Chapter 17 Benjamin and Elijah were standing in front of Sebastian in line . They turned just in time to see Sebastian rushing toward the clothing store nearby . Without the slightest hesitation , they took off after him . The bell on the glass door sounded as it opened , and Eloise looked up with a smile . " Welcome to- " Eloise ! " " Mom ! " The three of them stood in front of Eloise , eyes red as they stared at her . Eloise's smile instantly froze and slowly faded . All three of them looked like they might cry . Sebastian reached out and pulled Eloise over , his voice hoarse . " Eloise , how could you be so cruel ? " " Mom , we missed you so much … " Eloise's gaze quickly skipped past Sebastian , landing on Benjamin and Elijah for a few seconds before she looked away . There was no change in her expression at all , and she sounded polite but distant . " This is a women's clothing store . Please leave . " Benjamin and Elijah trembled , staring at Eloise in disbelief . Sebastian pressed his lips tightly together , his eyes full of complex emotion . " Ellie , you- " Before he could finish , the bell at the door rang again . Eloise turned to greet the new customers , not sparing them another glance . Benjamin and Elijah tried to step forward , but Sebastian stopped them . The three of them stood in a corner , all gazing longingly at Eloise . It was the first day of business , and customers came in one after another . Eloise and the two store assistants were all busy beyond measure . Eventually , Sebastian , Benjamin , and Elijah were pushed out of the store by the crowd . However , they didn't leave . Sebastian bought some food , and they waited outside until evening . When the store closed for the night and the assistants had gone home , Eloise stayed behind to tally the day's earnings . Sebastian brought the twins inside . For a moment , none of them could find the words to speak . The Eloise before them was no longer the same exhausted , lifeless full - time housewife from three years ago . She now radiated confidence and carried a powerful presence . This version of Eloise made Sebastian's heart ache . He finally said , " Ellie , we know we were wrong . Come home with us . " " Yeah , Mom . We were wrong , " Benjamin echoed . " We're sorry , Mom , " Elijah chimed in . The air fell silent again . They looked at Eloise with hope in their eyes . After counting the final transaction and locking the drawer , Eloise finally looked up at the three of them . " Sebastian , we divorced three years ago . What home are you talking about ? " she asked flatly . Then , she shifted her gaze to Benjamin and Elijah . " You two were the ones who said you didn't want me to be your mom . I'm no longer your mother . Iris is . " Picking up her bag , Eloise added , " I'm closing up . Please leave . " As she brushed past them , Sebastian grabbed her wrist . " Ellie , there's no Iris , " he said . " Everything that happened three years ago was my fault . We've been living in regret after you left . No woman has ever stepped into the house since then . We've been waiting for you . Ellie , could you give us one more chance ? " " Mom , we were immature back then . That vile woman turned us against you ! Please forgive us ! " Benjamin exclaimed . Elijah added , " Mom , we can't do this without you . Please come back ! " They stared at Eloise , holding their breath . They were waiting for her response . Elpise slowly shook her head . When she looked back at them , her calm eyes carried a touch of mockery . " Sebastian , wasn't Iris the one you longed for so badly ? The one you chose to be with even at the cost of your morals ? Why aren't you with her now ? Is it because you finally saw her for what she really is and realized she's a bad person ? " She chuckled . " You waited for me for three years ? Don't bother pretending to be all sentimental . You and I both know exactly how little I meant to you . The only reason you've been waiting these three years is because you haven't found a better housekeeper than me , right ? " "That's not true … " Sebastian's eyes turned red . He wanted to explain that only after she left did he realize he had unknowingly gotten used to her and fallen in love with her . He wanted to explain that not a day had passed in the last three years without him thinking of her . But Eloise had already turned her eyes to Benjamin and Elijah , and her voice dropped . " You two were ten three years ago . Ten - year - olds should know right from wrong . You should've known how to protect your mother . " I raised you . You were born barely weighing four pounds , always sick , so I didn't dare let up for even a second . I watched over every little thing … " Eloise's eyes turned slightly red as her voice choked slightly . She paused and exhaled shakily . The twins were a wound from her past life and this life . It would never stop hurting . Even if she had long decided to let go , just bringing up the past still made her emotions surge . She composed herself again . " You don't have to like me , but you're not allowed to hurt me out of spite . I will never forgive you , and I will never take you back . " Benjamin and Elijah looked as if they had been struck by lightning . Tears instantly streamed down their faces . Eloise didn't waver in the slightest . " I gave you to Sebastian when we divorced . From now on , we're strangers . Don't come looking for me again . " " No ! " They stared at Eloise's ice - cold face , unable to accept that this was their mother . They stepped forward and grabbed her . The bell above the door rang , followed by a furious shout . " What are you doing ? Don't bully my mom ! "