Shannon's POV

My husband was hailed as a genius in rescue operations. He’d worked with rescue teams countless times, saving hostages from the brink of death.

But one day, a criminal’s family decided to get revenge on him. They kidnapped our five-year-old daughter and strapped five bombs to her tiny body.

When my husband tried to save her, he let his female junior apprentice take the lead, treating it as her “practice run” for defusing bombs.

Unfortunately, she cut the wrong wire. And just like that, my daughter was blown to pieces with nothing left to bury.

I was so shattered that I tried ending my life more than once. But instead of staying by my side, Max Hancock packed his bags and left in a hurry.

“This was just her fate,” he said coldly. “There’s an urgent mission waiting for me. I’m this close to getting a special recruitment into the rescue team. I can’t waste my energy on irrelevant matters.”

That very night, his female junior apprentice sent me a message.

[First time defusing a bomb in a real-life operation, but I accidentally cut the wrong wire. Good thing, my hero was there to back me up. The scene was so disgusting with all that blood and flesh. Honestly, fireworks are prettier. Tonight, I’m wrapping myself up like a gift for my hero. I hope he enjoys unwrapping me.]

Then came a photo of her in revealing lingerie, tied to a chair, with a pair of hands carefully untying the ropes.

On those hands was a limited-edition Patek Philippe, which I had given Max as a wedding gift. It was the only one of its kind in the world.

So this was his “urgent mission,” defusing the bomb called Vania Slater.

I picked up my phone and called his superior.

“I want to report Max for covering up Vania’s role in my daughter’s death.”

Anyone who took my daughter’s life would pay for it.

——

Vania quickly deleted the messages, but I had already taken screenshots. Then I posted them publicly on my social media.

It caused an explosion, figuratively this time.

Less than three seconds later, my phone rang.

“So, you’ve had enough of your suicide drama, and now you’re starting to ruin other people’s lives?” Max's voice was sharp with anger. “Vania is still just young, yet you post her private photos online. How’s she supposed to live with that?”

“I already told you,” he continued, his tone dropping to a cold, low rumble, “even the best bomb expert couldn’t have guaranteed our daughter’s safety with five bombs on her.”

I gave a short, bitter laugh. “Funny. You said you were on an urgent mission. But you had time to check my social media and call me?”

He hesitated for a split second before his voice hardened even more. “Shannon, are you losing your mind? My missions are assigned by my superiors. Stop dragging innocent people into your madness. Our daughter’s death was an accident.”

Before I could respond, someone grabbed his phone. Then Vania’s voice came through, crying like her world had just ended.

“Shannon, that message, I only sent it because I was upset about my work mistake. Sir Max took me out for drinks to cheer me up, but I got drunk and sent it to you by accident. It was meant for my best friend.”

“I know you blame him for your daughter’s death, but it really was just an accident. And now, because you posted my photo, I can’t even face anyone anymore.”

Her sobs were pitiful, like she was the victim of some unspeakable injustice.

A “work mistake,” she said, just a simple, throwaway phrase to sum up the brutal, senseless way my daughter died.

Shannon's POV

A bitter, metallic taste rushed up my throat, and my fists clenched so tight my nails bit into my palms.

“You seduced another woman’s husband right after her daughter died, and you’re afraid people will see it? You want to act pure after playing the whore? You’re disgusting!”

I all but screamed the words. On the other end, Vania let out a sharp, startled shriek before Max snatched the phone from her.

“Shannon, what’s wrong with you? You’ve completely lost it. You sound like a madwoman! Vania and I are innocent. She was kind enough to explain things to you, but you keep pushing this nonsense. Our daughter’s death has nothing to do with her. It was just an accident. If anything, it was bad luck on our daughter’s part!”

That sentence cut into me like a knife.

“How dare you say my daughter was unlucky? Her only misfortune was having a father like you! If it weren’t for you, she never would’ve been kidnapped. So technically, you killed her!”

“Shannon,” he said, voice cold as ice, “you’d better delete that post right now and publicly apologize to Vania. If you don’t, I’ll divorce you.”

In the past, every time we argued, he’d threaten me with divorce. And every time, I gave in.

But not this time. I would never let the people who killed my daughter walk free.

“You don’t have to bring it up. I’ve already filed for it. The papers will be on your desk soon enough.”

There was a pause, then he gave a mocking laugh. “You think you can scare me? If you dare to divorce me, I’ll eat my hat. So you’d better apologize now or you’ll be getting a defamation lawsuit from Vania before anything else.”

Then he hung up.

Not long after, there was a knock at my door, and Max’s superior stood there.

I live in the family housing compound, where many of the team leaders stay.

“Shannon, I heard you reported Max to the higher-ups?” His tone was sharp, his eyes filled with disapproval. “Do you realize he’s in the prime of his career? He’s about to get special recruitment into the rescue team as an official member. As his wife, you should be supporting him unconditionally. How can you jeopardize his future over something personal?”

He didn’t even stop for breath before continuing. “Everyone on the team saw what happened that day. Max didn’t make any mistakes. It was an accident. You can’t just lash out at innocent people because you’re jealous. I also heard you requested the rescue footage. Cancel it. You’re just a housewife. You don’t understand. If the case is reopened, it could ruin Max’s career.”

I let out a dry, humorless laugh. If it weren’t for this “housewife,” Max would still be stuck in some mountain village, trapped in poverty.

“I only want justice. Is that so hard to give?” My eyes narrowed. “If I’m not mistaken, Vania is your daughter, isn’t she? Then hear me clearly. I’m not withdrawing anything. I will dig until the very end.”

I then stood and gestured toward the door, dismissing him. He left with his hands clasped behind his back, his face dark with anger.

“You’ll regret this, Shannon,” he said before disappearing down the hall.

After he left, I picked up my phone and dialed a number I hadn’t called in years.

“How should we deal with someone who deliberately caused the death of a decorated soldier’s daughter?”

The voice on the other end roared instantly. “Investigate, of course! I want every detail. I want to see who’s got the guts to kill your daughter right under my nose!”

I had once left my position in a classified unit to return home, so I could fully support Max’s career.

And only this was what I got in return.

Shannon's POV

After hanging up the phone, I looked down at the black-and-white photo of my daughter. The pain in my chest felt like my heart was being ripped apart.

Just two days ago, she was in my arms, giggling and begging me to take her to the beach. Now, all that was left of her was a jar of ashes.

The next morning, I had barely gotten out of bed when I saw more than a dozen missed calls on my phone, all from Max. He must have already gotten the news.

Yet I blocked his number without hesitation.

But seconds later, the lock on my door clicked, followed by the crash of a chair being kicked over.

I rushed to the living room, only to see Max, furious, kicking over my daughter’s favorite bunny-shaped dining chair.

Vania was also with him, cowering behind him, pretending to be terrified.

“Max, what the hell is wrong with you?” I snapped, hurrying to set the chair upright again. The sight of it, toppled and abandoned, made my already shattered heart ache even more.

But he strode forward and grabbed me by the collar. “Shannon, I thought you were just acting crazy. But you actually went and reported me and Vania to the higher-ups? How vicious can you be? Do you have any idea that this was the peak of my career? Now both of us are suspended and under investigation. Even if I get reinstated, my chances of moving up are next to zero!”

Vania then started crying softly beside him. “Because of those photos, people point at me and whisper behind my back on the street. Now I’m suspended too. I don’t even want to live anymore.”

Max pulled her into his arms protectively, but his eyes were full of rage as he glared at me.

“Vania, don’t worry. As long as I’m here, no one will dare hurt you. I’ll make Shannon apologize to you in public.”

I stared at them blankly and flatly said, “You’re not getting your jobs back. And I will never apologize.”

Anyone who hurt my daughter would pay for it. This was only the beginning.

“What the hell do you want, Shannon?”

Max’s eyes were bloodshot as he shoved me away.

With such force, my back slammed into the table behind me, and I heard something crash to the floor with a loud bang.

I quickly turned around to see what it was, and my heart stopped.

My daughter’s framed photo had fallen, and the glass was shattered across the floor.

“Daisy!”

Ignoring the shards cutting into my palms, I reached out to pick it up. Blood dripped down my hands as I tried to hold her picture.

“I’m divorcing you,” Max said, yanking me back. Then his foot came down on my daughter’s photo, crushing her little face beneath his size 42 shoe.

Seeing that, I shoved him with all my strength.

“Get away from her! You’re hurting my Daisy. She can feel it!”

But he didn’t even look at me. Instead, he tossed a signed divorce agreement in front of me.

“You think you can use our daughter as an excuse to avoid signing? She’s dead, Shannon! This is just a piece of paper with her picture on it. Stop acting like a martyr!”

With my swollen eyes, I looked at him and roared, “Max, you bastard! Why wasn’t it you who died? You’re the one who should be in the ground!”

Looking at me breaking down, his expression twisted with disgust.

“Enough with the crazy act! Either divorce me, or withdraw your complaint and publicly apologize. If you don’t, I’ll make sure you’re ruined.”

And with that, he grabbed Vania’s hand and walked out.

The moment they were gone, I sank to the floor, cradling my daughter’s photo against my chest, and finally let the sobs tear through me.

I didn't know how long I cried, but when the storm inside me quieted, I picked up the divorce papers from the floor and signed my name without a second thought.