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.”

I stumbled back into my room in a panic and collapsed, doing my best to ignore the moans coming from that room. But no matter how hard I tried, the sounds wouldn’t stop haunting me. They clung to me like a soul-crushing curse.

The next morning, Sharon and Willow walked into my room like nothing had happened. Right on schedule. They kissed me on each cheek with the same loving warmth as always.

“Morning, honey.”

“Good morning, Daddy!”

Their acting was flawless—honestly, I was impressed. But I was too exhausted to call them out on it.

Sharon gently squeezed toothpaste onto my toothbrush and said sweetly, “Go brush your teeth. Willow and I are going downstairs to grab breakfast for you.”

Not long after they left, the door creaked open again.

Elroy strolled in and stopped at the edge of my bed.

“Oh, Dean… even after all these years, you’re still a loser,” he sneered.

“You know, when I got diagnose, there were actually a few other compatible donors available,” he paused, “But Willow said she was afraid I’d reject the others, so she’d help me find the most compatible one.”

“And sure enough, your kidney worked great in my body!”

He chuckled. “So… how does it feel to be betrayed by your own daughter?”

Then he lifted his shirt to show off his smooth, unblemished stomach. “You know why I don’t have any scars, while you’ve got that giant, nasty one?” he asked, raising his eyebrows.

I said nothing.

“It’s because, during my surgery, every top plastic surgeon in the city worked on me—at Sharon’s request. She didn’t want a single mark on my body.”

“And you?” he added with a cruel grin. “You were handed over to some pig farm vet to be carved open like livestock!”

Every word he threw at me landed like a sledgehammer to the skull.

So the scar that had planted insecurity in my life for so long… that was Sharon’s doing.

Sensing how devastated I was, Elroy leaned in even closer, blowing another punch.

“Oh, and one more thing,” he whispered. “There was nothing wrong with your ‘little Johnny.’ Sharon told the doctor to remove it… just because she was afraid I’d get upset. And now she’s carrying my baby. You won’t just be an organ bank for me—but for our child too. We’ll take whatever we want from you.”

That took the last of my patience. I stood up and tried to punch him. But before I could even touch him, Elroy covered his face and started wailing.

“Please don’t hit me, Dean! I’m only managing the company for you temporarily!”

Right then, Willow stormed in and shoved me with all her strength. My head smashed into the corner of the bed and I could instantly feel the warm rush of blood.

Sharon burst in a moment later. She stepped on my hand and yanked Elroy into her arms.

Elroy sobbed dramatically, his voice trembling. “Sharon… I just wanted to check on him, but he accused me of stealing his company. He also said he’d make me end up just like him…”

Sharon’s eyes blazed with fury.

“Dean Frazier, are you insane?!” she shouted at me. “Elroy came here out of kindness and you threaten him? You’re disgusting!”

Willow pointed at me, screaming, “You’re mean! Bad guy! I don’t want you. I don’t want a bad guy to be my dad. I want Uncle Elroy to be my dad.”

Without letting me say a single word, they all turned on me.

But… I no longer cared. My heart had already died for them.

Slowly, I pushed myself up, leaning on the bed for support. Sharon and Willow wouldn’t even look at me anymore. They each took one of Elroy’s arms and walked out like I was nothing.

I discharged myself from the hospital and went home alone.

Four hours before departure, I threw every family photo into a steel drum and set them on fire.

Three hours before departure, I sent all the video recordings to my lawyer.

Three hours before departure, I placed the divorce papers—prepared long ago—on the coffee table in the living room.

One hour before departure, I was already seated in the airport lounge, ticket and passport in hand, waiting for my plane to take off.

At the same time, Sharon and Willow, trying to cheer Elroy up, took him to the island where we’d spent our honeymoon for a vacation. A week later, Sharon got out of Elroy’s bed and suddenly remembered— today was our sixth wedding anniversary.

As usual, she booked a photographer and makeup artist. Then, she spent the morning convincing Willow to come back home with her for a surprise.

But when the two of them finally pushed open the front door—Willow cradling a bouquet of fresh flowers, Sharon carefully balancing a cake box—their smiles faded.

The villa was dead silent.

“Shh! I bet Dad’s still sleeping in,” Willow whispered excitedly. “Let’s stay quiet and we’ll surprise him in the room.”

Willow tiptoed upstairs and opened the bedroom door, only to find it completely empty.

Sharon was confused, an inexplicable anxiety rising in her chest.

She quickly pulled out her phone, about to dial, when suddenly, a panicked doctor ran in.

“Mrs. Frazier!” he gasped, breathless. “Mr. Frazier—he... he sent a legal notice to the hospital. He knows. He found out everything!”