I chuckled sarcastically.

On the day Ella started her dance classes, I found out William had bought a building in the city center and turned it into a dance studio.

I even overheard him telling the designer to make it one of a kind. The first three floors were shopping areas, the fourth and fifth floors were entertainment zones, the sixth floor was a fitness area, and the top floor was the dance studio.

A month ago, he was still picking out seasonal princess dresses for the shopping area and hiring world champion dance instructors for the dance studio. I thought he was treating Ella like a princess.

But in reality, it was a gift for Noa to celebrate her cured knee joint.

To William, Ella and I were nothing more than useful sacrifices.

William panicked when he noticed how pale my face was. He quickly called the doctor to check on my wounds and dress them.

When he saw that I was not getting better and was even worsening, he scolded the doctor angrily, “Can’t you be gentler?”

He took the medicine and carefully applied it to my wounds. It seemed as if he was afraid of causing me the slightest pain.

In the past, I would have been moved to tears. But after looking at the ordinary hemostatic medicine, my mangled arm, and Ella’s death, I felt nothing but despair.

While William was in the shower, I picked up his phone and entered my birthday for the password.

It was ironic that he used my birthday as his password. I had trusted him so much that I never checked his phone before.

When I opened the chat app, I saw his pinned chat titled “Sophia’s Baby.” The latest photo in the chat showed Noa standing up and smiling happily.

William had commented under the photo.

[Our baby looks so beautiful standing up. If knee replacements weren’t only possible at eight, she wouldn’t have suffered for so many years.

[To make it up to her, I built her a dance studio and designed every part myself. I’ll also help her achieve her dream of becoming a dancer!

[Hehe! The knee joint she’s getting must be in perfect condition. The nutritionist I hired has been preparing special meals for Ella. She even made her dance to keep the joint active. She wasn’t allowed to eat anything greasy.]

Tears streamed down my face as I stared blankly at the screen.

How could he be so cruel? Ella had been his daughter for eight years.

I stiffly scrolled up the chat. In the first year of our marriage, he had gifted Sophia an island and a private amusement park for her birthday.

The second year, he bought them a one-of-a-kind luxury car.

Every year after that, William gave them the best things he could offer.

Meanwhile, all I wanted for my and Ella’s birthday was for him to come back and spend the day with us.

He would just say, “It’s just a birthday. I’ll make it up to you next time.”

Feeling heartbroken, I booked tickets for the day after tomorrow to take Ella to her grandmother’s house. It was thousands of miles away.

The next morning, William came in with a bowl of homemade oatmeal he had made himself.

“Are you hungry? I made this nutritious oatmeal. Eat it all. I really put my heart into it.”

The nutritionist looked at us enviously and said, “That’s right. Mr. William got up at 5 a.m. today to ask me how to make it.”

When I heard the word “nutritious,” the image of Ella’s death flashed before my eyes. I forced myself not to knock the bowl over.

Ella was still waiting for me to bring her home and leave this filthy place.

“Where is Ella’s funeral being held?”

William noticed the blood seeping from my broken arm again. His eyes filled with pain as he said, “I don’t think you should go. I’m really worried about your health. Ella never liked big crowds, so I kept it small. I only invited a few people. I’ve also made arrangements for her to be taken to the cemetery right after the funeral.”

He tried to pat my head, but I pushed him away and said, “No, I’m going.”

When I arrived at the dance studio where my daughter had died, I saw Sophia holding her daughter, Noa. She was chatting and laughing with my mother-in-law, Dorothy Zafron, as if nothing had happened.

Dorothy took out the bracelet that was passed down only to the Zafron family’s daughters-in-law and happily placed it on Sophia’s wrist.

Sophia noticed me and immediately put on a false show of modesty. She pushed the bracelet away. “Oh, I couldn’t possibly accept this. Nina’s here. Let her have it instead.”

Dorothy rolled her eyes at me, shoved the bracelet back onto Sophia’s wrist, and sneered, “How is she supposed to wear something this valuable with that broken arm? She doesn’t even bother to cover the blood that’s oozing out. It’s disgusting. Look at how radiant you look in that bright red dress!

“Why do you still look so pale? Isn’t it just one bad seed that died? Of all the people, why was Ella the one a madman killed? She must’ve done plenty of bad things. The wicked always get what’s coming.”

Dorothy had always believed I seduced William into a shotgun wedding. She never treated me kindly, even going as far as calling me a loose woman. When Ella defended me, Dorothy cursed both of us. She called Ella a cursed child as well.

William used to at least speak up for Ella and me. But ever since he set his sights only on Sophia and their child, he had completely ignored me. He started behaving as if I did not exist.

Sophia leaned against William’s shoulder and smiled. “Hello, Nina. This is my daughter, Noa. Noa and your Ella both love dancing. Noa, come say hello.”

Noa hid behind Sophia. “No! She reeks of blood and medicine. She’s filthy and disgusting.”

William gently patted Noa’s back. “Be good. Just endure it a little longer. The funeral is almost over. If you’re bored, why not do a little dance to cheer everyone up?”

He instructed his assistant to bring out an outfit crafted by a top-tier fashion designer. It was woven with countless strands of gold thread and adorned with pink gemstones. Every detail showcased exquisite craftsmanship.

Everyone gasped in awe.

Sophia could not help but throw her arms around William and kiss him. “It’s stunning! Do I get one too?”

He kissed her back. “You raised Noa well. Of course, you deserve a reward. Come with me.”

Just as he was about to take her hand and leave, he suddenly remembered me. He hesitated before offering an explanation. “She and I have something to discuss. We won’t take long.”

Without waiting for my response, he left with Sophia. He was holding her hand.

Noa casually complained that decorations were unlucky and refused to dance. In response, the remaining guests tore down all the funeral decorations and threw Ella’s offerings into the trash.

I desperately tried to stop them. I did not want my daughter to witness such a scene, even after her death.

Noa shoved me to the floor. “Don’t fight over someone else’s husband again. Otherwise, no matter how many daughters you have, they will all be cursed to die.”

My severed arm hit the hard floor. The piercing pain shot straight to my heart.

I could only clutch Ella’s memorial photo and urn tightly. I endured the pain as I left.

On my way downstairs, I passed a room. Through the open door, I saw that Sophia was undressed and entwined with William.

“William, why don’t we spread Ella’s ashes downstairs? That road hasn’t been paved yet anyway.”

William hesitated. “But… that doesn’t seem right. We should just buy a burial plot and lay Ella to rest properly.”

Sophia’s hand slid downward as she teased him. “Pretty please? It’s cheaper and eco-friendly. What, don’t you love me anymore? You never listen to me. Boohoo…”

“Alright, alright.”

William’s voice was hoarse as he lost control and lunged at her.

My stomach churned in disgust, and I gagged. I turned away and left with Ella.

William was a monster!

I had no idea how long I had been walking with Ella in my arms when Sophia suddenly appeared behind me.

I was caught off guard as she suddenly knocked the urn from my hands. The ashes scattered across the ground.

With a smug expression, she stomped on them over and over again. “You still want to take Ella’s ashes back? That’s what she gets for having a mother who fell for the same man as me!

“You never should have married William and trapped him with a child. It’s your fault for not knowing your place. All I had to do was make Noa pretend to be disabled, and I easily got all of his love.”

“Do you want to see photos of her knee joints being sliced open while she was still alive? Too bad you never got to hear her cry for her mother while begging through the pain.”

Overcome with rage, I lunged for her phone. Just before I could reach her, she suddenly dropped to her knees with a heavy thud.

A sharp slap struck my face. My face burned as a bright red mark surfaced on my skin.

William held Sophia in his arms and turned to me. He shouted in anger, “Nina! What are you doing?! Why are you hurting her?!”

Sophia lowered her gaze. Her face was full of pitiful innocence.

“I accidentally knocked over Ella’s ashes just now. I swear I didn’t mean to, but she started cursing at me and saying I was seducing you. She called me a loose woman and said Noa stole the spotlight at the funeral, which upset Ella. She forced me down to my knees and made me apologize to Ella.”

“I did not want Noa to steal the spotlight either. But she’s naturally outstanding. What am I supposed to do? Boohoo…”

His expression darkened in an instant. His eyes blazed with fury as he glared at me. “Noa was always ten times better than Ella. Why are you so petty?

“How dare you force her to kneel and apologize. Why don’t you apologize for scaring her instead? You’re so shameless!

“Who cares if Ella’s ashes were scattered? The dead are nothing but dirt. Why are you making such a big deal out of it?”

I let out a cold laugh. “Scattered just like that? Easy for you to say. William, you don’t even deserve to say my daughter’s name.

“Who killed my daughter? Who ordered the doctor and that madman to do this to her!”

William froze for a moment, then frowned. “What are you talking about? Everyone saw that it was a madman who rushed in and killed Ella. You fainted and didn’t see her die on the spot.

“And now you go crazy and blame Sophia. You hurt her knee in some so-called revenge for Ella. You’re being completely unreasonable!”

Sophia put on a gracious act. “We’re both mothers. I understand the pain of losing a daughter, so let’s not hold it against her. But my knee really hurts, William. What if it’s broken? I’m so scared.”

William crouched down and carefully examined her knee, even though there was not a single scratch on it. His cold gaze locked onto me. “Nina, apologize to her.”

“No!”

William grabbed my shoulders and forced me down. He pressed hard until I knelt before her.

“If you won’t kneel, I’ll make you.”

Sophia’s face showed long-lost triumph as her lips curled into a smug, taunting smile.

I gritted my teeth and watched them walk away. Slowly, I gathered Ella’s ashes.

‘Come on, Ella,’ I thought. ‘It’s time for us to go.’

I was printing the divorce papers when William called again.

“Nina, I’m sorry. Is your knee okay? I only made you apologize so Sophia wouldn’t hate you. I’m saying sorry on her behalf.

“And you should hold onto Ella’s ashes for now. A psychic said spreading them on a road would bring prosperity to the family. It’s also eco-friendly.

“Nina, I’ll make it up to you when I get back. I’ll buy your favorite cake.”

I kept a blank face and said, “Okay.”

“Thanks for forgiving Sophia. You’re such a good girl, just like Ella. So obedient. I’ll bring back the dessert you like.”

I did not reply. I simply stopped the bleeding on my knee and packed up my things.

I scheduled the divorce agreement and the recording to be sent to William.

Even at the airport lounge, I saw news about them.

Because Sophia claimed her knee was injured, William invited one of the world’s most renowned orthopedic doctors to examine it.

To cheer her up, he gifted her a top-grade gemstone.

Without hesitation, I held Ella close and boarded the plane.

Meanwhile, William held Sophia in his arms. He was kissing her while rubbing her knee. Sophia gasped and moaned.

The doctor ran up to him in a panic and whispered, “Bad news! Madam is gone! She left a paternity test proving Noa isn’t your child. And her knee was never even injured!”