After three years of entanglement with Zachary Foster, I was covered in wounds.

I chose to marry George Marshall, who had been silently accompanying me.

I had been married to George for seven years. We had a lovely daughter.

I regarded him and the child as the light I caught before the sunset.

Then I accidentally opened his diary he had recorded when he was eighteen.

[If possible, don't have children with someone you don't love.]

"It turns out that he didn't want children before because of this reason."

"It turns out that he likes someone else."

"It turns out that his love for me was just a calculated approach."

Even my child likes that woman, the same way as him."

I decided resolutely to go abroad.

On that day, he and the child were standing downstairs, holding hands.

"Mom, when are you coming home?"

"Honey, when are you coming home?"

1

I discovered a small hidden compartment in George's study.

No matter what password I used, I couldn't open it.

I thought the password might be my birthday, Lydia's birthday, and our wedding anniversary.

I was amused, thinking that he made it such a mysterious thing as he prepared a birthday gift for me.

Then my birthday came.

Everyone was setting off fireworks by the seaside for celebration.

Paisley White accidentally fell into the water.

George was the first to rush over. He jumped into the sea and saved her.

His subconscious anxiety and impulsive actions.

I, who had been expecting a surprise, stopped smiling at such a scene.

At night...

George fell asleep.

I walked barefoot to the study and tried a new password.

This time, it opened.

The password was Paisley's birthday.

There was no surprise I wanted in the secret compartment. Instead, it was a yellowed diary.

George wrote a diary at the age of eighteen.

Opening the first page, I found his elegant and lively handwriting. Every word on it was telling the bitterness and hardship of unrequited love.

The person he secretly loved was Paisley.

I silently closed the diary and secretly took it away.

In our seven-year marriage, I always thought that George loved me to the bone.

That was why he tried his best to heal me from the hurt of my previous relationship.

Now, our daughter was three years old. We were the envy of everyone in the wealthy circle as a loving family.

But it was not until I read this diary that I realized one thing.

My happy life was like a fragile piece of paper, which would be easily torn apart.

I sat on the balcony all night.

Until dawn, I went to wake Lydia as usual.

I was combing her hair.

Her round little face was filled with worries.

She said, "Will Auntie come today?"

I patiently explained, saying, "Paisley fell into the water yesterday. She needs to rest well today. She can't take you to the aquarium. Would you like Mom to take you there instead?"

In the mirror, she said with great disappointment, "No!"

I finished combing her hair. I was about to put a little dress on her.

Lydia murmured, "Mom, let's not go to a beach for birthday celebrations in the future."

I hadn't even reacted yet. Then she said unhappily, "It's because you wanted to go to the seaside that my plan with Auntie got ruined, Mommy."

My hand paused in midair.

Paisley was my step-Daisy brought by my stepmother.

I used to be indifferent to her.

She had once been with my ex-boyfriend, Zachary.

We even avoided each other daily.

Then Lydia was born.

As a new mother, I was busy being a mother. Meanwhile, I was worried about my career.

She volunteered to take care of Lydia for me, saying that I could focus on my painting art.

Then we became closer.

No matter how George felt, Lydia was unaware of his feelings for her. She devoted herself to Zachary wholeheartedly.

I suppressed my emotions and tidied up my face.

Last night, Paisley had fallen into the water. I was going to her house to check on her.

Just as I entered the White family's house, I heard strange words from the nanny.

"Mr. Marshall was here. I was wondering why you didn't come with him, Mrs. Marshall."

I was stunned.

I thought George had hurriedly left for the company this morning. I didn't expect him to come to visit Paisley instead.

I quietly went upstairs.

Before I went in, I heard George's gentle voice from inside.

"You were originally weak. Take good care of yourself."

"This time, it was Daisy's fault for causing this trouble. She shouldn't have gone to the seaside."

"It turns out that George is gentle to her as well." I tightly clenched my fingers.

Paisley replied warmly, "It's not Daisy's fault. It's because of my carelessness."

...

I turned around and sat in the living room, waiting.

In no time, my father also came.

After seeing me, he immediately started to harshly criticize me.

"It was your birthday. Why did you have to go to the seaside?"

"Paisley's health has never been good. You are her elder sister..."

I had long been accustomed to his favoritism. I turned my head and pretended not to hear his words.

In the past, George was always there to defend me.

At this moment, he was helping Paisley downstairs in her pajamas.

When Paisley saw the situation in the living room, she quickly tried to smooth things over.

"Last night, it was my fault."

"By the way, Daisy also came. Why didn't you mention it, George?"

I didn't want to make a scene in front of the White family with George.

I remained silent.

A trace of astonishment flashed across George's face, but he quickly reacted.

He came down and gently held my hand, saying, "Then we won't disturb you."

He was seemingly afraid that I would cause trouble.

He held my hand tightly and restrained me.

He quickly pulled me out.

We got in the car.

I tried to calm down and asked, "Do you have anything to say?"

George frowned and patiently explained to me.

"Daisy, I was there apologizing on your behalf, but I was afraid you would think too much..."

I interrupted him, saying, "What do I have to apologize for?"

Confusion flashed in his eyes. He said, "Wasn't Paisley the one who fell into the water last night?"

"Isn't it just an accident?"

Facing his eyes in front of me, I was helpless and disappointed.

I said, "Do you think it's my fault?"

He frowned and disagreed, saying, "Paisley has always had poor health. Now, this accident happened. As her older sister..."

He was accusing me as well.

George's accusation hurt me the most.

My eyes turned red, and his voice abruptly stopped.

I used to think that the reason why George cared so much about Paisley was that he wanted to repair the heavily damaged family relationship for me.

I immersed myself in his thoughtfulness.

But I didn't know that all of this was just my delusion.

The car started.

After a moment of silence, I heard George's apology.

"I'm sorry. I didn't consider your feelings."

I turned my head and opened the car window.

I let the wind dry the tears on my face.

The way home was a particularly long journey.

We were silent all the way.

Upon pushing the door open, I wiped away the tears on my face and tidied up my expression.

The nanny accompanied Lydia to have fun with toys.

Upon hearing the door opening, Lydia smiled and flew into George's arms.

"Dad! I want to go to the aquarium."

George glanced at me subconsciously, saying, "Can Mom and I take you there?"

Lydia turned her head, saying, "I don't want Mom to go with us."

Looking at her round back of the head, I couldn't hide the bitterness in my heart.

"It's okay. I should blame myself for spending too little time with Lydia."

I said gently, "Should Mommy make Lydia's favorite dish at home?"

She was moved, looking at me.

"Okay, Lydia wants to eat Mommy's sandwiches."

My heart warmed up a bit.

Then they two left.

I stopped forcing myself, lifted my feet, and collapsed on the bed when I returned to the room.

"If it were the 22-year-old Daisy, she would decisively get a divorce at the first glance of the diary."

...

"She would rather have a fall out than maintain such a peaceful life."

"But the 32-year-old Daisy is a coward."

"She has been immersed herself in the sweet life for seven years, and she has long lost her pride."

"It's just a diary written by an eighteen-year-old. Who hasn't had a crush when they were young? It's time to move on."

I quietly opened the diary and started reading it.

[If I had to be with someone I didn't love in the future, I would rather not have children.]

After reading this, I was crying bitterly.

George didn't want children before. He had said he didn't want me to experience the pain of childbirth.

I never doubted it.

Then due to drunkenness, I got pregnant.

He wanted to persuade me to have an abortion.

I insisted on keeping it, which was how Lydia came into being.

I fell into a deep sleep with tears on my face.

In my dream, I met George, who was twenty-two years old.

I had run away from home after arguing with my father because of his favoritism.

He was silent, silently holding an umbrella for me.

"There will always be someone who loves you. I will always be here."

I cried loudly in the rain for fear of being seen by others.

He stood in front of me, his back soaked in rain. He used an umbrella to shield me from the wind and rain.

When I woke up again, I realized it was late.

I quickly got up. I hadn't cooked Lydia's favorite sandwiches yet.

I stubbornly refused the help of the nanny and prepared a table of dishes myself.

But the father and daughter did not come back until it was dark.

I looked in the direction of the gate repeatedly.

It was empty at the entrance.

The nanny kindly advised, saying, "Mrs. Marshall, maybe they have eaten outside. Why don't you eat first?"

I was a little absent-minded, saying, "But Lydia wants to eat sandwiches made by me."

Finally, I put on my clothes and went out.

I wanted to find out where they had been.

I rushed to the aquarium, but it was closed.

The one in charge received me warmly, saying, "Mr. Marshall has taken Miss Lydia and Miss Paisley back."

"Miss Paisley..."

I realized who it was and had some understanding in my heart.

I arrived at the White family, but I didn't dare to go in.

The villa was brightly lit. They were harmonious inside.

There was faint laughter and the childish words of Lydia coming from inside.

"I like Auntie's sandwiches the most."

I stood in the shadow outside the door, like an invisible shadow peeping at other people's happy lives.

Through the window, I could see George, who was gentle and good-looking.

His voice was clear and melodious as he said, "Paisley is sick. She still accompanied you to the aquarium. What should you say, Lydia?"

"Thank you, Auntie. If Auntie were my mother, I could eat sandwiches every day."

"Lies can deceive others, but not oneself."

I left in a daze.

I thought of the child, who called me mom with a smile.