I had just given birth when the country sent me on a secret mission that kept me undercover for seven years.

When it finally ended, I came home on leave. I was eager to see my husband and children, whom I had missed every single day.

However, the moment my car stopped at the gate, I saw my two children—my most precious treasures—being shoved down the steps by a woman. They tumbled hard, and they were covered in bruises.

The next second, three snarling wolfhounds were released from the house, and they pounced on the children with bared teeth.

Fury surged through me, and I charged forward. I got the dogs away with a few swift kicks and punches.

Amid the animals’ pitiful howls, my ten-year-old son instinctively shielded his sister. His young face was pale with fear.

Meanwhile, my eight-year-old daughter snapped out of her daze and trembled as she urged me to leave.

“Miss, run! You hurt her dogs, and if Dad finds out, he won’t let you get away with it!”

I forced down my anger and gently said, “She set the dogs on you first. Even if your dad were here, he’d protect you just like I did.”

I did not expect this to make their eyes instantly fill with tears.

Alarmed, I was about to ask what was wrong when a woman’s arrogant voice rang out.

“You vagrant! I have a close relationship with Martin Gray, and I’m also the lady of the Gray family!

“You and these two brats who dirtied my house aren’t leaving in one piece today!”

I froze for a second before I took a deep breath and called my husband.

“Martin, who’s this woman proclaiming to be the lady of the Gray family? Where did she come from? You’d better have a good explanation for this. And tell me, when did the house I left for John and Katy get a new owner?”

Seven years ago, I took on an urgent mission from my organization. As a result, I had to fake my death and go undercover abroad.

To compensate me, the leader of the organization gave me a villa in the city center. It was worth over a hundred million dollars. This way, my daughter and son would have a roof over their heads while I was gone.

I never thought that the two children I treasured would be violently thrown out of their own home.

I was burning with anger and ready to confront Martin Gray.

However, when my call went through, an arrogant woman answered instead.

“Who are you, crazy woman? Mr. Gray only answers Miss Jenny’s calls when he’s having his meals.

“Don’t push your luck, you shameless social climber!”

The next second, she hung up without giving me a chance to speak.

I froze in disbelief.

I knew Martin’s rule about not answering calls during meals. But he once told me that I was an exception.

Hence, I had kept my old number when I faked my death for seven years. I was afraid that he would feel guilty if he hung up on me by mistake.

Yet, the one exception to his rule had become someone else.

For seven years, my longing for him carried me through countless life-and-death situations.

However, just before we could reunite, he struck me with such a heavy blow.

Seeing me lose face, Jenny sneered.

“I thought you had some pull. Turns out you’re just some woman who got into bed with him before.

“Trying to get him into a love scam, aren’t you? Take a good look at yourself first.”

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes to suppress my anger.

It was not that I could not accept Martin being with another woman. When I took that dangerous undercover mission, I was already prepared to make sacrifices. I did not expect him to stay single for me forever.

Even so, he had promised to take care of our children and always keep them happy.

Yet, my son was all skin and bones, while my daughter’s face had a yellow tint from malnutrition. At the age when they should be growing, they were so frail. It looked like a gust of wind could knock them over.

It hurt to see them huddled together and covered in bruises. They were clinging to each other as if their lives depended on it, and my heart felt like it was being torn apart.

“Don’t be scared. I’ll take you kids far away.”

I held their hands on either side and did not even think about settling scores. I just wanted to get them home and take care of them.

How could I not make up for those seven lost years?

However, just as I was ready to spare them this once, someone insisted on getting in my way and provoking me.

“Leaving? You hurt my dogs and think you can leave?”

Jenny let out a mocking laugh.

“Bodyguards, arrest them all!

“A witch like you is trying to play the hero? I’ll show you who really rules here.”

The bodyguards in the yard surrounded us, and the three vicious dogs I had knocked down got back on their feet. They bared their teeth and eyed us like they were ready to pounce.

I quickly shielded the children behind me and shouted, “Jenny, don’t you dare!”

With the skills I had honed while being undercover for seven years, a dozen bodyguards were nothing to me.

However, with two young children here, I had to hold back. At my level, I could cause bloodshed and deal a killing blow in just one move. That brief moment of hesitation was all it took for my son to break free from my grasp.

“Miss Jenny! Please let my sister and this lady go!” John threw himself at Jenny’s feet and cried out with desperation as he begged her repeatedly.

“You can punish me however you want! Just don’t hurt them! Please don’t hurt my sister! Katy’s been weak since she was little! She can’t survive a beating! I’m begging you!”

“John, don’t!” The moment my daughter saw him rush forward, her eyes were filled with tears. She broke free from my grasp and dropped to her knees beside him. “Miss Jenny! Miss Jenny, don’t hit my brother! I don’t want Mom’s photo anymore! My brother and I will leave the Gray family! We’ll never cause you and Dad… Mr. Gray any trouble again! Please!”

Their raw and piercing cries cut through my chest like knives. My heart clenched with pain. All this for a single photo. It turned out that my children had been tortured simply because they wanted to see what their mother looked like.

Seven whole years—how much had I owed them? Some of the bodyguards hesitated at the sight of the siblings clinging to each other in such misery.

“They’re Mr. Gray’s children… and they’re still so young…”

“Does it matter? Has Mr. Gray ever cared? Miss Jenny makes the decisions!”

“Don’t you remember last winter? Miss Jenny threw them out into the snow and made them kneel all night! They ended up with high fevers and pneumonia in the emergency room. But Mr. Gray never visited once!”

I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails dug into my palms. They almost drew blood.

Jenny continued to look down at the children with arrogance and disdain. “You’re begging me now? It’s too late! My dogs are top-tier fighting breeds, and they’re each worth millions! Even if I sold you two little brats, it wouldn’t be enough to pay for them!”

The children’s tear-streaked faces turned pale, and their sobs were filled with more anguish.

Jenny then tilted her chin toward me. “Why don’t you beg your brave savior here? If she pays, I might consider sparing your pathetic lives.” Her voice was full of contempt.

Her tone made it clear that she thought my plain appearance meant I could never afford it.

The bodyguards who had whispered to each other earlier began murmuring again, “Exactly. She should pay! The kids didn’t attack the dogs. If she hadn’t rushed in, none of this would’ve happened.”

“She was saving the children. Miss Jenny’s wolfhound is taller than an adult's waist. It could’ve bitten off an arm with a snap of its jaw! I was afraid they would be torn apart on the spot.”

“Being killed might have been easier. At this rate, even if she works like a slave for a lifetime, she won’t be able to pay off the dogs’ treatment fees!”

At that moment, a small hand clutched mine. Tears streaked Katy’s face, yet her trembling voice held stubborn resolve. “Miss… you fought to save us. My brother and I don’t blame you. Don’t pay her…”

John wiped his eyes and added, “Miss, you should run… You’re strong, so they can’t catch you! She won’t let us go, and we don’t want to drag you down…”

My eyes became red-rimmed in an instant. They were such kind and understanding children. Martin Gray, how could you bear to let this happen?

I took a deep breath and gently patted their shoulders. I spoke my next words with steady determination. “Don’t be afraid, my darlings. From this day forth, no one will ever mistreat you again.”

Then, I stood up and swept my gaze over the bodyguards and the snarling dogs coldly. Eventually, my eyes locked on Jenny.

The knuckles in my clenched fists cracked from the force of my grip. “If you plan on touching these two children, you’ll have to get past me first! You want a fight? I’ll take you on to the end!”

Jenny’s expression twisted with anger at the challenge, and she yelled, “Bodyguards, attack! I’ll feed this vagrant’s flesh to the dogs!”

The bodyguards exchanged glances and closed in as they prepared to rush me.

At that critical moment, an enraged male voice came from outside the courtyard.

“Stop!”

Martin had returned.

He strode in wearing a sharp suit and exuding authority. A team of people followed him, and the harsh woman who had insulted me over the phone was at the back.

The instant Martin saw me, he froze and spoke in disbelief.

“Jessica? You’re alive?!”

“If I weren’t, how could I be here watching you let someone mistreat my children?” I let out a cold laugh.

The courtyard erupted in shock.

“What? Jessica? Isn’t that Mr. Gray’s late wife?”

“She’s been dead for seven years!”

“My God. She came back and saw her children being abused? Then, Miss Jenny must be…”

“Does it matter if she’s back? She vanished for seven years. Who knows if she ran off with another man? Miss Jenny is the one Mr. Gray truly cherishes.”

The two children beside me stood frozen.

“M-Mom?” John’s voice trembled with disbelief.

“You’re Mom!” Katy’s voice broke as she threw herself into my arms.

“Mom, you’re alive… Why did you take so long to come back? John and I missed you so much… Dad burned all your photos, and they wouldn’t let me see what you looked like. The rocking horse you left for John and your little study were smashed… John said you made me a beautiful princess room, but they tore it down and gave it to the dogs. I never even slept there once…”

My nose stung, and I held them tightly on either side. I allowed them to pour all their grievances into my arms.

Before I could comfort them further, the secretary’s sweet, pretentious voice cut through.

“Mr. Gray, I know this is a touching reunion for you and Madam Gray after so long. But those dogs were your birthday gift to Miss Jenny. They were beaten, so Miss Jenny must be heartbroken.”

She was definitely in cahoots with Jenny.

Hearing this, Jenny immediately put on a pitiful act and pretended to wipe away tears.

“Martin, I didn’t want things to turn out this way. The dogs only wanted to play with the children. I didn’t expect your wife to rush in and nearly beat them to death. I panicked… It’s my fault. If I had realized that she was your wife, I would’ve never…”

Martin’s expression eased slightly.

“Don’t blame yourself for everything. This wasn’t your—”

“Wasn’t her fault?” I interjected and almost laughed at Jenny’s shameless twisting of the truth.

“She set the dogs on the children and ordered the bodyguards to attack. Then, she shouted about feeding me to the dogs. That’s not her fault?”

I glared at Martin as his expression darkened.

“Aside from her dogs hurting people today, I also expect a reasonable explanation for why this house has a new owner. I left it to the children.”

“I have nothing to explain to you,” Martin said coldly.

“Years ago, I got into a car accident, and Jenny saved my life. The villa was my compensation to her. As for the children, I’ll give them something else.”

I snorted. “Such as?”

He froze mid-sentence, and anger flashed across his face. It was clear that he had never given them anything.

“Jessica, don’t push your luck,” he said with a frown. “Apologize to Jenny, and I’ll still acknowledge you as the lady of the Gray family. We can keep living together. Otherwise, you won’t even be able to afford the treatment for those dogs.”

Jenny and the secretary beside her smiled with smug contempt.

I took a deep breath, and the last shred of hope I had dissipated. Looking Martin in the eyes, I firmly said, “Apologize? Never. But this marriage ends today.”