I ignored Jillian and returned to my room to tidy up my belongings.

I had no plans to take any of Kelvin's real properties and only wanted my share of the money.

Meanwhile, Kelvin was worried that I would change my mind during the cooling-off period.

Thus, we came to an agreement—I would continue living with him and Jillian during the cooling-off period, which would also give me time to look for a new home.

Jillian immediately became agitated when she realized that I was only moving my belongings to the guest bedroom.

"Why aren't you putting your things in your suitcases? Don't tell me that you're planning to stick around? You shameless vixen! I knew that you wouldn't give up so easily!"

Jillian screamed at the top of her lungs as she threw my belongings into the trash. She then looked for Kelvin and began crying and complaining to him.

"Why is she still staying here, Daddy? I hate Mommy! Hurry and chase her away!"

Kelvin attempted to explain to Jillian that there was a cooling-off period before we could officially get divorced, but she refused to listen to a word he said.

"I understand Mommy the best because I'm her flesh and blood. She's going to try to seduce you during the cooling-off period and trick you into getting back with her. The truth is, Mommy doesn't want to get a divorce at all. She's just playing hard to get right now. You can't fall for her schemes!"

I didn't expect Jillian's animosity toward me to intensify after I divorced Kelvin. Unable to keep my anger in check any longer, I slapped Jillian hard across the face.

"Shut your mouth. You don't deserve to call me 'Mommy'. You and I will have nothing to do with each other soon, so don't think that I'll continue tolerating your behavior."

I used to think of Jillian as a precious treasure. Back then, I wasn't willing to speak too harshly even when I was disciplining her.

As a result, Jillian had never seen me with such a fierce expression. She burst into tears and burrowed into Kelvin's chest, looking upset.

"Look, Daddy! She's finally showing her true colors. She's been bullying me this way when we're alone. She's always been jealous of our close relationship. She abuses me for any reason."

It wasn't the first time Jillian framed me for something I didn't do.

Ever since she turned four years old, she would rack her brain for ideas and spin all sorts of lies to tell Kelvin.

According to her, I was an evil woman with a short temper who hurt her whenever I felt like it.

As for Kelvin, he would take Jillian's side every time. No questions asked.

"She's just a child. Why would she lie?" he would ask.

At the time, I didn't want to believe that my own daughter saw me as a romantic rival. Unfortunately, it was already much too late by the time I finally opened my eyes to the truth.

I scoffed as I looked at Jillian's pitiful appearance.

"You're so good at acting like a bitch even though you're only ten years old, Jillian. It'll be a shame if you don't pursue an acting career in the future. Save your breath. It's useless to antagonize me. You're going to have to deal with your father's—"

Kelvin frantically clamped a hand over my mouth and dragged me away before I could finish my sentence.

"What are you doing, Sienna? I already told you to keep that a secret. Jillian will have a mental breakdown if you just tell her that I'm going to remarry without warning."

Disgust roiled in my gut at Kelvin's fake show of concern for Jillian.

"Why didn't you think about Jillian's mental state before you decided to cheat on me? You don't care about her at all. You only care about the fake image that you've built for yourself. Well, it doesn't matter. I'm not bothered enough to get involved in whatever goes on between the two of you."

Besides, Jillian would learn the truth sooner or later.

All I had to do was sit tight and watch everything unfold.

…

I didn't expect that Jillian would resort to drastic measures to ensure that Kelvin and I would never get back together.

While we were distracted, she took the opportunity to bolt out of the house and hammer her little fists on the neighbors' doors.

"Mommy didn't behave herself when she was away from home, so Daddy decided to divorce her. But she refuses to leave the house and keeps clinging to Daddy like a leech. Please help me chase her away!"

Tears streamed down Jillian's face as she complained about me, attracting the attention of our neighbors. They gathered around the entrance of the house and began criticizing me.

"I didn't think Sienna was the type to have an extramarital affair. She looks so prim and proper."

"You can tell that she has poor character since her own daughter dislikes her so much."

In everyone's eyes, I was a total loser. Not only did I have questionable morals, but I was also abandoned by my husband and hated by my daughter. My entire life was a complete failure.

Afraid of pushing me too far, Kelvin finally stepped in to play peacemaker.

"It's all a misunderstanding. Jillian's just making up stories. You don't need to concern yourself with our family matters."

His words infuriated Jillian.

"Why are you sticking up for Sienna, Daddy? I'm trying to help you!"

I didn't expect Jillian to call me by my name after I forbade her from calling me "Mommy".

"You understand now, don't you, Sienna? This divorce is going to happen whether you like it or not. I won't give you a chance to change your mind!"

Kelvin finally scolded Jillian, though it was more for his own sake than anyone else's.

"You shouldn't stick your nose into the grown-ups' matters. Stop causing trouble and go to your room."

Jillian's eyes reddened in an instant. However, instead of being angry at Kelvin for berating her, she directed her ire to me.

"It's all your fault, Sienna! I wish I didn't have such a horrible mother! Why are you still trying to drive a wedge between Daddy and me even though you're getting a divorce? This is the first time Daddy's ever scolded me…"

I shook my head at Jillian's genuine hatred toward me.

"You raised such a sweet daughter, Kelvin," I said. "I'm sure you're going to have a wonderful time when you bring your mistress home."

Uninterested in preserving Kelvin's reputation, I sent a message to the neighborhood group chat to explain the situation.

I told everyone that we were getting a divorce because Kelvin cheated on me. Anyone who believed Jillian's lies and slandered me would be receiving a letter from my lawyer.

Kelvin immediately began panicking. He snatched my phone out of my hands and deleted the message. When he noticed that I had picked up my suitcases and was about to leave for a hotel, he grabbed me anxiously.

"You can't leave, Sienna. Where will I look for you if you suddenly change your mind at the last minute and refuse to get a divorce?"

I glared at him before knocking his hands away. "Don't worry. I'm more impatient to get that divorce certificate than you."

There was no one else in the world who wanted to be rid of Jillian more than I did.

…

Jillian sent a threatening message to me after I left.

"Don't even think about coming back to seduce Daddy. I'm keeping a close eye on you!"

She even sent me a video of her burning all the photos I had left behind.

I blocked her number.

In my past life, I exhausted myself participating in drawn-out negotiations with Kelvin because I was desperate to win custody of Jillian.

I felt much lighter now after letting go of her without any regrets.

I started working out and taking care of my appearance again. I even threw a party for myself to celebrate that I had freed myself from such a toxic environment.

By the time the cooling-off period ended, I looked radiant. My condition was even better than it was before I divorced Kelvin.

Jillian scrutinized me with wary eyes. "You're really willing to pull out all the stops to convince Dad to take you back, Sienna. I can't believe you actually got plastic surgery. You should just give up. Daddy won't change his mind. I'm going to be the only one in his life in the future!"

She looked as if she had emerged victorious in a battle as she linked arms with Kelvin.

I simply pressed a kiss to the divorce certificate before I waved it at them and left.

…

Eager to start my new life, I swiftly bought a new house.

I didn't expect the police to show up on my doorstep in the middle of the night a few days after I moved in.

"How could you abandon your daughter on the streets, Ms. Sienna Breeson?"

"My daughter?" I asked, feeling utterly confused.

Jillian suddenly squeezed past the police officer and dashed into my house. She whipped her head from side to side before asking, "Did Daddy drop by to look for you? He didn't come home tonight. You must be hiding him from me!"

Jillian muttered to herself as she searched my home, messing up everything that I had just neatly arranged.

Fury bubbled within me.

I grabbed Jillian's braid and shoved her back to the police officers.

"Do you seriously think everyone is as obsessed with Kelvin as you are? He's not here. Get out of my house!"

Tears rolled down Jillian's face as she trembled.

"Did you see that, officer? My mother always treats me this way."

A stern look crossed the officer's face. "She's your daughter. How could you treat her that way?" he scolded.

I used every bit of willpower within me to stay calm and explained, "Her father and I are divorced, and he has custody of her. It's impossible for her to get lost on the streets in the middle of the night. She must have called you to intentionally harass me.

"I suggest that you get in touch with her father directly. I'll give you his contact information."

However, Jillian didn't believe me and was convinced that Kelvin was in my home.

"You're the only reason why Daddy would stay out for the entire night," she said.

I nearly told her the truth just then. But after mulling over my thoughts, I realized that Jillian wouldn't believe me anyway. In fact, she might even direct her ire at me when her shame morphed into fury.

Thus, I swallowed my words and simply gave Jillian's address to the police officer, telling him to take her home.

…

The next day, the police officer explained the situation to me.

Apparently, Jillian was left alone at the house the day before. She grew scared when she couldn't contact Kelvin, and when she tried to get in touch with me, she realized that I had blocked her number.

She was worried that I would refuse to see her, which was why she called the police and told them about me.

Unfortunately, the police fell for Jillian's lies because she was only ten years old. He even tried to advise me.

"Your daughter just missed you too much. A mother and daughter shouldn't fight for an extended period of time. You should treat her better in the future."

His words rendered me speechless. After all, I knew that no one would believe me even if I told them that Jillian was constantly fighting me for Kelvin's attention.

I had no choice but to message Kelvin, telling him to bring his new wife back home as soon as possible.

…

The peace barely lasted for a few days.

I received a call from Jillian's teacher.

"Jillian keeps hiding in the restroom and refuses to come out. She said that she's only willing to go home if you pick her up. I know that you don't have custody of her, Ms. Breeson, but that doesn't mean that you're not responsible for taking care of her.

"Besides, Jillian only started acting out because you and your husband got a divorce. It's not right for you to just sit by and do nothing."

Jillian's teacher continued to emotionally blackmail me. She even claimed that she would post about me online and let the netizens criticize me if I continued ignoring Jillian.

Terrified that this incident would affect my work, I steeled my nerves and dropped by the school to pick Jillian up.

…

Jillian was uncharacteristically well-behaved. Not only did she sweetly call me "Mommy", but she also hugged me of her own volition, saying, "I missed you so much, Mommy."

Jillian's teacher watched us with a relieved expression.

I could only smile awkwardly and take Jillian home, my heart beating wildly in my chest the entire time.

Jillian's expression immediately darkened after she placed her bag down. She roughly locked the door before I could react and said, "Daddy hasn't been home in days. It's all your fault, you vixen! The two of you are already divorced, so why do you keep seducing him? Why do you insist on fighting me for him?"

The hideous expression on Jillian's face was identical to the one she wore in my past life.

Fear gripped my heart, and I tried to escape.

Unfortunately, Jillian was blocking the door. She shot a wicked grin at me as she pulled out a glass bottle.

"You must be so proud of your pretty face. You won't be able to fight me for Daddy once I ruin your looks!"

My body stiffened as a wave of nightmarish memories washed over me. I stood rooted to the spot.

Jillian gripped the bottle of sulfuric acid tightly and stalked toward me.

Just then, Kelvin's voice resounded through the door.

"Come and meet your new mother, my dear Jillian!"

Jillian's hand jolted violently.