I lost my precious hands to save my husband Jack and son Tommy. When I was about to surprise Tommy with a birthday cake, I accidentally overheard their conversation. “Dad, Mom’s hands are so gross. When can we get a new mom? I feel sick when those hands feed me.” “I like Aunt Olivia. At least she’s normal. I want her to be my new mom.” Jack had his back to me, so I couldn’t see his expression. But his tone was unusually gentle. “Be patient, Tommy. Daddy has wanted to replace Mommy for a long time…” They shared a laugh while I collapsed silently by the door. Just then, a robotic voice echoed in my mind: [Host mission complete. Points available to redeem rewards.] “I don’t want rewards. I just want my hands back.” [Understood. Initiating exchange.] Today is my son Tommy’s birthday. For the first time in years, I ventured outside, ignoring the stares, and carried a cake home in my mouth. As I approached our house, I noticed the front door was slightly ajar. Curious about what they might be discussing in my absence, I paused to listen. “Dad, where do you think Mom went?” Tommy’s small voice drifted out. I thought he might be worried about me, so I kept listening. “Your mom texted that she was getting your cake,” Jack explained gently. Hearing this, Tommy immediately freaked out: “What? How can she get a cake without hands?!” “It’ll have my name on it! Now everyone will know that freak is my mom!” “It’s so embarrassing! Why does she have to humiliate our whole family?” “Just thinking about her deformed hands touching my cake makes me want to throw up!” I expected Jack to scold Tommy for speaking that way. Instead, he just stroked Tommy’s head and smiled. “You poor thing.” Encouraged by Jack’s response, Tommy eagerly continued: “Dad, what do you think about Olivia?” “It’s Mom’s fault for being useless. You can’t divorce her, so Olivia has to sneak around! She’s waited so long!” Olivia? The name was both familiar and foreign. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of Olivia,” Jack assured him. Tommy grew excited. “So can you marry Olivia? Let her be my new mom!” My jaw clenched around the cake, teeth aching. I had begged Tommy’s favorite bakery to make this cake special, since they don’t normally do custom orders. I’d been so happy bringing it home, never imagining my own son could despise me this much. All because of my twisted, disabled hands. At least Tommy was just a child who didn’t understand. Surely Jack, as an adult, wouldn’t abandon me so callously. I was immediately proven wrong. “I’m sick of it too. Looking at those deformed hands makes me want to vomit every second. How can anyone’s hands be so hideous…” “I’ve taken care of her for years. I’ll give her a big settlement – that should clear my conscience.” “After your birthday tomorrow, I’ll ask for a divorce…”
As Jack finished speaking, he seemed to let out a sigh of relief. Tommy’s excited cheers pierced through the doorway, shattering something in my mind. My whole body went cold, the cake falling from my mouth unnoticed. Four years ago, I was an up-and-coming pianist envied by all. While camping with Jack and Tommy, an out-of-control truck came barreling towards us. In desperation, I lunged to push them out of the way, but I was a split second too late. When I opened my eyes, the two most important men in my life lay in pools of blood. The truck’s tires had crushed their legs beyond recognition. I knew that even if they survived, they would never walk again. My proud husband Jack, a titan of industry, would be devastated to lose his ability to stand. And my son Tommy was only 3 – he had his whole future ahead of him, so many paths yet to walk. They both needed their legs, while I was a pianist who could play sitting down. In that moment, I made an instant decision. “System, can you transfer their injuries to me instead?” “Host, the price for two pairs of legs is your hands. Do you still wish to proceed?” “Without hands…I…my son is only 3, he can’t lose his legs so young, he just learned to walk…” The system altered everyone’s memories. They all believed I had pushed Jack and Tommy out of the way that day. My hands were crushed beyond recognition, twisted into grotesque, nauseating shapes. But it was all voluntary – I willingly sacrificed my precious hands to keep them safe. I thought we could stay together, supporting each other for life. Even though I lost my piano and my dreams, I still had my family and my love. My life would still be happy. But reality struck a cruel blow, shattering my delusions. Tommy’s excited voice continued: “Dad, you don’t know – every time I see Mom’s twisted hands I feel like she’s a monster. I have nightmares for days…Doesn’t Mom realize how disgusting she is? Why won’t she just leave on her own!” “I was so worried you wouldn’t divorce Mom, but I’m glad I was wrong. I can’t wait to get a new mom!” Jack’s laughter was ruthless, his tone mocking: “Of course Daddy finds it disgusting too. Daddy’s a normal person. And those deformed hands ooze pus and stink. I have to clean them every day – the smell is indescribable…” “What normal woman smells like that…it kills any desire.” “I’m tired of sharing a bed with her every night.” I peeked through the door. Jack’s smug smile pierced my heart. Rooted in place, waves of pain washed over me. I struggled to hold back tears of hurt and betrayal. When your heart goes numb, does it stop hurting? They went on to discuss Olivia, but I barely registered it. My ears were ringing, my mind blank. Mechanically, I bent down to pick up the fallen cake in my mouth and pushed open the door. The previously lively home fell silent at my entrance. As I set down the cake, I didn’t miss Tommy’s look of revulsion. He said with disgust: “Why bother with this stuff? I don’t want to celebrate my birthday!” With that, he flipped the cake off the table. Frosting and cake splattered across the floor, like the pieces of my shattered heart. I wanted to grab a cloth to clean up, but remembered my useless hands hanging limply at my sides. I could only stand there staring at the mess. Jack came over with a cold expression to clean up. “If you can’t help, just stay out of the way. Don’t make more trouble.” As he cleaned, he kept glancing at his phone, replying to messages with rare tenderness in his eyes. I realized he must be chatting with that woman called Olivia. Of course. Smartphones are useless to me now except for making calls. She’s the one keeping him company through the night now, not me. With mixed emotions, I watched Jack bent over cleaning. “Who is this Olivia woman?” Jack looked up, momentarily flustered before composing himself. He met my gaze steadily. “You’re overstepping, Sophia.” I gave a bitter smile. “I’m not trying to control you. I’m just asking…” “It’s none of your business. Why don’t you worry about your own hands instead of being useless forever!” His gaze deliberately fell on my deformed hands, eyes full of contempt. I looked between him and Tommy. The two men I loved most now looked at me with nothing but disgust and disdain. But why? What right do they have? “Let’s get a divorce.” Only I have the right to end our relationship. Jack and Tommy don’t deserve that power. I gazed at Tommy, the child I carried for 9 months, with complicated emotions. I never imagined the flesh of my flesh would become the sharpest knife to pierce my heart. “Tommy, Mommy has always known you don’t like her. That you find Mommy’s hands disgusting…that you want Olivia to be your new mom. Mommy knows everything.” Tommy’s face showed no sadness, only anger at being exposed. He was too young to hide his feelings or lie. He could only yell back defiantly: “It’s your fault for being a freak! All my friends’ moms have normal pretty hands! Only your hands are gross and deformed! What’s wrong with wanting a normal mom? Since you know, just leave already!” Even though I’d already heard those hurtful words, hearing them directly from my child still made my nose sting with unshed tears. Jack made no move to stop Tommy’s cruel words. Instead, he pulled out divorce papers from his desk drawer. “Sophia, your hands became like this because of us. I’ll give you a settlement as compensation. Of course, for custody of Tommy…” My heart turned to ash. “I don’t want custody.” Jack looked surprised. Even Tommy, who had been yelling for me to leave, froze in disbelief. They all thought Tommy was precious to me. But now I was giving him up. “I wasn’t planning to give you custody anyway. Tommy doesn’t want to live with you. I’ll give you a house and $200,000 as compensation.” I laughed. The CEO of a public company offering only $200k as compensation to his ex-wife. $200k for 4 legs? How cheap. I didn’t argue further, just nodded. “Whatever. Let’s finalize the divorce quickly.” With that, I pressed my deformed fingers to the divorce papers as a signature and walked into the bedroom without looking back. I collapsed to the floor behind the closed door. The system’s voice rang out in my mind: [Detection complete. Host mission accomplished. Points available to redeem rewards.] I laughed bitterly. “Divorce counts as completing the mission?” [Living for yourself and loving yourself is the system’s mission. What reward would you like, Host?] I looked at my twisted, deformed hands, remembering how I once stood proudly on stage. I wasted so many years of youth and dreams on those two ungrateful beasts. How laughable. My expression instantly turned cold. I glanced towards the door with a sneer. “System, I don’t want a reward…” “I want their legs. I want my hands back.” 4 The system’s mechanical voice slowly responded: [Understood, Host. Initiating exchange.] [Exchange will take effect over 3 months. Full exchange complete after 3 months.] I’d endured for years. I could certainly wait 3 more months. After I proposed divorce, Jack dropped all pretense. He immediately took Tommy and left our shared home. Eager to escape the life we’d built together. Before my son left, I couldn’t help asking: “Tommy, now that Mom and Dad are divorcing, will you miss me?” He fiddled with his tablet, playing a shooting game without looking up. “Don’t ask stupid questions.” “I can’t wait to get away from you. Why would I miss you? To have nightmares?” I stiffened at his response. Right. His disgust for me was written all over his face, etched into his bones. Every moment he saw his birth mother as revolting. As a mother, I still couldn’t help advising: “Eat less junk food, play fewer games. Your grades lately…” “Not this again! When will you stop nagging?” Tommy suddenly grabbed a nearby glass and threw it at me, his face twisted with impatience. “If you’re leaving then hurry up and go! We’re divorced so you’re not my mom anymore! Stop bothering me, you freak!” I had no time to dodge, no hands to block it. The glass smashed into my forehead. A sharp pain lanced through my skull. The world seemed to grow lighter. Blood trickled down my face, along my eye sockets, like tears of blood. This was the last chance I was giving our relationship. I took a deep breath. I was done. Done with this family, the man I’d loved for nearly 10 years, even my own flesh and blood. I was letting it all go. As they were leaving, a woman appeared at our door. She had a face similar to mine, but younger and more beautiful. I recognized her – Olivia Wilson, the rising piano virtuoso. My gaze drifted down to her long, slender hands. Normal hands. “It’s an honor to meet you.” Olivia’s smile was dazzling as she deliberately extended her hand, then feigned embarrassment. “Oh, I forgot Ms. Lee is disabled. I wanted to shake hands!” “Such a shame. I heard from Jack that you used to play piano beautifully. But now…” Olivia’s eyes kept darting to the hands I tried to hide behind my back. For the first time, I wanted to completely conceal my weakness. But there was nowhere to hide. “The real homewrecker is the one who isn’t loved. Ms. Lee, you’ve overstayed your welcome as Mrs. Sullivan. Using guilt to cling to your position isn’t right. Oh, and don’t forget to come to Jack and I’s wedding!” Olivia proudly displayed the heart-shaped diamond on her finger. Seeing that ring on her slender hand, I froze for a moment. My heart skipped a beat. When Jack and I were dating, he often cradled my hands, kissing each knuckle. He promised that once he made it big, he’d buy me a huge heart-shaped diamond. Now he’d achieved success and bought the ring – but not for me. His love was so cheap, given to whoever he pleased. I once treasured it like gold. How foolish. “Congratulations,” I said coolly to the woman before me. She was so much like me. And yet not me at all. I’d just escaped the prison of marriage. I could only congratulate this woman for eagerly jumping in. “I heard from Tommy that you actually agreed to divorce Jack right away.” Olivia’s tone dripped with sarcasm. “Don’t think our compensation is too little. A useless cripple like you should be grateful Jack supported you at all. We’re being more than fair – anyone else wouldn’t give you a cent.” “Thank you so much then.” I replied flatly, too tired to argue further. I turned to leave. No rush. After all, my lost hands were gradually being restored. My new life was just beginning. Jack and Tommy could enjoy their last taste of freedom while it lasted. 5 After they left, the whole house fell silent. It felt empty, yet somehow safer. I struggled to pack up the few remaining things of theirs, throwing it all away. Even our old family photos went straight into the trash without a second glance.
🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296009”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic #后宫Harem
Leave a Reply