My college roommate was pregnant and decided to stay in the dorm to carry out her pregnancy.
While that was already a bit unconventional, what was worse was the rules she was trying to impose on us. Her husband had been flaunting his presence around, walking into our dorm without a care in the world.
To top it off, he even barged into the bathroom while I was showering.
This was way beyond what I could tolerate.
My husband, Jeremy Miller, was a renowned pediatrician.
Yet, during a raging typhoon, he insisted that our eight-year-old daughter, Mia, deliver fever medication to the daughter of his beloved Fiona Fox.
Now, Mia was missing.
When I begged him to help find her, he slapped me hard and shouted, “You raised a real piece of work! Just like you—cold-hearted and ruthless!
“She didn’t want to take the medicine and just went missing! Do you even realize Megan is suffering from pneumonia because she didn’t get her medication? It’s like you two are conspiring to kill them both!
“Mia’s only eight! To think she could come up with such a vicious scheme to win a favor? I’d rather not have a daughter like that!”
A mother’s intuition told me that something terrible had happened to my little girl.
But Jeremy ignored my desperate pleas, too busy tending to the daughter of his lover.
He had no idea that while he was cradling that little girl, administering her medication, and setting up nebulizers, our flesh and blood were trapped in a small suitcase, struggling for breath.
***
The city lay in ruins after the typhoon passed through.
Exhausted from my shift in the emergency room, I felt my legs were like jelly. I hadn’t even sipped water, but finally, I managed to check my phone for a moment.
There it was—a missed call from my daughter.
Glancing at the darkened sky, I could only imagine Mia was home alone, scared out of her mind.
I tried to call her back, but the line wouldn’t connect.
Just then, a WhatsApp message from her popped up: [Mom, Ms. Fox and Megan are both running fevers. They don’t have any anti-inflammatory or fever-reducing medicine at home, and Dad wants me to bring them some.]
Fiona.
The mere mention of her name made my stomach churn.
She was the love of my husband Jeremy’s life. A year ago, she divorced, leaving her without support. In a moment of misplaced compassion, Jeremy helped her rent an apartment in the neighborhood right next to ours.
Ever since then, it felt like Jeremy had two homes.
As a pediatrician, he was already pressed for time, leaving little for me and Mia.
With Fiona and her daughter around, we barely saw him at all.
I checked the timestamp on Mia’s message—it was sent two hours ago, right when the typhoon was making landfall.
I thought, “In this kind of weather, Jeremy expected Mia to go out on her own?
To deliver fever medicine to Fiona?”
I was shaking with rage.
Just as I was about to call Mia again, a loud crash echoed outside.
A massive tree was uprooted by the wind, and the torrential rain shattered the hospital’s windows.
The muddy downpour swept inside, soaking everything in its path.
People around me screamed and scattered, and I stumbled, getting knocked into a corner by the force of the rain.
My chest felt tight and painful, but I couldn’t afford to dwell on it. I scrambled to my feet.
I couldn’t even bear to think about how Mia would cope if she were caught in such chaos.
With trembling hands, I dialed her number twice more.
Each time, the cold, mechanical voice reminded me that the user was unavailable.
Seeing the apocalyptic scene outside, I quickly called Jeremy.
But the phone rang and rang—over ten times—without an answer.
Frustrated, I took a brief leave from the emergency department and sprinted toward the pediatrics ward.
The rain was relentless, and the hospital corridors were slick with water.
I slipped and fell three or four times before finally spotting Jeremy’s busy figure in his office.
Ignoring my disheveled appearance, I grabbed his arm.
Worry for Mia turned my voice into a shaky plea. “Jeremy, in this weather, you sent our daughter to deliver medicine to Fiona?”
He turned around, giving me a cold stare. “When I let Mia go, the rain wasn’t this heavy.”
“But she’s only eight! Even if the rain wasn’t bad then, the wind was fierce! She only weighs forty pounds! How could you let her go out like that?
“I can’t reach Mia now; what do you suggest we do?”
Given our unpredictable work hours, Mia often went without meals, which was why, at nearly nine years old, she barely weighed forty pounds.
Jeremy shook off my hand in irritation. “Ada, what are you doing? Mia agreed to deliver the medicine, but she didn’t even leave the house! You’ve taught her to lie better than anything else!
“Mia has always been closest to you. She probably told you about my call asking her to deliver the medicine, and you encouraged her to pretend to go while she hid, right?”
I was at a loss.
“What are you talking about? I’ve been busy and have only just seen her WhatsApp message. By the time I tried to call, it was already disconnected.
“Jeremy, we need to find our daughter! Something must have happened to Mia!”
Thinking about our daughter, lost somewhere, her little body soaking in the cold rain, I froze from head to toe.
My legs gave out, and I crumpled to the ground, begging Jeremy to help me find our daughter.
But Jeremy slapped me hard across the face, his voice a bitter tirade.
“Ada, what are you trying to prove by making a spectacle of yourself? Trying to guilt-trip me, are you?
“You raised a real piece of work! Just like you—cold-hearted and ruthless! She didn’t want to take the medicine and just went missing! Do you even realize Megan is suffering from pneumonia because she didn’t get her medication? It’s like you two are conspiring to kill them both!
“Mia’s only eight! To think she could come up with such a vicious scheme to win a favor? I’d rather not have a daughter like that!”
He went on, passionately accusing our daughter of immorality.
That was when I noticed Fiona sitting behind him, gently cradling Megan in her arms.
Fiona sat there in a beige, lightweight jacket and white wide-leg pants.
Her hair was loosely tied up and a bit messy, and her face bore the unmistakable worry of a mother.
Yet, she didn’t look the least bit frazzled.
Then I glanced at myself.
My lab coat was caked with mud and stained with the blood of patients I had treated.
A branch had scratched my neck, and my hands were swollen from the falls.
I looked down and realized I was even missing a shoe.
Fiona pressed her lips, her gaze flickering with a hint of mockery.
She spoke slowly, “Ada, don’t worry. Mia didn’t come to deliver the medicine. By the timeline, she should have arrived within fifteen minutes, but we waited half an hour without seeing her.
“When we tried to call her again, the line was dead.
“We had no choice but to take the risk and come to the hospital.
“Luckily, we ran into a kind stranger who was on his way to the hospital with his mom, and he offered us a ride.
“Otherwise, with Megan’s fever hitting 103 degrees, I can’t even imagine what would have happened if Jeremy hadn’t saved her.”
As she spoke, tears streamed down her cheeks.
Her five-year-old daughter, Megan Fox, reached out her tiny hand to wipe her mother’s tears, only to start crying herself.
To anyone watching, it was a heartbreaking scene.
And for Jeremy, who only had eyes for Fiona, it was even harder to bear.
He quickly grabbed some tissues and leaned in to wipe the tears from both mother and daughter’s faces.
Then he turned to me, urgency in his voice.
“Ada, the emergency room needs all hands on deck right now. What are you doing just standing there? Get back to work!”
I stood frozen, unable to move, taking in the warmth of the moment before me.
I couldn’t remember the last time Jeremy interacted with Mia and me like that.
Just this morning, when we received the call about mandatory overtime due to the typhoon, Jeremy hadn’t shown an ounce of concern for Mia.
I could see the fear in Mia’s eyes, but being the sweet girl she was, she leaned in and kissed me.
“Mom, you and Dad go save the patients. I’ll be good.”
My heart ached, and tears began to fall.
I asked, “How about you come with me to the hospital?”
Jeremy shot me down immediately.
“The hospital is a mess right now with the storm. Why would you bring her there? She’s been fine at home before; stop worrying!”
Both of us were medical professionals, and Mia had often stayed home alone since she was six.
Mia, sensing the tension, waved her hands at me. “Mom, it’s okay! I can stay home by myself. I have my teddy bear to keep me company. I’m not scared!”
Her bravery made my heart twist with guilt, and I hugged her tightly. “Sweetheart, once the storm passes, your dad and I will take you to the amusement park, okay?”
“Yay!” Mia clapped her hands, her voice brightening up the room.
Summer was almost over, and she hadn’t gotten a single outing with either of us.
She looked up at her dad, her eyes sparkling with hope.
But Jeremy scoffed, saying, “What amusement park? What’s so fun about that?”
He then urged me to hurry downstairs.
I fought to suppress my anger, reminding Mia to secure the doors and windows and unplug everything, telling her not to go outside.
Jeremy’s dismissive comment had left disappointment and hurt etched on her face.
Yet, just two seconds later, Mia was all smiles, playfully pushing me toward the door and calling me naggy.
Such a considerate child only made my heart ache more.
Once we got downstairs, I couldn’t help but confront Jeremy.
“Since the amusement park isn’t all that fun, why did you still choose to take Fiona and Megan?”
Last weekend, after finally managing to schedule a day off, he had promised to take Mia fishing.
But one phone call from Fiona had swept him away instead.
That day, I scrolled through Fiona’s social media and saw the pictures.
Jeremy had taken the two of them to the amusement park and even bought Fiona a birthday cake.
Fiona’s caption read: [As a kid, my dream was to celebrate my birthday at an amusement park, and today it finally came true! Being surrounded by my favorite people is the best birthday gift!]
I felt my fingers go cold as I exited WhatsApp, not wanting Mia to see those pictures.
But Jeremy turned the tables on me.
“Why do you always feel the need to compete with Fiona? She went through a divorce, and celebrating her birthday alone must be tough. What’s wrong with showing her some kindness?
“You’re both mothers, so how can you show her no compassion?”
My heart sank like the weather after a storm.
The argument ended on a sour note between us.
Now, Fiona, the catalyst of our fight, was watching me as I sat there, frozen in despair.
She tilted her head and smiled sweetly at me, “Ada, Jeremy needs to focus on helping Megan with her nebulizer. Please try not to disturb him.
“Maybe Mia’s phone just died. Can you stop making a big deal out of this?”
Fury ignited within me, and I felt like a lion ready to pounce on Fiona.
“Fiona, are you seriously calling me an overreactor? What kind of nonsense is that? My daughter is missing because she went to deliver fever medicine to you, and you don’t feel an ounce of guilt? You have the nerve to say I’m overreacting?
“Right now, you’re snuggled up with your daughter, feeding her milk, feeling all cozy. But have you even thought about where my Mia is? Is she wrapped in warmth? Does she have milk to drink?”
Fiona gasped, her eyes wide with shock, but I couldn’t even lay a finger on her because Jeremy had a firm grip on my arm.
My anger was spiraling out of control.
I clutched Jeremy’s arm, wishing I could bite him.
“Jeremy, let’s go find our daughter. Now!”
He stepped back, grabbing my hand and shoving me away.
“Ada, can you stop acting like a crazy person? I’ve told you. Mia is just hiding. Can’t you understand plain language?”
At this point, Fiona’s tears began to flow. She trembled, hiding behind Jeremy, peeking out.
“Ada, I was just trying to comfort you. I know you’re upset with Jeremy for taking care of us, but you can’t use Mia as an excuse to lash out at him!”
As she spoke, she held her child close, trying to maintain her composure.
“Jeremy, since Ada has misunderstood, we’ll just head to the IV room and won’t bother you any longer.”
Jeremy, clearly irritated, turned around and pushed her back into her seat.
The commotion made Megan start crying again.
Jeremy roared, “Ada, are you made of stone? This little girl has pneumonia and a high fever, and you’re here screaming like a banshee. What do you want, to scare the poor kid into a fit?”
My heart sank.
This man, my husband, the father of my daughter, was more concerned about someone else’s child than his own.
I realized begging him was futile.
I was shaking, torn between worrying about Mia and the rage building inside me at this ridiculous couple.
I pulled out my phone, ready to call the police.
“Fine, Jeremy, if you don’t care, I’ll call the cops to handle this.”
But just as I dialed the second number, Fiona rushed over, shoving Megan into Jeremy’s arms.
She gripped my hand tightly. “Ada, just calm down for a second.
“The storm outside is fierce, and the police are swamped. Let’s not waste public resources on something so minor.”
Jeremy held Megan tightly and laughed mockingly. “Ada, who do you think you are? The whole city is dealing with missing persons, and Mia’s been gone for only two hours. You really think the police will jump to help you?
“She’s probably just at home! What are you making a fuss about? Go ahead and call the cops! If they find Mia at home, I can’t wait to see how you’ll explain that!”
I was furious.
But their comments made me reconsider. Maybe contacting the property management would be faster than calling the police.
I shoved past Fiona and dialed the property office, but no one picked up.
Thinking quickly, I scrolled through my contacts and found the number for my upstairs neighbors.
Usually, Jeremy and I were too busy to interact much with them, so the only ones I could reach out to were a middle-aged couple living above us.
Once, the husband had an accident at home, and when his wife called for help in our building group, I happened to be home.
I rushed up to help with some basic first aid and even called for an ambulance.
Later, they brought us fruit twice to thank us.
Our neighbor’s phone rang almost immediately.
When she learned that we had left our daughter home alone, her anger bubbled over.
“Your daughter is so young! You two really have a lot of nerve!”
I didn’t dare to argue. Instead, I pleaded with her to come downstairs and knock on our door.
She knocked for two minutes straight, but there was no response from inside.
My heart raced, and feeling utterly helpless, I shared the door code with her, asking her to go inside and check if everything was okay.
The neighbor lady quickly initiated a video call.
On the screen, I watched as she and her husband scoured every corner of our home, even rifling through the closet and peeking behind the curtains. Still, there was no sign of Mia.
Then, I caught a glimpse of the table.
Next to an open homework notebook lay the medicine box, with scattered pills strewn about.
It was clear. Mia had taken the medication and left.
But she hadn’t come back.
I hung up the video call and turned to Jeremy.
“Jeremy, are you really not going to help me look for Mia?”
He had watched the video, too, clearly taken aback by what he saw.
His silence spoke volumes.
At that moment, Fiona leaned down to check Megan’s forehead, and her face suddenly filled with panic.
“Jeremy, what do we do? Megan’s fever seems to be getting worse!”
Without a second thought, Jeremy rushed over, grabbing the ear thermometer and aiming it at Megan’s ear.
He murmured, “One hundred and five degrees… If it gets any worse, we might have to admit her.”
Fiona’s lips quivered, and she leaned against Jeremy, her voice trembling. “Jeremy, what if something happens to Megan? I’m scared.”
He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, speaking gently, “Don’t worry, I’m here. Megan will be fine.”
Fiona nodded, biting her lip. “Jeremy, don’t leave us…”
I felt a wave of nausea wash over me at her words.
Jeremy shot me a disdainful look. “Look, Ada, Mia took the medicine and left, but she didn’t go to deliver it. She knows she messed up, so she’s probably hiding.
“Did you see that? Megan’s burning up! If Mia had delivered the medicine sooner, she wouldn’t be this sick. Thank goodness she ran into someone who brought them here; otherwise, if they were still out on the street, who knows what could’ve happened?”
My lips felt numb, and my words began to slur.
“Jeremy, have you even considered that Mia might be out there, trying to come home but can’t?”
He scoffed, saying, “She’s eight years old, Ada. You think she’s that naive? She’s definitely hiding somewhere safe.
“She’s probably just trying to avoid punishment, maybe playing games on her phone right now.”
I was frantic. “But her phone is unreachable!”
“Maybe she switched it to airplane mode. She can’t receive calls, but that doesn’t stop her from playing offline games.”
I forced a wry smile. “So, all those times I tried calling you and couldn’t get through, you were just playing games with Fiona on airplane mode, huh?”
His face fell at my accusation, but he put on a brave front, trying to sound authoritative.
“Ada, I’m a doctor. My patients are unstable, and I can’t just abandon them to go look for a daughter who’s hiding on purpose!”
Disappointment washed over me, nearly making me faint.
Just then, Megan, who had been sleeping, suddenly convulsed and started calling out, “Mia! Mia! Don’t die!”
I felt a jolt of realization.
I rushed over, cupping Megan’s small face in my hands. “Megan, sweetie, tell me, you saw Mia today, didn’t you?”
Her feverish face was flushed, her eyes glazed over.
She nodded weakly.
My heart raced with hope.
“Megan, please tell me where you saw Mia!”
But before I could finish my sentence, Fiona swept in, clutching her child and backing away in a panic.
“Ada, what are you doing? Can’t you see Megan is delirious? Why would you scare her like that?”
I pointed at her daughter. “Megan just said she saw Mia today! Fiona, tell me the truth—did Mia deliver the medicine? Where did she go afterward?”
Fiona backed into a corner, her expression frantic.
She didn’t even notice that Megan’s IV had come loose.
“Ada, I told you. Megan is just talking nonsense because of her fever! Mia never came looking for us. Why won’t you believe me?”
Megan’s blood began to drip from her small hand onto the floor, and Jeremy rushed forward, panic etched on his face, pressing down to stop the bleeding.
He, usually so composed, shouted for a nurse to come and help.
Then he turned to me, his voice sharp. “Can you please stop making this worse? Get back to your post! There are patients waiting for you!”
I told Jeremy, word by word, under his disdainful gaze, “Jeremy, I’m a mother first, then a doctor. If I can’t protect my own daughter, who in their right mind would trust me with their loved ones?”
His face flashed between red and pale.
Around us, chaos erupted as the nurse tended to Megan, stopping the bleeding and redoing her IV.
Then she gently tugged at my sleeve, handing me a pair of flat shoes.
Her eyes spoke volumes of sympathy.
“Dr. Johnson, you’ve only got one shoe left, and your foot is bleeding. Please take care of your wound and put on some proper shoes.”
I thanked her softly, ignoring the little injuries on my foot, and slipped on the shoes.
At that moment, I vowed that once I found Mia, I would shed Jeremy like those discarded shoes.
Suppressing the simmering anger inside, I dialed David Federer, the head of the emergency department.
As soon as he picked up, he shouted, “Ada, you need to hurry back! We’ve got too many patients here!”
Overwhelmed, I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer.
David paused, clearly taken aback. “What’s wrong?”
I glanced back at Jeremy, who was cradling Megan in his arms, soothing her through the nebulizer. I sobbed into the phone. “Dr. Federer, Mia’s gone.”
I briefed him on the whole situation.
Without hesitation, David decided I should go find Mia.
After a moment, he added, “Ada, it’s too dangerous out there. Come back first and take my SUV!”
Once I had the keys in hand, I made the call to the police.
But the operator informed me that due to the typhoon, they were overwhelmed with calls, and there was no telling when they’d get to mine.
All they could do was take down my information and advise me to report back immediately if I found Mia.
Just then, my neighbor upstairs called.
🌟 Continue the story here
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My daughter, Ashley Moore, and I were involved in a serious car accident, and the driver who hit us was none other than Scarlett Bullock, the woman my husband, Mark Moore, had feelings for.
When Mark arrived, instead of being a worried dad, he, as a doctor, chose to help Scarlett’s son.
Ashley was rushed to the ER and was in critical condition. She asked for her dad in a faint voice. I called him many times before he finally answered.
“Mark, Ashley’s been in an accident. She needs you…”
He coldly replied, “Are you done causing drama? You’re such a terrible mother!”
A week later, Mark showed up at a gathering with Scarlett and casually asked, “Where’s Ashley?”
Holding Ashley’s ashes, I approached him, filled with sorrow. “Right here.”
***
“Mom, I feel so sick… Ahem…”
My daughter sobbed in my arms, her face and body riddled with shards of glass, some of which were dangerously lodged in her throat.
Tears streamed down my cheeks, but I dared not touch her, terrified that any wrong move would put her in more danger.
“Ashley, don’t be scared. I’ve called the police. The doctors are on their way!”
Moments before, we had been in a normal routine when a car crash changed everything. My husband’s lover, Scarlett, was the one behind the wheel. I was driving straight, and she came barreling toward us in the wrong lane.
Before long, I heard the wailing of the sirens approaching in the distance.
When I saw the man leading the charge, relief washed over me—it was my husband, Mark.
The impact had crumpled the car beyond recognition, and the door was jammed shut.
Desperately, I reached through the shattered window, stretching my hand toward him.
“Mark, please save Ashley!”
But to my horror, Mark bypassed me entirely, sprinting straight to Scarlett, who was on the ground.
I could only watch helplessly as he worked to revive her and her son.
Tears streamed down Ashley’s face, her voice filled with pain. “Mom, it hurts. Didn’t Daddy say he’s a hero in a white coat? Why is he helping them and not me? Does Daddy not love me anymore?”
I gently stroked her flushed cheeks, swallowing my heartbreak. “Ashley, don’t cry. Someone will come to help us! You’re going to be okay. I promise.”
Ashley was taken into the operating room, and I paced nervously outside, worry gnawing at my insides.
Scarlett’s son was wheeled into the adjacent surgical suite, creating a surreal parallel between our lives.
Moments later, a nurse burst out of the OR, her face pale. “This is bad. The patient’s condition is critical. We need Dr. Moore for the surgery; it’s the only chance we’ve got!”
The staff all knew about my relationship with Mark, which was why they were sharing this grim news with me.
Without wasting a moment, I dialed Mark’s number.
It rang through, but he hung up on me. I tried again.
Finally, his voice came through, laced with irritation. “Felicity, are you kidding me right now? Do you know I’m in the middle of saving a life?”
“Mark, Ashley’s in surgery, and the situation is dire. They said having you do the operation increases her chances,” I urged, my voice trembling.
“Are you done making a scene? Cursing your own daughter? How can you be such a terrible mother!” Mark shot back, his tone icy.
He ended the call, cutting me off without a second thought.
I dialed again, but this time, it went straight to voicemail.
I couldn’t believe it.
Even though I had been the one taking care of Ashley since the day she was born, he was still her biological father!
Then, I caught sight of movement nearby. Mark was pushing Scarlett’s son into the rescue room.
Ignoring everything else, I charged toward him, my eyes blazing with pain and frustration. I grabbed his arm. “If you don’t save Ashley, I swear, I’ll file for divorce!”
Without warning, Mark shoved me to the ground. “If you want to throw a tantrum, take it home! This is a hospital!”
I slumped to the floor, helplessly watching as Mark rushed Scarlett’s son into the operating room.
Scarlett stood to the side, a smug smile plastered across her face, with no trace of worry for her child. Her eyes sparkled with a mix of pride and ridicule that only fueled my anger.
I had no time to waste on her smugness. I sprinted back to the surgical waiting area, demanding that the nurses find another surgeon to operate on Ashley.
The nurse, trying to comfort me, said, “It wasn’t a wise choice to have Dr. Moore perform the surgery. Emotions can cloud judgment and worsen the patient’s condition. Don’t lose hope; there are other amazing doctors at this hospital.”
I returned to the waiting room, but it wasn’t long before a doctor handed me a grim prognosis.
He informed me that Ashley had only a few days left, suggesting I gather any family members who needed to say their goodbyes.
I felt like I’d been struck by lightning.
Ashley was just ten years old!
Tears streamed down my face, blurring my vision.
How could this happen to my sweet girl?
Ashley was wheeled into the recovery room, attached to a multitude of tubes and wires. She didn’t wake up that first day, and all I could do was stare at the irregular beeping of the heart monitor, feeling like my heart was breaking into pieces.
My parents, Vincent and Amanda Aniston, and my brother, Logan, rushed to my side.
I’d informed Mark’s parents of what was happening, but they didn’t show up.
I knew they looked down on me for not giving them a grandson; I could feel their disdain every time they glanced at Ashley.
I never expected that in a moment so dire, they would choose to stay away completely.
My parents were beside themselves with grief.
Amanda even fainted from the overwhelming sadness.
But then, the following day, something miraculous happened—Ashley opened her eyes.
I rushed to her side, holding her frail hand tightly. “Ashley, it’s Mom. Don’t be scared. I’m right here with you.”
She struggled to breathe, her gaze darting around the room. “Where’s Daddy? I want Daddy!”
My heart shattered all over again. Tears streamed down my face as I reluctantly called Mark.
But I was met with the cold sound of my call being blocked.
In desperation, I asked Logan to call him.
Logan put the call on speaker, his tone urgent. “Mark, Ashley is in critical condition. Where the hell are you?”
Unexpectedly, Mark didn’t respond to Logan. Instead, he laid into me.
“Felicity, how long are you going to keep this drama going? You want to drag your brother into this now? Do you think that threatening me with divorce is going to make me compromise? I’m a doctor. I don’t have time for your games. I need to save my patients!”
With that, he hung up, leaving us in stunned silence.
Logan tried to call him again, but the call went straight to voicemail.
Despair washed over me as I sank down beside Ashley’s hospital bed, unsure of how to explain everything.
“Ashley, I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”
Ashley was struggling to breathe, her words coming out in labored gasps. “Mom, you’re my favorite. Does Dad not like me? Is that why he never comes home to see me? I really miss you…”
With those words, Ashley shut her eyes.
The heart monitor emitted a long, chilling beep!
“Ashley!”
I screamed, my voice cracking with desperation.
I thought to myself, “My girl is only ten years old!
Why, oh why, does fate have to take her away?
If anyone should go, it should be me!”
Through it all, Mark was nowhere to be found.
Amanda, Vincent, and Logan stepped in to help me with the funeral arrangements.
Many people came to pay their respects to Ashley.
But Mark, along with his parents, didn’t show their faces at all.
Some friends approached me, asking, “Where’s Ashley’s father? Why isn’t he here?”
Taking a deep breath, I pulled out my phone and dialed Mark’s number, only to find that I was still on his blacklist.
No matter how many times I called, I was met with the same recorded message.
Fury surged through me, making my hands shake; I felt like I could just explode.
Logan squeezed my shoulder, trying to calm me down. “We can’t keep waiting. We need to get Ashley cremated. She knows you love her.”
I clenched my fists, tears streaming down my face. With a heavy heart, I nodded in agreement.
The memorial for Ashley was a heart-wrenching affair. Everyone was crying uncontrollably, and my eyes felt like they were about to burst from the tears.
The funeral director pushed Ashley’s casket towards the cremation room.
I followed closely, my voice rising in a desperate wail that echoed throughout the room.
“My daughter, how could you leave me? I can’t bear to let you go! Please come back! You were always so good—why did fate have to be so cruel and take you away at just ten years old?
“Ashley, please come back!”
I collapsed onto the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.
It felt like these past few days had drained every tear I had left in me.
Logan was there, supporting me, his own tears flowing freely.
I cradled Ashley’s urn as I returned home, the floor scattered with white chrysanthemums and her photographs.
I couldn’t bring myself to remove them; I just wanted to stay with Ashley a little longer.
Suddenly, I heard voices outside the door—it was Mark and Scarlett.
“Mark, that doll you picked for Ashley is beautiful! She’s going to love it,” Scarlett chirped.
My heart raced with anger.
I thought, “How dare she show her face here after what she did to my daughter?”
Mark replied, “Ashley kept asking me for that doll last Christmas. I figured it’s better late than never, right?”
As they stepped inside and took in the sight of the room filled with flowers, they froze in shock.
Mark casually glanced at me. “Felicity, who passed away?”
The nerve of him!
“Mark, you really have some guts, bringing that murderer here to see your daughter!” I spat, my voice thick with rage.
Mark frowned, his brows knitting together. “Don’t say that. It was just an accident. The police told me her brakes failed; it wasn’t intentional. Scarlett came to apologize and brought a gift for Ashley. Where is she, by the way?”
I pointed to Ashley’s photo, my face a mask of indifference.
Mark’s face darkened. “Felicity, I’m warning you—stop this nonsense! You can’t joke about things like this! Where’s Ashley? Let her come out!”
Scarlett tugged at his arm. “Mark, I understand Felicity is upset with me. It was my fault; I panicked when my brakes failed. I meant to turn right, but I accidentally turned left and hit Felicity’s car. It’s natural for her to blame me. I’m truly sorry and came here to make amends.”
I glared at her, wishing I could do something to make her pay for the pain she caused.
Scarlett looked around the room, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “But really, Felicity, this is too much. How could you hold a funeral for Ashley? Even if you don’t believe in the divine, don’t you fear you’re angering her spirit? She’s just a child. How could she suffer like this?”
Mark glared at me, his anger palpable. “Get all this cleared away! Where’s Ashley? I’ve been here forever, and she hasn’t even come to say hello. What kind of upbringing is she getting?”
“She’s right here!” I shouted.
“Where?” Mark looked around, confusion etched on his face.
I stepped forward, holding Ashley’s urn, my heart heavy.
“She’s right here!”
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The limited-edition item from the brand that was reserved for me was snatched up by my brother, Joe West, using his family discount card.
When I confronted him, expecting an explanation, I was met with a barrage of insults.
“You shameless bitch, letting my boyfriend buy you a bag? Have you lost your mind?”
Later on, Joe even had the nerve to complain to me, saying, “Sis, my girlfriend is just really into me. You should apologize to her!”
Not long after, his girlfriend showed up at my house, complaining to my parents, “Don’t blame Rebecca. I gave her a gift, but she turned her nose up at it and said Joe wouldn’t get a share of the family fortune…”
My mom looked completely bewildered and said, “There isn’t any share for him anyway.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself, “Ha! This scheming little witch just hit a brick wall!”
*****
My parents have always groomed me to be the heir.
They’d given me the best of everything since I was a kid.
As for my brother, Joe? Well, in my mom’s words, “As long as he’s alive, that’s enough.”
Earlier that day, a brand I’d collaborated with for years called to say they’d set aside a bag for me.
When I sent my assistant to pick it up, she was told Joe had already snagged it with his family discount card.
I thought, “Huh? Is that little twerp in love or something?”
Curious, I called to probe, “Joe, did you grab my bag for me?”
Instead of Joe, a shrill female voice answered, “Who’s this slut trying to get my man to buy her a bag?
“Know your place, you gold-digger!
“You motherless piece of trash, go die already!”
After a minute of non-stop profanity-laced insults, the call ended.
I’d never been cussed out like that in my life. I was fuming.
I thought, “Alright then. You’re both dead meat.”
Just as I was about to block Joe’s number, he called again, frantically apologizing, “I’m so sorry, sis. My girlfriend didn’t know who you were. She just loves me too much and lost her cool…”
Joe’d always been a bit of a pushover, but he’d always been good to me.
I was starting to waver when he added, “It’s just a bag. Can’t you just apologize and call it even?”
I rolled my eyes. “Apologize my ass.”
As soon as I hung up, I got a friend request from “I Don’t Like Coriander.”
The profile picture showed a girl in a white dress, a bandaged hand, an eye patch, and a playful tongue-out expression.
Her message was straight to the point: [You bitch, how dare you insult my boyfriend? I’ll tear you apart!]
I accepted the request, amused.
Before I could type anything, she dragged me into a group chat.
A bunch of profiles with generic, handsome guy pictures started attacking me.
[Just because you’re Joe’s sister, you can insult people? How dare you disrespect others like that?]
[We heard you always exploit your brother. Why don’t you just go die already? Should we expose you online?]
“I Don’t Like Coriander” was particularly aggressive.
[He’s just a student, and you’re making him buy you designer bags worth hundreds of thousands? Have you no shame?]
[You’ll get married someday, and the West Group will be all his. You’re just spending his money now, you know?]
I was utterly speechless.
My brother really had a knack for finding these insufferable girlfriends.
The group chat continued with more insults: [Looking at your social media, always dressing so provocatively. Don’t tell me you’re trying to seduce your own brother?]
It was disgusting.
But I’d calmed down by now. I typed: [I wasn’t going to get involved, but since you seem so familiar with the ins and outs of prostitution, I feel obliged to warn my brother. Better be careful not to catch anything nasty.]
A barrage of profanity-laced messages popped up.
I chuckled: [ Ooh, looks like I struck a nerve.]
“I Don’t Like Coriander” exploded: [You’re dead meat, bitch!]
[Easy there, I can smell your meltdown from here.]
I typed before swiftly exiting the group and blocking everyone.
I shared screenshots of their abuse in the family group chat.
Joe panicked. “Rebecca, delete those! What if people misunderstand Ashley?”
“Misunderstand what? It’s all there in black and white,” I replied nonchalantly, playing a game on speakerphone.
Joe’s voice was flustered. “She didn’t know the family card money was yours. She thought you were trying to seduce me. It’s because you changed your contact to ‘Boss’ on my phone…”
I thought, “The little twerp is blaming me!”
My temper flared again. “So it’s my fault now? You took the bag meant for me without a word, and now you’re blaming me? I ought to call the cops!”
“No, please!”
Joe hesitated before admitting, “Ashley has depression. She’s emotionally unstable and can’t handle the police. I’m begging you, sis. Apologize to her!
“I really love her and I’m afraid she might do something stupid…”
“Depression? Sounds more like rabies to me.”
I hung up and blocked him.
The family group chat exploded.
[What the hell? Woke up to see a two-faced snake.]
[Always thought Joe was slow, but this dumb? Dating someone like that?]
Joe meekly posted six dots before getting booted from the chat.
My mother, Amanda West, called. She said, “My poor baby girl. Don’t worry, your dad and I are heading to the city. We’ll tear that girl apart!”
My dad, Vincent West, was fuming in the background. “My precious daughter’s never been insulted like this in her life!”
After some pleasantries, I took some vitamins and settled in for a beauty nap.
The West Group had an open-door policy where everyone from directors to janitors could give feedback weekly.
Lately, several department heads had been grumbling, taking subtle digs at me.
Puzzled, I decided to investigate the next day.
I went undercover in plain business attire, infiltrating the most disgruntled department—HR.
In the break room corner, I was grimacing at my new awful coffee when two interns walked in.
One carried a familiar handbag—identical to the one the brand had promised me.
I smirked as they started gossiping, ignoring my presence.
“Her contact is ‘Boss,’ and she’s always ordering my boyfriend around. Even if she’s his sister, isn’t that weird?”
“Gross, she definitely has the hots for her brother.”
I wanted to gag.
They glanced at me, assuming I wouldn’t dare speak up. “Hey, pour me my favorite coffee.”
I thought, “I’d like to see what they’re going to say.”
As I handed over the coffee, I caught the handbag girl’s name tag.
Intern: Ashley Maxwell.
The West Group interns were typically from top universities with strict entry requirements.
I thought, “That idiot brother snuck his girlfriend into the company. No wonder everyone’s complaining!”
Ashley smirked. “A limited-edition bag worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. My boyfriend’s just a college senior. I’ve never seen anyone so shameless.”
I had to laugh.
In my head, I retorted, “So spending my own money is shameless, but buying you a bag is perfectly fine?
Now that’s what I call shameless!”
Ashley pouted, saying, “Besides, isn’t it normal for the main chick to go off on the side piece?
“She’s an outsider eyeing the family fortune, trying to seduce her own brother. I just wanted to teach her a lesson in that group chat, but she couldn’t handle it and bailed.”
“Babe, your mouth is something else. No wonder Mr. West loves to kiss it.” Her friend simpered.
One twisting facts, the other brown-nosing.
I nearly gagged, thinking, “Joe must be desperate to want this piece of work.”
“Once I marry Joe, I’ll convince him to marry off Rebecca to some farmer. She can pop out babies in the fields all day. That’ll teach her,” Ashley said.
“Brilliant! Perfect for dealing with that fake prude.”
I felt sicker by the second.
How could any woman say such things?
Their gossip continued, but suddenly, there was a commotion outside.
I peeked out to see our housekeeper, Megan Fox, who’d likely just arrived from the West Estate.
My parents were used to her cooking, so she’d come along to the city.
She was still in her country-style clothes, sitting quietly and properly in place.
I poured her a glass of water, but before I could hand it over, someone knocked it out of my hand.
“Where’d this old hag come from? You think the West Group is a place for lowlifes like you?” Ashley spat.
She turned to me. “Playing nice, huh? Trying to impress my boyfriend?”
Seeing my eye twitch, she impatiently kicked Megan.
“Just here for the free AC, you cheap old bag?
“You’re covered in germs and viruses, disgusting. Who let you into the West Group anyway?”
Her intern friend chimed in, “This is the future Mrs. West. She’s being nice by just kicking you. If you know what’s good for you, get lost.”
Megan looked bewildered. “Who are you two?”
She glanced at me, confused, muttering, “I didn’t know Joe had a fiancée…”
She’d been with my parents for years, practically part of the company.
Ashley, not catching that, still flew off the handle. “What are you mumbling about? Talking shit about me?”
I thought, “Depression’s just one of her issues.
This nutjob’s got paranoia, too!”
“Apologize, you old bitch!” Ashley screamed, suddenly slapping Megan hard.
I couldn’t stop it in time, watching helplessly as Megan fell.
Megan had practically raised Joe and me when our parents were busy. We were incredibly close.
Rage boiled over.
I lunged forward, grabbed Ashley’s hair, and slapped her five times in quick succession.
She stood there stunned. “How dare you hit me!”
“Do I need a reason to slap an idiot?” I retorted, about to kick her.
Suddenly, a powerful force shoved me to the ground from behind.
A voice roared, “You’re the idiot! Nobody touches my girlfriend!”
Joe had appeared out of nowhere.
Ashley’s hate-filled eyes instantly brimmed with tears.
She clung to Joe’s arm, “Baby, she hit me!
“You have to fire her. I’m so hurt.”
“It reminds me of when I was bullied before…”
Joe was furious, glaring at me menacingly. “You…”
He was taken aback.
As Joe snapped back to reality, he met Megan’s furious gaze, and panic set in. “You guys…”
I crossed my arms and said with a smirk. “If you apologize now, I might just consider not kicking you to the curb.”
“Rebecca, I…”
Joe’s words faltered, cut short by his girlfriend’s sudden outburst.
“Who do you think you are, demanding an apology? You’ve got some nerve, you little thief!”
Ashley looked at Megan, who was clearly confused, fuming.
“It’s that old hag over there! I don’t know how she managed to sneak into the West Group, but she’s definitely up to no good.
“Filthy and disgusting! Who knows what kind of germs she’s carrying?”
She pointed a finger at me, her voice dripping with disdain. “And this cheap woman? She’s just trying to show off in front of you, hoping to play the nice guy and seduce you.
“How dare you make my boyfriend apologize?
“Do you even know who he is? This whole company belongs to him! If he tells you to scram, you better get out!
“Honestly, you should take a good look in the mirror. I bet your mom was out selling herself, and you inherited that charm.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
I thought, “Wow, such filthy language!
Looks like your innocent persona is crumbling a bit, but I’m not about to let you off easy.”
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In my previous life, my husband, Felix Hastings, was snatched away by my best friend, Rachel Worthington, who was the only daughter of the richest man, Kenneth Worthington.
They mocked me, insulted me, and even pushed me down the stairs to my death.
Given a chance to relive my life, I set my sights on Kenneth, who was wealthy and handsome.
He had few offspring, only one adopted daughter.
It was on his account that Rachel had been so unscrupulous in murder.
Surprisingly, I was born with a high chance of getting pregnant. Soon, I seduced him and had four babies.
In this life, I wanted you to beg me and call me “Mom”.
…
In a daze, I staggered towards the room on the second floor of the villa.
Kenneth, wearing silver-rimmed glasses and wrapped in a bathrobe, was initially taken aback when I suddenly barged in. His surprise quickly gave way to a cold expression.
I bumped into him, feigning innocence and mumbling softly.
At that moment, I had not yet experienced the damage of the fertility injection, and my appearance was as charming and attractive as a fairy.
My soft hair was entangled between Kenneth’s fingers, and he caught a whiff of a light fragrance, which turned him on.
His expression darkened instantly.
Every detail about me, including the length of my straps, the curve of my neckline, the placement of my skirt’s slits, and even the tone of my voice in every sentence, was meticulously planned.
I knew that by missing this opportunity, I would never get close to Kenneth again.
He swallowed, and his gaze was burning hot.
Suddenly, he pulled me into a tight embrace, and I could feel the warmth of his body and the rapid beat of his heart.
He whispered in my ear, “Do you realize what you are doing?”
At that moment, I distinctly felt his eagerness and eagerness.
I knew my plan worked.
Early the next morning, a scream woke me up.
“Abigail! What are you doing? This is my father!”
Rachel stood at the door, while everyone who had attended her birthday party the day before gathered there with mixed expressions.
Staring at her innocently, I wrapped myself in the quilt tightly and interrupted Kenneth, who was about to speak.
“I was drunk yesterday. We just chatted under the quilt. Nothing happened.”
I understood that a wealthy man who was well-known in the business world would not want to be laughed at by others.
Moreover, Rachel was not the only witness.
Her expression changed from shock to anger. She clenched her teeth, staring at me with doubt and resentment. “Do you regard me as a fool?”
With that, she was about to rush over to hit me.
But she was stopped by Kenneth.
“That’s enough! Didn’t you hear what she just said?
“It was just an accident!”
Rachel was stunned and was eager to retort.
I leaned close to her ear and whispered, “You’d better buy my story. Otherwise, if your father is really interested in me, you will have to call me Mom.”
Her eyes widened in amazement. After a moment of hesitation, she glared at me fiercely, pivoted around, and forced a smile at the guests at the door.
“Don’t misunderstand. They just chatted all night.”
The guests glanced at each other, laughed embarrassedly, and left.
Rachel shot me a menacing look, identical to the one she had given me when she pushed me down the stairs in my previous life.
I was born in a place called Belle Village.
All the girls there were naturally beautiful and attractive.
As a result, I was abducted three or four times during my childhood. Finally, I escaped to an orphanage and met Rachel.
When I was a child, while other kids were pale and thin, I was healthy and attractive.
The orphanage was not some paradise on earth, and the competition among the children was intense. Among them, only Rachel took care of me.
Although many people wanted to adopt me, each attempt ended in failure.
Not long after, Rachel was taken away and adopted by Gu Kenneth, who was known as a business tycoon.
I was truly happy for her and genuinely believed she was the most important person in my life.
Therefore, in my previous life, I was dumbfounded when Rachel touched her belly and told me that she was pregnant with Felix’s child.
They mocked and insulted me for being infertile.
Moreover, when I threatened to use legal means to divorce Felix and claim all the assets, Rachel pushed me down the stairs, resulting in my death.
I woke up to find myself back in a time before anything had happened.
It was so painful to discover that the two people I trusted most had betrayed me and that I never got to say before my death in my previous life, “It’s not my problem. The one who can’t have a child is Felix!”
Our family had a natural fertility trait, but I kept it a secret for Felix’s sake.
Rachel, you relied on Kenneth, who was the richest man, to be so unscrupulous in murder.
Since you liked my infertile husband so much, I would give the scumbag to you.
I thought Kenneth was an ideal husband.
He had good looks, wealth, and you as his only adopted daughter.
When I gave birth to his own biological child, he would no longer care about you.
In this life, I would make you beg me and call me “Mom”.
When we got dressed and went downstairs, Rachel sat on the sofa furiously.
“Dad, Abigail, there is no outsider. Do you have any sense of shame?”
Shame? How ridiculous! That word should have never crossed Rachel’s mind when she slept with Felix in my previous life.
Even so, I resisted the urge to curse.
Covering my face, I cried softly, pretending to be pitiful.
“I have no idea what happened. I just drank the glass of wine you handed me yesterday, and then everything became like this.”
Rachel panicked
“What! Do you mean I hurt you?”
I explained, feeling hurt, “Of course not. You’re my best friend. How could I doubt you? But the people around you don’t seem trustworthy. Could they be acting behind your back?”
Rachel flew into a rage. The upper class in Avalonville had always been hostile to her.
She had put in a lot of effort to invite every guest to her birthday party yesterday.
“You bitch, if you like my father, just admit it. Don’t talk nonsense.”
Kenneth interrupted her, “She was indeed unconscious yesterday.
“I taught you myself and know what kind of person you are. It’s also because I tend to spoil you too much.
“You’ve actually made some undesirable friends. I’ve suspended your black card. You’re not allowed to socialize with them for now. Stay home and reflect on your mistakes.”
“Dad.”
“That’s it.”
Rachel ran out in frustration.
At that moment, only Kenneth and I were left.
I said, “Mr. Worthington, yesterday was just an accident. I only intended to attend Rachel’s birthday party. I didn’t expect it to end up like this.”
I choked up again.
“But I hope you can forget the accident.”
Kenneth was caught off guard.
He had encountered women who tried to seduce him before, but I was indeed unconscious last night and tried to struggle several times.
He remembered that Rachel had been the culprit in the accident.
A hint of guilt surged within him.
“I can give you any compensation you want.”
I shook my head and smiled bitterly, “You are a victim, too.
“To be honest, I’m already married, but I can’t get over this. I feel sorry for my husband and want to divorce him.
“But we established the company together. If he learns of the reason for my divorce, all my hard work will be destroyed.”
Kenneth patted my head hesitantly.
“I understand. Don’t worry. What’s yours will be yours.”
I gazed at him seriously with some admiration, my eyes wide.
“Thank you, Mr. Worthington. You are so nice.”
Kenneth felt that I was different from all the women he had met before. He had caused me to fall into such a state, yet I still thanked him.
He walked me to the door and asked the driver to take me home. I exited the villa when something suddenly occurred to me.
After turning around, I bumped into his arms, just like last night.
He subconsciously hugged my waist.
I took two steps back to create some distance and handed him my business card carefully.
“Mr. Worthington, I hope we can get to know each other again.
“We’ll meet again in the business world.”
Sitting in the car, I noticed Kenneth’s reluctant gaze, but I didn’t look back.
Since he had promised me that he would handle my divorce, I didn’t have to worry about the division of property.
I made a phone call and had all my stuff removed from the house.
Additionally, I warned Felix, my ex-husband, that I had evidence of his affair with Rachel and instructed him to stay out of my sight.
I thought that he cheated on me because we didn’t have children after several years of marriage.
After being reborn, I found out that he and Rachel had been in constant contact.
They actually played with me.
Since you were so ruthless, don’t blame me for making life difficult for you.
I stroked my belly gently.
I could sense that I had succeeded yesterday and that new life was already growing strong in my belly, just waiting for the right moment.
In the following month, although I gave Kenneth my business card, he did not reach me on his own initiative.
Yet, I was not in a hurry.
With Rachel around, how could she allow Kenneth to contact me?
However, I was very confident that I could capture his heart.
The memory of that night would be embedded in his mind like a stubborn nail, impossible to erase.
Now, I was still the boss of the company.
Coincidentally, this planning project was in cooperation with Kenneth’s company, and we had been communicating online before.
When we next met, I was exactly a month and a half into my pregnancy.
I revised several plans and chose the most perfect version.
I leaned back in my office chair and sighed, feeling fortunate to have returned at the perfect moment. Now, in the prime of my life, I was not forced to quit my job for pregnancy preparation or to care for Felix’s mother all day, avoiding becoming anxious, pale, and thin or gaining excessive weight.
On the day of the contract negotiation, I was dressed in a light blue business suit and carried a thick stack of documents in my hands.
In the meeting room, Kenneth sat in the center with a stern look. However, at the sight of me, he was slightly startled.
I smiled politely, as if I didn’t know him, and handed the document to him.
He took the document, and his fingertips accidentally touched my hand. I felt the warmth of his fingertips, and my heart skipped a beat. Our eyes met, and the atmosphere was subtle.
I was in charge of this project, while my ex-husband merely played a figurehead role, making occasional sounds but contributing nothing substantial. This situation highlighted my professionalism even more.
In the negotiation, I did not give in. After several rounds of confrontation, we reached a consensus.
Everyone exchanged pleasantries cheerfully.
Just as I was about to see them off, Rachel pulled me aside and said angrily, “I spotted you flirting with my father behind my back. Do you still want to be my stepmother?”
I replied calmly, “How could that be? I’ve been concentrating on my work. Given your time to worry about me, you might as well address your own relationship problems. I’ve divorced Felix, but why hasn’t he married you yet?”
Her face suddenly darkened, and she stammered, “How did you know? No, I mean, what nonsense are you talking about?”
“But you are right about one thing,” I smiled.
“I really want to hear you call me Mom.
“I’m pregnant!” I paused deliberately and then mouthed, “Your father’s child.”
In a fit of rage, Rachel momentarily lost control and rushed towards me, wildly beating me and swearing at me.
She pushed me to the floor, and the pain came instantly.
Everyone was shocked. Kenneth hurriedly stepped forward to pull her away and asked, “What’s going on?”
I raised my head, tears welling up in my eyes, and sobbed, “I don’t know! I thought Rachel just wanted to catch up with me, but she suddenly hit me!”
Upon hearing this, Rachel immediately retorted, “That’s not true! My father can only have me as his daughter. He can’t have another child. How dare you claim that you are pregnant!”
Before she could finish her words, Kenneth slapped her hard in the face, interrupting her speech.
She covered her face, as if she realized what she had said. “You actually hit me for her?”
Kenneth gritted his teeth, his face livid. “That’s enough. Shut up. In fact, Abigail and I have been in a relationship since she divorced.”
Suddenly, someone exclaimed, “She’s bleeding!”
I glanced down and saw that my lower body was already covered in blood.
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My husband gave away our newborn son to repay a war buddy who once saved his life. He lied to me, saying our child had died.
Years later, I accidentally learned our son was alive. When I confronted my husband, he simply said, “I owed him this.”
I tried to find our child, but my husband blocked every attempt. Consumed by grief and regret over losing my son, I eventually died of a broken heart.
Incredibly, I woke up again. Back on the day I gave birth.
“You like giving away children? Then you can die childless!”
*****
A sharp pain jolted me awake.
My body reacted before my mind could catch up, and I cried out.
I tried to move, but my swollen belly pinned me down.
“What’s wrong? Is it time?” a voice asked urgently.
The door swung open as a man strode in, carrying two lunch boxes in one hand.
He was tall and muscular, with striking features, sharp eyebrows and piercing eyes. His military uniform exuded an air of authority.
Every inch of him radiated the vigor of youth.
This was my husband, Tyler Davenport.
But how had he become so young?
Confused, I stared at Tyler, unable to look away.
Before I could make sense of it, he was at my bedside, his face etched with worry and urgency.
In one swift motion, he scooped me up from the bed.
The fresh scent of soap filled my nostrils as his concerned voice, tinged with severity, reached my ears. “Your water broke and you didn’t call anyone? Don’t you know how dangerous that is? You could’ve risked both your lives!”
As we passed through the living room, my eyes caught the calendar on the wall.
My heart raced as my fingers unconsciously gripped the rough fabric.
I had been reborn, back to the day I gave birth.
In my past life, I had labored for over two hours to bring this child into the world.
Tyler immediately gave the baby to his war buddy.
He lied to me, saying our child was too weak and didn’t survive.
I believed him, blaming myself for being unable to keep our baby alive.
Later, I discovered the truth by chance, but when I tried to get my child back, Tyler blocked me at every turn.
When I confronted him, his face was cold, his words matter-of-fact. “George lost his chance to be a father while saving my life. I owe him this child.
“He’ll never have another kid, but we can have plenty more. Gwen, forget about that baby. It’s better for everyone if we just pretend it didn’t make it.”
“It’s better for everyone?” I scoffed inwardly. “It’s better for you!”
That was my child, carried for nine months and born through my pain. It was not some gift to repay his kindness!
I had a huge fight with Tyler and set out to find my baby.
But Tyler’s influence grew. His power became almost limitless.
He always managed to cut off any leads I found. My efforts were in vain.
Living with the pain and regret of losing my child, I died of a broken heart before I even hit 45.
Then, by some miracle, I got a second chance at life.
This time, I swore, no one would take my baby from me!
The joy of rebirth overwhelmed me.
My heart raced, and my breathing quickened.
No, I couldn’t let Tyler be the only one with me when I gave birth. I was due any day now.
“Wait,” I said through gritted teeth, fighting the pain. “Send a telegram to my family. Ask my mother to come take care of me. This is my first child. I’m terrified.”
I tilted my head back, catching only the sharp line of Tyler’s jaw.
He chuckled softly, looking down at me. “It’s harvest season. Your mother probably can’t spare the time. Don’t worry, I’m your husband. I’ll make sure you and the baby are safe.”
As he spoke, he gathered the supplies for the delivery.
My heart sank.
Next door, Samantha Moore heard the commotion. She opened her door and called out, “Is Gwen in labor? Do you need any help?”
Samantha was the partner of a high-ranking government official. She was known for her warmth and fairness.
We got along well.
With her around, it would be harder for Tyler to try anything suspicious.
A flicker of hope sparked in my chest. With a trembling voice, I pleaded, “Samantha, could you please come with me to the hospital? It’s my first time having a baby, and I’m so nervous my heart’s about to jump out of my chest.”
Samantha set down the half-finished shoe insole and flashed a warm smile. “Of course! I’ll go with you. You two are first-time parents, so you’re bound to be all over the place. I can help make sure things go smoothly.”
Her quick agreement made my anxiety ease a bit. But just as I started to relax, Tyler’s cool voice came from above.
He politely declined Samantha’s offer with well-reasoned arguments. “Samantha, Ryan is still little. He needs you around. What would he do if you went to the hospital? Besides, it’s not good for kids to spend too much time in a place with so many people coming and going.”
Ryan was Samantha’s youngest, just two years old and full of energy. Tyler’s words struck a chord with her. As a mother, her children always came first.
Samantha began to waver. Sensing this, Tyler pressed his advantage, determined to put her mind at ease.
He smiled, “I’ve already checked out the hospital. I know the place inside and out. Plus, I’m a grown man – I can take care of my wife and kid. Don’t worry about a thing, Samantha.”
Samantha nodded repeatedly, clearly convinced.
My heart, which had been half-settled, now raced with renewed anxiety. Spurred by a wave of pain, I reached for Samantha’s hand, my voice pleading.
“Samantha, I’m in so much pain and I’m scared. Could you please come with me to the hospital?” I repeatedly expressed my fears.
It was infuriating that no one knew about Tyler’s plan, and even if I said it now, no one would believe me. After all, how could a normal person secretly give away his child without telling his wife?
In my past life, I’d been brainwashed into thinking the kid was dead. If I hadn’t stumbled across that money transfer, I’d never have known how “selfless” and “noble” my husband was, giving away his own child.
I was in so much pain that I was sweating profusely, my lips pale. I looked pitiful. Samantha’s face showed sympathy, and she was about to agree. “Alright, I guess I could…”
At that moment, a child’s loud cry rang out from Samantha’s house.
A boy, about seven or eight years old, ran out calling for help. “Mom! The baby pooped all over himself and the bed. It stinks!”
Samantha’s face fell, her priorities instantly shifting.
She gave an embarrassed smile. “Oh Gwen, I’m so sorry. There’s always something going on at home. I can’t get away right now, but I promise I’ll visit you at the hospital after you give birth. With Tyler by your side, I’m not worried about you at all.”
If only she knew that Tyler was exactly why I was worried!
The baby’s cries grew louder. Samantha hurried back inside to comfort the child.
Tyler carefully adjusted his hold on me, still wearing that “I’ve got everything under control” expression.
“Don’t worry, I’m here for you,” he said.
The pain was too much for me to speak. I just rolled my eyes at him from the safety of his arms.
Then, wrapping my arms around his neck, I sank my teeth into the soft flesh of his throat.
“Ouch…” Tyler hissed through his teeth.
I felt a surge of satisfaction hearing him in pain. Why should I be the only one suffering? This baby was half his doing, after all.
My small act of revenge did little to lift the heaviness in my heart. A sense of helpless dread was threatening to overwhelm me, knowing the dangers that lay ahead but being powerless to avoid them.
But I couldn’t just accept my fate. Surely, I wasn’t given this second chance just to repeat the mistakes of my past life!
I released Tyler’s neck and leaned against his shoulder, gathering my strength. With Samantha out of the picture, the hospital was my last hope.
We made our way down the stairs and through the residential complex. A car was already waiting for us at the main gate.
Tyler carried me steadily, his grip never faltering.
People stared as we passed, their eyes a mix of envy and admiration.
“Mr. Davenport is so capable and thoughtful,” I overheard someone say. “I heard he took two weeks off work to take care of Gwen. Why can’t my husband be more like him?”
“Humph, why does Gwen get such special treatment?” someone chimed in. “I remember when I went into labor, I was still out there husking corn. I gave birth right then and there. And when I went home, I had to carry the baby and half a basket of corn on my back!”
In my past life, I thought they were just jealous, and I felt so lucky.
Now, their words drip with irony.
Tyler, the man everyone saw as the perfect husband, was planning to steal my baby out of some twisted sense of obligation.
When I confronted him, he had the nerve to suggest I should have more children.
In my previous life, I trusted Tyler completely.
I never realized how dangerous it was to give birth without family by my side.
This time around, I was still alone and helpless.
The only difference was that now I knew what he was planning.
In the car, Tyler held me close, whispering words of comfort while repeatedly urging the driver to go faster.
His face was a mask of concern as if he’d gladly take my place if he could. The perfect picture of a devoted husband.
I closed my eyes to rest with a faint, sardonic smile.
“Tyler,” I wondered, “is all this fuss really about my safety and the baby’s? Or are you just worried that if something goes wrong with the child, you won’t be able to repay your war buddy’s life-saving favor? Every day this baby isn’t handed over is another day of torment for your conscience, isn’t it?”
The rest of the journey passed in silence.
At the hospital, I was rushed into the delivery room.
The harsh glare of the fluorescent lights made my eyes ache.
Drawing on my experience from a past life, I focused on controlling my breathing and pushing rhythm.
I lost track of time as the pain washed over me.
Suddenly, I felt a release, as if something had slipped away from my body.
“Waaah!”
The baby’s clear cry rang out once, then abruptly stopped.
“Why isn’t my baby crying?” I thought and struggled to sit up, catching only a glimpse of a nurse hurrying away.
“My baby! Where are you taking my child?” I cried out.
I tried to follow, but the doctor firmly held me down on the delivery bed.
His mask covered most of his face, leaving only his eyes visible. They held a familiar look of pity. “Ma’am, I’m sorry, but your baby was stillborn. For your own health, you shouldn’t experience extreme emotions right after giving birth. It’s best to let your husband handle the arrangements for the child.”
My heart froze and burned with anger.
It was clear now – Tyler had bought off the doctor and nurses before I even went into labor.
No matter what condition I or the baby were in after birth, they would all stick to the same story. The baby didn’t make it.
In my previous life, I’d passed out from exhaustion and believed every word from Tyler and the medical staff.
But now, living through this a second time, I saw right through Tyler’s plan.
I didn’t believe a single word they said.
“Hang on, my little one,” I thought to myself. “Mommy will find you. I promise.”
With fury in my eyes, I slapped the doctor’s hand away and demanded, “I heard my baby cry! Where have you taken my child?”
The doctor, unfazed by the blow, shook his head with a resigned look. “Several babies were born around the same time as yours. It’s easy to get confused. You’re still young. Once you’ve recovered, you can have more children.”
The words and tone were all too familiar.
The doctor’s face kept shifting before my eyes.
One moment, I was back in military housing, surrounded by gossiping wives.
“Gwen, dear, you can always have another baby. But if you lose your marriage, you lose everything.”
“Don’t be angry with Mr. Davenport. Giving up the baby hurts him too. That man saved his life, which was a debt that outweighs everything. How can he be at peace if he doesn’t repay it?”
Then, it was Tyler’s impatient face. “Gwen, how long are you going to keep this up? George can’t have children anymore because he saved me. I owe him.
“It’s only right that I give him a child to care for him in his old age.”
I clenched my fists, crumpling the sheets beneath me.
It seemed like Tyler was the only person in the world who had it tough.
Tyler was tortured by guilt over the debt he owed George for saving his life.
That was why he felt compelled to give away his own son to ease his conscience.
He was so conflicted, so anguished.
And I, as Tyler’s wife, was apparently committing a grave sin.
Instead of joyfully handing our child over to George without a second thought, I kept causing trouble, constantly demanding we find and bring our baby home.
I was turning our household upside down, driving Tyler to his wit’s end.
How utterly unforgivable of me!
Those women were quick to advise me to give up on the child.
Of course, it was easy for them to preach generosity. It wasn’t their baby at stake.
Tyler, that shameless man, had the audacity to unzip his pants and offer to “bless” me with another child.
He made it sound so simple.
He wouldn’t be the one enduring nine months of pregnancy, so naturally, he could use our baby to repay his debt.
All to clear his conscience and earn a reputation for gratitude. How convenient for him.
But no one had asked if I was willing.
All the resentment, heartache, and frustration from my past and present lives erupted at once.
Suddenly, I felt filled with strength.
That was my child. No one could take it away!
I grabbed the doctor’s collar, using him for support as I sat up. My scream was hoarse with rage. “What gives you the right to say my baby is dead? I want proof! If you’ve got nothing to hide, why won’t you let me see my child?”
The doctor’s face turned red as the collar tightened around his neck.
A nearby nurse rushed over to pry my fingers loose.
The doctor cleared his throat, his voice hoarse from the ordeal. “Ahem! The patient is becoming hysterical. We need a sedative, stat!”
He had just managed to break free from the restraints. Rubbing his sore wrists, he croaked out orders to the nurse.
The nurse swiftly handed him a syringe and pushed me back down onto the bed.
The doctor pressed the plunger, the sharp needle glinting as it moved towards me.
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On the day I was supposed to marry Rachel Quinn, the beautiful rich girl, she abandoned my mother, Susan Sullivan, and me on a remote road to meet up with her childhood sweetheart.
Susan suffered a sudden heart attack from the shock. I called Rachel, sobbing, begging her to come back and help save my mom.
She coldly dismissed me. “Here we go again. Every time I leave, your mom fakes a heart problem. Your family really knows how to put on a show.”
Because of her delay, we missed the crucial window for treatment, and Susan passed away.
That night, one of our mutual friends posted a picture on Instagram with the caption: [Nothing beats childhood sweethearts!]
The photo showed Rachel perched on her childhood sweetheart’s lap, his hand resting intimately on her waist. The sexual tension was palpable.
With a blank expression, I liked the post and commented: [So this was why you have got to run?]
My friend mockingly replied: [It was just a round of Truth or Dare. Why so serious?]
Rachel seemed indifferent.
But when I left without a word, she completely lost it.
*****
[Rachel, let’s break up.]
After packing up my mom Susan’s belongings, I sent Rachel this message, my face expressionless.
Rachel thought I was just throwing a fit. She immediately posted screenshots of our chat on Instagram, saying: [Jeez, wonder where he learned to be such a drama queen.]
Rachel’s friends, always eager for drama, chimed in with comments.
[Like mother, like son. Probably learned it from that hick mom of his.]
[He’s just a simp who thinks he’s hot stuff.]
[Rachel, don’t forgive him so easily this time. Show him who the boss is in this relationship!]
Rachel replied with a smile: [Of course.]
I smashed my fist into the picture frame. Blood seeped through my fingers as the photo of Rachel and me shattered.
For six long years, I’d stood by Rachel’s side, catering to her every whim, cherishing her with all my heart.
She was a rich man’s daughter, and I came from an average family. The designer bags she loved took me months to save up for.
But I didn’t mind. Just seeing her smile made it all worthwhile. I’d work three jobs a day without complaint, even if it meant my hands were calloused and bleeding.
She was my whole world. When the flu hit and pharmacies were out of meds, I braved a raging fever just to get some to her door. She was that fragile.
And how did Rachel repay me? She blew through the money I’d worked so hard to earn. Worse still, she’d been secretly investing in her childhood friend Nathan’s business ventures behind my back.
Susan, taking Rachel’s words to heart, emptied our family’s savings. She said we couldn’t let Rachel down and had to give her a fancy wedding.
In the end, on the day we were supposed to get our marriage license, Rachel received a call from Nathan while we were on the road. Without hesitation, she abandoned Susan and me on a deserted highway.
I desperately reached for her wrist. “We’re not even married yet…”
She jerked her hand away and started the car. “Nathan just got back to the country. Starting a business isn’t easy. He needs me. Don’t worry, honey. I’ll be right back.”
With tears in my eyes, I shouted, “Rachel, if you leave now, this wedding is off!”
Rachel fixed me with a confident stare. “You can’t live without me, Ryan Sullivan.”
Her words rooted me to the spot.
Susan, witnessing Rachel abandon us for another man, collapsed from the shock, clutching her chest in pain.
There was no one in sight. I frantically dialed Rachel’s number, desperate for her to come back and help Susan.
Rachel coldly dismissed my plea, hanging up with a scathing remark, “Here we go again. Every time I leave, your mom fakes a heart problem. Your family really knows how to put on a show.”
As I watched the life slowly drain from Susan, I couldn’t hold back the tears, overwhelmed by despair.
When Rachel and I first got together, Susan had offered me all her savings. “Ryan,” she’d said, “it’s been just the two of us for so long. I know my heart’s been holding you back. But I want to help you one last time.”
Now she lay in my arms, her breath shallow, her face deathly pale. “Ryan,” she whispered, “I wanted to see how handsome you’d look in your wedding suit…”
But she would never get that chance.
In the end, all that was left of poor Susan was a small pile of ashes.
Susan never liked crowds, so I kept the funeral small. Some friends came by to say goodbye, but I moved all the flowers outside.
I sat in the bedroom, clutching Susan’s urn and sobbing uncontrollably. Bottle after bottle of liquor was emptied as their cruel laughter filtered through the door.
Seriously, what’s the deal with him, Rachel? Is he trying to open a flower shop with all those lilies?
He’s pathetic, just like his mother. What a loser.
Leaving lilies is like wishing Rachel an early death. Come on, Rachel, it was just a game of Truth or Dare with Nathan. Is he really that petty? Talk about a man who can’t take a joke.
I’d heard these insults countless times, and each time, Rachel remained silent, never defending me.
She had promised me that this place was our secret hideout where no one else was allowed. Just the two of us.
But now, she had broken our promise. She even brought her group of fair-weather friends into our home, with Nathan by her side.
To her, Nathan was the one who got away, her idealized first love.
Ever since he returned to the country, Rachel’s eyes had been constantly drawn to him.
When I was starting my business, I asked Rachel to spot me a few thousand dollars to get things rolling. I didn’t want to always be in her shadow。 I wanted to be able to take care of the woman I loved.
She refused. “You’re going to be my husband. You shouldn’t have to do things like that.”
But then she turned around and threw a lavish birthday bash for Nathan.
When I expressed my hurt, she simply said, “Nathan’s my childhood friend. Don’t be silly. He won’t come between us.”
Was that true? Later, a single phone call from Nathan was enough to make her rush out, leaving me to stay up all night, sick with worry.
Her excuse was that work at the company was too busy.
But I knew the truth. It wasn’t that she was too busy. It was that her heart was no longer with me.
So even if Susan had a heart attack, she’d think we were just faking it.
Rachel’s eyes lowered in disgust when she saw my disheveled state. “What game are you trying to play now?”
Nathan took a step back, looking me up and down. “Ryan? What’s gotten into you, man? Even if you got the wrong idea about me and Rachel, that’s no excuse to let yourself go like this.”
His words drew the attention of Rachel’s group of friends, their gazes settling on me.
Susan’s passing had left me sleepless for days, dark circles prominent under my eyes.
Their judgmental stares cut deep. One of them sneered, “Wow, Ryan, you’re really pulling out all the stops to win Rachel back, huh?”
Another chimed in, “Let me guess, Rachel mentioned she’d be here. So you showed up looking all heartbroken, hoping she’d fall for your pity party?”
Keep dreaming, you pathetic loser!
I bet Rachel had no clue I blocked her ages ago. Not a single one of her messages had gotten through.
All those nights she was out partying with her friends, carelessly plastering her drunk selfies all over Instagram, I was at home, clutching Susan’s ashes, crying like a child.
Are you done? Rachel glanced at me indifferently, casually strolling to the couch and sitting down, just like after every argument we’d ever had. “If you’re finished, get off your ass and clean this dump. We’ve got people coming over later.”
I suddenly burst out laughing.
Rachel raised an eyebrow. “Ryan, have you lost your mind? You’re a just freaking sugar baby. How dare you laugh?”
I laughed so hard tears came to my eyes.
Rachel frowned, repeating with forced patience, “Ryan, I said I’m throwing a party here.”
In Rachel’s eyes, Susan and I combined didn’t measure up to Nathan.
Even when Susan had angina, Rachel thought she was faking it.
The first time Susan was supposed to meet her, Rachel claimed to be busy with work. I later found out she was actually picking up Nathan from the airport.
Each time, she stabbed me in the heart, leaving it a bloody mess.
On our wedding day, Nathan used the excuse of being drunk on business. In reality, he was just playing truth or dare with his friends.
They wanted to see if Rachel would really leave me for him.
Susan grabbed Rachel’s hand, pleading, “Rachel, my son truly loves you. We consider you one of our own. Can’t you at least sign the marriage certificate first?”
I couldn’t give up. “Rachel, I need you,” I said desperately.
But she firmly pushed Susan’s hand away. “You’ll be fine without me, Ryan. Nathan needs me.”
She then roared past in her car.
As she straddled Nathan’s lap, flirting and blushing, Susan’s life slipped away in my arms, breath by breath.
I looked up sharply at Rachel, my eyes rimmed with red. “What? Are you planning to throw a party in front of my mother’s urn?”
The room fell silent, broken only by Nathan’s sudden, inappropriate laugh. “Sorry,” he said, looking apologetic. “Couldn’t help it.”
Nathan spoke with an air of feigning sincerity and patience. “Ryan, I know you’ve got the wrong idea about Rachel and me, but isn’t it a bit much to talk about your mom like that?”
He explained slowly, “That day, we were playing Truth or Dare. If I’d known you and Rachel were about to get married, I never would have let her come.”
Rachel’s friends had already closed ranks around Nathan. Not one of them believed a word I said. It was just like that day when Rachel refused to believe Susan was having a heart attack.
If Nathan hadn’t called Rachel away on purpose, Susan wouldn’t have gotten so upset that it triggered her heart attack.
My fists were clenched, and my eyes were bloodshot with anger.
Nathan took a cautious step back.
Rachel moved to stand in front of him. “Are you done? Your mom was always in good health. Isn’t it a bit much to use this to provoke me?”
She hadn’t shown any concern for Susan’s condition that day, not even a single word of care.
Susan’s dying wish was for Rachel and me to stay together. But what about her?
Ryan, my patience has its limits, I spoke coldly.
Rachel thought I’d give in like before, apologize, and try to win her back.
But she was wrong. I grew up in a single-parent home. My father passed away in an accident when I was three. It had been just Susan and me for over twenty years.
A few years ago, I neglected Susan’s health because of Rachel. I offered her my whole heart, and now she had shattered it completely.”
Are you done talking? If so, please leave. My voice was ice-cold as I pushed through the crowd to retrieve Susan’s urn.
Rachel grabbed my wrist, her tone a mix of frustration and compromise. “Ryan, please don’t be like this.”
Disappointment flickered in her eyes. “You weren’t like this before.”
It was funny how we always wanted what we couldn’t have. Back when I was head over heels for Rachel, she couldn’t care less. Now that I was done with it all, she was suddenly interested.
Now, the tables had turned.
I pried her fingers off, creating some distance between us. “Tell me then, what was I like before? Your lapdog? A shameless pretty boy?” I scoffed, and my voice was low. “A sugar baby?” I paused, then delivered the final blow. “Or maybe…just useless?”
Rachel’s face drained of color. “Ryan…”
These were the names her so-called friends used for me. Just because I stood by her side, I became the target of their cruel labels.
Rachel was the pampered daughter of a wealthy family. On our first date, she got a craving for dessert from Cassie’s Dessert.
I scoured the city, but every shop had closed up for the night. Determined not to let her down, I hopped on the subway, rented a bike, and even hoofed it for miles.
To get her favorite cupcake, I braved Sycamore Avenue despite my allergy to sycamore fluff.
With a face flushed bright red from the allergic reaction, I carefully handed her the cupcake.
She nestled against me, wrapping her arms around my waist. Her lips met mine in a sweet, happy kiss. “Ryan,” she said, “you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Back then, I really thought I’d touched her heart.
I gave everything I had, holding nothing back.
Even when Rachel’s friends openly insulted me, I didn’t care. I naively believed that as long as I stayed by Rachel’s side, we’d find happiness someday.
Later, she met Susan. My mom adored her, often sending homemade soup to her office. She worried Rachel might skip meals due to her busy schedule.
Make sure Rachel’s well-fed and healthy, Susan would tell me.
What Susan didn’t know was that Rachel never tasted a single drop of that soup. I once saw her, from around the corner, pouring Susan’s carefully prepared chicken soup down the drain. “Handle it like this from now on,” she coldly instructed her secretary.
Meanwhile, Susan would say, “Rachel must have sophisticated tastes. I’ll stop sending the soup. I’ve saved up quite a bit over the years. Find out what Rachel likes to eat and treat her to that. It’s the least I can do.”
In Rachel’s words, Susan, a kind-hearted, generous old lady, had become a villain who faked illness just to lure her back for a marriage certificate.
The doctor said if we’d arrived just a few minutes earlier, Susan might have lived.
Rachel had robbed Susan of her fighting chance.
A tidal wave of grief and anger crashed over me, leaving me drowning in bitterness.
Rachel glared at me, rolling their eyes dramatically. “Ryan, watch your mouth!”
Look at yourself. We’re being generous, calling you sugar baby…
Enough, Rachel snapped, her face darkening. The group exchanged uneasy glances.
Well, well. So she could shut them up after all.
It dawned on me that their constant disrespect had always had Rachel’s tacit approval. Maybe she’d looked down on me all along.
This time, Rachel deigned to explain herself. “Look, I’ll admit I didn’t think it through earlier. But it was an emergency. We can always get the marriage license another day, right?”
She turned to me with a placating smile. “How about this, Ryan? Next Monday, you can pick me up and we’ll head to the city hall together. We’ll make it official then.”
Even as she tried to make amends, she couldn’t shake off her haughty, entitled attitude.
In the past, I would have caved. I would have turned back, wrapped my arms around her waist, and playfully bitten her neck, saying, “Don’t let it happen again.”
But now, my eyes were cold, my tone strange. “Don’t bother,” I said. “The almighty Ms. Quinn wouldn’t lower herself to take back someone she’s already tossed aside, would she?”
It was the first time I’d ever addressed her so formally, so distantly.
Rachel was in shock. She took a sharp breath, steadying herself against the table’s edge, unable to believe what she’d just heard.
Ryan, she said, her voice quivering. “Are you really breaking up with me over something so petty?”
Petty? What the hell counts as petty to her? I let out a bitter laugh inwardly. “Is my mother’s death just a minor inconvenience?”
Fury coursed through me, my arm muscles taut with anger. My voice came out low and dangerous, each word like a clap of thunder. “What about you, Rachel? You haven’t asked about my mom even once.”
Rachel stiffened, her eyes darting away. “Your mom’s healthy. Even two Nathans combined couldn’t match up to her.
Fine, if it’s about this, I’ll buy some health supplements for your mom later, she said, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Her tone dripped with condescension.
The others chimed in eagerly, “Rachel’s doing you a favor, Ryan. Don’t you know when you’re getting a good deal? Those supplements cost thousands of dollars. Where would your country bumpkin mom ever get to eat such good stuff otherwise?”
My throat tightened, leaving me speechless.
It was ridiculous.
Even now, Rachel believed Susan coveted her wealth and status.
When I brought her home to meet Susan, she came empty-handed. I chalked it up to absent-mindedness.
Later, I realized she not only looked down on me but was wary of Susan, too.
Her friends had badmouthed Susan behind our backs. “What a liar! Heart disease? Please! If it was that bad, how’s she still kicking after all these years?”
I bet Ryan’s just eager to be a wealthy sugar baby. He’s probably got his mom faking heart problems to guilt-trip you, Rachel. Don’t fall for it!
And Rachel actually bought it.
While Susan was alive, Rachel gave away all the health supplements to her so-called friends.
Now that Susan was gone, she was falling over herself to bring offerings.
The irony was laughable.
That won’t be necessary, I said coldly.
Suddenly, Nathan let out a startled cry. “Oh!”
Rachel instinctively moved closer to Nathan, her eyes filled with concern. “Nathan, what’s wrong?”
Nathan pointed at the memorial photo on the table, his voice shaking. “Rachel, why is Ryan’s mom’s photo here? Does that mean…”
Rachel’s eyelid twitched. “No, it can’t be.”
People always tended to deceive themselves. If Rachel had thought about it carefully, she would have remembered how Susan often struggled to breathe when they met and how heart medication was scattered all over their house. If she had just considered it for a moment, she would have known that Susan truly had a heart condition.
One of Rachel’s friends immediately sneered, “Ryan must have made a memorial photo of his own mother just to win Rachel back. How disgusting!”
Jeez, Ryan, another chimed in. “Pull stunts like this and karma’s gonna bite you in the ass.”
Their gaze was like looking at disgusting lice.
Even Rachel’s face twisted with disapproval. “Ryan, I can’t believe you’d do something like this. If your aunt found out…”
I closed my eyes, a headache building. “She’s not going to find out.”
Rachel had never seen me this serious before. Her tone softened instantly. “Ryan…”
I was done with these people. All I wanted was to take Susan’s ashes and leave. “If you won’t go, I will.”
As I picked up the urn, Rachel sneered. “Trying to play the victim again?”
She shot a look at her cronies, who immediately surrounded me. Nathan snatched the urn from my hands.
Come on, Ryan, he said. “You don’t have to do this.”
Nathan leaned in close, lowering his voice. “Ryan, maybe save those flowers outside for your mom. She’s always faking heart problems. Might come in handy when she finally kicks the bucket.”
I struggled wildly, trying to swing at him, but was held back firmly. “Nathan! I’ll kill you!”
Oops, Nathan exclaimed as the urn slipped from his hands, scattering white powder across the floor.
His face showed mock regret, but his words dripped with accusation. “Sorry, Ryan. I spilled that ‘baby formula’ you brought. But hey, waste not, want not. We can feed it to Anna. Might as well put it to good use.”
My blood ran cold.
Anna was Nathan’s dog.
What are you planning to do? I asked, horrified.
Rachel chimed in, “Good idea. Waste not, want not, after all.”
I looked at Rachel, pleading, “No, Rachel, please…”
But she just scoffed indifferently, “Ryan, don’t you love acting? Keep going, I’m watching!”
My heart felt dead inside.
A metallic taste filled my mouth, “Rachel, you’ll regret this!!”
Damn, you’re really selling it,” someone nearby chuckled, instantly easing Rachel’s hesitation.
I watched as Nathan added warm water to the ashes, and the Doberman tentatively licked the contents of the bowl.
No!
It felt like an invisible hand clenched my heart. The pain was suffocating.
I broke free, landing a hard punch on Nathan’s face, screaming like a madman, “That’s my mom’s ashes! You monster! I’ll kill you!”
Tears streamed down my face as I furiously pinned Nathan down, raining punches on him.
Even as several people restrained my limbs, I glared at the couple before me, my eyes bloodshot with fury.
Have you lost your mind, Ryan? Trying to kill Nathan over a can of formula? Rachel cried out, frantically checking Nathan for injuries without sparing me a glance.
My voice came out raw, like I’d been gargling gravel. “Rachel, I wish I’d never fallen for you. If I’d known loving you would cost me my mother, I’d have wished we’d never met.”
Rachel flinched, then wiped the blood from Nathan’s lip. Her voice dripped with contempt as she said, “Keep this act up, Ryan, and I might just find someone else to marry.”
My sobs turned into hysterical laughter as I glared at Rachel with pure hatred. “I hate you, Rachel,” I choked out, my voice weak with emotion. “I hate you!”
Rachel’s patience had run out. “Ryan, you can drop the act now…”
Before she could finish, her friend Wendy approached hesitantly, holding a document. “Rachel,” she said, her voice uncertain, “I have a death certificate here. It looks like Ryan’s mom… It seems like she really did pass away.”
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My parents gave me two hundred thousand dollars for my graduation trip.
My boyfriend, Rylan Blake, wanted to come along, so I agreed.
On the day we boarded, he showed up empty-handed with his parents and brother.
His parents didn’t chip in a dime.
They were not even for her underwear; that was on my tab, too.
His brother, Alvin Blake, threw a fit at the amusement park, making us miss our train to the next stop.
I lost my cool and snapped at the little brat.
His parents immediately hardened, and she started scolding me with her hands on her hips.
“How dare you yell at Alvin? He’s your future husband’s brother. Whatever he wants, you better provide!”
My boyfriend held me back as I was about to retort, saying that his parents had worked hard their entire lives and this was their rare chance to travel, so it shouldn’t be difficult.
Fine, fine, if that were the case, I would indulge them.
That evening, I booked two presidential suites for them at a five-star hotel and took them out for a luxurious dinner.
While they were busy taking photos, I made a smooth exit.
At the airport, I was reviewing my travel itinerary while waiting for my boyfriend, Rylan Blake.
Suddenly, an unruly child burst onto the scene, jumping and bouncing around.
He yelled at the top of his lungs, “Airplane! We’re going on a big airplane!”
People he bumped into or stepped on glared at him with annoyance, but he only became more energized.
Just then, Rylan appeared in the distance, waving at me.
I smiled and waved back.
I had been planning this graduation trip for ages, and my parents generously gave me two hundred thousand to have a blast.
My boyfriend Rylan, who I’ve been dating for two years, mentioned that he’s never even left the province and wanted to see the world with me.
So I agreed to bring him along.
Halfway through the trip, I noticed a man and a woman trailing behind Rylan.
They gave a thumbs-up to the same kid who had caused trouble earlier.
“Olivia, these are my parents, and that’s my younger brother Alvin Blake.”
“The three of them didn’t buy plane tickets. Is it too late to buy them now?”
Rylan pointed at the three of them, who hadn’t brought any luggage, and looked at me expectantly.
His father, Oscar Blake, clasped his hands behind his back and glanced at me expressionlessly.
His mother, Wendy Blake, on the other hand, unabashedly sized me up from head to toe.
I felt a bit offended.
However, Rylan mentioned that his parents had spent their whole life in the countryside.
Perhaps their customs were different, and I could understand.
The original plan for a romantic getaway for two turned into a trip with my boyfriend’s entire family, and my excitement instantly plummeted.
Rylan seemed to sense my displeasure and pulled me aside.
“Olivia, my parents worked hard to put me through college, and I want to take them on a trip.
“They wouldn’t feel comfortable leaving Alvin home alone.
“When I start working and earning money, I’ll take your parents on a trip too.”
He spoke sincerely.
Although my parents didn’t need him to spend money on them, his intentions were good.
It was about understanding and compromising with each other.
I nodded in agreement.
Knowing Rylan’s financial situation, I took the initiative to buy their plane tickets.
After boarding the plane, Alvin was so excited that he was jumping up and down and making strange noises.
The other passengers were very annoyed and complained.
The flight attendants tried to calm him down several times, but it didn’t work, and Wendy even accused them of meddling.
I had to ask Rylan to intervene.
When Alvin heard that he might be kicked off the plane, he finally quieted down.
However, his parents looked at me with great displeasure.
Two hours later, the plane finally landed in Kingstown.
The sun was relentless, and the heat was stifling, making us all eager to get to the hotel and rest.
As per the original plan, I had only booked two rooms. Now, with the hotel fully booked, we couldn’t get an extra room for Rylan’s family.
“How are two rooms not enough? Rylan and Olivia can share one, and the three of us can take the other,” Oscar declared as if it were the most obvious solution.
I quickly objected, “Mr. Blake, Rylan and I aren’t married. We can’t share a room.”
My parents had raised me to value self-respect and to be cautious about intimacy before marriage.
Wendy scoffed, her eyes lingering on my bare legs exposed by my shorts. “You’re with our Rylan now. This is bound to happen sooner or later. Don’t be so prudish.”
Her words made me extremely uncomfortable.
The others were also giving us strange looks.
My already poor impression of them worsened, and my patience finally snapped.
To avoid delaying other guests’ check-in, I pulled them aside.
“Mrs. Blake. Rylan and I aren’t married yet. You’re overstepping with such personal matters.”
My sharp retort didn’t sit well with Wendy.
Just as she was about to blow up, Rylan arrived with water, offering a glass to each of us.
When he reached Wendy, she didn’t take the water, only wiping her tears with her sleeve.
“Rylan, you’re so successful now, mom’s words don’t matter anymore.”
Oscar also had a dark expression, refusing to drink the water.
It was as if I had caused them immense grievance while Rylan was away.
How could they still be playing these manipulative games at their age?
I looked Rylan in the eyes and demanded sharply, “Your mom said in public that I should share a room with you and sleep with you.
“Ask any woman here how they’d feel about that.”
Rylan didn’t expect me to get so angry and kept apologizing profusely.
“My mom is just like that. She has a sharp tongue but a good heart.
“She thought having us share a room would save you money.”
At least they knew they were spending my money.
He whispered something to Wendy, and though she looked reluctant, she came over to apologize for what had happened.
Rylan winked at me and put his hands together in a pleading gesture.
I didn’t want to stay angry and ruin the trip, so I softened my expression and offered to find them another hotel.
Alvin was enjoying the air conditioning in the hotel lobby and refused to leave.
So Rylan asked his parents to stay there with Alvin while he went to find another hotel.
I was tired and didn’t have the energy to deal with their issues.
I took my key card and went to my room to rest.
I had booked two connecting rooms, and his parents loud voice could still be heard through the wall.
They seemed to be saying they were hungry and wanted to eat and that it was time to take a shower and change clothes.
The sound was intermittent, and it was making it hard for me to sleep.
Just then, my mom called to ask how my trip was going.
I vented all my frustrations from the day, not caring if the people next door could hear me.
“Rylan’s mom actually said that to you in the lobby?”
My mom’s voice was shocked and displeased.
She was a university professor, and she usually interacted with students and intellectuals.
She had never heard such rude and disrespectful language.
“Olivia, Rylan is a good kid. How can his parents be like this?”
I was silent because I didn’t know the answer either.
From meeting in a club activity to me accepting his advances, Rylan had always given me the impression of being gentle, courteous, and responsible.
He always indulged my little whims and fancies.
Besides, he excelled in his studies and was ambitious.
My parents met him once at school and were very impressed.
They didn’t care about Rylan’s family background; as long as he was honest, dependable, and would love and cherish me, it was enough for them.
If nothing unexpected happened, we were going to get married.
However, after interacting with his family today, I felt it was better to put the marriage talk on hold for now.
After a while, my mom spoke again.
“Olivia, if you want a long-term relationship with Rylan, you have to consider his parents and family.
“He can pretend in front of you, but what is he like in front of his parents when he doesn’t need to pretend?
“You need to see his true character clearly. In any case, Mom will always support your decision.”
My nose tingled; it felt so good to be loved by my mom.
“Oh, and your dad is busy with the branch office in Kingstown these days. If you have any trouble, just contact him directly.”
Just as I hung up the phone, there was a knock on the door.
I opened it to find Rylan, sweating profusely, holding a bag of oranges out to me.
After taking a plane or train, I tend to feel nauseous and want to vomit.
Eating oranges always helped.
He had always been mindful of this little quirk of mine.
“Aren’t you going to invite me in to cool off?”
Rylan offered the oranges again.
I didn’t take the oranges, but I opened the door to let him in.
He went on about finding a cheap hotel nearby and asked if I was still planning to visit Kingstown’s famous night market tonight.
The thought of the bustling market and its diverse array of goods lifted my spirits.
I took the peeled oranges from him, and we shared them.
As night fell, the weather cooled down considerably.
The night market was a seemingly endless street filled with clothes, shoes, trinkets, and specialties from all over the country.
I was having a great time browsing when a vendor grabbed my arm.
“Miss, you haven’t paid yet!”
He ran a clothing stall, but I didn’t buy anything from him.
The owner pointed at Rylan’s parents’ backs.
“They said you’d pay.”
They were carrying a bag of clothes, and Alvin had a handful of grilled sausages.
Seeing my hesitation, the owner grew impatient.
“You’re not trying to skip out on the bill, are you?”
Rylan stepped forward to explain and urged me to pay quickly.
The long bill included underwear, socks, and other items.
The total came to 1562 dollars.
Then there was the grilled food, which cost 86 dollars.
As we continued walking, several other vendors asked me to settle their bills.
Rylan, beside me, was excitedly looking around, completely oblivious to the situation.
I stopped and said sternly, “Rylan, your parents came to Kingstown without bringing anything.
“They’re treating me like an ATM, aren’t they?”
Rylan held a pair of shoes Oscar had worn, examining them as he spoke.
“Olivia, why are you making such a fuss over this little bit of money?
“Your mom gave you two hundred thousand dollars, so what’s the big deal if my parents buy some clothes and shoes?”
His tone implied that it was my duty to foot the bill for them.
“That two hundred thousand dollars is my money, and how I spend it is my decision.
“Who says just because I have money, I have to buy clothes for your parents and snacks for your brother?”
Rylan froze, then looked at me with a wounded expression.
“Olivia, we’re going to be family soon. It hurts when you talk like that.
“Shouldn’t family members support each other? What’s wrong with spending a little money now to make the elders happy?
“When I have money in the future, I’ll also take care of your parents.”
It finally dawned on me. Rylan was painting a rosy picture for me, like a boss promising future rewards to his employees.
He was saying that when he makes it big someday, he would take my parents on trips and shower them with gifts.
He was so sure of his bright future that he saw my current contributions as an early investment, something he deserved to receive without any guilt.
So, I saw my current contributions as an early investment in him, something he deserved.
Yet, he still hadn’t found a job.
While everyone else was busy sending out resumes during spring and fall recruiting seasons, he was out wining and dining people, all on my dime.
He called it “looking for entrepreneurial partners”.
He looked down on ordinary jobs, only dreaming of getting rich quickly and soaring to the top.
In a positive light, it was ambition. In a negative light, it was impatience.
They said travel was the ultimate test of a relationship.
Less than a day in, and he was already showing his true colors.
I calm down, deciding to test the sincerity of his words.
“Rylan, you’re right, family should support each other.
“I have a bit of a headache now, and I’d like some mint lemonade.”
With that, I hold my head and squat down.
Rylan’s parents kept piling on purchases.
Seeing that I hadn’t followed to pay, they turned around and angrily demanded to know what I was doing.
Rylan accused me of making a fuss over nothing.
“It is Kingstown, not Butterwort. Where do you think you’ll find mint lemonade here?
“Are you trying to ruin the mood for my parents?”
Kingstown had mint lemonade; he just couldn’t be bothered to look for it.
It was what he meant by supporting each other.
It essentially meant I could support his family, but his family couldn’t return the favor.
I went along with Rylan’s words.
“Fine, I won’t ruin the fun. I’m heading back to the hotel.”
I stood up, shouldered my bag, and returned to the hotel alone.
The front desk handed me a long bill.
It turned out Rylan’s parents had ordered room service.
They’d ordered every overpriced dish on the menu.
I put away the bills, returned to my room, locked the door, and prepared to take a bath.
Between the flights, hotel, and various other expenses, the Blake family had already cost me over twenty-six thousand dollars.
My planned trip still had fourteen days left.
If things continued like this, I wouldn’t even be able to afford a return ticket.
I’d deal with the breakup later.
Since I was already here, I was determined to complete my planned itinerary.
I hung up on Rylan’s call and went to bed early, deciding to go to the amusement park alone the next day.
When I finished my makeup and set off with my selfie stick, Rylan’s parents’ room was still quiet.
Finally, I could enjoy myself alone.
It was cloudy today, but it was more relaxed than yesterday.
In a great mood, I lined up outside the park to get my ticket checked.
To my surprise, Rylan showed up with his entire family.
Alvin, who had always been rude to me, rushed over as soon as he saw me, begging to ride the coin-operated kiddie ride.
“Olivia, please, just let me play for a little while,” he pleaded, lying on the ground and refusing to get up, drawing the attention of both visitors and staff.
Rylan knew I hated making a scene in public, which was why he had the owner make me pay the bill last night.
He was trying the same trick today, but it wasn’t going to work.
I didn’t even glance at him, continuing to wait in line for the ticket check.
Because his tantrum was disrupting the order of the amusement park, security had to step in and remove Alvin.
It triggered Wendy.
She immediately went up and shoved the security guard, who accidentally bumped into her during the struggle.
She instantly collapsed to the ground.
The park management had no choice but to call the police.
Rylan pointed me out as a related witness, so I ended up going to the police station, too.
Because of the complicated situation between Rylan, Wendy, and the security guard, the mediation dragged on for two hours without any resolution.
Alvin, under someone’s influence, cried incessantly, claiming the security guard had broken his arm.
So, we went back to the hospital for another X-ray.
The amusement park plan was ruined.
We also missed the 3 pm train, and tomorrow’s trip to Oceana was off the table.
The ridiculous part was that Wendy actually had the nerve to demand that I pay the hospital bill.
“If it weren’t for you, Alvin wouldn’t have been hurt.”
I looked at the perfectly fine Alvin and the now useless Disney tickets, my anger boiling over.
“Is he hurt? Where is he hurt?”
Furious, I grabbed his arm and shook it back and forth.
“If he hadn’t been rolling around on the ground at the entrance, I’d be taking pictures and watching shows at Disney right now.
“Every time he walked with me, I wanted to find a hole to crawl into, do you understand?”
From the airport onwards, Alvin’s bratty behavior annoyed countless people.
Only Wendy still thought her child’s wildness and boldness were admirable.
Rylan and Wendy swatted my hand away and shielded their younger son.
Oscar glared at me fiercely and said, “Alvin is your husband’s brother. You have to give him whatever he wants, or you can forget about joining the Blake family.”
They thought the Blake family was some prestigious clan everyone was dying to join.
I pulled out a mirror from my bag and held it up to them.
“Take a good look. You guys think you’re something special, huh? Chasing after things way out of your league and still not satisfied.
“And now you want your whole family to get a piece of that swan.
“Well, let me tell you, swans aren’t so easy to fool. Be careful, or one of them might just peck you back to reality.”
Rylan came rushing over with the inspection report in hand. He snatched the mirror out of mine, frustrated.
“How can you speak to my family like that?”
🌟 Continue the story here
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I was the smartest and prettiest child in the entire orphanage.
But everyone who wanted to adopt me ended up dying in bizarre ways, and the police questioned me, the sole witness, about what I had seen.
“I don’t know either. It must all be an accident.”
“There’s no one at home except for me and my parents.”
I tried my best to suppress my smile and asked innocently, “It couldn’t be that I did all of this, could it?”
I was the most popular orphan in the home, with countless people wanting to adopt me, but every family that took me in seemed to experience inexplicable misfortune.
Just like my first set of adoptive parents, my second set passed away tragically in the third month of my adoption.
With no one left to care for me, the social welfare agency had no choice but to return me to the orphanage.
As I was leaving, the volunteer responsible for me expressed regret.
“Emily is such a well-behaved child; it’s just that misfortune seems to target the unfortunate…
“Finding her new adoptive parents under these circumstances won’t be easy. We’ll need your help to take care of her, and we’ll do our best to come by more often.”
The volunteer patted my head, and I took a step forward, grasping Amelia’s hand softly, whispering, “Ms. White…”
Amelia White, the head of the orphanage, had cold hands that were already beginning to bead with sweat. As I held her hand, I felt her tremble slightly.
The volunteers hadn’t left yet, so she couldn’t just shake off my hand.
“Don’t worry, Emily has been under my care since she was little. I’ll take good care of her.”
In front of others, Amelia smiled and promised, but then she turned to desperately contact couples interested in adoption, trying every way to sell me.
“Emily Grace is the most well-behaved child in our orphanage, exceptionally quiet, and never cries.”
“What happened before… those were just accidents. She’s just a little girl who doesn’t understand. You can trust her to adopt her.”
“No, no, Ms. White, that’s just too ominous.”
“Exactly! The two families that adopted her have died. If this time it’s an accident, twice is just too strange.”
Days passed, and Amelia returned defeated countless times, her expression growing darker each day.
She dressed me in the prettiest dress, racking her brain to praise me, hoping that my adorable appearance would soften the hearts of potential adopters.
At first, they were indeed moved, but upon learning about my past, they all shook their heads in rejection.
“This child is just too unlucky. Death follows her everywhere. Is she really a jinx?”
I listened to their murmurs, but I felt utterly unconcerned.
Only I knew the truth.
Those “accidents” were all my doing.
My first set of adoptive parents was a glamorous couple known for their charitable work.
Among the many children in the orphanage, they chose me at first sight, calling me an innocent little angel.
It was after I followed them home that I discovered they were not philanthropists at all but traffickers who abducted beautiful children for pedophiles.
Just three days after adopting me, they eagerly found a buyer, even choosing a secluded beach villa for the deal.
“This little girl is the most obedient I’ve ever seen; she does whatever you ask.
“Look at her! She’s more beautiful than any child star. She’s definitely worth the price.”
“Isn’t that too expensive? I’ve heard she’s an orphan. You guys are making a fortune out of nothing here.”
While they discussed my worth upstairs, I ignited the living room curtains and cut the gas line in the kitchen, quietly slipping out of the villa while no one was watching.
That night, flames engulfed the house, leaving my adoptive parents and the buyer as charred corpses.
My second set of adoptive parents, unable to have children, had always wanted to adopt.
However, most of the boys in the orphanage were disabled and abandoned due to health issues.
After much selection, even though I wasn’t the boy they wanted, they took me home because I was smart and well-behaved.
At first, they treated me decently.
My adoptive father would take me to the amusement park for a day of fun, and my adoptive mother would sweetly give me a goodnight kiss before bed. In that short time, I experienced the warmth of family life.
But everything changed one fateful night when my adoptive father climbed into my bed.
He was a monster, intending to violate me while drunk. I fought back with all my strength, striking him with a vase, and then turned to my adoptive mother to cry for help.
But instead of comfort, she beat me fiercely, calling me a shameless child for enticing my own adoptive father, saying she would sell me to a village for old men.
With no other choice, I slipped some antibiotics into my father’s drink and secretly hid my mother’s heart medication.
The next day, they were found dead in the house, and I was returned to the orphanage once more.
From that day, no one had wanted to adopt me.
The other children in the orphanage avoided playing with me, scattering like birds when they saw me return.
Only a tall boy named Daniel Reed stood his ground, theatrically shouting, “The jinx Emily is back again!
“Your adopters all died. Will your bad luck infect us too?”
I ignored him and sat in the shade, flipping through a picture book.
Daniel, seeking attention and spurred on by the onlookers, grew red in the face and picked up a stone to throw at me.
The stone struck my forehead, blood streaming down and staining the pure white pages.
I looked up at Daniel, whose face was round and puffy, his slanted eyes gleaming with malicious delight.
Daniel had just arrived at the orphanage last month. The caregivers said he had aggression-related genes, characterized by a volatile temper and poor academic ability.
Yet Daniel took pride in this. He wielded his size to bully other children in the orphanage. The children were all afraid of him and dared not resist.
“Emily! What’s going on here?”
A caregiver noticed the commotion, hastily setting down her work to rush over.
In the crowd of children, Daniel was a bully, but in front of adults, he was nothing more than a coward.
I tilted my head, watching as Daniel was reprimanded, suddenly recalling the harsh words of my second adoptive mother.
“You’ve always been so malicious. It’s clear you’re born bad.”
In that light, Daniel must also be bad, but we were not the same.
He was simply too foolish.
But that was not a reason I could forgive him.
As night fell, everyone in the orphanage drifted into a deep sleep. I tiptoed quietly to the boys’ dormitory.
Daniel had a volatile temperament; even the slightest annoyance could set him off, and no child wanted to share a room with him.
Thus, in the spacious dormitory, only his heavy snoring broke the silence.
I stood silently at his bedside and, without hesitation, brought my eyebrow knife down toward his forehead.
The pain jolted Daniel awake. As he opened his eyes and saw me, a short, piercing scream was muffled by my pillow.
The sharp blade slid down until it rested against his neck. A slight movement could draw blood.
The once arrogant look on Daniel’s face was replaced by sheer terror. Trembling, he barely managed to croak out, “W-what do you want?”
“I’m here to give you a gift.”
I smiled as I tossed the plastic bag onto him, revealing a dissected, bloodied white mouse inside.
Blood seeped across Daniel’s bedding, and he shuddered violently, filling the room with the stench of urine.
I remained unfazed, softly speaking as I did with the adopters.
“Please don’t hurt me anymore, okay?”
The next morning, I overheard whispers from the caregiver about Daniel’s twisted psyche.
“No wonder they say Daniel has violent genes. That Daniel was secretly dissecting mice in the dorm last night, and his bed was covered in blood!”
“That’s downright psychotic, so terrifying!”
The caregiver bandaged my forehead, cautioning, “Emily, you must never play with such bad kids again.”
I nodded obediently, but just as I wanted to ask for more details, a girl rushed up to me, panting.
“Emily, there you are! Ms. White is looking for you.”
“Someone wants to adopt you! Hurry to the office!”
I paused briefly, then quickly said goodbye to the caregiver.
Amelia’s office wasn’t spacious, but when I knocked and entered, I found a crowd packed inside.
Cameras and lighting equipment made it feel like a film set.
“Oh my, is this Emily?”
A beautiful woman sprang to her feet the moment she saw me. She gently stroked my face, concern etched on her features. “What happened to your forehead?”
I felt a bit lost and instinctively glanced at Amelia.
Amelia’s eyes were cold as a snake as if she could see through me completely. I knew she had to be aware of Daniel’s actions, yet she didn’t pursue the issue, her expression softening once more.
“This is Isabella Clarke and Joshua Clarke, the couple who will be adopting you. Say hello!”
Amelia introduced them with a smile. “They’re famous influencers and came all the way here after hearing about you.”
“Hi, I’m Emily.”
I flashed my sweetest, most obedient smile. The photographer hurried to adjust his angles. “Move closer together and have a chat.”
Joshua and Isabella exchanged glances, smiling as they pulled me closer to sit beside them.
“Good girl, why are you called Emily White?”
“Emily has been in the orphanage since she was born, so she has always taken my surname.”
Amelia interjected, answering for me, “I named her, hoping she’d grow into a gentle and well-behaved girl.”
Isabella nodded, her voice soft. “She truly is a lovely child. Emily, would you like to come with us?”
“I would.”
I paused, then added, “I’m very happy to be adopted by you.”
The photographer nodded in satisfaction and urged, “Hug! Come on, hug again!”
I blinked, throwing myself into Isabella’s warm embrace, yet a cold smile crept into my heart.
I thought to myself, “I’m not a gentle or obedient girl at all.
Ms. White once said I was the child of a devil, abandoned by God.
God despises me.
That’s why everyone hates me.”
Isabella and Joshua were a well-known influencer couple on a short video platform. A few months ago, they faced widespread backlash for selling substandard products, and to redeem their image, they decided to adopt a child from an orphanage.
Amelia was well aware of their motives, but she was eager to get me out of the orphanage, and she would probably have accepted anyone, even a beggar.
However, I didn’t care whether the couple was genuine. To ensure a better life in my new home, I quickly began calling them “Mom” and “Dad” as soon as we were in the car.
They were delighted to hear this, and even the photographer captured several clips to help improve their tarnished reputation online.
“This little girl is both obedient and photogenic. You’ve struck gold!”
“Of course! I searched all over the city’s orphanages and picked the prettiest one.”
Joshua boasted, waving his phone. “The online response has been great. We just posted the video and already have collaboration offers rolling in!”
“Exactly! You’re so smart, darling!”
Isabella beamed, playfully nudging Joshua. “Our previous partners said they won’t terminate our contract for now, and they even want Emily to model children’s clothes.”
“Making money is great, but I feel like her face looks familiar…”
Joshua scrutinized my features, his brows slightly furrowing.
Isabella shrugged it off, saying, “What do you know? Beautiful girls all look alike. Emily is so pretty. She resembles some of those popular actresses.”
“That’s true! Let’s shoot a few more videos and see if we can get more children’s clothing ads!”
They knew the internet had no memory. From a scandal-ridden internet celebrity to a rare kind-hearted couple, it was just a matter of a few days.
After learning they were indeed adopting me, the online community became much more forgiving. Several sets of children’s clothing featuring me sold out quickly, bringing profits to both the manufacturers and the platform hosts.
I felt like a robot, complying with Joshua and Isabella’s every demand as we filmed video after video, from dusk till dawn, changing outfits endlessly. If anything wasn’t perfect, we had to start over.
“Why are you yawning again?”
Joshua pinched me hard, and I shuddered, instantly becoming wide awake.
“Sorry, Dad, I’m a bit tired.”
“No sleeping! If you can’t handle this little hardship, do you think I’m raising you just to eat for free?”
I held back tears, afraid to speak. After becoming my adoptive father, Joshua was no longer the kind man I remembered.
If I failed to complete the filming tasks, I wouldn’t be allowed to eat or sleep, and if I slacked off, I’d face harsh reprimands.
But Amelia had said they were my parents, and I was a good child who had to obey them.
“What are you doing? Don’t pinch her!”
Isabella shot Joshua a glare and tugged at my sleeves. “What if it shows in the video and the viewers notice?”
“Emily, be a good girl; finish these few outfits and then you can sleep.”
Isabella soothed me and signaled to the photographer to keep filming.
I obediently followed the photographer’s directions, holding poses until my legs felt unsteady before being allowed to rest.
The photographer, Joshua, and Isabella were busy reviewing the photos, leaving me alone on the sofa and sipping hot water to warm my frozen hands and feet.
“Emily looks great on camera, but has she grown recently? Her clothes need to be a size up.”
The photographer glanced at me, sighing knowingly. “If she ages out of being a child model, she won’t be valuable anymore. You all better find her other options quickly.”
Joshua secured a few more advertisement deals for me, but unlike the previous children’s clothing, these were for pajamas, swimwear, and underwear.
“Isn’t this dress a bit short?”
Isabella frowned as she held up a flimsy lace nightgown. “Tell the manufacturer to send a larger size.”
“Why change? This size fits perfectly!”
Joshua snatched the dress and held it up to me, grinning. “This is a new opportunity. The profits will be huge.”
I crouched by the fish tank, watching the goldfish swim, and Joshua’s lewd smile reflected on the glass made me feel uneasy, prompting me to voice my discomfort.
“Dad, I don’t want to wear this dress.”
Joshua threw me harshly to the ground, grabbing my hair and forcing me to look at him.
“What do you think you are?
“Are you going to film or not? If not, get the hell out of here!”
“Oh, don’t pull her hair. She still needs to get styled.”
Isabella interjected quickly, stopping him to pull my hair as if it were a precious item. “Look what you’ve done! We’ll have to curl it again.”
Joshua, frustrated by Isabella’s intervention, flipped the glass fish tank over.
The goldfish flopped helplessly on the floor, gasping for air, and within moments, the housekeeper swept them, along with shards of glass, into the trash.
Watching the goldfish lose their life, I instinctively glared at Joshua, trembling all over.
“Dad, you killed the goldfish.”
Joshua was taken aback by my reaction, but he raised an eyebrow and sneered, “Two worthless fish dying doesn’t matter. I haven’t even electrocuted them yet. You know about the kids sent to the correctional center, right? If they misbehave, they get shocked.
“If you don’t behave, I’ll find an electric chair for you to join those dead fish.
“Isabella, stop dawdling! Hurry up and change her clothes and do her makeup. Mr. Harris is coming over soon to take her photos.
“Let’s finish quickly; I have a party to attend tonight.”
Isabella nodded, pulling me into the room.
The heavy makeup and tight nightgown felt like a second, greasy skin clinging to me, making me want to gag.
But Isabella seemed oblivious, measuring my chest disdainfully as she muttered, “Little kids don’t have curves, and this outfit won’t hold up. You need to get some hormones…
“Just behave when the photographer takes your picture. Do whatever poses he asks.
“If you do well this time, we’ll take you to the amusement park.”
I felt like a soulless doll as Isabella pushed me out the door, where William Harris waited with his camera in hand.
When he saw my outfit, he couldn’t help but give a thumbs-up.
“Joshua, you really nailed it.”
“Once child models age out, they usually fade away. You’ve found a unique angle here.”
William circled around me, grinning as he said, “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure Emily becomes a big online star too.”
I felt his greasy hand resting on my waist, and I forced a smile, suppressing my disgust.
“Thank you, Mr. Harris.”
The photos spread like wildfire online, but they weren’t your typical nightgown ads. They were marketed as everyday vlogs documenting life.
Some fans sensed something was off and flooded the comments.
[Why is she dressed so maturely? That dress is way too short and form-fitting.]
[Aren’t they just profiting off a child? This couple has gone mad for money.]
[Reported.]
Isabella didn’t ignore these comments; she even posted a clarification in response to the criticism.
[Emily had just reached the age when she loved trying on her mother’s clothes. Every girl goes through that phase, experimenting with makeup and high heels. She’s still a child. We should be more understanding.]
Once she said that the comments took a sharp turn. Instead of stopping the criticism, it only fueled the flames.
Many brands saw an opportunity and started reaching out, even suggesting I do live streams to sell products, but only if I continued wearing those age-inappropriate outfits to boost the hype.
“What a bunch of clueless idiots. They just don’t appreciate it.
“I’m showing them these tantalizing photos, and they’re pretending to be shocked?”
Joshua scrolled through the comments, satisfied. “Where there’s heat, there’s traffic. That’s cash!”
I sat beside him, watching him browse through messages until he reached a solitary comment at the very bottom.
[Is it just me, or does this little girl look a lot like that serial killer from years ago?]
“A killer?”
Joshua’s brow furrowed, and he turned to scrutinize me for a moment before asking, “Do you know who your real mother is?”
“No, I’ve been in an orphanage since I was little.”
I answered honestly, but Joshua clearly didn’t believe me. He hurriedly opened a search engine, looking up that murder case from over a decade ago.
“Damn it, you can’t really be the daughter of a killer, can you?”
“What did you say? A killer?”
Isabella leaned closer, tossing her bag onto the sofa as she commanded, “Emily, come over and massage my legs. I’m exhausted from shopping all day.”
I obediently knelt at her feet and began to massage her legs while Joshua, with a grim expression, threw his phone in front of Isabella.
The screen displayed a sensational headline crafted by the media. “The Century’s Most Ruthless Female Serial Killer, Using Her Beauty to Kill Five Men, Still at Large.”
“Isabella, do you think they look alike?”
Isabella took the phone, scrutinizing our faces for similarities. After a moment, she said, “There is a resemblance. Could she be her biological mother?”
“I think it’s highly likely. I thought I found gold, but it turns out I might have stumbled upon a potential criminal.”
Joshua’s expression darkened, and he kicked me. “No wonder I always thought she was cunning. She spends all day reading books. Who knows what wicked ideas she’s harboring?
“We can’t keep her around; what if her mother comes looking for her?”
Isabella’s eyes darted around, and suddenly, she patted Joshua’s arm, looking at me with a sly smile.
“What’s there to worry about? Emily is very well-behaved, right?
“Sweetheart, how can you be so naive at a time like this? This is a golden opportunity!
“Years have passed. Who knows if that female killer is even still alive? We can’t verify anything, and this could be used to create a buzz again—it’ll definitely be a huge profit.”
Despite Isabella’s enthusiasm, Joshua remained suspicious of me.
He began digging into my past, investigating the two families I had lived with and repeatedly confirming the circumstances of their deaths.
However, the police had closed the cases as accidents, and the neighbors had generally spoken well of me, so he found no evidence of anything amiss. In the end, he could only warn me not to harbor any ill intentions.
I was currently gaining popularity online, attracting interest from several brands. Joshua spent his days flitting between various social events, returning home each night drunk.
Isabella initially showed some concern, but soon, she lost interest, choosing to spend her time at clubs with friends, popping champagne with male models, and rarely being home.
Alcohol served as a comforting escape for many middle-aged men, helping them forget their worries.
But for me, it became a useful tool.
I watched as a drunken Joshua collapsed on the sofa, and William, panting, suggested, “Emily, your dad has had too much to drink. Why don’t you call your mom?”
I smiled and nodded in agreement before kindly helping Joshua to the bathroom.
“Dad, you should take a shower. I’ve already run the water for you.”
“Shower? Yes, I need to shower, and then keep drinking!”
Joshua, dazed, began to undress and stumbled into the tub. Through his haze, he saw my silhouette and mumbled, “You little brat, don’t you dare think of anything sneaky! I’ll make you pay for it!
“You’re too sneaky. In a few years, I’ll send you out to be a stripper.”
“Dad, you’re drunk.”
I interrupted Joshua’s words and then adjusted his posture. The damp clothes clinging to his body were not comfortable, but Joshua was so drunk that he didn’t care about these things and soon fell back asleep.
Isabella’s new hairdryer was sitting on the sink. I casually plugged it in, turned it on, and tossed it into the bathtub.
I knew water conducted electricity, and electricity could kill. Just like they said, those who misbehave would be shocked.
A shrill scream came through, and Joshua’s eyes rolled back. His body convulsed and collapsed into the bathtub, just like the dead goldfish before.
I checked his pulse, humming a tune as I removed my disposable gloves and turned to call Amelia.
“Hello, who is this?”
“Ms. White, it’s me.”
I greeted her cheerfully and whispered, “My dad is dead. I might have to go back to the orphanage.”
The police covered the suddenly deceased Joshua with a white sheet and carried him out.
Isabella, who rushed over from another man’s tender embrace upon hearing the news, slapped me as soon as she arrived, screaming and cursing, “Did you do it? You little bitch. You kill him!
“Murderer! You’re a murderer! Just like your mother, you’re a murderer!”
I covered my face and hid behind the female police officer, tears streaming down my cheeks.
“Madam, please calm down.”
The female police officer quickly embraced me, frowning and explaining, “Your husband died of an accidental electric shock while using a hairdryer in the bath.”
“Accidental electric shock, how could such a coincidence happen, she did it! She’s the daughter of a murderer, she’s a devil!”
Isabella shakily took out her phone and handed it to the female police officer, sharply saying, “Look! They look exactly the same!”
The female police officer glanced at the web page, but she didn’t seem to care. She said coldly, “Madam, I know you’re very sad, but don’t vent your anger on the child.”
Isabella’s bloodshot eyes stared at me fiercely; the female police officer was stunned for a moment and silently pulled me further away.
“Wait and see!
“I will catch you! I will make you pay for it!”
The female police officer looked a bit scared as she watched Isabella turn and leave and squat down to comfort me, saying, “Good girl, don’t be afraid.”
“Why does my mom hate me so much, I’m really not a murderer.”
I sobbed quietly in the arms of the female police officer, “Clearly, my parents had me take photos and videos, and they even made me wear such revealing clothes… why do they say I’m a murderer?”
“What?”
The female police officer frowned and said seriously, “What did they do to you?
“Don’t worry, I’m a police officer, you tell me what happened, and I will definitely help you.”
I told the female police officer about my previous experiences without hesitation, and as expected, I received a sympathetic look and comfort from her.
Isabella’s mental state was not very stable, to begin with, and she was very likely to harm me. With the help of the female police officer, I left home smoothly and declined the police station’s suggestion to temporarily place me and returned to the orphanage again.
Amelia was waiting outside early in the morning, and her face looked obviously ugly when she saw me getting out of the police car.
“Ms. White, I’m back.”
I took the initiative to hug Amelia, and the female police officer nodded with satisfaction, “It’s really a trouble for you to take care of her for a while.”
“It’s okay, it’s not a trouble at all.”
Amelia smiled reluctantly, and she patted my hand. It was not until the police left that her true color was completely revealed.
“What did you do again! Are you crazy? Didn’t I tell you to listen to them?”
“Ms. White, isn’t this what you taught me?”
I looked at the irritable Amelia and asked doubtfully, “Didn’t you say that bad people should be killed?
“I was obedient. I cooperated with mom and dad to take photos and videos and helped them make money, but they were not good to me. They didn’t let me sleep, didn’t let me eat, they killed my favorite little goldfish, aren’t they bad people?
“Ms. White, didn’t you praise me for burning to death those human traffickers who were selling children under the guise of adoption?”
Amelia’s face became uglier and uglier; she was like a chicken with its neck pinched and couldn’t say a word for a long time.
“Yes, I let you burn to death those demons who were trafficking children under the guise of adoption, but I didn’t let you continue to kill people!
“Do you know what you’re doing now? This is a crime!
“You killed six people, and you are an unmitigated devil!
“God will never forgive you, you will never go to heaven, you will go to hell!”
I calmly watched her collapse and go mad in front of me, and threw another bomb at her again.
“I am not a devil.
“Isabella said I am the daughter of a serial killer.”
“Ms. White, so you can’t go to heaven either.”
After several months, I saw Isabella again after a long time.
Since Joshua’s accidental death and my return to the orphanage, the online public opinion has been fermenting more and more, and the internet celebrity account they used to operate has become a mess. Coupled with the liquidated damages from major manufacturers, Isabella is in debt and has to be busy investigating my background and paying off debts. Her once carefully maintained face has become haggard.
After all these days of busy work, she finally returned to the orphanage.
“Come here, kid.”
I squatted in the corner and watched the fully armed Isabella call Daniel, who passed by.
She took out a handful of candy and stuffed it into Daniel’s arms, squatted down, and asked about my situation, “Do you know Emily? What did she do in the orphanage before? Would she bully other kids?”
Since being disciplined by me, Daniel has been much more honest. Hearing my name, he subconsciously shuddered and stammered, “No… none, she’s good.”
Isabella frowned and was not satisfied with his answer, and then asked, “Where is your dean?”
“Ms. White is in the equipment room, the room at the end of the left is.”
Isabella did not doubt it, got up, picked up her bag, and quickly walked towards the equipment room.
I followed her slowly until I saw her close the door; I touched the smartphone in my arms and boldly listened to the door.
“Ms. White, it’s me, I want to ask you about Emily today.”
“You are Mrs. Clarke, right?”
Amelia asked in surprise and then said, “What’s the matter? Is Emily disobedient?
“She is the most obedient and sensible child in the orphanage.”
Isabella didn’t buy this. She sneered and replied, “Have you seen the news? Emily killed my husband, and now she is back to your orphanage.”
“Murder?”
Amelia’s eyes widened in surprise, “How could it be, is there any misunderstanding? She is still just a child.”
“She is a child, but her mother is a serial killer, who knows if she has inherited her mother’s antisocial genes?”
Isabella’s face became uglier and uglier. She stared at Amelia coldly and said coldly, “I just want to know where her mother is now!”
“Emily is an orphan, she was thrown at the door of the orphanage not long after she was born, I don’t even know who her mother is.”
“Are you still daring to argue until now!”
Isabella angrily took out a photo from her wallet and threw it in front of Amelia.
“This is a photo of Emily and her mother, right? It was taken in the garden behind your orphanage!
“She must still be in your orphanage now, I’m going to call the police, let the police check you all up and down!”
“You’re mistaken, I really don’t know.”
Amelia was shocked for a moment, then quickly returned to normal. She explained, “The child in this photo may not be Emily. It might be some other child.
“If you still don’t believe it, you can take a look at the files behind, there are records of all the children in the orphanage.”
Isabella was stunned by the words. She turned to the side and looked behind her according to the direction of Amelia’s finger.
A sharp knife flashed a cold light at this moment, suddenly stabbed towards her heart!
Blood gushed out, drawing a blood flower on the door.
“You? Someone, help…”
“Bitch, you know too much!”
Amelia pressed Isabella to the ground, stabbing her arteries one after another until Isabella was completely out of breath. She finally stopped.
I was scared and covered my mouth, subconsciously wanting to retreat, but I was tripped by the broken stone at the door and made a sound.
“Who’s there?!”
Amelia pulled open the equipment room door, her hand still holding the sharp knife with bloodstains. She saw me outside and showed me a ferocious smile.
“Emily, it’s you.”
“Good girl, come to mom, don’t you always like me?”
I kept retreating, kneeling on the ground and begging, “Ms. White, don’t kill me…”
“You are a disaster. Living will only bring me endless trouble!
“I went through all the trouble of having plastic surgery to look like this, just to have a peaceful life, and now it’s all ruined by you!
“If it weren’t for you! Why would I be suspected by that bitch, it’s all because of you!”
Amelia raised the sharp knife in her hand high towards me.
The next moment, blood splashed.
Warm blood dripped on my face.
A bullet hit Amelia’s forehead.
“Mom, mom…”
At the moment when Amelia fell to the ground, I rushed past her to the equipment room, hugging Isabella’s body and crying bitterly.
“The criminal has been shot dead. Let the forensic doctors come over!
“There’s another dead person inside!
“Hurry up! Come on, someone take care of the child, don’t let her destroy the scene!”
“Emily, let’s go out first, don’t delay the police work here.”
The police hurriedly pulled me away, regardless of the pungent smell of blood on my body, gently holding me in his arms and patting my back, “As soon as we received your alarm call, we came over, fortunately you are fine, the bad guy has been shot dead, you can rest assured.”
I shivered and looked at Amelia lying in a pool of blood and said with lingering fear, “I saw Ms. White killing my mother, and she wanted to kill me…”
“Emily, you are safe now, don’t be afraid, tell me, what happened?”
“I don’t know. I only know that Isabella and Amelia had a quarrel, saying that my dad’s death was because of adopting me, and Amelia was angry and stabbed Isabella with a knife.
“Is this my fault? Because of me…my mother and Amelia dead…”
The police sighed and said softly, “This is not your fault.”
“Can I see my mother one last time?”
I lay on the female police officer, tearfully looking at the police coming in and out of the equipment room; the bodies were all tightly covered with white cloth, and the only thing that could be seen was the blood that soaked through the cloth.
“Don’t look, Emily, let the nurse take you to take a bath and change your clothes, you go to sleep first, okay?”
I obediently nodded and let the female police officer hand me over to the nurse.
Taking advantage of the nurse who was going to prepare clothes for me, I found Daniel, who had been secretly following me.
He looked at me with fear, and his legs were trembling, but because of my command, he had to stand in place.
I looked at Daniel’s somewhat yellow fingers and casually asked, “Do you have a lighter?”
Daniel was startled and quickly nodded, tremblingly taking out the lighter from his pocket and handing it to me.
I took out the photo that had been hidden in my pocket, which was still stained with dried blood, which I got when I rushed over to hug Isabella’s body.
The photo was licked by flames, gradually burning until it turned to ashes.
From then on, no one would know Amelia’s past.
I thought no one would say I was the daughter of a murderer anymore.
Daniel looked at me in horror and laughed, “Amelia and your adoptive parents are all dead, how can you laugh so happily?”
“It doesn’t matter, it doesn’t matter…”
I looked at the media reporters who rushed to the news outside the window and said with a smile, “I will have new parents soon.”
I thought, “The guilty cannot enter heaven.
But tonight, please sleep peacefully.
Good night, my dear mother.”
🌟 Continue the story here
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It was the seventh year I had been with Bruce Green. I decided to drop by his office, but as I approached, I overheard him chatting with someone.
“Seven years with Mia, huh? Must be pretty happy, right?”
Bruce replied coolly, “I’ve never loved her. Do you believe it?”
“Come on, you can’t be serious. Seven years without love? You’re not still hung up on Felicity, are you? She’s been gone for years.”
“Don’t say that. Felicity and I are ancient history…”