Five years ago, my husband, Ethan Brooks stole my mother's life-saving medicine and gave it to his first love. They were deeply in love.

To keep my mother alive, I took the blame for someone else and traded three years of freedom for special medicine and one million dollars.

Before going to prison, I transferred the money to my mother’s account and asked Ethan to care for my mother and our children.

Ethan swore to treat my mother as his own and take good care of the family.

I endured three painful years behind bars,

clinging to the hope of reuniting with my mother, my children, and Ethan.

But when I was finally released,

I was devastated to learn that my mother had died the very day I was imprisoned.

Ethan had ignored her suffering and let her die. Worse, he had since built a new life with his first love, Vanessa Blake, and even had a child with her. My twins had come to see her as their mother.

Furious, I confronted Ethan, but he said without shame, “Your mother was old. Medicine wouldn’t have helped her. Vanessa was pregnant with my child. Of course, I had to save her. And luckily, you foolishly took the fall so our family could enjoy peace these past three years.”

His heartlessness enraged me, and the change in my children broke my heart.

Now, Ethan must pay a thousandfold for everything he’s done,

to repay what I lost!

“I don’t need a tainted woman as my wife anymore. Sign this and leave.”

Backed by the million I left behind, Ethan, now part of the nouveau riche, coldly tossed a divorce agreement in front of me. I was still reeling from the news of my mother’s death.

“The kids don’t need a mother like you either. Give up custody, and I might give you 200,000. That should be enough to start over.”

“Never!” I choked back my tears, tore the divorce papers, and flung the pieces at him. Just looking at his face made me sick.

“I will never let my children live with a murderer like you!”

“Murderer? Tessa Morgan, are you insane? Maybe you should hear what the kids have to say.”

At his signal, the nanny brought in the twins. They looked straight at Ethan, completely ignoring me.

“Jordan,Riley, I’m your mother. Come to me!” After three long years apart, I called out to them with all my love.

“Mom? You’re not our mom. Auntie Vanessa is our mother. You’re just a dirty criminal—an evil woman!”

My son, once angelic, now spat venom and bit my face.

“What are you even wearing? So gross. Are you a beggar or a homeless person?”

Jordan looked at me with scorn. Not even eight years old, she was dressed like a pageant queen—caked in makeup, her hair dyed pale blonde.

“How dare you let my children become like this?” My heart ached, and I knew this was all Ethan’s doing.

I screamed at him, but he casually raised his phone and started recording.

“What are you filming?! Stop!” I lunged at him, but two towering bodyguards grabbed me roughly and dragged me toward the basement.

“Let me go! You have no right!”

I thrashed and fought, but it was no use. They threw me into a filthy, suffocating utility room.

“Tessa, I gave you a chance. You wasted it.” Ethan stood outside smugly, then called a mental hospital right in front of me. “…Yes, my wife’s unstable. I’ve tried to help her, but she keeps lashing out. I’m concerned for her... and for the children’s safety.” His voice cracked, sounding like the perfectly worried husband and father. The video he had taken worked in his favor. The hospital confirmed they would take me within 72 hours.

“Enjoy your last bit of ‘freedom,’ Tessa. You were born to be locked up.”

Ethan sneered and ordered the guards to watch me closely. No matter what I said or promised, they were not to let me out.

As he walked away, I finally broke down. I never imagined that my release would be worse than prison.

But I quickly pulled myself together. I wiped away my tears, crouched in the corner, and with trembling hands, took out my phone to send a message to the number I’d memorized.

The man who once took the blame for me had wealth and influence beyond imagination. He had sent his agent to visit me in prison, leaving a number and a promise: no matter how difficult, he’d help me—just once.

I had planned to use that favor for Ethan or the children.

But now, it was clear—I didn’t need to.

Just as I was about to hit send, the door slammed open. Ethan barged in and snatched the phone.

“Thanks to Vanessa’s reminder, I figured you must’ve picked up all sorts of tricks in prison,” he growled, crushing my phone under his heel. “Don’t push me again. This is for your own good.”

The door slammed shut again, cutting me off completely from the outside world. But I refused to give up.

I lay by the door, watched quietly, then started yelling and thrashing around the room. I feigned madness, breaking things.

When I tried setting fire to an old wooden cabinet, one bodyguard finally snapped.

“Shut up, you bitch!” He shouted, landing a brutal kick to my ribs.

If the other guard hadn’t stepped in, I would’ve been badly injured. But I got what I wanted—I stole his phone from his jacket. I had already seen the unlock code.

I quickly sent a plea for help to the gentleman.

“Ms. Morgan, please hang on. I’ll come for you and the children in three days.”

Relief washed over me as I read the reply.

Curled up and broken, I closed my eyes, my mother’s frail image flashing in my mind.

I swore then and there—Ethan will pay for my mother’s death, my stolen freedom, and every cruel thing he’s done!

After 20 hours, I still hadn’t received any food or water. It felt as though everyone in the house had completely forgotten I even existed.

"I need water—just a little, please!"

The utility room was stifling and unbearably hot. My body was nearing dehydration, and I had no choice but to plead with the bodyguards. They only sneered at me.

“No water here, but there’s plenty of piss. Hahaha!”

Amid their cruel laughter, I forced myself to stay calm. Holding my broken ribs, I curled up in a corner, aching and determined to survive the next two days and nights.

I had to hold on—for myself, and for my children.

Just then, the utility room door opened. Vanessa walked in, clad in luxurious designer clothes, more radiant than she was three years ago.

"Tessa, you must be starving, right? Here's the lunch I specially prepared for you. Don’t be shy."

She tossed a large dog bowl at me with a smirk, then snapped her fingers. One bodyguard dumped a bowl full of rotten leftovers into it, while another grabbed my head and forced it toward the bowl.

“Vanessa, this is too much!” I resisted desperately, almost snapping more bones. The stench of decay made me gag.

“Too much? I’m just getting started.” Vanessa sneered. “Did you know Ethan only married you because we’d broken up? Even on your wedding night, he was in my bed.”

Her words stunned me. I suddenly recalled Ethan’s disappearance that night—he claimed he drank too much and slept in the garage. I’d believed him.

Realizing that my marriage was nothing but a cruel joke shattered something inside me.

“And you’ve met your twins now, haven’t you? I’ve trained them well, haven’t I?”

There was a flicker of madness in her eyes. It was clear who really belonged in a mental institution.

“Guess how old Riley will be when she lands in jail? And Jordan... ha!”

She laughed coldly, dragging her sharp nails across my cheek like she wanted to rip my face off.

“I can’t stand looking at her—it’s like staring at a younger version of you. But at least she’s useful. She’s already entered a few beauty pageants, and some talent agencies are interested... Don’t worry, Tessa. I’ll turn your daughter into my golden goose.”

“They’re just kids! You’re a mother too—how can you be so heartless?”

I screamed, hoping to awaken some shred of maternal instinct in her.

“Heartless?” She ground her stiletto into my face, forcing it closer to the foul slope.

“Once I raise them fully as mine, they’ll get all of Ethan’s love and inheritance. No one will take them from me.”

“You’ll regret this, Vanessa! You will!”

My chest heaved with fury as the taste of blood filled my mouth.

“Maybe,” she said coolly, “but for now, if you don’t eat every bit of this within thirty minutes, I promise you’ll wish you were never born.”

“I’ll never do it.” I refused the humiliation.

“Then your children will eat it instead.”

The moment she said that, I looked into her eyes and realized she meant every word.

I took a bite. The spoiled food turned my stomach instantly. Vanessa laughed maniacally, holding her phone in my face to film the scene. Her laughter lashed at me like a whip.

“These will go viral. People will love it.”

She finally left. As soon as the door slammed shut, I forced my fingers down my throat and vomited everything out.

Each retch sent stabbing pain through my ribs. The agony was so intense, I passed out.

I awoke to the reek of alcohol and the heavy weight of a man forcing himself on me.

“Tessa, you’re still so gorgeous. I missed you. You missed me too, didn’t you?”

Ethan, reeking of booze, mumbled as he clawed at my clothes.

“Get off me, you animal! This is rape!”

I fought him with all my strength and sank my teeth into his wrist. He screamed in pain.

“You filthy bitch! How dare you!” He slapped me so hard, my head slammed into the cabinet behind me, and I nearly blacked out again.

“Tessa, we’re still married. You’re my wife. This is your duty.”

He pressed down on me, his face twisted with lust.

“No!” I fought with everything I had. I was starving, broken, and exhausted, but I refused to give in.

Suddenly, my hand brushed against a rusted fork.

I was just about to stab him when the utility room lights flicked on.

Vanessa, wearing a silk nightgown and looking icy, stood at the door.

“She seduced me!” Ethan immediately tried to shift the blame. “I only came to shut her up, but she... she started stripping and seducing me!”

“You slut who can’t live without a man! Tessa, your mother should see how cheap you’ve become.”

Vanessa shed all pretense of elegance and spat her insults venomously—but clearly, that wasn’t enough for her.

“She’s all yours.” She snapped her fingers mockingly at the bodyguard whose eyes were glued to my exposed body. “Have your fun. Invite more if you want—just don’t kill her.”

“Vanessa, isn’t this a bit too—” Ethan hadn’t expected her to go this far and tried to intervene.

But before he could finish, Vanessa’s eyes welled up with tears.

“You really do love her more! Ethan, what am I to you? A side piece? A plaything? I was such a fool to believe you only loved me! Fine. I’ll leave and take our son. Go enjoy your perfect little family of four!”

Ethan panicked and wrapped her tightly in his arms. “Vanessa, don’t say that! I only love you. I’d do anything for you. Tessa? She’s just a mutt who breeds well. If it makes you happy, do whatever you want with her!”

Vanessa appeared touched by his words and began sobbing harder—but behind his back, she looked at me with a victorious smirk.

Then she leaned in and whispered something in Ethan’s ear with a teasing glint in her eyes. He immediately scooped her into his arms and carried her upstairs to the bedroom, completely forgetting what he had left me to face.

The utility room door shut once again. The bodyguard eagerly tore off his tie, walking toward me with a vile grin. His massive frame blocked the light like a looming shadow.

“...Might sting a bit at first, but I promise you’ll enjoy it.”

He reached for me—but just as he was about to make contact, I plunged the rusted fork into my own neck, and blood sprayed everywhere.

“Ah!” The bodyguard, face splattered in blood, froze in shock, then screamed like a siren.

I couldn’t help but smile faintly. It was a prison trick—designed to look fatal, but avoid hitting anything vital.

But I am too weak now. Days without water, the fever, and sudden blood loss dragged me into a haze.

“If she dies, we’re done for!” I barely heard Ethan’s panicked shouting before I passed out completely.

When I arrived, I was lying in a hospital bed. My wounds were bandaged with care.

No one was in the room. A wave of hope surged in me—I climbed off the bed, determined to escape.

But as I peeked outside, I saw two of Ethan’s bodyguards stationed at the end of the corridor.

Luckily, the doctor’s office was across the hall, its door slightly ajar.

I waited for the right moment and slipped inside unnoticed.

No one was there. I spotted a phone on the desk and dialed the gentleman’s emergency number.

“Ms. Morgan? Are you safe now?” His voice was gentle, full of concern.

His kindness shattered the wall I’d held up. Tears spilled over.

“No... I’m not safe. Not even close.”

Every word made my neck throb with pain, and I trembled uncontrollably—but I couldn’t stop talking.

He was the only hope I had left.

“My husband’s girlfriend used my kids to threaten me. She made me eat rotten food like a dog. I stabbed myself to escape being gang-raped… Sir, I’m at the state hospital now. I... I don’t know if I can make it to our agreed meeting time.”

He was furious—his voice trembled with anger—but he stayed composed.

“Ms. Morgan, give me five hours. I’ll be there before sunset.”

I was about to thank him when I heard hurried footsteps approaching.

I quickly hung up and ducked behind the desk.

A young male doctor entered first—followed by Vanessa.

What stunned me even more was what happened next—they kissed, passionately, like lovers who couldn’t be apart.

I covered my mouth and nose, terrified even my breathing would give me away.

“...Baby, we need to stop,” Vanessa finally said, pulling away faster than him.

I saw the man’s name tag: “Ryan Blake.”

Then it clicked—I’d heard that name before. He was the son of Vanessa’s stepfather. Her half-brother.

“I hate hearing that name.” Ryan gripped her waist so tightly it looked like he wanted to merge her into himself.

“When are you going to leave, Ethan? I swear, I’m going mad. I can’t stand knowing my woman is in another man’s bed—or my son calling him father!”

“Baby, just a little longer.”

Vanessa cradled his face and kissed him softly. “I hate him more than you do. One more month. He’ll be ruined. I’ll take everything. Then the three of us can disappear—together.”