While my child was in critical condition, Grayson was with his first love, helping her give birth.

My baby never got to see her father before she died.

I called Grayson countless times, and all I got was...

"Are you using our daughter to force me to come back?"

On the day of our baby's funeral, his first love posted a picture of her daughter on social media with the caption.

"Daughters are their daddy's little lovers from a past life. Look whose little sweetheart this is!"

The limited-edition cufflinks on the hand in the photo were unmistakably Grayson's.

When I saw him again, I asked for a divorce.

...

"Let's get a divorce, Grayson."

"Violet, divorce? I don't allow it. You have no right to ask me for a divorce."

I anxiously waited in the hallway for an hour while my daughter was in emergency care. I called Grayson countless times.

He finally answered, sounding extremely impatient.

"Violet, you don't need to check on me. I'm indeed with Mila..."

"You need to come to the hospital. Emily is having a heart attack and is in emergency care," I said tiredly, feeling choked up.

While our daughter was fighting for her life, Grayson was with his first love. At that moment, I felt utterly powerless.

Grayson sarcastically replied, "Are you cursing our daughter just to make me come back?"

I was speechless.

"Grayson, it hurts. Is the baby coming out?"

On the other end of the phone, Mila's coy voice could be heard. Grayson comforted her tenderly while his daughter was still fighting for her life in the emergency room.

I hung up the phone and watched as the emergency room light turned off. I leaned against the wall, completely drained. The door opened, and the doctor approached me.

"Mrs. White, we did our best."

"No." I looked at the small hospital bed where Emily lay alone. Just this morning, she had proudly shown me the new hair clip her classmate gave her, but now she couldn't wake up to hug me.

I walked over and held Emily, whispering, "I'm sorry, baby. I failed you. I couldn't save you."

Grayson and I had an arranged marriage. Our grandfather arranged it. My mom was also best friends with Grayson's mom, so I was told from birth that I was to marry him.

When we were students, I always stuck to Grayson like a shadow. I didn't like making friends, but Grayson was different. He loved to have fun and often stayed out late, asking me to cover for him with his grandpa, Ryan.

Grayson treated me as a tool to ward off other girls, but one day, I heard them call Mila "sister-in-law."

They said Grayson was with Mila, the school beauty. I ran to the rooftop to confront him, only to find Mila boldly blocking his way.

Mila said, "I knew you didn't like that boring bookworm, Violet. She looks so frigid."

The wind was strong on the rooftop that day, and I couldn't hear Grayson's response clearly. I only saw him mock me.

"Not even jealous? You are really dull."

After that, I stopped clinging to Grayson and began seeing other boys. But every time, Grayson would show up and warn me to remember my status.

After graduation, my family was investigated. My father was involved in a murder case and went to prison, and my mom went abroad and rarely returned. I thought Grayson and I could never be together, but Ryan rushed our marriage.

The White family didn't mind my family's downfall, but on the wedding night, Grayson changed. He said not to expect love from him and that I had schemed to become his wife, so I should stay in that position forever.

I didn't understand Grayson's feelings for me, but since we had Emily, he became much colder toward me.

He seldom came home, and whenever he did, he was drunk. He didn't like me, so he naturally wouldn't like Emily either.

Over the years, Grayson never spent a single birthday with Emily. Even when she cried and begged him to stay, he ruthlessly shook off her hand.

Emily was just a child. On the way to the hospital, she held me and said, "Mommy, don't cry. I'll be good." With a pale face, she said she wanted to see her daddy.

At that time, Grayson was with Mila, waiting for her to give birth. My phone vibrated twice.

I dismissed the call, but it came again. When I answered, I heard Mila's provocative voice on the other end.

"Violet, did you know? I had a daughter too. You wouldn't believe how sweet and soft she is. Grayson adores her so much. He was the first to hold her..."

I hung up the phone, tears streaming down my face. My heart ached so much. Her daughter was born, but my Emily was gone.

The difference between love and indifference was so clear. But what did Emily do to deserve this?

Back home, I saw Emily's favorite toys scattered all over the floor. When Ryan arrived, I was holding a doll about the size of Emily.

I had cried until I had no tears left.

My Emily.

"Violet, it's Grayson who has wronged you. It's the White family that has wronged you," Ryan said angrily, demanding the butler find out where Grayson was.

It didn't matter where Grayson was. My Emily was gone. I looked up, unable to speak a word, bitter and heartbroken.

"I will divorce Grayson. I want to take all of Emily's belongings."

Her daddy didn't love her, but I did. What Grayson didn't want, I treasured.

"Don't talk nonsense. I promised you I would take care of you for life."

Outside, Grayson stumbled through the door, looking around frantically but not finding Emily.

His voice trembled violently as he roared, "Why would you hide something this big from me, Violet? Have you gotten bold? Where is Emily? You must be lying to me. Where did you hide her?"

Grayson walked up to me, but I no longer had the strength to argue with him.

Ryan slapped him, saying, "You bastard! Your daughter is gone. How dare you to be with another woman."

Their shouting was too loud. It disturbed Emily.

Grayson was never a considerate person. He never said he loved me but readily agreed to marry me. I was the one who loved him deeply, and it was my own fault for stubbornly pursuing him despite the pain. But Emily was innocent.

Ryan broke several canes, beating Grayson until his back was bloody and raw.

Finally, he collapsed on the ground. I walked past him barefoot, hearing his weak voice.

"Violet, I'm sorry. You used too many tricks to get me to come home, exhausting my trust in you. I never expected so many people to be watching over Emily and yet..."

I stopped and turned to look at Grayson. He had become so unfamiliar, blaming me for not taking care of Emily.

"Let's get a divorce, Grayson."

"I won't agree to it, Violet. You can forget it." Grayson tried to stand up, but Ryan had beaten him too severely. "You wanted to get married, and now you want a divorce. Why should everything be up to you?"

I gave Grayson a cold and resolute look. Wouldn't our divorce clear the way for Mila?

"Isn't this what you wanted, Grayson?"

"I'll have the lawyer send you the papers. All you need to do is sign them."

Perhaps he didn't expect me to be so determined. Grayson tried to grab me, but he was too badly beaten and fell several times.

"Violet, I'm seriously hurt..."

He said with pitiful tone. Before, he wouldn't even need to say a word. A small scratch would make me worry to death.

I went back to Emily's room and sat on her bed. Soon, Grayson came in, awkwardly trying to explain.

"I know you're very sad about Emily. If you want to cry, just cry. I'll be here with you, Violet," he said.

He sat down beside me, but I didn't want to talk to him anymore.

Shortly after, Grayson's phone rang, and I heard Mila's voice.

"I'll be right there. Wait for me," Grayson said, glancing at me. He hung up and tried to kiss me, but I dodged. He said Mila had fallen, and he needed to go check on her.

He said there was nothing between him and Mila and told me not to overthink it. He said we'd start over when he got back.

"You're disturbing Emily."

...

In the following days, every divorce agreement I sent was torn up by Grayson. It seemed he was deliberately avoiding me.

I personally received Emily's urn and arranged her favorite flowers myself. I wanted to accompany Emily on this final journey.

Grayson never showed up at the funeral, and many people were talking about me.

"How could I not know, since I went to school with Violet? Grayson never liked her. He liked our school's beauty, Mila."

"I heard Violet's dad took the fall for the White family. Violet must have something on them."

There were many rumors, but they all believed I forced Grayson to marry me. In their minds, I used any means to become his wife, and my current situation was deserved.

I stood in the wind, still waiting for Grayson. Ryan was furious.

"Call him."

"No need, Grandpa. I've taken all of Emily's things. If Grayson refuses to sign, I'll sue for divorce."

"Sigh," Ryan sighed heavily. "I watched you two grow up together. How did it come to this? If Grayson's mother were still here, she wouldn't want to see you like this."

My heart ached as memories flooded back like waves. Grayson's mother loved me dearly. She used to say that if Grayson ever wronged me, she would break his legs. Her smile was always so bright, like a beam of light, yet she ended up jumping off a building due to depression.

Since then, Grayson became much more withdrawn. It was just before the college entrance exams, and the White family kept the news of his mother's death from him. They also told me not to tell Grayson, fearing it would upset him.

Later that night, amid thunder and lightning, Grayson found out and completely broke down. He began to hate me too.

"If you don't come to Emily's funeral today, don't ever return to the White residence. I'll consider you no grandson of mine!"

Ryan angrily hung up the phone and handed it to me. I unlocked it and saw the latest updates on social media.

Mila had posted a picture of her daughter with the caption, "Daughters are daddy's little lovers from a past life. Look whose little sweetheart this is?"

People in the comments were joking, saying it must be Grayson's illegitimate child.

The cufflink visible on the hand in the photo was a limited edition with a national style pattern. Only Grayson had it in Avolle city.