It turned out he wasn’t incapable of being gentle—he simply chose not to be with me.

Ms. Anderson and I waited at the orphanage gates early, though no one else could see me.

Daniel Harris saw only the director waiting and forced down his anger as he asked,

“Where is Grace Miller?”

Ms. Anderson trembled as she replied,

“Mr. Harris, Grace is truly dead.”

Daniel sneered,

“Then what, that brat was conceived out of thin air? Lies have their limits.”

“Same as before—if Grace doesn’t show herself within ten minutes, I’ll gouge out an orphan’s eyes and throw him from the rooftop.”

Hearing this, Ms. Anderson dropped to her knees, begging,

“Mr. Harris, I’m not lying. Lily was born through an emergency C-section after Grace passed away. Please, spare these children.”

At those words, Sophia Lee’s eyes flashed with cruelty and satisfaction.

I remembered how, years ago, when she disfigured my body and dumped me in the mountains, she had whispered,

“This way, not even God could recognize you.

If you carry that child to term, how could I ever become Mrs. Harris?”

Daniel raised his eyes, and at his signal, a bodyguard dragged out a random orphan and blinded him.

I cried out desperately,

“I’m right here, Daniel, I’m right in front of you!

Don’t do this to these children—they are innocent!”

Ms. Anderson rushed forward to stop him but was kicked to the ground. She could only watch as the blinded orphan was thrown from the rooftop.

I tried again and again to catch the child as he fell, but my hands grasped only air. I could only watch in horror as his body hit the ground, blood spilling from his mouth.

Ms. Anderson crawled to the boy, holding him in her arms, and pointed at Daniel:

“No wonder Grace never let Lily acknowledge you. A man like you will get what’s coming sooner or later!”

Daniel stepped forward, breaking her finger with a snap, and wiped his hands as he said coldly,

“This was only the first. If Grace refuses to show herself, I’ll keep throwing more.

It’s just a liver donation for Sophia—yet she clings so tightly to her life.”

Sophia stood weakly, pretending to collapse into Daniel’s arms. She whispered,

“Mr. Harris, maybe Ms. Miller just doesn’t want to see me.

Why don’t we leave? I can’t bear to see so many children die because of her…

Even though I truly want to stay by your side forever.”

Daniel gently wiped away her tears.

“You really are kindhearted. Don’t worry—Grace’s liver will be yours.”

Then he motioned for his bodyguards to seize the orphans one by one, dragging them out of their rooms. Dusting his sleeves, he said to Ms. Anderson,

“I’ll give you ten more minutes to reach Grace.

If she doesn’t show up, you know what will happen to these six children.”

Ms. Anderson threw my death certificate at him, her voice panicked,

“What more do you want? I already told you, Grace is dead.

Why can’t you understand plain words?

You can check this certificate yourself if you don’t believe me.”

I stood in front of the children, but Daniel’s men passed right through me, dragging the orphans out one by one. Cries of agony filled the orphanage as their limbs were broken.

Their blood stained my vision red. I tried to grab a shovel to fight Daniel, but my hands passed through it again and again.

Sophia watched, her eyes brimming with triumph, pretending to faint into Daniel’s embrace.

He quickly caught her, speaking softly—

“Sophia, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell again?”

Sophia nodded weakly.

“Mr. Harris, I feel like my illness is getting worse.

Grace refuses to come save me—is she still resentful about what happened back then?”

Daniel kissed her forehead gently and said,

“What’s there for her to resent? She’s the one who caused your allergy.

Letting her drink all that whiskey was already merciful.

Don’t worry, I’ll save you.”

But in his eyes flashed a cold ruthlessness. A chill ran through me, and I shouted, “Daniel, what are you planning?”

He couldn’t hear me. His bodyguards dragged Ms. Anderson before him. Daniel’s voice was icy:

“If you don’t tell me where Grace is, I’ll make you kill these orphans with your own hands.”

Unable to bear it, Ms. Anderson roared,

“I already told you, Grace is dead!”

Daniel spoke coldly,

“Seems you won’t cry until you see the coffin.”

Two bodyguards forced her hands, making her stab an orphan. Ms. Anderson struggled desperately but could not stop it. She fainted from the shock, only to be revived by a splash of water.

Around us, children cried out in terror,

“Mother Anderson, we’re scared!”

Hearing their voices, Daniel muttered,

“I almost forgot about that brat.”

I spread my arms instinctively to shield Lily, but a bodyguard passed through me and dragged her before him. Daniel pinched her chin, scrutinizing her face, then wiped his hands in disgust.

My daughter sobbed,

“Mother Anderson, where are you? I’m scared!”

Ms. Anderson crawled over and shouted,

“What else do you want? She’s your own daughter—why won’t you spare her?”

Daniel’s face twisted,

“Who told you that brat is mine?

Who knows which client Grace was fooling around with when she mixed drinks and got pregnant?

I never touched her.”

Ms. Anderson cursed furiously,

“That’s bullshit! I grew up with her—I know her better than anyone.

She spent her life’s savings building this orphanage. How could she be the kind of woman you say she is?

Only a filthy heart sees filth everywhere.”

I saw the fury in Daniel’s eyes and thought back to that night—

Six and a half years ago, Daniel had been drugged. To save him, I lay with him, but when I awoke, it was a stranger beside me.

Seeing Lily’s terrified face tore my heart apart.

Daniel stared at her and said,

“Grace, I’ll give you five minutes to appear in front of me. If you don’t, I’ll sever this brat’s arms.”

I floated frantically toward him, screaming, “I’m right here! I’m right in front of you!”

But he couldn’t hear me. Blood spilled across the floor, passing through my body, as Lily collapsed in pain.

Her cries broke me. I pounded Daniel’s chest, but my fists went through him. He walked past me to examine Lily, who was gasping for air.

She looked at Ms. Anderson weakly and whispered,

“Mother Anderson… help…”

Before she could finish, Ms. Anderson rushed to spray her medicine, but Daniel snatched it away—