After my son, Damon Atwood, was diagnosed with uremia, I decided without hesitation to donate one of my kidneys. My husband, Nicholas Atwood, was kidnapped right after the surgery. To save him, I was forced to film sex tapes with many men and have them broadcast live on the Internet.

Once the sex tapes were posted, people started calling me a ‘slut’. From then on, I was mocked and insulted again and again. Even the company my mother left me kicked me out.

In my darkest moment, it was Nicholas and Damon who held me tightly, telling me they would never leave me, no matter what. I was deeply moved. After that, I gave my whole heart to care for them.

Five years later, I went to pick up Damon from school without telling him. But by accident, I heard him talking to Nicholas.

“Dad, I’m glad I pretended to be sick and asked the doctor to give Mom’s kidney to Aunt Abigail. She’s healthy now and I’m really happy!”

“It’s just that ... the videos you asked someone to take so the company could be transferred to Aunt Abigail ... my classmates still laugh at Mom and call her a slut.”

Nicholas sighed, patted Damon’s shoulder and comforted him.

“I had no other choice. Aunt Abigail is a good person. Your mother made things hard for her in the company. So I had to take this step. A company that makes products for women shouldn’t be run by someone with that kind of reputation.”

Hearing that, I finally cried. I hadn’t even shed a tear when the world humiliated me. So, the man who acted like he loved me and the sweet son I protected were lying all along.

If that was how it was, then I needed to walk away from this home filled with lies and betrayal.

——

“Damon, don’t ever bring this up again. When we get home, you still need to act like the sweet boy you always are, so she won’t find out,” Nicholas said.

“Everything Aunt Abigail has now was earned with difficulty. I won’t let anyone ruin her future.”

Eight-year-old Damon gave a proud little smirk.

“Don’t worry, Dad. That foolish woman only feels guilty toward us. I’ve stayed calm all these years. I promise she won’t know a thing.”

Nicholas was about to remind him of more things, but Damon happily waved his hand.

“Dad, it’s time! Let’s go buy Aunt Abigail her favorite roses and pick her up from work together.”

When they spoke about Abigail Lovett, both father and son looked truly happy as they walked away hand in hand. I stood there, frozen, shaking all over.

Five years ago, when Damon was diagnosed, I rushed to the hospital for a match and luckily, I was a match. On the day of the surgery, I had just woken up when I received a video of Nicholas being kidnapped. To save him, I took ten painkiller shots and forced myself to the kidnapping site.

But the kidnappers didn’t care. Their only demand was that I be filmed in shameful ways and become their toy. I saw Nicholas nearly dying beside me, so I nodded and agreed. In a second, dozens of men dragged me into a warehouse.

For three days and nights, I was tortured until my body was ruined and my organs started failing. Nicholas also knelt outside the warehouse, banging his head until the ground was covered in blood. When I finally woke up again, not only was I missing a kidney, but they had also taken out my uterus.

During my stay in the hospital, Nicholas and Damon stayed by my side, but those horrible videos were already spreading online. People came to the hospital to scream at me, calling me a slut. They said I had cheated on my husband and son. Even my family’s company removed me.

I was so hopeless that I went up to the rooftop, ready to end my life.

It was Nicholas who arrived just in time, holding our son’s hand and they hugged me tightly. They told me that no matter what others thought, I would always be the one they loved the most. At that moment, my broken heart felt warmth again and their comfort filled me with hope.

So, I stayed at home full-time and took care of them with all my love.

But I never imagined that the people who gave me warmth were the ones who pushed me into pain. And the two people I trusted most hurt me so badly for the same woman.

Tears fell fast and I ran home without thinking. When I opened the door, I saw the family photos hanging on the wall. Over the past five years, every wedding anniversary, photographers and makeup artists came to our house to take family portraits.

Each time, Nicholas would stand on my left and say with loving eyes as he said, “Lily, no matter what happens, I will always love you.”

Meanwhile, Damon would stand on my right and hug me tightly, saying, “Mom, no matter what happens, I will always love you.”

I used to feel happy just looking at these photos. But now, they made me feel sick. As I started to feel nauseous in front of the photos, I heard footsteps behind me.

“Mom, are you okay?” Damon asked as he ran to hug me.

Nicholas also came quickly and gently rubbed my back.

“Lily, are you feeling sick? Do you want to go to the hospital?”

At that moment, their concern looked so real. But I couldn’t feel any warmth anymore.

I quietly stepped away from them and said coldly, “It’s nothing. Just some stomach pain.”

They looked worried and quickly went to make a meal for my stomach.

On the other hand, I turned around and went to the study. I turned on the computer that had been unused for a long time. As I expected, I found many photos in a private folder of the three of them traveling together.

In the photos, Nicholas and Damon hugged the woman in the middle and kissed her face from both sides. That woman looked very familiar. She was my half-sister, Abigail Lovett.

She was also the one Nicholas and Damon truly cared about.

Tears ran down my face and my heart ached deeply. After that, I noticed something in the folder. It was a kidney transplant form.

My name was listed as the donor, Lily Lovett. And the receiver was listed as Abigail. I slowly touched the scar on my abdomen.

Even though years had passed, it suddenly felt fresh, like it was bleeding again. I let out a weak laugh. My own son had tricked me into giving my kidney to another woman.

After a long time, I wiped my tears and calmly sent an application to the company that had invited me to work abroad many times. They replied quickly and sent me a plane ticket for three days later. I copied all the files from the computer to my phone.

Nicholas. Damon. This time, I was the one who didn’t want you.

The next morning, I woke up to find that Nicholas had already taken Damon to school. My favorite breakfast was on the table, just like always. But this time, I didn’t take a single bite. I gave it all to the stray cats outside.

As I stepped back into the house, Nicholas’ secretary called, saying he had an asthma attack and needed his medicine. I hesitated, then picked up the divorce papers and the medicine bottle I had prepared the night before and headed to the banquet hall.

As soon as I walked in, I saw Nicholas, who was supposed to be sick, drinking and smiling with people around him. And standing next to him was Abigail, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time.

When he saw me, Nicholas’s eyes showed panic, then he quickly walked toward me.

“Lily, don’t misunderstand. The hotel’s medical staff just gave me the medicine.”

“I made you worry. I promise I won’t do it again … ”

Before he could finish, I threw the medicine bottle in my hand straight into the trash can. Without further ado, I took out the blank divorce agreement I had brought and handed it to him.

“It’s fine. The property manager just said the owner’s signature is needed for the air conditioner cleaning.”

Nicholas looked confused for a moment, but still signed it without reading.

After he signed, I turned and walked away with the divorce agreement.

Abigail spoke to me in a calm voice, “Lily, it’s been a long time.”

“Don’t leave so quickly. You probably don’t know yet. Today is the celebration banquet for the company’s listing. You came at the right time, so please stay and celebrate with us.”

“After all, this company is Aunt Winona’s years of hard work.”

I stopped for a moment when she mentioned the company. This was the last thing my mother left me before she passed away. If the accident five years ago hadn’t happened, I would have to be the one hosting this party ...

A sharp pain suddenly hit my chest and a waiter led me to a seat in the center of the front row.

Soon, the celebration started. Abigail, dressed in a luxurious gown, walked onto the stage slowly with Nicholas beside her. She picked up the microphone.

“Let’s warmly celebrate the successful listing of Lovett Group. Now, please enjoy our company’s tenth-anniversary video.”

As soon as she finished speaking, my loud scream echoed through the entire hall.

The large screen around the venue started playing a video. It showed several rough hands grabbing my skin and my body was covered with bruises.

The man’s face in the video was blurred, but my bare skin and the blood were clearly shown. Anyone watching would think I was some kind of ‘slut’.

At that moment, the nightmare I had buried in my memory came back with full force. My whole body trembled as I sat frozen. Suddenly, a crowd of reporters came running in with their cameras. Countless flashes shone straight at my face.

“Mrs. Atwood, we heard that five years ago, you went to the hospital due to having too many partners, which caused your kidneys and uterus to be removed. Do you feel you are suffering the results of your own actions?”

“Mrs. Atwood, your mother started Lovett Group to support women being independent and respectful. But your appearance in this video is the complete opposite of her beliefs. Aren’t you afraid she passed away with sadness?”

“Mrs. Atwood, do you still have the courage to face Mr. Atwood and your son? If I were you, I would have ended my life already. A woman like you isn’t worthy of being a wife or mother!”

***

As they shouted, many people ran at me and pushed me down.

Someone even pulled up my shirt, exposing the scar on my stomach.

“Oh no, how disgusting. Look at that ugly scar!”

“Hurry, take a photo. Everyone needs to see what happens when you don’t respect yourself!”

Shame covered my whole body. I clutched my clothes tightly and gasped in pain.

But they didn’t stop. Some even started a live stream, pointing the camera at me and asking loudly:

“Mrs. Atwood, you’re not answering. Do you feel too ashamed?”

Many cameras kept taking pictures of me while I lay there helpless. Just as I was about to give up, two loud voices came from behind.

“Get out! Move! Who gave you the right to film her, you monsters!”

Nicholas shouted and rushed over. He took off his suit and wrapped it around me.

Damon, who should have been at school, stood in front of me with his small arms spread wide.

“Bad people, you bad people! I won’t let you hurt my mother!”