When I got back to the old villa, a strange chill crept over me. The place was just as I remembered—same familiar faces, except now there were two new ones: Tessa and Acee.

As soon as we walked in, Acee’s tiny legs carried him straight toward Gerard. He ran into his arms, and Gerard lifted him up with an affectionate smile.

“Gerard, Vikki, welcome back,” Mom greeted. “Today’s a great day—Tessa’s back, too! If someone here could finally give us a child, we’d really have double the joy.”

She meant to nag me again, her words full of dissatisfaction.

Tessa curved her lips into a smug smile. “Mom, don’t be mad. Acee, call her Grandma. Mom, just treat him like your real grandson.”

‘If only she knew he actually is her real grandson,’ I thought bitterly. ‘Would she still be this calm and kind?’

After dinner, the same old routine began again—pressuring me to have a baby.

“Vikki, you’re not getting any younger,” Mom said pointedly. “You’ve tried all sorts of remedies. Maybe it’s time for another hospital checkup.”

Before I could reply, Acee suddenly threw a tantrum when he heard that.

“No! No! I don’t want my daddy to have another baby!”

He burst into tears, clutching Gerard’s pant leg with all his might.

Everyone present had different reactions—some were watching the drama, some were angry.

“Sweetie,” Tessa bent down, wiping the tears off Acee’s face, “he’s not your daddy, remember?”

But Acee only cried harder. “No! You’re lying! He is my daddy! You even have his picture in your wallet!”

Dad’s face turned thunderous. His glare fixed on Tessa and the boy, the air thick with humiliation.

“Vikki,” he said sharply, “tell me this isn’t my son’s child.”

Gerard tugged at my sleeve under the table, his gaze threatening.

“Dad, Mom, this boy isn’t Gerard’s. He’s always with me. How could he have time for someone else?” I lied.

Mom’s eyes welled up with relief. She had always liked Tessa.

But Dad’s cold voice was unyielding. “The Blandings won’t be made a laughingstock. Get her out of this country. She’s never to return.”

Before anyone could react, the ashtray on the table flew through the air and struck Gerard’s shoulder with a heavy thud. He grunted, clearly in pain, but tried to hold it in.

“Gerard!” Tessa shouted, rushing to his side, completely forgetting about her son. “Are you okay?”

Her gentle hands came to rest on his shoulder, her voice soft and tender.

I stared at the scene in front of me, then suddenly stood up. “You know what? You’re the ones who look like a real family. I’ll leave you to it.”

I grabbed my bag and stormed toward the door.

“Gerard! What are you doing just standing there? Go after your wife! Now!” Dad urged, frustrated with his son.

But Gerard didn’t even move. His tone was cold and detached.

“She’s got that temper because you’ve spoiled her. Let her cool off. Who’s she taking her attitude out on every day?”

I walked out of my in-laws’ villa, got into the car I’d booked ahead of time, and told the driver to head straight for a private studio.

It was a place that specialized in creating hyper-realistic human replicas—so lifelike, they could easily be mistaken for the real thing.

“Ma’am, your data’s been collected,” the technician said. “Your order will be ready in seven days.”

I handed over the deposit without hesitation. Seven days from now, I’d be long gone.

Later, sitting leisurely in a café, I called my lawyer. “Attorney, how’s the information I asked you to gather?”

“Everything’s been collected according to your instructions,” he replied. “But we discovered something else—your mother’s caught up in a massive debt issue.”

“That’s impossible,” I muttered in disbelief. “She quit gambling years ago.”

“Well, it seems your husband encouraged her to start again. She now owes fifty million,” he explained.

What a husband! How could he do something so despicable?!

In my rage, I frantically dialed Gerard’s number. He was not picking up the phone until, after a few more rings, the call finally connected.

“Gerard!” I yelled over the speaker. “Are you out of your mind? My mom fought so hard to quit gambling, and you pushed her back into it? Don’t you really have any conscience?!”

Vikki’s POV

I was caught by the rocky ledge beneath the cliff, and only rescued the next morning by some fishermen who happened to pass by.

By then, I was covered in blood, and pain shot through every bone in my body.

When I woke up, I rushed home as fast as I could. I had to grab all my documents and leave.

Under the blazing sun, I walked for three straight hours until I finally reached the front gate—only to freeze in shock.

The villa was hosting a wild celebration. A huge banner hung across the courtyard with striking words printed on it.

[Congratulations to Vikki Presnell on the First Day of Her Eternal Life!]

Eternal life?!

I had been forced off a cliff, my life or death uncertain, and they were calling it eternal life?!

Fuming, I shoved the door open. Everyone turned toward me in shock.

“What’s this? Eternal life? Funny, I didn’t get the memo,” I snapped sarcastically.

The moment Gerard saw me, there was a flicker of surprise in his eyes. But it was quickly swallowed by anger.

“Jack said you were dead! Vikki, do you think it’s fun to scare people like this? Do you have any idea? Tessa was so worried last night she barely slept!”

Pain burned through my body, but I still couldn’t stop the bitter laugh curling at my lips. Then, my hand came down hard across his face.

“You’ve got some nerve. Your wife’s missing and possibly dead, and you’re off having fun with your so-called sister!”

“And you—” I turned and slapped Tessa, too. “Was the last punishment not enough for you?”

Her delicate face quickly turned bright red, a trickle of blood appearing at the corner of her mouth.

“You hit my mommy! You hit my mommy!”

Acee came charging at me, pounding my leg with his fists right where I was injured. Blood quickly seeped through my bandages as I tried to step back.

But the boy stumbled and hit the corner of the table. His forehead split open, blood streaming down as his cries pierced the room.

“Mommy! It hurts!”

A shrill voice shouted, “You wretched woman! How dare you hurt my child! Gerard, look at her!”

Veins popped along Gerard’s temple. He shoved me hard toward the door.

“Looks like Jack went easy on you when he taught you a lesson. He said you fell off a cliff—what, was this your little stunt for attention?”

I staggered, barely staying on my feet, my tone sharp as glass.

“So that’s why you threw me a party? Was this grand celebration held to honor my supposed immortality?!”

He didn’t answer. He just scooped up the boy and rushed to the hospital with Tessa, who gave me a smug little smirk before walking out.

As the guests scattered and the laughter died, I stood in the wreckage, shaking, when my phone rang.

“What? My mom’s in the ER?!”

I’d led the danger away from her. How could she still have been hurt?

I ran straight to the hospital, but the moment I arrived, two bodyguards blocked my way.

“Sorry, ma’am. The CEO ordered us not to let you in. Please understand it’s our job.”

Tears streamed down my face as I begged in desperation.

“Please, I’m begging you! Let me in! My mom’s in the ER! She’s waiting for me!”

My forehead slammed against the wall as I pleaded, but they remained cold and unmoved.

Over the phone, the doctor issued one critical notice after another.

I knew Gerard was there somewhere, so I shouted at the top of my lungs.

“Gerard! Let me see my mom one last time! I swear I’ll never bother you again! Forget your stupid tests! I’ll leave you for good!”

It was nearly dusk when he finally showed up.

“Fine,” he said flatly. “You can see Acee, but don’t you dare hurt him again. And stop using your mother as an excuse. That fake five-million-debt story? It’s pathetic.”

I didn’t even hear the rest. Just moments earlier, I’d received a call from the hospital—the death notice.

“We regret to inform you that despite all efforts, your mother failed to respond to resuscitation and has passed away. Please proceed to the morgue to confirm the identity of the deceased. Our deepest condolences.”

Vikki’s POV

I dragged my heavy steps toward the morgue.

Gerard, that dumbass, actually thought I was going to visit his son. But that kid’s room and where my mom was were two entirely opposite paths.

The morgue was cold and eerie, the kind of chill that seeped straight into your bones.

I searched for a long time but couldn’t find her.

“Nurse,” I asked, “where’s Claire Presnell?”

The nurse’s reply lingered in my ears. “She passed away not long ago. Her son-in-law already claimed the body.”

Thunder roared in my head. Her son-in-law? How could Gerard have taken my mom’s body? He’d always kept his distance from her, as if she were something filthy.

I stormed into Acee’s hospital room, fury burning through me.

“Gerard! Give me back my mom!” I demanded.

But the voice that answered wasn’t his—it was soft, feminine, and dripping with hatred.

“Stop shouting. What would he even want with your mother’s corpse?

“Your mother’s probably a handful of ashes by now. Maybe even turned into fertilizer to nourish the flowers.

“No matter how much you scream, it won’t change anything. You might as well accept it.”

I immediately panicked and shouted.

“Why would you do this? You didn’t even let me see her one last time!” Suddenly, I remembered something. “No, that’s impossible. They can’t release a body without the family’s consent. You’re lying, aren’t you?”

Tessa let out a mocking laugh.

“Don’t you get it yet? Of course, Gerard gave his consent. Do you really think I could’ve done it without his permission?”

“I did it to shut you up forever,” she continued. “I couldn’t deal with you, but your mother? She was much easier. Don’t worry. I made sure she went peacefully.”

The room fell deathly silent.

I snapped. Rage blinded me as I lunged at her. But before I could reach her, she grabbed my wrist and forced my hand around her own throat.

She struggled and shouted, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Don’t! Vikki! I have a child to take care of! Please let me go!”

That was when I saw Gerard walking in.

Tessa whispered through her tears, low enough for only me to hear.

“Anyone who knows my secrets doesn’t get to live. And I’ll be taking back what’s mine, especially him, of course.”

Suddenly, I realized—she resented me knowing that she was sent abroad all because she got pregnant from an affair.

Her family had to send her far away from home to cover up this scandal.

“You’ve gone too far, Vikki!” Gerard roared like a beast. “We’re done. I want a divorce!”

With a single order, he wanted to sever all ties with me.

He shoved me so hard I instantly fell to the floor. Desperation clawed at my throat as I looked up at him.

“Do you have any idea what she’s done? She killed my mother and burned her to ashes! I didn’t even get to see her one last time!” I cried.

“You told me she was in a nursing home! Where is she, Gerard? Bring her to me!” I demanded.

But he only saw my grief as an act, earning even worse mockery from him.

“That’s good. She’s dead. Saves me from cleaning up her messes.”

Then, he spat, “Stop showing up in front of us. I feel disgusted just looking at you.”

My heart grew cold and numb as I watched him carry away Tessa, who had been pretending to be in pain all along.

‘Mom,’ I thought bitterly, ‘this is the son-in-law you kept praising in my face.’

After that, I pulled myself together and hired a private investigator to find my mother’s remains.

“Ma’am,” he said, “she had your mother’s ashes… dumped into this flowerpot.”

I took the pot from his hands with trembling fingers, then asked an expert to separate as much of the ashes as possible.

Later, I buried my mother alone in the Maplewood Memorial Park.

Meanwhile, Gerard stayed in the hospital, tending to his so-called foster sister.

A few days later, I got a call. “Ma’am, the human replica model you ordered is ready. When would you like us to deliver it?”

I paused for a moment, thinking. Then I made up my mind.

“Three days from now, please send it to 18 Hawthorne Drive, Willow Creek Estates.”