Finally, after bearing three of his children, I was permitted inside Julian Campbell’s mansion. But in this house, I was not Julian’s wife, nor the children’s mother. I was just a nanny, brought in to help. Julian placed the newborn in my arms. His voice was cold and distant. “You have three days. Leave when the regular nanny Martha returns.” “Do not tell Charlotte who you are. Do not make trouble for me.” “After these three days end, I’ll send you back to your villa outside the city.” “I will give you everything you want, except the title of Mrs. Campbell.” He was so sure, so certain I would compromise again, as before, for the children. But he did not know I had already bought my plane ticket to leave the country before coming here. I was only here to say goodbye. The baby in my arms, as if sensing my turmoil, began to whimper. Julian frowned, his eyes darting toward the master bedroom upstairs. “Keep the child quiet. Don’t disturb Charlotte.” As if on cue, Charlotte descended the stairs in a white dress, a child held firmly in each hand. Her delicate, pale face seemed to glow with an almost ethereal light. And in that instant, Julian’s entire demeanor softened. He slipped back into the role of the perfect husband, the doting father. He returned to the home that belonged only to him and Charlotte. He quickly went to her, pulling her frail body into his embrace. His voice was doting, yet laced with a hint of reproach. “It’s so cold out. Why are you barefoot?” “You’re so delicate; be careful not to catch a cold.” As he spoke, he naturally bent down, carefully slipping a pair of cashmere socks onto Charlotte’s feet. He was so reverent, so earnest, as if he were tending to an invaluable treasure. Charlotte was clearly accustomed to Julian’s doting care. She leaned into his embrace, her voice soft and sweet. “I just wanted to see you sooner.” “You’ve been gone for so many days. If I didn’t have Leo and Lily with me, I’d be so lonely…” Hearing this, Leo immediately puffed out his chest, his face beaming with pride. “I said I’d be Mom’s big hero!” “I’ll always stay by Mom’s side and never let her be sad!” Lily nodded along. “Me too!” “Dad, I even picked fresh flowers for Mom today. I’m even better than Leo!” The two children, one after another, crowded around Charlotte, showering her with affection and concern. What a heartwarming scene, what a wonderfully happy family of four. But it was me… I was their mother! My heart twisted painfully. Tears blurred my vision as I looked at Julian. But he ignored my tearful gaze, simply taking the baby from my arms and presenting her to Charlotte. Charlotte took the infant with practiced ease, smiling. “What a darling baby. Have you decided on a name?” “How about we call her Ava?” Faced with Charlotte’s suggestion, Julian gave his consent without a moment’s hesitation. He immediately nodded, instructing his assistant to change the baby’s name. I instinctively reached out to stop him, my voice urgent. “Julian, you promised me…” When I gave birth to this child, I suffered a severe hemorrhage and was forced to have a hysterectomy, losing my ability to bear children forever. I pleaded with Julian, begging him to let me keep this last child by my side. But he looked at me with cold indifference and said, “Amelia, don’t be childish.” “The Campbell bloodline cannot be left outside the family.” “However, considering all you’ve been through, I can allow you to name this child as a keepsake.” That fleeting moment of tenderness, hard-won after almost dying, was now being casually erased by a single sentence from Charlotte. I looked at Julian, unwilling to accept it. My eyes welled up, tears threatening to spill. Julian noticed my distress. But he merely frowned slightly, quickly averting his gaze. “Charlotte, this is Martha’s niece. Martha is sick, so she’s filling in for three days.” “If you don’t like her, I can have her sent away right now.” “She’ll never appear before you or the children again, ever.” That statement was an open threat, bare and brutal. I bit my lower lip, desperately trying not to cry aloud. But the wrenching pain in my heart only intensified. Years of accumulated grievances surged over me all at once.
During my college years, I met Julian, who was giving a guest lecture at our university. He fell in love with me at first sight, pursuing me relentlessly. Designer jewelry, expensive bags, luxurious accessories. Everything I’d once only dreamed of was suddenly showered upon me. Everyone said our backgrounds were worlds apart, that Julian was just playing games. But he proved his love with every little action. He’d light up the entire city with fireworks just because I said I liked them. He’d climb thirty flights of stairs to bring me late-night snacks just because I mumbled I was hungry. He was so meticulous, so thoughtful, planning every detail for me. From big life decisions to the smallest thing, like what I ate and drank. I completely succumbed to his charm. Our passion burned fiercely, and soon, we were expecting our first child. Unlike the playboys who would simply vanish, he carefully chose a premier maternity clinic for me and began planning our wedding. Everything was set until the wedding day, when he suddenly stopped me. “Amelia, I’m already married.” Before the shock could settle, Julian laid a marriage certificate before me. His voice was gentle, yet it left no room for argument. “The title you want, I cannot give you. But I will cover all your mother’s medical expenses.” Julian explained that as the sole heir to the formidable Campbell legacy, he had long been married. His wife, Charlotte, came from a family of equal standing-a fragile beauty with a chronic condition. While she could not produce an heir for the Campbells, her family brought indispensable business alliances. Divorce was not an option. “Charlotte understands the rules of our world. She will not interfere with our…arrangement.” “I need you to bear healthy children for the Campbell family, for us.” “Beyond that, you two will live entirely separate lives, never crossing paths.” As he spoke, Julian placed a platinum card in front of me. He analyzed everything about me as if I were a commodity. “I’ve checked your background. You’re from the West Coast, no hereditary family illnesses.” “Your height, weight, education, appearance-all meet my requirements.” “Your mother’s in the hospital after a car accident; you desperately need money.” “This is a shrewd bargain for you.” “Of course, you can refuse.” “But understand this: in this city, no one dares cross the Campbells. Leave me, and you’ll find no job, no partner, no one to pay your mother’s medical bills.” His words abruptly jolted me awake from my dream. It was then I realized Julian’s feelings for me were never love. He cared for my every need, planned my future. In countless nights, he intimately ‘measured’ my body-all just to pick the perfect vessel for himself, for Charlotte. He blocked every escape route, forcing me to make that humiliating choice. That night, I cried myself almost unconscious. In the end, I signed my name on that contract, which felt more like a bill of sale. My love for my mother became my reason to compromise. It also became the cage that trapped me. From that day on, I became Julian’s mistress, the woman he kept hidden away. A nameless, unrecognized tool for bearing children.
Five years. Three children. It drained my health and utterly crushed my dignity. If this last, agonizing childbirth hadn’t rendered me unable to have more children, if it hadn’t stripped me of my ‘reproductive value,’ I imagine this nightmare would have continued endlessly. A dense, suffocating pain spread through my heart. Yet, the perpetrator had long since swaggered away. Charlotte’s gaze towards me grew increasingly contemptuous. She poked the soft flesh around my waist with her finger and sneered. “So you’re the mistress Julian keeps outside? You’re not even that pretty. It must have been a real sacrifice for him, to ‘branch out’ and stoop to someone like you.” “You probably don’t know, but Julian and I aren’t just bound by family alliances; we’re childhood sweethearts.” “His love for me is something no other woman can ever replace.” I believed her, of course. All these years with Julian, Charlotte always came first. Even when we were intimate. Even when I was in labor, hovering between life and death. A single phone call from Charlotte, and he would rush back to the main house. He would spend a fortune to make me happy. He would also use his actions and the disdain in his eyes to remind me to remember my place. But honestly, Julian’s reminders and Charlotte’s precautions were all unnecessary. The moment Julian presented that contract, the moment he trampled my dignity, any love or lingering affection I had for him vanished. I stayed by his side only for my mother’s medical expenses. And for the chance to see these children again. Now, my mother was gone. And I finally understood: no matter what I did, no matter how much I bowed my head and compromised, these children would never truly be mine. Since that was the case, it was better to leave now, taking with me what little dignity I had left. I managed a polite, strained smile for Charlotte and spoke slowly. “Mrs. Campbell, you’re overthinking it.” “I’m just a nanny brought in to help. There’s no other relationship between Mr. Campbell and me.” During these last three days, I wanted to avoid any more trouble. But my concession only led to Charlotte’s escalation. She slapped me, hard, across the face, her voice spitting fire. “What are you? How dare you look at me like that?” “I should have let you die on that operating table!” Charlotte, who moments ago seemed too delicate to fend for herself, was now utterly vicious. She threw a report at my face, a cold laugh escaping her lips. “You think Julian bringing you into the Campbell house means he acknowledges your status?” “Dream on! There will only ever be one lady of this house, and that’s me!” “He keeps you around simply because your blood type matches mine.” “In case anything happens to me, your blood can save my life!” “Believe me, I could have you killed with a single word!” The sharp edge of the paper cut my eye, leaving me stunned and disbelieving. How could a man be as heartless as Julian? He took my children, destroyed my body. Now, he wanted to turn me into a tool to prolong his wife’s life! The difference between being loved and not loved was truly staggering. My long-suppressed emotions completely shattered. Large tears streamed down my face. I was about to confront Julian when Charlotte suddenly rose, stumbling backwards into a nearby bench.
The cut wasn’t deep, just a scraped patch of skin. But the sudden commotion still alerted everyone in the mansion. Julian rushed over, only to see Charlotte, beautiful and tear-streaked like a wilting flower, and me, my heart cold as ash. Charlotte collapsed like a willow branch, her tearful eyes fixed on Julian. “Amelia, Amelia, why does she hate me so much? What did I do wrong?” Seeing the tears on Charlotte’s face, Julian’s heart broke instantly. He had no logic left, no desire to discern right from wrong. He immediately turned to me, his voice sharp with accusation. “Amelia, I know you harbor resentment.” “If you have grievances, take them out on me directly. Why attack Charlotte?” “You’ve been spoiled rotten by me, haven’t you? If anything happens to Charlotte, I swear I won’t let you get away with it!” There was no trace of affection left in his eyes for me. Only undisguised disgust and fury. Leo and Lily also stood defensively in front of Charlotte, glaring at me, their faces contorted with anger. Looking at the menacing group before me. Looking at Charlotte, who was triumphantly flaunting her claim, eager to assert her dominion. I suddenly lost all energy to defend myself. What was there to say? Who would even believe me? Julian wouldn’t believe me. To him, I was just a vessel for bearing children. A woman who could be paid off and dismissed. Leo and Lily wouldn’t believe me either. To them, I was just a stranger they’d never met. A horrible person who was bullying their mother. From the moment I fell for Julian, I was doomed to lose everything. From the moment I stepped into this villa, I was just setting myself up for humiliation. Countless tears streamed down my face, blurring my vision. I had no strength to argue, no strength left for hatred. All I wanted was to leave. And quickly. To end this farce, I snatched the fruit knife from the table and slashed it across my own arm. Once. Twice. Three times… Until my entire arm was covered in blood. Until the last remnants of feeling in my heart bled out. I lifted my head, my gaze meeting Julian’s with numb exhaustion. “Ten times over, are you satisfied now?” My sudden actions terrified everyone present. Charlotte recoiled into Julian’s embrace, coldly uttering two words. “Psycho.” Then, she turned her head, half-coaxing, half-commanding. “Julian, make her leave.” “How can a psycho like her take care of our children?” “I don’t care if I’m hurt, but I absolutely won’t let our children be in danger!” The scene erupted into complete chaos. Julian finally lost his temper, roaring at me. “Amelia, what the hell are you doing?!” “Before you showed up, we were perfectly happy in this home.” “If I’d known this, I never would have been soft-hearted enough to bring you back!” Hearing his words, Leo and Lily no longer held back. They started hitting me, muttering fiercely. “Don’t you dare bully our mom!” “Bad lady! Bad lady! Go away!” The children’s blows were weak, but each one struck deep into my heart. It hurt more than any blade to the flesh, more than the agony of childbirth. I stared blankly at these two children, my own flesh and blood, and shook my head helplessly. How foolish. If Julian, after five years, did not love me… How could these children, whom I had only just met, hold any lingering affection for me? They would only ever know Charlotte as their mother. I looked down at the infant in my arms, crying uncontrollably. She was not even a year old; she could do nothing but cry. But when she grew, she too would call Charlotte “Mom.” She too would learn to hate me, to despise me, just like Leo and Lily. She too would scorn my origins, just like Julian. After all, in this house, I was nothing. Tears and blood mingled on my skin. I couldn’t see the path ahead, nor the faces from my past with any clarity. I drew a deep breath, etching the images of these three children into my heart. Then I forced a pale, hollow smile and spoke softly. “Julian, don’t worry.” “I’ll never bother you again.” Never again would I disrupt your perfect family. Leaves fell, borne away by the wind. The world around me seemed to wither. II took one last look at Julian, then turned my back and walked straight into the desolate winter awaiting me.
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