After Serena ran me over with her car, I permanently lost my sense of smell. My daughter’s congenital asthma worsened severely, causing major lung damage. My husband, a top attorney, promised he’d send Serena to prison. But I didn’t find out until the trial day that he’d secretly signed a settlement agreement behind my back. He even defended her in court on another prostitution charge, trying to get her acquitted. I asked him why he would save our enemy. He frowned. “You just can’t smell things anymore. Aria’s asthma can be managed with enough medication. But if Serena loses this case, her whole life will be ruined. Lily, you can’t be so selfish.” From that day on, my daughter and I stopped crying and making a fuss. I even thoughtfully brought him a glass of milk when he was working tirelessly on that defense. Zachary thought we’d finally learned to behave. Until the day he came home early with stomach pain. Outside the study door, he overheard our conversation. “Mom, did he drink that special milk?” “He did. The dosage is steady. It won’t show up on any tests.” “Mom, you said Dad is such a great lawyer. If he ends up a vegetable, can’t take care of himself, can’t even speak clearly, will he still think that woman is innocent?” I smiled slightly. “When he’s completely bedridden, I’ll make him watch with his own eyes as the woman he risked his life to save changes her tune right by his bedside.”
The door burst open. Zachary stormed in, his face dark with rage. “Lily, what the hell did you feed me?!” I didn’t have time to answer. He slapped me across the face. Then his hand clamped around my throat and slammed me against the wall. My vision went black. I let out a muffled cry. Aria screamed “Mommy!” and rushed over, but he kicked her away. Her small body curled up on the floor, her face turning purple-red. I grabbed his hand, tears streaming down my face. “Zachary, your stomach problem is chronic. The doctor said stress can trigger acute attacks…” He sneered coldly. “Then explain to me what you put in my milk.” My heart went cold. “That was the child talking nonsense she learned from TV shows… How could you take it seriously?” Aria’s small face was streaked with tears. “Daddy, I was just talking silly… from a cartoon… I was wrong…” After a long while, he finally released his grip, though his venomous gaze remained locked on me. I slid down to the floor, gasping for air, my heart growing colder and colder. Aria threw herself into my arms, not even daring to sob loudly. “Tomorrow I’m getting a toxicology screening. If anything shows up, I’ll send you and this bastard child to prison together!” Prison? A year ago, Serena hit Aria and me with her car. I held my blood-covered daughter in one arm. With my other hand, I fumbled for my phone and pressed the speed dial. But no one answered. I called again and again. It wasn’t until the seventh attempt that he finally picked up. “We were hit by a car. Aria is bleeding… I can’t move…” But he sounded extremely impatient. “Call an ambulance yourself. Serena is shaken up, I need to stay with her. You two go to the hospital first, I’ll come later.” A passerby called the ambulance. He didn’t show up at the hospital until the next afternoon. Aria was unconscious. I had bandages wrapped around my head. He touched my hair. “Don’t worry. The person who hit you-I’ll make sure she goes to prison.” Later, I discovered that signed settlement agreement. Now, he was using that same calm tone to say he’d send my daughter and me to prison. I almost wanted to laugh. But I lowered my head, letting my hair fall across my face. Zachary stared at me for a few seconds. The fury on his face gradually subsided. He pulled a document from his briefcase and threw it in front of me. “Sign it.” This was a statement certifying that Serena had merely passed by the brothel and had not participated in any illegal activities. I looked up. “This is perjury. If they find out, I’ll go to prison.” “I’m one of the top three criminal attorneys in this city. With me here, what are you afraid of?” He crouched down and gripped my chin. This face had once made me lose my mind with love. Now it only held coldness and unfamiliarity. “If you don’t sign, I can send you to prison right now. If you sign, you’re still Mrs. Bennett. Aria can still attend the best private school, and her targeted medication won’t be stopped.” He didn’t know that Aria hadn’t been to school in three months. Because she could suffocate at any moment, I had to stay by her side constantly. For Aria’s treatment, I needed money. I signed with trembling hands. “Tomorrow morning at nine, come to the law firm to familiarize yourself with the testimony.” He stood up, resuming the appearance of that well-dressed top attorney. “I’m going to the hospital now. You’d better pray the test results come back clean.” The door closed. Aria finally let out her voice and cried loudly. I held her tightly in my arms. I wiped away my tears and opened my phone. The screen reflected my resolute face. Every word Zachary had said while forcing me to sign was recorded. He should be at the hospital by now. But I knew the doctors wouldn’t find anything. Because what I gave him wasn’t any poison you could buy on the market.
The next day, I brought Aria to the law firm. Zachary went through the fake testimony word by word, teaching me how to memorize it. Aria sat beside me, her small hands constantly fidgeting with her dress hem. Midway through, Serena left for a bit. When she returned, her face looked panicked. “Zachary, my diamond brooch is missing. The one you gave me for my birthday last year…” She searched everywhere but found nothing. “Aria was playing outside the conference room earlier…” Aria’s small face went pale. She shook her head desperately. “I didn’t take it…” Zachary walked over and grabbed Aria roughly. I tried to step forward, but he elbowed me back. My head hit the wall with a dull thud of pain. “Hand it over.” “Daddy… I didn’t…” “I said hand it over!” Aria’s coat pocket was violently turned inside out. The diamond brooch fell out. Serena covered her mouth. “Oh my, the child not only steals but also lies!” Zachary’s entire body radiated coldness. “Lily, this is the daughter you’ve raised?!” I pulled Aria behind me. “She never left my sight. You can check the surveillance footage.” Zachary looked at the administrative supervisor. The supervisor looked uncomfortable. “Unfortunately, the surveillance system has been under upgrade these past few days and hasn’t been restored yet…” “I didn’t steal…” Aria cried out, her wheezing becoming noticeable. “It was the lady… when the lady went out earlier, she stuffed something in my pocket…” “Aria!” Serena raised her voice. “I know you don’t like me, but you can’t lie like this.” She turned to Zachary. “Lily must still resent me for the car accident.” “Even the child has been taught to act this way. She probably hates me to death…” Zachary’s expression grew even darker. “Lily, I think you’ve been living too comfortably. Starting today, all of Aria’s treatment costs and additional expenses are suspended.” My mind exploded with a roar. “Zachary, Aria’s medication can’t be stopped…” “Why can’t it be stopped?” He cut me off. “Hasn’t she managed all these years?” “She doesn’t have ordinary asthma!” My voice trembled. “Her lungs are underdeveloped. Once the targeted medication is stopped…” Serena sighed. “Lily, you’re being so dramatic. The child has been fine all these years. Why would she suddenly die now?” “I think you’re just using the child as an excuse because you want to see me lose the case.” Aria’s breathing began to sound like a bellows. That was the warning before her airway was about to close. I crouched down, frantically searching through my handbag. Then I remembered I’d left the emergency medication on the entryway cabinet. “Where’s the medicine?!” Zachary roared. With shaking hands, I pulled out my phone. My fingerprint slipped three times before the screen unlocked. “I’ll call 911… right now…” The call had just connected when a hand reached over and pressed the disconnect button. “Lily, Zachary is about to go to court. If you cause a scene with an ambulance rushing into the law firm and the media photographs it, what will they write?” Serena took my phone and handed it to Zachary. “Zachary, you can’t be soft-hearted. She’s trying to make a big scene to force you to compromise. The reputation you’ve built all these years can’t withstand this kind of scandal.” The last trace of hesitation in Zachary’s eyes completely extinguished. He took my phone and threw it to the ground. “Lily, do you hate me this much? Enough to destroy my career?” “Zachary!” I screamed, my voice cracking. “Can’t you see?! She can’t breathe!” Serena clicked her tongue. “If you were really worried about Aria, why didn’t you bring her medicine when you left the house this morning?” I didn’t want to argue. I picked up Aria and rushed toward the exit. Zachary blocked my way. “Where are you going?” “The hospital!” I turned around, my eyes bloodshot. “Are you blind?! She’s dying!” Serena stood in front of the door. “Lily, do you have to see me go to prison? How can you be so cruel?!” Zachary’s voice dropped. “You haven’t finished memorizing the testimony. You’re not going anywhere today.” I screamed, tears finally rolling down my face. “Zachary, look at her face! She won’t last until your trial is over!” Aria convulsed in my arms. He snatched Aria away and pushed me back into the chair with his other hand. “I want you to sit here and memorize the testimony. Until you finish, neither of you is leaving.” Aria was placed on the sofa. Her small body curled up, her face already turning a dark purple. My heart felt like it was being sliced by knives. I fell to my knees. “I’m begging you, take her to the hospital… I’ll memorize the testimony right now, I promise word for word… I’ll do whatever you want… please…” Zachary kicked me in the shoulder with disgust. My whole body fell backward, the back of my head hitting the corner of the conference table. Warm liquid flowed down my neck. Through my blurred vision, I saw Aria’s eyes losing focus. Darkness swallowed everything.
When I opened my eyes, I found myself lying in a hospital bed. I jerked my head around. Aria was on the bed next to me, sleeping, her chest rising and falling steadily. “You’re awake?” Zachary’s voice came from beside the bed. Only then did I notice him sitting there, with faint dark circles under his eyes. He looked at me, his eyes full of guilt. “Aria was resuscitated. Don’t worry.” I turned back to look at Aria, tears streaming endlessly. Seven years ago, Zachary wasn’t yet Attorney Bennett. When I had severe morning sickness, he’d run across half the city in the middle of the night to find the pickles I craved. The day Aria was born, he held that wrinkled daughter of his with trembling hands. “Lily, thank you both… for coming into my life.” But what about later? Later he became Attorney Bennett. Serena came back. After that came the car accident. The settlement agreement he signed. The kick he landed on my shoulder. “Lily…” Zachary reached out his hand, wanting to touch my face. I instinctively dodged. His hand froze in mid-air. “I’m sorry. I was too anxious at the time. Serena’s case is under a lot of pressure, I…” Before he could finish, his phone rang. His expression changed slightly. He stood up and walked to the window, lowering his voice to answer. “Serena? Don’t cry, speak slowly… You fell? How serious is it? I’ll come right away.” After hanging up, he walked back to the bed and picked up his suit jacket. “Serena fell at home. She’s emotionally devastated. I need to go check on her.” “I’ve already paid the medical bills. The doctor said Aria can be discharged tomorrow.” He was about to leave. I felt very tired. But I still spoke up. One last time. “Zachary, tonight, stay here. Stay with Aria.” I paused, then added the words I’d rehearsed countless times in my heart but never spoken aloud. “If you walk out that door today, there will never be any possibility between us again.” He looked away. “Serena is alone, and she’s injured… I can’t just leave her.” I watched him walk out of the hospital room, his figure disappearing around the corridor corner. I leaned against the headboard. I didn’t cry. I would never shed tears for him again. The next morning, I handled the discharge procedures myself. Back home, I changed Aria’s clothes and gave her medication. “Mommy, is Daddy not going to want us anymore?” I crouched down. “If Mommy separates from Daddy… would you be willing to live with Mommy?” She stretched out her small arms and wrapped them around my neck. “I’ll stay with Mommy. I only want Mommy.” This answer severed the last thread of hesitation in my heart. The night before the trial, Zachary finally came home. I was sleeping in the master bedroom with Aria. I heard movement but didn’t get up. The next morning, I was woken by pounding on the door. When I opened it, camera flashes lit up like lightning. Serena rushed forward and grabbed my hand. “Where’s Zachary? He promised he’d appear in court. How could he do this… What about my case…” I pulled my hand back. Before I could speak, Zachary rushed out. “What’s all this noise…” Then he saw Serena’s tears and the camera flashes. He turned to glare at me. “Lily! What did you feed me last night?!” The flashes intensified. “Mr. Bennett! Are you saying your wife drugged you?” “Is it a domestic dispute that caused you to miss the trial?” “Have you given up on Ms. Serena’s case?” Serena cried even harder beside him. “Lily might have just been confused for a moment…” Strangely, I felt no panic at all. Zachary turned to the cameras. “I will petition the court to prohibit my wife Lily from having any contact with this case in any form. Her mental state and actions do not qualify her as a witness.” “As for our domestic affairs, I’ll handle them privately. Now, please leave.” The media was half-pushed, half-escorted out. Before leaving, Serena glanced at me, smugness hidden in her eyes. Zachary got dressed and coldly threw out a sentence. “You and Aria stay home for the next few days. Don’t go anywhere.” After the front door closed, I walked into Aria’s room. She sat on the bed, fiddling with the children’s watch on her wrist. The watch suddenly emitted a faint sound. Serena’s voice. “Lily is too emotionally unstable now. Having her testify is too risky. She has to be removed.” Zachary’s voice carried fatigue. “TThe way she is now, she really isn’t suitable. Serena, handle the media yourself. Last time, didn’t she say I poisoned her? Since she opened that door first, let’s… push it in that direction.” The recording stopped there. Aria looked up. “Mommy, this is what Daddy and that lady said outside the door when you were sleeping in the hospital bed. I pressed the wrong button and recorded it.” I held the watch, my fingers burning hot.
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