“That’s none of your business.”

“Can you stop making a scene? You’re hurt. Just focus on healing instead of being unreasonable.” Ethan’s tone was impatient.

“If you don’t agree to divorce, I’ll tell the police the truth.”

I stared at him. “Tomorrow morning at the County Clerk’s Office. Don’t think I won’t show up, even if I have to hobble there on crutches.”

His face paled, his expression twisted with anger.

I longed for the divorce. What good were a husband and daughter like this?

All this, just because of a parking spot? Sarah brought her death upon herself, yet they blamed me.

Why should I stay in such a family?

Near midnight, a loud knock woke me.

Startled, I sat up to see several men entering my hospital room—disheveled, dressed like vagrants. My heart pounded.

“Who are you? This is a hospital. You’re trespassing!”

The gang leader smirked.

“What, lady? Already forgotten us? You sure have a short memory.”

My face went pale. This wasn’t simple.

“Was it Ethan? Did he send you? Tell him to come here. I’ll face him myself. I’m his wife. This is our family business. Outsiders have no right to interfere!”

I shouted, but they ignored me.

“Ethan? We don’t know him.”

“You offended the wrong person.”

“Lady, in your next life, learn to behave.”

The group surged forward. My heart seized.

“I’ll pay thirty thousand dollars—no, seventy thousand! Just stop this. Let me go!”

The leader froze for a moment, then sneered.

“Sorry. No matter how much you offer, we keep our word. Otherwise, how could we survive in this business?”

“Nothing personal, lady.”

He raised a chair leg and smashed it into my other leg. My scream tore through the night before I blacked out.

When I woke again, the world spun, but I was alive.

Alive… but both my legs were gone. Amputated.

And worse—I wasn’t whole anymore. The medical report told me the truth: my womb had been ripped from me.

Tears streamed silently down my face.

Then I heard a voice from the bathroom. Ethan, talking on the phone, on speaker.

“Daddy, because Mommy caused Aunt Sarah’s death and tried to force you to divorce, you had no choice but to send the gang again. But Daddy, you let them take Mommy’s womb. How will she ever have more children?”

Ethan’s voice was chilling:

“She has you. That’s enough. Why would she need more? Breaking her legs was the point—now she can’t push me to divorce. And I had the leader record everything. If she dares threaten me again, I’ll release it. She’ll be ruined in New York City, disgraced, abandoned even by her parents. Let’s see how she survives then.”

“But Daddy, isn’t this too cruel? Mommy will be in so much pain. And Aunt Sarah died because of her illness. You can’t blame Mommy entirely.” Lily said.

“Hmph, who else should I blame? If it weren’t for her lack of compassion, would Sarah be dead? She was my true love, the woman I could never have. I only wanted to take care of her in her final years. With late-stage kidney failure, how long could she have lived? At most ten years!”

“But your mother—even with her legs broken and her womb gone—she can still live comfortably for the rest of her life. Now tell me, who’s really worse off?” Ethan said coldly.

Lily nodded. “That’s true. Aunt Sarah was so beautiful, like a fairy. Every time she came to pick me up, she dressed like an angel. Mommy, on the other hand, is plain and dull. It’s such a pity Aunt Sarah died. If only it had been Mommy instead.”

“You’d prefer Aunt Sarah to be your mother, wouldn’t you?”

“Of course!” Lily clapped her hands.

My heart sank into the abyss. I no longer felt anything for this cruel father and daughter.

After Ethan left the bathroom, I called my best friend, Jessica Parker.

“Jessica, I regret everything. I want to come back.”

Even though it was the middle of the night, Jessica quickly sobered when she heard my voice.

“Emily, is that you? What happened?”

I told her everything, and Jessica was furious.

“See? I told you before. Ethan only looks good on the outside, but inside he’s vicious. Otherwise, how could he treat you like this? Even after Sarah’s death, all he ever thinks about is her, never you, his real wife.”

I was sobbing uncontrollably.

“Enough crying. I’ll tell my professor and send my brother Daniel to pick you up. You can’t walk on your own now anyway.”

I nodded, and she hung up.

I didn’t sleep at all that night.

The next morning, the police officers came again to take my statement.

I told them everything—except Ethan’s involvement. Without evidence, he’d never admit it. And if I exposed him now, who knew if he’d have me killed? Just being alive was already a blessing.

Ethan and Lily put on another act.

“Officers, how could this happen? How could criminals attack my wife in such a heavily guarded hospital? And the same gang again? I demand a thorough investigation. Form a task force immediately!” Ethan said righteously.

The officers nodded, assuring him they’d do their best.

Lily cried as she added, “Officer, I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault. If it weren’t for me, Mommy wouldn’t have suffered like this. She’s already lost her legs. Please, please catch the bad guys!”

The officers barely glanced at her before rushing off. The incident wasn’t small, but it wasn’t big either.

Even the hospital president, vice president, and head of security came to apologize.

“Mr. Miller, we’re deeply sorry. Such a thing happening in our hospital is unacceptable. We’ll improve security. It was our negligence.”

Ethan accepted their apology, then told the medical staff, “Use the best medicine and the best doctors for my wife, no matter the cost!”

He worked hard to maintain his image as a devoted husband.

Finally, he took my hand and asked if I was feeling better.

This time I didn’t snap back. I simply said, “I’m fine.”

“Nurses, doctors, please take good care of my mommy! I’m begging you. If it weren’t for me, she wouldn’t be suffering like this.” Lily cried.

“What a thoughtful child. If only I had a kid like you.”

“So sensible. Don’t worry, sweetheart. We’ll do our best.”

I reached out my hand to Lily.

“Come here, Lily.”

“You said you’d do anything to help Mommy recover, even give me your legs, right?” I looked at her.

Lily blinked, confused, but still nodded. “Yes, Mommy. If it helps you get better, I’ll do anything.”

“Good.” I pointed to the window. “Then jump from there. Break your legs, and we’ll switch.”

Everyone’s faces changed instantly, including the doctors and nurses.

“This woman is insane! What did the child do wrong?”

“Exactly. It was the kidnappers, not the child.”

“Parents who take their anger out on children don’t deserve to be parents.”

But Lily was already running toward the window. She understood what I meant.

Ethan grabbed her just in time.

“What are you doing? Don’t jump!” he shouted at me angrily.

“Are you still making a scene? Are you insane? You want the child to pay with her life? Shouldn’t you pay for Sarah’s death instead?”

“What did the child do wrong?”

I ignored him and stared at Lily.

“Lily, you’re only eight. You’re my daughter, and already so calculating. Why didn’t you pick a quiet place to jump? You knew these people wouldn’t let you. You’re too scheming.”

My words made Lily explode.

She struggled desperately, crying out, “Daddy, let me jump! It’s my fault Mommy ended up like this. It’s all my fault. Let me jump. I was born from her. I’ll give these legs back to her.”

“Enough!” Ethan sealed the window shut.

“What do you want, Emily? Will you only stop when you drive our child to death?” he roared.

“That’s right, Emily, this is too much.”

A graceful figure appeared. I looked closely—it was Sarah’s younger sister, Sophie White.

Sophie rushed forward, hugging Lily.

“This poor child.”

“Emily, my sister may have died because of you, but I never asked you to pay with your life. I know accidents happen. I can’t blame you entirely for not giving her the emergency parking spot.”

“By the same logic, you can’t blame Lily for what happened to you. She’s just a child. You should blame the kidnappers.”

Sophie’s words drew applause from everyone around.

“Yes, that’s the right attitude. That’s maturity and decency.”

I sneered inwardly.

If it were your legs gone and your womb ripped out, would you still speak so righteously? What a joke.

Lily had already fainted from crying.

“I’ll take her to the infirmary. Sophie, stay here and keep an eye on Emily. Don’t let her cause trouble again.” Ethan said.