After simply bandaging my wounds, I carefully placed my son’s photo into the drawer with trembling hands. I forced myself to calm down. There were still many things I needed to do.

I watched as all the business contacts and cooperation resources I had spent years building were packed into a single compressed file and saved in my private cloud space. I really wanted to see what Dustin’s face would look like when he had to deal with everything on his own.

Five years ago, after the car accident, Dustin said he had lost his memory and forgotten everything.

But he still remembered my birthday.

I once believed that meant he loved me deeply.

Later, I found out my birthday was the same as Giselle’s.

After that, every birthday gift I received was either a free item that came with the luxury goods he bought for her or something she no longer wanted.

At the time, I was still deeply moved by these small gestures. I poured all my heart and effort into helping Dustin rebuild his company.

Once a month, without fail, he would leave for what he called “recovery treatment for accident aftereffects.”

I never questioned it. Not until the day I saw a folder on his computer titled [Love of My Life, Soul Salvation.]

Inside were sweet photos of the two of them, taken in sixty-six different places around the world.

Only then did I understand how foolish I had been.

But now, all of that was over.

After returning home, I packed my luggage and booked a seven-day luxury cruise for myself.

What I didn’t expect was to meet Dustin and Giselle on that same cruise.

When Dustin saw me, a brief look of discomfort flashed across his face.

“Faye, I brought Giselle to meet some clients, so she can help you with work later.”

I raised my wine glass and took a small sip, saying nothing. I didn’t expose the lie.

The matching brooches on their chests were proof enough. Only guests who had spent money on this cruise line eighteen times within three years could receive that VIP symbol.

More importantly, the person who needed to work hard from now on was no longer me.

“Mom, the captain said the cheese ham we had last time isn’t available today. We agreed to come back next week.”

A clear, cheerful child’s voice reached my ears.

For a moment, I felt dazed. My Noah used to call me “Mom” too, but his voice was never this bright.

He always asked carefully, almost timidly, “Mom… Dad didn’t take me to the amusement park again this time. Does he hate me?”

Back then, I always made excuses for Dustin. I lied to myself, telling myself he was just busy.

Now I finally understood. He had also placed his hatred for me onto my innocent child.

Noah, dear, I owe you too much.

I turned to leave, but a pair of small hands suddenly wrapped around my legs. I looked down and saw a little boy who looked somewhat like Giselle.

Was this… Dustin and Giselle’s child?

Giselle quickly pulled the boy behind her. “Jonah, Mommy is here. Do you want to invite her to have dinner with us?”

I looked into the boy’s innocent eyes and nodded. Perhaps because he shared Dustin’s blood, I couldn’t help searching for Noah’s shadow in him.

But I soon realized I was wrong.

Once we sat down at the restaurant, Jonah loudly demanded a chocolate fountain. The waiter gently explained that the sea was rough and hot chocolate could be dangerous.

Jonah waved his small hand and tried to scratch the waiter’s face.

“Who do you think you are? You’re just a servant. My parents are rich. I can have whatever I want.”

That moment woke me completely. My Noah would never behave like this.

Just as I was about to stand up and leave, the boy suddenly screamed and rushed toward me. At the same time, the ship rocked violently with the waves. I lost my balance and hit my head against the railing.

Jonah crashed into my arms and pushed forward. From the angle of others watching, it looked as if I was about to push him into the sea.

Giselle rushed over like a madwoman and shoved me hard.

“I know you can’t swim. Now you can reunite in hell with your beloved son.”

As I fell, I saw Dustin reaching out. His fingertips barely missed my hand.

The next second, I lost consciousness in the cold seawater.

When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in an unfamiliar hospital room.

“Water…”

My throat burned with dryness and my voice came out weak and broken. I didn’t expect anyone to answer me in the dim light.

“Faye, you’re awake?”

It was Dustin. His voice was full of joy and excitement.

I frowned and quietly pulled my hand out of his grip. Before I learned about his affair with Giselle, before I knew what he had done to my Noah, I would have melted into that familiar warmth.

Now, every touch from him only made my stomach turn.

“Faye, you’re pregnant. Why didn’t you tell me? This is my fault. I’ve been too busy lately. I didn’t take good care of you.”

He gently touched my lower belly and looked at me with tender eyes.

But cold sweat instantly broke out across my body. I tried to sit up, to get away from him, but I had just woken up and had no strength at all.

“Giselle wants to apologize. You know Jonah is still just a child…”

I waved my hand to stop him. “I’m tired. I want to rest.”

I quietly turned my back to him. Three minutes later, I heard him talking to Giselle on the phone.

“Dustin, I really didn’t mean it. I was just scared when I saw Jonah fall. What mother wouldn’t protect her child? If Faye is angry, I’m willing to kneel and apologize, as long as she doesn’t blame Jonah.”

Her words tightened something in my chest.

Yes. What mother wouldn’t protect her child?

And I failed.

The image of Noah lying on the cremation table forced its way into my mind. His bright eyes would never open again. His once rosy cheeks had turned pale from massive blood loss.

And the hollow place in his chest after his heart was taken out…

Everything reminded me how unworthy I was to be a mother.

My hand slowly moved to my lower belly. There was a new life here now. This time, no matter what, I had to protect this child.

“I’ve already talked to Faye. She’ll forgive you. I won’t let anyone hurt you or Jonah. You’re the most important people in my world.”

“Then… will Faye still be willing to give stem cells from the baby in her belly to help Jonah’s immunity? You won’t stop caring about Jonah just because she’s pregnant, right?”

Her words slithered into my ears like poison. She still wanted to hurt the child inside me.

And Dustin’s answer made my heart sink into ice.

“No. You and Jonah will always come first. As for the stem cells, I’ll make Faye agree.”

I covered my mouth and tried hard not to cry. Dustin, who was deeply immersed in his sweet talk with Giselle, did not notice me at all. He hurried toward the underground parking lot where they had agreed to meet.

Half an hour later, Giselle appeared in front of my hospital bed.

“Faye, how should I thank you? You really are the lifesaver of me and my son.”

“If your unlucky son had not died, how could my Jonah become the only future heir of the Arnell Group?”

“You killed my child.” I looked at her with burning hatred in my eyes.

She didn’t care. She gently touched her chest.

“You really are impressive. You took a company on the edge of bankruptcy and brought it to the stock market. But unfortunately, you’re a failed wife. And an even worse mother.”

Every word pierced straight into the deepest wound in my heart. She knew exactly where to stab.

Before I realized what I was doing, I grabbed her by the neck and slammed her down onto the bed. Her face turned red from lack of air, yet there was still mockery in her eyes.

She lifted a thin finger and pressed hard against her chest.

“Here. This is your son’s heart. If I die, the last trace of him in this world disappears too.”

“Go on. Use more strength.”

I instantly pulled my hands back.

As I watched her walk out laughing wildly, I tremblingly sent a message to Javier Frost.

[The plan has changed. Help me investigate something.]

Not long after Giselle left, Dustin walked back in.

“Faye, I brought you your favorite beef patties. You’re pregnant now. You need to take care of yourself. You’re so thin. How is the baby supposed to get enough nutrition?”

My gaze shifted from the paper bag in his hand to his shirt.

This man had always been neat and careful about details. But now, three of his shirt buttons were fastened wrong. Through the open collar, faint red marks were visible on his neck.

When he noticed my stare, he touched his nose awkwardly. As he moved, a familiar scent drifted into the air—Chanel No. 5. The same perfume Giselle wore.

He had also forgotten something else. Half a year ago, on the day Noah died, he had been holding beef patties he bought for me too. Ever since that day, the sight of them made my stomach twist.

I looked at him without saying a word. He sat down beside my bed.

“Faye, there’s something I need to talk to you about.”

The memory of his phone call with Giselle flashed through my mind. My hand instinctively covered my belly. I had to protect my child.

I looked at him coldly. “There is nothing left to talk about. You know exactly what you’ve done.”

My strength hadn’t fully returned. The smartest choice right now was to avoid direct conflict.

A flicker of panic crossed Dustin’s eyes.

“There’s nothing between me and Giselle. The breakfast I bought her was all food you don’t even like.”

As he spoke, his eyes darted toward my phone.

My heart tightened. I opened Giselle’s Instagram.

[The greatest happiness in life is sharing breakfast every day with the one you love.

The person who truly loves you will always give you everything you want.

️️️]

The photo showed a table filled with different breakfasts. In the trash bin beside it was a paper bag, exactly the same as the one sitting in front of me.

“Faye, this is a misunderstanding. Let me explain,” Dustin said as he rushed toward me to grab my phone.

The heavy perfume on his body, mixed with the smell of crushed beef patties, made my stomach churn. I gagged uncontrollably.

When Dustin heard me retch, he pushed me off the bed. I stumbled and fell onto the cold floor.

“Faye, you know I have issues with cleanliness. I know pregnancy makes you sick, but you could’ve gone to the bathroom.”

I sat on the floor, too weak to stand. The cold seeped through my body and straight into my heart.

It felt like I was seeing Dustin for the first time.

No, I should have known long ago how fake and selfish he was.

“Ms. Watson, it’s time for your stem cell extraction procedure. Please come with us to the operating room.”

Before I could react, two nurses stepped forward and tried to lift me up.

“I never agreed to any surgery,” I struggled. “Let go of me.”

Dustin stepped in, forcing an apologetic smile.

“My wife hasn’t been emotionally stable since our older son’s accident. She blames herself for his death and still hasn’t recovered from the shock. I’ve already signed the consent form on her behalf. If necessary, you may use sedatives.”

His words exploded in my head.

Because Dustin often blamed Noah’s accident on my carelessness, I once believed that I was the one who killed Noah. I almost had a mental breakdown and was sent to a recovery center. Only now did I understand that he had been planning this all along.

He wanted to label me as mentally ill.

I stared at him and forced myself to stay calm. Slowly, I took out my phone and opened my chat history with my divorce lawyer.

“I’m already divorced from him. His signature means nothing.”

Before anyone could respond, Giselle suddenly stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me, her lips close to my ear.

“Your son’s heart is rejecting my body. If you refuse to give me stem cells, I’ll throw his heart to the dogs.”

I turned to look at her.

“So this was your plan all along?”

She smiled faintly. “Don’t worry. Soon, you’ll be able to go to hell and settle your accounts with your dead children.”

My body went cold as the nurses pushed me out of the ward. My fingers moved across my phone by pure instinct.

I will make everyone here pay the price.