After leaving home, I followed my daughter to find Patrick. By the time Nina and I arrived at the old mansion, the rain had stopped.

Today was Johnny’s birthday. In the courtyard of the old mansion, balloons, a stage, and a feast were all set up. Guests arrived in elegant attire, bearing gifts. Children ran around, laughing and playing.

In the center of the courtyard, Patrick stood beside a six-year-old boy, cutting the birthday cake with him. He gently reminded him, "Be careful. Don’t get cream on your clothes."

Standing close to Patrick was Jennifer Owens who watched the scene with affection. The three of them looked like a happy family.

Through the fence, Nina watched, tears welling in her eyes. Her heart ached. Every year on her birthday, Patrick had always been by her side. She wiped her tears, stood on tiptoe, and pressed the doorbell.

The door opened quickly. To her surprise, it was Jennifer.

The moment Jennifer saw Nina, the smile on her face froze, and the warmth in her eyes disappeared.

"What are you doing here?" She glanced toward Patrick in the distance, ensuring he was unaware, then turned back with irritation. "Did that annoying mother of yours send you to ruin Johnny’s birthday?"

Her expression turned cold. "Did she forget to tell you that this is no longer your home, you little brat? Get lost!"

Nina was frightened by her cruel behavior, and big tears rolled down her cheeks.

"You’re lying! Don’t insult my mom, you’re a bad woman! I want to see my dad!" She glared at Jennifer like a fierce little beast.

Jennifer scoffed, amused by her defiance. She bent down and poked Nina’s forehead repeatedly.

Caught off guard, Nina stumbled back, hitting her head against the iron gate with a loud thud.

The noise caught Patrick’s attention from afar, and his heart clenched.

"Who’s there?"

Jennifer panicked and immediately covered Nina’s mouth. Forcing a smile, she called out, "Patrick, it’s nothing. Just a beggar knocking at the door. It’s cold outside. Take Johnny inside first!"

Patrick frowned but turned back to entertain the guests after hearing no more commotion.

Seeing he was no longer paying attention, Jennifer’s face darkened. She grabbed Nina’s face and spat venomously, "You bring bad luck—just like your wretched mother. All you do is ruin my life!"

Nina struggled, tears mixing with the red marks on her cheeks.

Disgusted, Jennifer kicked her to the ground.

"Cursed child!"

Slowly, Nina climbed to her feet, her voice firm as she insisted, "You’re the cursed one. I want to see my dad!"

Jennifer sneered. Then, spotting a beggar by the roadside, an idea came to her. With a smirk, she squatted down and whispered, "If you crawl under that man’s legs, I’ll take you to see your dad. How about that?"

I stood frozen, staring at Jennifer, my nails digging into my palms until they bled.

How dare she humiliate my daughter like this? Was she even human?

Anger and sorrow consumed me, nearly driving me mad. I desperately tried to pull Nina away, pleading, "Mommy is already dead. You don’t have to do this for me. I will be heartbroken. Go home! Please, just go home!"

Nina lowered her head, thinking for a long time. Through the crack in the gate, she saw the lively birthday party inside. Finally, she asked firmly, "You promise?"

Jennifer hesitated, then smiled smugly. "Of course, I always keep my word."

She called the beggar over and handed him her bracelet, asking only that he stand still.

Nina bit her lip, straightened her little princess dress, and trembled as she slowly crawled under the man’s legs.

As she did, she whispered to herself, "Nina, don’t cry. It’s okay if the dress gets dirty. You’re here to wake Mommy up. As long as Mommy wakes up, it’s worth it."

She kept comforting herself, but the tears wouldn’t stop falling.

Jennifer leaned against the door, watching with satisfaction, her excitement barely contained. "What a good girl. Just as expected from Winnie’s daughter. A lowly woman’s child is just as pathetic. Now, lift your head. Let me take a good look at you."

She was basking in her triumph when suddenly, a cold, furious voice sounded behind her. "Jennifer, what are you doing?"

Hearing the noise, Jennifer panicked. She quickly waved the beggar off and picked up the little girl, gently tidying her dress.

"Patrick, you came just in time! Nina came looking for you. I was just chatting with her!"

Patrick looked at Nina with slight confusion, but in the next second, Jennifer diverted his attention. "Patrick, it's so cold outside! Quickly take Nina inside. She's not dressed warmly enough."

Her face was full of concern, but impatience flickered in her eyes.

Nina lifted her head, revealing the scratch marks on her face, hoping to stir even the slightest fatherly affection in Patrick—hoping he would comfort her like he used to.

However, Patrick only glanced at her briefly, then covered his nose with a look of disgust. "Is this how Winnie takes care of her child? She doesn't even bathe her daughter? She stinks."

His voice turned colder. "And now she’s abusing her daughter for sympathy? Trying to fool me with this pathetic act?"

He gently stroked Jennifer’s back, pulling her into his embrace to comfort her. "Jennifer, you're too soft-hearted. That's why people with ulterior motives keep taking advantage of you."

At his words, Nina and I froze in place.

Nina opened her mouth to protest, but before she could speak, tears streamed down her face. She tugged at Patrick’s pant leg.

"Daddy."

Hearing that word, Patrick’s expression darkened ominously. Annoyed, he pushed her tiny hand away.

"Spit it out. What does your mother want now? Is she dying? Or does she just need more money?"

Nina's small hands trembled, unsure where to place them, but she didn't dare argue. She had tried telling Patrick that Jennifer bullied her in secret before. However, as soon as Jennifer shed a few crocodile tears, Patrick would believe her unconditionally. He would say that Nina had been corrupted by me, that she was full of deceit.

That day, Patrick had locked Nina in a dark room for a month as punishment. She had knocked and pleaded every day, but no one ever answered.

Remembering this, Nina wiped her swollen eyes and quietly begged, "Daddy, Mommy won’t wake up again. Can you give me the music box?"

Patrick was startled and impatiently questioned, "What? It was just a heart donation. I already got her an artificial heart, and she still—!"

"Patrick!" Jennifer interrupted sharply.

Patrick turned to her, full of confusion.

"Huh?"

Noticing the flash of displeasure in his eyes, Jennifer quickly changed the subject. "Today is Johnny’s birthday. Let’s give her the music box first. Nina has been out for too long—I’m worried Winnie will be upset."

Patrick’s expression softened as he gazed at Jennifer with warmth. "Jennifer, you're too kind. I'll give her the music box, then we can go back to Johnny's birthday party."

I followed them inside the mansion. Under the glow of the chandelier, Nina's small, dirt-streaked face looked especially out of place.

Johnny, who was wearing a birthday hat, looked at Nina with curiosity. "Daddy, who is this? She smells bad!"

The boy’s ruthless mockery made Nina’s face flush red with shame. She turned to Patrick, eyes full of hope, wishing he would explain on her behalf, but all she got was his look of utter disgust.

"Did your mother teach you to act pitiful like this?"

Nina’s face went pale. She understood now—her father truly didn’t love her anymore.

When she looked up again, Patrick was already walking into his study.

Beside her, Jennifer sneered with fake sympathy in her eyes.

"Your daddy doesn't want you anymore! How about this—call me ‘Mommy,’ and I’ll let you stay in the little dark room."

Nina’s whole body trembled with fury. She shouted, "Don't even dream of it! I’d rather die than call you ‘Mom’! I only have one mother in my life! When she wakes up and finds out what you did to me, she’ll make you pay!"

A sharp pain gripped my soul as if something was tearing me apart. I couldn’t imagine how devastated my daughter would be when she learned the truth. She was only five years old. How could she possibly endure such suffering?

While Jennifer was filled with rage, I was drowning in anguish.

Hearing Patrick’s footsteps approaching, Jennifer suddenly let out a panicked cry, "My bracelet! My bracelet is missing!"

She made a show of searching herself, then narrowed her eyes at Nina, smirking.

"Nina, did you steal my bracelet?"

Nina immediately opened her mouth to defend herself.

"I didn’t take it, I—"

Before she could finish, Patrick roughly grabbed her by the ear, his eyes full of disappointment. "The moment you came back, I knew you were up to no good! Just like your scheming mother—stealing now, are you? Tell me, where did you hide it? Don’t make me search you!"

The sudden accusation made my mind go blank. I instinctively rushed to protect my daughter, screaming at Patrick. How dare he hurt my child? Did he really believe everything Jennifer said?

Nonetheless, I was just a formless spirit. No one could hear my fury.

Nina clutched her ear, tears streaming down as she pleaded, "I didn’t take Aunt Jennifer’s bracelet! Mommy didn’t teach me to steal! She’s lying! She’s a bad person! Don’t believe her!"

Her tearful defense only fueled Patrick’s fury. He ordered her to kneel, then told Jennifer to search her.

With a triumphant smile, Jennifer pounced like a vulture, tearing at Nina’s dress.

"Where did you hide it?"

The beautiful princess dress was soon in tatters. Nina’s face burned with humiliation as she struggled against Jennifer’s grasp.

"I didn’t take it! Why won’t you believe me?!"

Unfortunately, Jennifer dug her nails into Nina’s soft skin, making her cry out in pain. I watched helplessly as my daughter was stripped to only her underclothes.

Seeing no bracelet, Patrick clenched his jaw. Furious at her defiance, he grabbed Nina and threw her into the study.

"If you won’t behave, then kneel on the acupressure mat until you learn your lesson!"

The sharp spikes made it impossible for her to kneel properly.

Patrick barked, "Kneel until I’m satisfied, then I’ll give you the music box!"

A bone-deep chill consumed me. I knew my daughter too well. She must have believed that if she obeyed, she could protect me.

Just as I feared, she stopped struggling. She knelt there, letting the spikes dig into her small legs, blood seeping out.

Meanwhile, Jennifer sat by the warm fireplace with Johnny, pretending to be concerned. "Patrick, she’s just a child. What if she gets sick?"

However, Patrick only stared coldly at Nina. "If she can’t endure this and make amends for her mistake, how can she be the heir of the Harts?"

Jennifer smiled triumphantly. When she saw the tattered princess dress, she felt even more victorious—both mother and daughter had lost to her.

While the family enjoyed a warm, happy evening in the bedroom, Nina lay beside the acupressure mat in the study, her body trembling.

Before she fainted, she mumbled, "Once Daddy isn’t mad anymore, I can wake Mommy up… Mommy, please wait for me…"

That night, as Patrick prepared to eat dinner, he suddenly asked, "How long has Nina been kneeling? Did she give in?"

His secretary, Lily, hesitated before answering in a trembling voice, "Three hours… She fainted just now."

"What?!"

His spoon clattered to the floor as his expression changed.

Before he could react, his phone rang urgently.

"Hello?"

A cold voice answered, "Mr. Hart, we received a report. We found a woman's corpse at one of your rental properties."