea flowers cascading beautifully on both sides. From inside came the cheerful voices of children, mixed with the sharp whistle of a PE teacher.

Noah pressed his little face against the gate, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Mommy, Daddy this place is so cool!” he exclaimed enthusiastically.

I smiled at him. His excitement felt contagious, even though inside me was an unease I couldn’t quite explain. Choosing a school wasn’t just about facilities or prestige. This was about Noah’s future. About the new world he was about to enter.

I lingered there in front of the gate, sensing an invisible weight resting on my shoulders. The morning breeze carried the scent of bougainvillea petals falling one by one to the ground, adding a peaceful touch Yet my heart was racing unevenly.

Beside me, Liam stood with his hands in his pockets, watching Noah who was practically glued to the gate. From his expression, I caught a hint of pride slowly surfacing, though he tried to keep his face calm. As if he wanted to hide his surprise that the little boy who once always refused to take afternoon naps was now ready to step into a whole new world.

I took a deep breath. Flashes of the past crossed my mind nights when I had to read fairy tales until my voice went hoarse just so Noah would stop crying, mornings when I rushed to prepare his lunchbox while battling the weight of exhaustion. None of it felt wasted, because today, that child stood here with sparkling eyes, eager to learn and discover the world.

Other parents passed us by, some holding their children’s hands, others chatting about registration schedules. I watched them, and without realizing it, felt small, afraid Noah would later be compared to other children, afraid I wouldn’t be able to give him the very best.

Then I felt Noah’s little hand clutching my fingers. “Mommy, can I see inside?” he asked hopefully. That touch instantly calmed me. I looked down at him, smiled faintly, and nodded.

I glanced at Liam. His eyes met mine, carrying a subtle signal as if to say we could get through this together. For a moment, I believed it.

Outside the gate, cars stopped one by one, dropping off new prospective students. Some looked neat in white uniforms, some hid shyly behind their parents. Noah was the opposite he stood tall, his eyes locked on the spacious yard inside, the small garden, and the cream–colored building reflecting the morning sun.

I knew the next step wasn’t just about opening the school gate. It was about opening a new door in our

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lives for Noah, and for Liam and me as well.

I squeezed Noah’s hand a little tighter, my feet beginning to move slowly toward the registration desk near the gate. The tightness in my chest hadn’t gone away, but there was a flicker of excitement sneaking in, carried by my son’s eager smile.

“Come on, let’s go in first,” Liam said calmly, patting Noah’s shoulder.

We walked along the neat pathway, lined with little gardens on both sides. A few students who had just finished sports passed by, laughing, dressed in their white–and–blue sports uniforms. I could see how alive the atmosphere of this school was.

A middle–aged woman with a warm smile welcomed us in the lobby. “Welcome, how may I help you?”

I stepped forward. “We’d like some information about this school. For our son.” My hand instinctively pulled Noah a little closer. “His name is Noah.”

The woman bent slightly to greet Noah, then smiled again. “Alright, please follow me to the

administration office. The head of student admissions is there right now.”

We followed her down a clean hallway, its walls filled with displays of students‘ artwork. There were bright paintings, collages, and photos of school activities. I studied them one by one and quietly smiled. I wanted Noah to feel an environment that valued creativity like this.

In the administration office, a man in a light blue shirt introduced himself as Mr. Johan. He welcomed us politely and invited us to sit down.

“So, you’d like to know about our school program?” he asked as he opened a brochure.

I nodded. “Yes, sir. Our son will be starting elementary school. We’d like to know more details about the learning system, activities, and also the facilities.”

Mr. Johan began explaining patiently. He talked about the curriculum that combined academic learning with creative activities, as well as a variety of extracurricular programs ranging from music, sports, to foreign languages. There were also special classes designed to build children’s character and leadership

skills.

Turning the pages of the brochure in his hand, Mr. Johan highlighted several key points. “Here, we believe children learn not only from books. That’s why, in addition to the national curriculum, we also include thematic programs that encourage them to observe, research, and retell. For example, in a theme about animals the children don’t just learn from pictures, but also create small projects, draw, and sometimes even visit the zoo.”

Noah, who was sitting beside me, immediately straightened up. “Really? We can see real animals, sir?” he asked, his eyes shining.

Mr. Johan gave a warm smile. “That’s right. And if you like dinosaurs, maybe one day you’ll even get to

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help build a mini dinosaur museum with your friends.”

Noah turned to me at once, almost bouncing out of his chair. “Mommy, Mommy, I want to!”

I chuckled softly, then looked at Mr. Johan. “That will definitely be his favorite. Noah really loves dinosaurs.”

Liam, who had been mostly quiet until then, finally spoke up. “How about sports, sir? I want Noah to grow up healthy, not just study in the classroom.”

Mr. Johan nodded. “That’s an important part of our school. We have basic sports classes that include swimming, basketball, and futsal. Every child gets the chance to try them all, and then we see where their interests and talents lie. So no one feels left behind.”

Noah looked up at Liam. “Daddy, I want to try basketball! Like the games we watch on TV.”

Liam ruffled Noah’s hair, a small smile appearing on his face. “Daddy will practice with you if you want.”

I watched them, and a strange warmth crept in. For the first time in a long while, it felt like we were discussing Noah’s future together not separately.

Mr. Johan then pointed to a section in the brochure about facilities. “To support learning, we have a library with thousands of children’s books, a computer lab, a music room complete with instruments, and a spacious field. There’s even an art room for painting and crafts.”

I nodded slowly. “That all sounds wonderful, sir. But what about individual attention for each child? I want Noah not to just be a ‘number‘ in the classroom.”

Mr. Johan looked at me seriously. “We limit each class to only twenty students. That way, the teacher can truly get to know each child’s character. We also provide counseling programs for both children and parents, to keep communication strong.”

I felt a weight lift slightly from my chest. That was one of my biggest worries, Noah being lost in the crowd without anyone truly noticing him.

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