It was Sharon holding Willow’s hand who arrived just in time. They hugged me tightly.

They said no matter what others thought, I would always be the person they loved the most.

At that moment, the fire in my heart rekindled. The warmth of family lit up my soul completely.

So I became a full-time stay-at-home dad, dedicating myself wholeheartedly to caring for them.

But I never imagined that the people who gave me warmth… were the very ones who threw me into hell.

And the two women I trusted more than anyone… would hurt me so recklessly for the same man.

Tears came crashing down. I lost control and ran straight home.

When I opened the door, what met my eyes were rows and rows of family portraits.

For the past five years, on every wedding anniversary, a photographer and makeup artist would come to our home to take family portraits.

Every time, Sharon would stand to my left, look at me with deep affection and say,

“Dean, no matter what happens, I’ll always love you!”

My daughter Willow would stand on my right, holding me tightly and saying,

“Daddy, no matter what happens, I’ll always love you too!”

In the past, just looking at those photos made me feel happy.

But now, I only felt sick.

Just as I was retching in front of the photos, I heard familiar footsteps behind me.

“Daddy, what’s wrong?”

Willow came rushing over and hugged me tightly.

Hearing her, Sharon quickly followed and gently rubbed my back.

“Dean, are you feeling unwell? Should we go to the hospital?”

At that moment, the concern in their eyes looked so real.

But I could no longer feel a trace of warmth…

Without a word, I quietly moved my body away from them and spoke coldly:

“It’s nothing. Just a little stomach discomfort.”

Mother and daughter looked like they were facing a crisis and hurried to prepare a special stomach-friendly meal.

I, on the other hand, went into the study and opened the computer I hadn’t touched in ages.

Sure enough, in a hidden folder, I found countless intimate photos.

In those pictures, Sharon and Willow were hugging a man from both sides, kissing his face with joy.

And that man—I knew him all too well.

He was my half-brother, Elroy Frazier. And also the man Sharon and Willow truly cared about.

Tears streamed down my face, my heart torn to pieces.

In a daze, I saw a photo of the kidney transplant agreement.

Clear as day, it listed the donor as: Dean Frazier.

But the recipient… was Elroy.

Instinctively, I pressed my fingers to the scar on my abdomen.

Even after all these years, the wound felt like it was being torn open again, bleeding uncontrollably.

I let out a hollow laugh—my own daughter had tricked me into giving up a kidney for another man.

After a long time, I wiped my tears away and sent an application to a company overseas that had invited me many times to join them.

They replied instantly and even sent a plane ticket for three days later.

I quickly copied all the files from the computer onto my phone.

Sharon.

Willow.

This time, I won’t want you anymore!

***

The next morning, when I woke up, Sharon had already taken Willow to school.

As usual, my favorite breakfast was laid out on the table.

But this time, I didn’t take a single bite. I gave it all to the stray cats in the neighborhood.

Just as I got back home, Sharon’s secretary called and said she was having an asthma attack and needed my help.

I hesitated for a moment, then grabbed the divorce papers I printed last night along with the medicine bottle and headed for the banquet hall.

As soon as I walked in, I saw Sharon—who was supposedly sick—clinking glasses with others, smiling and laughing. She linked her arm with a man whom I hadn’t seen in ages—Elroy.

The moment Sharon saw me, a flicker of panic flashed through her eyes. She quickly walked over.

“Dean, don’t get the wrong idea. The hotel medics just came and gave me my medication,” she explained, flustered.

“Sorry for worrying you, I swear it won’t happen agai—”

“It’s fine,” I said, before she could finish her excuse. I walked past her and tossed the bottle of medicine into a nearby trash bin. Then, I pulled out the divorce papers I’d printed the night before and handed them to her.

“The property manager said the HVAC cleaning requires the owner's signature.”

Sharon froze for half a second. Then, without reading a single word, she grabbed a pen and signed the papers.

Once I had her signature, I turned around and walked off without another word. But Elroy called and approached me with that fake-friendly attitude of his.

“Long time no see, brother,” he greeted.

“Why the rush? Did you know we’re throwing a huge party today to celebrate the company going public? You’re already here—why not stick around and celebrate with us?”

I had zero interest in entertaining him.

“Besides,” he added casually, “isn’t this company Aunt Ruth’s life’s work?”

His words stopped me cold.

This company… it was the only thing my late mother left behind. If it hadn’t been for that accident five years ago, I would have been the one hosting this party tonight.

A sharp pain twisted in my chest. But somehow, I let the staff usher me to a seat—front and center, right in the spotlight.

The celebration started soon after. Elroy took the stage, dressed in a bespoke navy suit, Sharon clinging to his arm like a prize.

“Let’s raise a glass to Amoura’s successful IPO,” he announced, lifting the mic with that same smarmy smile. “And now, let’s take a walk down memory lane with a video honoring our ten-year journey.”

The room dimmed and the giant LED screens lit up.

Then came my scream.

The speakers echoed with my raw, guttural cry—the kind only pain could rip out of a person. My image filled the screen next. A man broken, covered in bruises and dark marks, barely recognizable.

The woman’s face in the video had been blurred, but my naked body—and the blood pouring from between my legs—was all too clear. Anyone watching it would instantly think I was some kind of sick pervert.

And just like that, the memories I had buried deep down came crashing back like a violent storm.

My whole body started to tremble and before I could even get up, a swarm of reporters rushed at me with cameras and microphones. The flashes were relentless, blinding me as they lit up my face.

“Mr. Frazier, is it true that five years ago you were hospitalized following... deviant sexual behavior? That it led to the removal of your kidneys—and your genitals? Would you say this is karma finally catching up to you?”

Another reporter leaned in, voice sharp as a blade. “Your late mother named the company Amoura, to represent integrity and self-respect. But after watching that video, do you really think you’ve honored her legacy? Don’t you worry she’s turning in her grave right now?”

And then came the cruelest blow, thrown in with a sneer. “How do you even look your daughter in the eye after this? Or the board of directors, for that matter? Honestly, if I were you, I’d have thrown myself into traffic already. You’re not fit to be a husband—let alone a father.”

Shame washed over me in crushing waves. I clutched at my clothes, gasping for air, unable to breathe from the humiliation.

But they had no intention of stopping. Someone even started a livestream, shoving the mic in my face.

“Mr. Frazier, you have no comment? Does it mean you agree with the public—that you're just a disgrace?”

Camera after camera fought to capture my pain and humiliation. Just as I was about to break, I heard two furious voices cutting through the chaos.

“Get the hell away from him! Who the hell gave you the right to film this, you damn vultures?!”

Sharon pushed through the crowd, ripping off her coat and wrapping it tightly around me, shielding me with her body.

And then Willow—who was supposed to be at school—ran in, spreading her little arms to shield me.

“Bad people! You all bad people! I won’t let you bully my dad!”

Together, the two of them forced the reporters back. They led me toward the hotel entrance, fending off the cameras and flashing lights.

Only when we were almost outside did the security team finally show up, jogging toward us in a frenzy. Elroy trailed behind them, his face plastered with guilt and panic.

“Dean, I’m so sorry—this is all my fault. I didn’t monitor things thoroughly. Someone must’ve switched the VCR when I turned.”

He rubbed the back of his neck, “I ran off to get security as soon as I noticed, but I was too late. Are you okay? I can't believe they actually laid hands on you…”

He reached toward me, trying to touch my scar and the moment he touched me, I let out a terrified scream.

Sharon, worried I might hurt Elroy, immediately called over the medics to inject a sedative.

The drug kicked in quickly. I passed out in her arms.

When I opened my eyes again, I was already in a hospital room.

Outside the door, I could faintly hear voices.

“Mom, you planned it so well today. After that mess, Dad’s reputation is completely destroyed. There’s no way he can ever fight Uncle Elroy for the company again!”

“But do we still have to pay those reporters to spread the footage?” she added.

Sharon paused for a second, but her voice was firm.

“Yes. His reputation’s already in ruins. Might as well land the final blow. Worst case, we just treat him a little nicer later as ‘compensation.’”

Their conversation hit me like lightning.

I finally understood why Sharon had called me over to bring her medication—it was all part of her plan. She made sure I came here under the pretense of delivering medication. But her real goal was painfully clear now: to ruin my reputation as the rightful heir and clear the path for her lover.

Tears streamed down my face and that’s when Sharon walked in and caught me.

With a face full of sympathy, she gently wiped my tears. “Don’t worry, Dean. It’s over now. I’ve already told them to delete the video. It won’t spread.”

Willow threw her arms around me, crying. “Daddy, I promise I’ll drink milk every day from now on so I can grow up strong. I’m gonna protect you. I won’t let anyone hurt you ever again!”

I gave a bitter smile at how convincing they looked—so full of concern and care.

But it was these two who had hurt me the most.  I shut my eyes, trying to block out the pain. They must’ve thought I wasn’t feeling well because they called doctor to give me pain killer. And they stayed right by my side, one on the left and one on the right. Soon enough, the pills kicked in and I drifted back to sleep.

When I opened my eyes again, it was late into the night. The bed was empty on both sides. Sharon and Willow, who had sworn to stay with me, were nowhere to be found.

I slowly sat up and opened the door. Across the hall, in the room opposite mine, I saw Elroy curled up in Sharon’s arms like a rag doll.

“Sharon, stay with me tonight, okay?” he said softly, his voice full of joy. “Everyone finally recognizes me as the general manager. I’m in a cloud nine…”

Sharon playfully pinched his nose and replied sweetly, “I told you, Elroy, as long as you’re happy, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”

“But congratulating you at the party isn’t enough,” she added, a teasing smile on her lips. “Willow and I will stay with you the whole night.”

With that, Sharon pushed him down and the two of them locked lips in a passionate kiss that didn’t end for a long moment.

When they finally pulled apart, Elroy covered his face, blushing like a schoolboy. “Sharon, you naughty… Willow’s still here.”

“So what? It’s not like she hasn’t seen it before,” Sharon said nonchalantly.

Willow giggled and nodded. “Yeah! Daddy and Mommy being affectionate is totally normal!”

Then, like it was the most natural thing in the world, she picked up her phone, turned on the camera and the three of them smiled brightly at the lens—just another perfect family photo.

And I stood there in the shadows, tears pouring down my face.

Even though I already knew… it still tore me apart to hear the child I raised with everything I had call another man “Daddy.”