Dario's words plunged me into an icy abyss.

"Mom... it hurts..."

Irene's voice grew fainter by the second. I couldn't think straight anymore. 

I shoved open the door and yelled at the driver, "Stop the car immediately or I'll jump out!"

The driver was startled and slammed on the brakes and the car came to an abrupt halt.

Without another word, I scooped Irene up and rushed out.

"Ma'am, where are you going?"

The driver tried to dissuade us, but the honking from the vehicles behind him grew relentless.

With no other choice, he restarted the engine and sped away.

Holding Irene close, I flagged down a passing truck and begged the driver to rush us to the hospital.

The hospital emergency room was packed. The doctor frowned as he examined Irene.

After determining the cause, he turned to me, his face flushed with anger, "How do you raise a child? You didn't even know the food had expired?"

My heart sank.

That vicious woman, Cecilia—she actually fed Irene spoiled food?

Fortunately, Irene had eaten only a little at lunchtime. The doctor said we'd brought her in just in time—an IV drip would be enough to send her home.

Relieved, I hurried Irene to the ward for the IV.

Just as the nurse inserted the IV needle, hurried footsteps echoed outside the door.

"Valerie, what the hell are you doing?"

Seeing Dario enter, I was overcome with fury. 

I slammed the medical records against his chest and shouted accusingly, "Look at this! This is the 'care' your wonderful housekeeper gave us."

Dario glanced at the chart, his brow furrowing slightly, "Cecilia wouldn't be this careless. It must be the kitchen maid who used the wrong ingredients."

I was so furious I could barely contain my laughter. Even now, he was twisting the truth to defend Cecilia.

I grabbed his collar and demanded coldly, "Dario, have you grown tired of us—me and my daughter?"

Dario grabbed my hand and hurriedly protested, "You disappeared for seven years and not a single day went by without me searching for you."

His eyes suddenly welled up with tears as he spoke, "Valerie, do you have any idea how I endured these 2,500 days and nights?"

But I didn't want to hear it.  "Enough. Let's get a divorce!"

As the words fell, Dario froze as if struck by lightning.

His face twisted in disbelief as he stammered, "Valerie, don't joke like this. You know how much I love you..."

Before he could finish, his phone rang urgently.

He suppressed his sorrow and quickly answered the call from Cecilia, "What? Jerry's gone missing?"

After hanging up, his face darkened as he demanded in a hoarse voice, "Valerie, Jerry only said a few harsh words. How could you hire someone to kidnap him?"

I froze in shock, suddenly thinking Dario seemed like a moron.

Before I could defend myself, he grabbed my neck, twisted my arm behind my back and dragged me out of the hospital room.

"You're coming back with me now! If you don't hand Jerry over, I'll make sure you never see Irene again."

"Let go of me! I didn't kidnap him." I struggled desperately, but it was useless.

He shoved me into the car and sped home at breakneck speed.

Cecilia stood anxiously at the front door. As soon as we got out of the car, she threw herself into Dario's arms, sobbing, "Jerry was walking Black outside just now when he suddenly let out a terrible scream and vanished."

"I'm so scared... It's all my fault for not watching Jerry properly..."

Dario comforted her gently, then turned his gaze to me with a fierce glare as he threatened, "If you don't want anything to happen to Irene, tell me exactly where Jerry is!"

Watching them embrace, my heart felt like it had been wrenched.

For the sake of an adopted son, Dario was willing to hurt me and my daughter.

 "If Jerry is missing, why didn't you just call the police?" I demanded angrily, trembling with rage.

Cecilia nestled in Dario's embrace, turning her head slightly to glance at me. A venomous glint flashed in her eyes.

Seeing I wouldn't confess, Dario pushed Cecilia away and strode over, grabbing me by the throat, "I don't have time for your nonsense!” 

“If you don't talk, I'll have my secretary throw Irene off the balcony."

My heart clenched and I unconsciously tightened my fists.

A bitter smile spread across my face as I finally relented, "Fine. Take me to a place and I'll tell you."

"What trick are you trying to pull now?"

Dario watched me get into the car, half suspicious, half wary.

Then he followed me inside.

"Where are we going?"

"Winslow Mountain."

Without hesitation, he started the car and drove off.

Winslow Mountain was a tourist attraction in the city's suburbs. The car took less than half an hour to reach the mountain's base.

"Take the cable car up. Jerry will be waiting for you at the summit."

After saying that, I pulled him into the sightseeing cable car.

The greenery beneath us gradually receded. I turned to look out the window—it was about time.

I pulled a battered smartwatch from my bag, tapped the screen a few times and an old voice played, "Let's go!” 

“Leave her to die in the mountains. This landslide will bury plenty of people anyway."

"But Mr. Finley, the lady still seems to be breathing..."

"I said retreat, do you not understand?"

Dario's face turned as white as paper upon hearing this. "Valerie, where did you get this recording?"

I scoffed, "Recorded by the watch. Have you forgotten what day it was when you forgot to bring me up the mountain to watch the sunrise?"

He looked visibly stunned, unable to respond.

My lips parted softly, "It was our three-year anniversary. I turned on the recorder to capture the beauty of this day."

"But who knew... you were harboring murderous intent..."

His pupils trembled violently.

As if struck by a heavy blow, his entire back pressed against the seat.

But he quickly regained his composure, his face darkening as he said, "Jerry wasn't on the mountain at all. You lied to me, didn't you?"

I twisted my lips into a cold smile and rose from the seat.

"That's right. I have no idea where Jerry is. Bringing you here..." 

"Just to kill you!"

Before I could finish, I slammed open the cable car door.

Dario saw the danger and immediately tried to stop me, but I held him tightly.

"You're going to kill me and Irene. I have no reason to spare you out of old affection."

"Dario, come die with me!"

The cable car glided through the sky, its doors opening onto a thousand-meter-deep ravine below.

A cold wind whistled through the open door, buffeting Dario and me back and forth.

"Valerie, have you lost your mind? Close the door! Do you hear me?"

I clutched his shoulders desperately, screaming hysterically, "Take Irene home or I'll push you out!"

Dario was already backed up against the doorway. One more step and he'd be doomed.

He swallowed hard and cautiously replied, "Fine, I'll do it!"

"Let go of me. I'll call my secretary right now."

Taking advantage of his distraction, I swiftly reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone and dialed his secretary's number.

He was terrified and quickly turned to shut the door.

"Talk! Don't try any tricks—I've already sent the recording to my trusted best friend."

After weighing his options, he obediently did as I said.

Just as we reached the mountaintop, Cecilia's call came through. Jerry's voice came over the speaker, "Daddy, where'd you go?"

"I snuck out to buy you a big cake. Hurry home! I'm throwing you a birthday party and singing 'Happy Birthday' for you."

Dario's furrowed brow finally relaxed a little.

"Alright, I'll be right back. Next time, remember to tell Cecil when you go out alone!"

Dario drove me home with a stern expression.

At the gate, Irene had been waiting for me for ages.

Just as I was about to pick up my daughter and head inside, Dario suddenly grabbed my arm and said, "Valerie, you're ill."

"Starting today, Dr. Chuck, the psychiatric specialist, will be staying at our home to monitor your condition around the clock."

With that, he bellowed for the bodyguards to come.

"Take the lady back to her room and keep her under strict 24-hour surveillance!"

My heart clenched. I spun around to flee, but the surrounding bodyguards seized me tightly.

A maid rushed forward and snatched Irene from my arms.

"Dario, you can't do this to me!"

Before I could finish, the bodyguards hoisted me up. Ignoring my kicks and punches, they forcibly dragged me back to the bedroom.

Inside the room, Dr. Chuck examined me with a grave expression, "Madam, I believe you may require long-term treatment."

"No, I'm not sick! I still have to take care of my daughter."

I was overcome with emotion and tried to get up from the bed.

Dr. Chuck held me down, his eyes cold beneath his mask as he spoke, "If you cooperate with the treatment, Mr. Finley will allow you to raise your daughter."

Just then, Irene's cries pierced the room, "Mommy, I want to see my mommy!"

My heart clenched in pain and I immediately pushed the bodyguard's hand away to rise.

Just as I burst through the door, a furious shout erupted behind me, "Valerie!"

Dario had caught up. I ignored him and kept running forward.

The next second, two strong hands seized my arms with deadly grip.

"Let go of me, you beast!"

As I spun around, Dario slapped me hard across the face.

"Dr. Chuck, calm her down!"

I was pinned down on the bed again. Dr. Chuck quickly prepared the medicine and personally handed me a glass of water.

Staring at the colorful pills, I couldn't help but shiver all over.

For seven years on the island, I had been force-fed all kinds of drugs like this.

Those days of agony worse than death seemed to descend upon me once more, sending a chill through my very bones.

"I won't take them. Take them away!"

Dario impatiently grabbed the pills and tried to force them into my mouth. Enraged, I bit him hard.

"Ah!" He stared at me in disbelief, utterly disgusted, "Valerie, you've lost your mind!"

Then he turned to the bodyguard and ordered, "Feed her the medicine!"

I roared back, "Dario, how could you go back on your word?"

His voice was bone-chillingly cold, "If you keep this up, I'll have Dr. Chuck restrain you and administer electroconvulsive therapy."

Held down by the bodyguards, I couldn't move, clenching my jaw so hard my teeth ached.

After being forced to swallow the pills, I heard Irene and Jerry bickering in the garden outside the window.

I hurried to the window and peered down, catching Jerry mocking Irene with vicious cruelty, "My real dad tucks me in every night. Do you even have a dad?"

Irene hung her head, unable to respond.

"My dad gave my mom the biggest diamond ring in the world. What does your mom have on her?"

Dario had once promised to give me the world's largest diamond ring. But now, that very ring sparkled on Cecilia's finger.

A dull ache gripped my chest and tears welled up in my eyes.

Just then, my finger accidentally touched the smartwatch screen, playing an unnamed recording, "Even if Jerry was exposed, you didn't have to bring her home!"

"Cecilia, are you jealous?"

"And that filthy girl—get rid of her immediately! I refuse to let my son live with a bastard."

"I'll send Irene away tomorrow. As for Valerie, I've kept her under house arrest for seven years, fed her countless pills and brainwashed her over and over."

"She's on the verge of a mental breakdown and losing her ability to care for herself. Then I'll get all of the Blair Family's assets."

"That's more like it. Come sleep in my room,"

Hearing this, my heart turned to ashes.

So Jerry really was Dario and Cecilia's child.

What was more, all the suffering I endured these past seven years was entirely Dario's doing.

Hatred surged within me. I swiftly tapped my smartwatch and dialed my father's number, "Dad, I want a divorce!"

"Come pick me up right away! I'll agree to your previous demand—I'll marry into the Mathews Family."

My father sounded taken aback. But he didn't ask questions. 

He immediately agreed, "Alright, I'll be right there."

After hanging up, I gathered a few changes of clothes in my room and stuffed them all into my backpack.

The helicopter my father sent arrived late at night. I escaped through the window, holding Irene in my arms.

Once aboard, I tossed the pre-prepared divorce papers through the window of their bedroom.

As the helicopter rapidly ascended into the sky, I watched the villa shrink into a dark speck below and said coldly, "Dario, we'll never meet again!"