“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.

Ethan carried Lily away in a rush.

Sophie leaned close to me.

“Emily, honestly, I don’t hate you for Sarah’s death.”

“But what are you so proud of?” she whispered.

“When my sister was alive, you were never her match. When she was in college, I was there too. I know Ethan liked her, not you. You clung to him desperately just to make him notice you.”

“Now my sister is dead, and you’ve got Ethan all to yourself. What more do you want? Even with no legs, you’re still better off than her—she’s gone.”

“Get out!” I pointed at her. “Go join your dead sister in heaven.”

Sophie froze, then leaned into my ear.

“Emily Johnson, what are you so smug about? Don’t you know your daughter tricked you? She pretended to be kidnapped, all so you’d lose your legs. It was Ethan who told them to break your legs.”

“And you didn’t see it coming. I added seventy thousand dollars to make sure they took your womb too. How does it feel? You’ll never have children again. The only child you’ve got left is Lily—and she hates you.”

“I’ll make sure you regret this forever. You should have given my sister that parking spot. This is my revenge for her.”

“So it was you!!”

Rage boiled inside me. I slapped her hard across the face. “You vile woman!”

“Heh. Ethan’s not here. What can you do to me?” she sneered, slapping me back just as hard.

We tore at each other like wildcats, pulling hair and slapping until suddenly she let go. Her body collapsed like a broken kite.

Crash!

Her body hit the glass coffee table beside us, shards slicing into her flesh. Blood spilled across the floor.

The fragments glittered, scattered everywhere.

Just then, Ethan burst in, roaring, “What are you doing? Bullying Sophie!”

Of course. This scheming woman knew exactly when to play her part.

“What’s your problem, Emily? First you nearly drove Lily to her death, and now you hurt Sophie? Apologize!” Ethan glared at me, then helped Sophie up.

“It wasn’t Emily’s fault. I fell myself. Ethan, don’t blame her,” Sophie said sweetly.

“Fell? Ha! And the five handprints on your face? Did you fall into those too? Show me how you did that!” Ethan scolded, his heart aching for her.

“Your sister is gone, so I have to take care of you now. But you can’t let yourself be bullied like this.”

“Yes, Sophie, Mommy was too much. Your calf is bleeding. You need the infirmary to remove the glass. Otherwise, you’ll scar and won’t look good in skirts anymore.” Lily added.

“Mommy, you should apologize.”

Sophie put on her innocent act. “Don’t say that, Lily. She’s your mother. You can’t talk to her like this. What if she gets mad and forces you to eat broccoli again?”

“Even if she does, I’ll still speak the truth. My teacher said justice must always defeat evil.” Lily said firmly.

My heart shattered as I looked at her.

“Lily, between Aunt Sarah and Aunt Sophie, you’d choose them over me, your mother, wouldn’t you?”