When I was getting divorced, I voluntarily gave up custody of my daughter. It was because on the day we went to the court to file for divorce, she clung to her father’s neck and cried, “Bad mommy, bad mommy, I hate mommy!” “If you insist on divorcing daddy, I’ll stay with him and let you grow old alone!” In my previous life, I ignored her childish threats and fought for custody. I raised her with all my heart. But she hated me her whole life, never calling me mom again until the day I died. On her wedding day, she even invited her father’s mistress on stage to give a speech of thanks. When I opened my eyes again and saw that malicious little face in front of me, I nodded indifferently, “Fine by me. I don’t want an unlikable child anyway.” 0″Fine by me. I don’t want an unlikable child anyway.” As soon as I said this, the two people in front of me froze as if struck by lightning. They looked at me in disbelief. Jack was stunned for a moment, then reacted and started cursing at me. “What nonsense are you spouting in front of the child!” I glanced at Annie, who was hiding in his arms, and repeated, “I said if she doesn’t want to stay with me, that’s fine. I don’t want such an unlikable child either.” “If you still don’t understand, I can say it more clearly.” “I. Don’t. Want. Her.” I enunciated each word forcefully. As soon as I finished speaking, Annie, who had been burying her head and throwing a tantrum to try to force me to change my mind, suddenly looked up. She looked at me and burst into loud sobs. Her face was covered in tears and snot. “Bad mommy, bad mommy, I hate mommy!” She cried while struggling in Jack’s arms. She almost fell. Jack had no choice but to lower his head and frantically try to comfort the child. “Mommy’s just joking. She carried you for nine months, gave birth to you, and took care of you. How could she not want you?” “We all know you’re her favorite.” Under his gentle coaxing, Annie’s cries gradually subsided. She clung to Jack’s arms like an octopus, tightly hugging his neck, and asked in a small voice, “Really?” “Of course it’s true. Don’t you want to ask your mom yourself?” Jack comforted her while giving me meaningful looks, wanting me to take the child and comfort her. Annie also looked over with tear-filled eyes, full of expectation. But I remained unmoved, not even raising an eyelid. Still maintaining that cold attitude. Annie seemed to have been stung, her mouth twisted as if she was about to cry again. Jack lost his patience and glared at me with a dark face, “What’s wrong with you? It’s bad enough you want a divorce, but now you don’t even want the child?” “Are you still fit to be a mother!” I sneered and said indifferently, “Wasn’t she the one who said she didn’t want me as her mother first? Of course I have to respect her wishes.” Annie’s small body stiffened for a moment, then she glared at me fiercely. She shouted, “You were the one who didn’t want me and daddy first!” “If you respect my opinion, why do you still insist on divorcing?” “My biggest opinion is that you shouldn’t get divorced. Why don’t you listen! You just don’t want us. You want to make me a child without parents!” 0
In my previous life, she accused me the same way. She called me selfish and self-centered, threatening that if I dared to divorce, she would never acknowledge me as her mother again. I didn’t argue with her, considering her young age. Instead, I patiently explained to her. I said it was because her father had another woman outside, that’s why I chose to divorce. I thought saying this would make her understand. But what I got in return was her naive yet vicious question, “Is it because you’re not good enough, so daddy had to find someone else outside?” “My classmate Rosie’s mom is beautiful and capable, and her dad would never look for anyone else.” “You’re not good enough, daddy doesn’t want you, and I don’t want you either!” At that moment, I felt as if I had fallen into an icy pit. A sense of frustration and despair I had never felt before welled up in my heart. I always thought that even if I wasn’t a successful wife, I was at least a successful mother. Since Annie was born, all my energy and time had been spent on her. I was afraid she would be cold or hungry, or feel wronged. I did everything myself. But after I had given all my heart and soul, all I got in return were eight words. You’re not good enough, I don’t want you. My heart trembled violently, but not for a moment did I think of giving up. I thought it would be better when she grew up. When she grew up and became sensible, she would understand my difficulties and my love for her. So I treated her even better. Until her wedding day. She invited Jack and his wife, who was Jack’s mistress, on stage. Calling them “Dad” and “Mom” in every sentence, giving a speech of thanks. In front of all the guests, she knelt before that woman and said, “You are the person I should thank most in this life.” “I want to thank you for bringing my dad out of that failed marriage, and thank you for your care and concern for me over the years.” “Without you, there wouldn’t be who I am today. Please allow me to call you Mom.” After she finished speaking, the woman pulled her up and hugged her. Jack also walked up. The family hugged together harmoniously. I stood below the stage like a joke, my heart feeling as if it had been cut by a knife. 0
The scenes from my previous life were still vivid. I couldn’t help but look at Annie with some disgust. Annie was frightened, thinking I was angry because of what she had just said. She shrank back in Jack’s arms. She argued in a small voice, “I… I didn’t say anything wrong.” “Isn’t it good for our family to stay together? Daddy has begged you so much, but you still insist on divorcing. You don’t consider my feelings at all!” I pulled at the corners of my mouth, my mocking gaze falling on her, “Your dad begged me not to divorce because he cheated. He’s the one at fault, and divorce doesn’t benefit him one bit.” Just thinking about it made me laugh. In my previous life, in order to get custody of my daughter as soon as possible, I made a lot of concessions when dividing the property. Jack schemed to take away all the cash flow, leaving me with just an empty shell of a company. This time, I won’t be so foolish. I can give up the child. But the money, I must get it all. Hearing what I said, Annie was a bit dazed. She looked up at Jack in confusion, not understanding what cheating meant. Jack’s face turned black and red when I tore off his fig leaf in front of our daughter. “Have you no shame, saying such things to our daughter!” “You had the face to do it, why shouldn’t I have the face to say it?” I looked at our daughter who still hadn’t come to her senses and asked the same question as in my previous life. “Even so, do you still disagree with me divorcing your dad? Do you still insist on staying with him?” Annie was frightened by my serious and cold voice and didn’t speak. Jack squeezed her hand. The next second, the hesitation on Annie’s face disappeared, instantly turning into determination. “Yes!” Indeed, she was Jack’s good daughter. I showed a mocking expression on my face, picked up my bag and turned to leave. 0
After leaving the Lakeside Villa, I returned to the apartment near my company. As soon as I entered the door, I received a call from my mother. She asked how the divorce proceedings went today. I said it didn’t go through. “It didn’t? Why?” Mother asked, puzzled. “Is it because Jack disagreed, or did Annie make a scene again?” “Neither. I want to draft a new divorce agreement,” I said. Mother hesitated, “You’re not planning to give up the company to get custody of Annie, are you?” She sighed, “It’s not that I don’t like Annie, but she’s all for the Jiang family. It’s not good to force her to stay with you.” In my previous life, mother had said similar things. After seeing me sacrifice my own interests for Annie time and time again, she pointed at my nose and scolded me. She said I must have been hit on the head, giving away the fortune my father had earned in his lifetime to others for an ungrateful brat. She had disagreed when I married Jack, who was from a different social class. Later, when I almost gave away the company for Annie’s sake, she was even angrier. She demanded more than once that I send Annie back. “If you want a child, you can have another one.” “If you don’t want to have one yourself, you can adopt. Annie has already been spoiled by the Jiang family and can’t be changed.” Back then, I couldn’t listen to her advice at all. Now, even without my mother’s persuasion, I’ve come to my senses. I explained, “No, the previous agreement wasn’t drafted well.” “In the new agreement, I want Jack to leave with nothing.” Mother was stunned for a moment, then tentatively asked, “What if Annie disagrees?” I snorted coldly, “If she disagrees, she can go back to the Jiang family.” In this new life, I want to cherish those who are worth cherishing. 0
After proposing new terms to the lawyer, I worked non-stop at the company for several days. Finally, on Saturday, I drove to an orphanage in a neighboring state. When I arrived, I learned from the director that the person I was looking for wasn’t at the orphanage these past few days. “That little girl is very good at studying. She was chosen by the school to participate in a math competition.” The director took out an album from the cabinet and handed me a photo from inside. I looked down at the photo of a short-haired little girl. She looked about seven or eight years old. Her body was a bit thin due to malnutrition, but her eyes were bright and spirited. I raised my hand, my fingertips gently brushing over her little face. In my previous life, when I was 46 and diagnosed with late-stage liver cancer, bedridden and unable to move, it was this little girl who took care of me. She was an orphan I had sponsored long ago. Her name was Lily. After seeing the news of my illness online, she specially took time off to come and take care of me. She would take me out to bask in the sun, cut my nails, and braid my hair for me. When I couldn’t sleep at night because of the pain, she would tell me stories. She even spent all her savings to pay for my medical expenses. She said if it wasn’t for my kindness back then, she wouldn’t have been able to continue her studies. So she wanted to repay me. How ironic. The daughter I had raised like a precious pearl treated me like an enemy and colluded with others to swindle all my money. Yet a strange little girl would come to take care of me, feeding and cleaning me, because of a little kindness I had carelessly spread. Hearing that I was this little girl’s sponsor and wanted to adopt her, the director was very happy. “Lily is both obedient and smart. If it wasn’t for her being a bit older, many families would want to adopt her.” “If you don’t mind her age, I can give you a call when she comes back. If you two meet and there’s no problem, we can start the procedures.” I nodded, indicating that I didn’t mind. After agreeing on the details, I drove back. Before going home, I went to the mall first. When leaving the orphanage, I had asked the director for Lily’s measurements. I planned to buy a few sets of clothes and shoes first, so the child could wear them directly when she came. Thinking that all little girls are the same, I bought a lot based on what Annie used to like. I didn’t expect to run into Annie when I was about to leave. 0She was holding Jack’s hand with one hand and a strange woman’s hand with the other. I glanced over – it was Jack’s mistress. Wendy.
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