Cesar shot a displeased glance at the man in the corner, his brows tightening. “If that’s the case,” he said coldly, “then I’ll make sure she never finds out.”

“Cesar always has a way…” someone murmured, and the room returned to its lively chatter.

But Naya could only hear the sound of her heart shattering.

Still gripping the doorknob, she slowly crouched down, her body weak and trembling as tears streamed down her cheeks.

So it was true. Her child had died long ago, discarded like trash. The daughter she had loved so deeply, so fiercely, was born of her husband’s affair.

And that husband... had married someone else behind her back, without even a shred of hesitation.

She was nothing more than a cruel joke.

Her lips parted, as if to speak, but nothing came out. Only more tears. She didn’t understand how things had come to this.

So she ran. When she finally came to her senses, she found several unread messages waiting on her phone.

[Naya, I postponed an important meeting and bought your favorite strawberry pudding, just so we could celebrate our anniversary. Are you happy?]

[Oh, and I have a secret gift too. You're going to love it. We both will. I’ll be waiting for you to come back.]

Naya stared at the messages, crying, then laughing.

All these years, Cesar had played the role of the perfect husband. He loved her, pampered her, showered her with everything she adored.

She once mentioned loving the aurora, so he flew her to Northern Europe and even bought an island with the best view, just so she could watch the lights dance across the sky.

She loved pink diamonds, so Cesar scoured every auction he could find, collecting pieces one by one until he built an entire exhibition hall filled with them just for her to enjoy.

When Naya became pregnant, he was there through every wave of morning sickness, every prenatal checkup, every ache and discomfort, never missing a moment.

He never avoided the topic of his past. In fact, he had told her openly that he once had a lover, someone he had loved deeply, someone now long gone.

Every year, without fail, Cesar would travel abroad around the same time. He said it was to pay his respects to her.

He had even made a trip abroad the night before their wedding. According to him, it was to visit her grave, to let everything go before starting a new chapter.

But now, Naya knew the truth. It hadn’t been closure. It was a secret reunion.

And she… she had been too blinded by love to see it. She had been played for years.

But now, finally, the veil had lifted. Naya had seen Cesar for who he truly was. It was time to let go. Time to leave him for good.

With that resolve, she pulled out her phone and made a call.

A familiar voice answered, bright with joy. “You’re finally calling me. How have you been all these years?”

Naya’s brows drew together slightly.

She hesitated for a moment before answering, her voice cold and steady. “I’m calling to ask for two favors. That doesn’t mean I’ve forgiven you.”

There was a beat of silence, then a sincere reply, “What are they? Tell me. If it’s within my power, I’ll do it.”

“First,” Naya said, “help me fake an accident. I want to disappear from Cesar’s life… forever.”

“What? Don’t you love Cesar more than anyone?” The voice on the other end spiked with disbelief.

Naya didn’t respond. Tears slid down her cheeks as she made her second request, voice trembling. “I want you to investigate my childbirth.”

It was already dark when Naya returned home. As soon as she stepped inside, Cesar came over with Abigail.

“Naya, where have you been? Why are you back so late?” he asked, sounding concerned.

Cesar took the backpack from her hand and gave her a once-over, noticing something off about her expression. Her eyes were red.

“Why are you crying? Who dared to bully Mrs. Harmon? I’ll make them pay!” he said playfully, coaxing her with sweet words as he reached for a tissue and gently wiped her eyes.

Watching Cesar fuss over her so thoughtfully, Naya’s memories came rushing back.

After they got married, when her business venture failed and she locked herself in the bathroom to cry, he had comforted her with the same tender voice.

He told her she could rest easy being his wife because he would protect her forever.

Later, when she became pregnant and her career still couldn’t take off, he insisted she quit and stay home full time, caring for him and Abigail.

Both of them were allergic to dust mites, so she bought a top-of-the-line mite remover and cleaned the house down to every corner, fearing they might suffer otherwise.

Abigail was a picky eater with multiple food allergies. Naya studied cooking obsessively, perfecting recipes over and over again until every dish was both beautiful and safe.

Back then, she had been so sure she was living a blissful marriage.

People teased her for looking more like a servant than a wealthy wife, but she didn’t mind. She truly believed she was the happiest woman in the world.

But now, looking at Abigail’s face—so much like her biological mother’s—Naya realized all those years had been a lie she told herself.

The thought brought a fresh wave of pain to her chest, and her eyes began to sting again.

Still, she forced it down, managing a small smile. “Of course not. I just went to the beach. The sandstorm was strong, it got in my eyes,” she said lightly.

As she spoke, her gaze drifted toward Abigail, who was half-hidden in the corner. Maybe she’d overheard what happened after school, her eyes looked uneasy, evasive.

But more than anything, they were full of jealousy.

Naya’s heart twisted. Abigail wasn’t her biological daughter, and her very existence had once been a source of shame.

Yet after raising her for so many years, Naya couldn’t deny the complicated feelings that had taken root.

She instinctively leaned forward, wanting to embrace her. But pain shot through her arm. Abigail had stabbed her with the small pocketknife she had been hiding.

Bright red blood welled up instantly, dripping onto the carpet.

A flicker of satisfaction crossed Abigail’s face. “It’s all your fault! Daddy said he’d take me with him today to see Zora, but you ruined everything!”

“You wicked stepmother! Why don’t you just die!” she shouted, eyes burning with hatred.

Naya stared at the wound on her palm, her heart cracking open.

She still remembered when Abigail was just two years old, barely able to speak. Back then, she had picked up the word “die” from somewhere.

She’d wrapped her tiny arms around Naya’s neck and asked, in a baby-soft voice, what it meant.

And when she learned that one day her mother would grow old and die, she had broken down in tears.

She cried until she was hoarse, nearly on the verge of respiratory alkalosis.

But even then, she clung to Naya tightly, repeating through her sobs, “I don’t want Mommy to die… I don’t want Mommy to die…”

And now, just days after Zora’s return, Abigail had completely turned against her.

As grief swelled in Naya’s chest, Abigail suddenly collapsed to the floor, pointing at her and crying out, “Dad, Mom pushed me! My back hurts, take me to the hospital…”

Startled, Naya turned and saw Cesar approaching, unnoticed until now. The moment Abigail spotted him, she threw herself into his arms, sobbing hysterically.

There was blood on her cheek, Naya’s blood, whether by accident or design, it was hard to tell.

But against Abigail’s pale face, it looked especially terrifying.

Cesar’s face paled. “Abigail, why are you bleeding? Are you hurt?”

“Dad… my head hurts so bad. Mom said she was wronged because of me…” Abigail sniffled, her eyes closed, her nose red from crying. “I’m scared… Will Mom hit me again?”

Cesar’s expression darkened instantly.

“Naya, how could you push her? If you’ve been wronged, say so, but why lash out at a child?” His voice rose sharply.

Naya looked at him, her chest tight. That face, once so full of love, now only showed anger.

When they first married, he used to say she was his everything.

He worried if she so much as stubbed a toe. A mosquito bite would send him into a frenzy—he once ordered drones to spray their garden after she complained of itching.

Now, her palms were bloodied, and he didn’t even glance at them. Without another word, Cesar turned and carried Abigail away.

“Stay home for the next two days,” he said over his shoulder, cold and dismissive. “Think about what you’ve done.”

The door slammed and silence followed. Naya stared out the window, watching his figure disappear down the steps.

A faint, bitter smile crept across her lips.

Four days passed before she saw either of them again. Her luggage was packed by then, waiting for the right moment.

Abigail scowled the second she saw her. “Dad, I don’t want to see Mom. I want to stay with Zora.”

Naya’s lips twitched; half a smile, half something darker.

Of course. They had spent the last few days together and completely forgotten about her.

“Abigail,” Cesar said, waving the servants over. “Take her upstairs.”

The once-bustling living room fell into abrupt silence.

“Naya, I just found out Zora isn’t dead. She’s returned to Chirean. She ran into Abigail at the hospital and stayed with her for a few days. Don’t misunderstand, she and I are just friends. We’re family,” Cesar said, his voice steady.

Naya looked at his serious expression and nearly laughed. ‘Friends? Friends who appear on marriage certificates? Family? And who exactly counts as family?’

The thought made her lips curl into a cold sneer. Still, she didn’t expose him. She simply let him take her hand.

“Naya, what happened to your hand? When did you get this scar?” Cesar turned her palm over, revealing the faded pink mark.

He gently ran his fingers across her skin, his face full of concern, like it meant something. Naya’s stomach turned. The hypocrisy was nauseating.

He didn’t love her, never had. And yet here he was, playing the role of the perfect husband.

“I wasn’t fair the other day,” he murmured. “I shouldn’t have snapped at you over Abigail’s fall. Let me get you some more ointment.”

“No need. It’s already healed,” Naya said, calmly pulling her hand away. Her hand had healed. But the scar on her heart, she knew it would never fade.

Cesar seemed thrown off by her coldness. Without a word, he took her hand again and led her upstairs, saying he had an anniversary gift for her.

Naya opened the box gently. Inside was a set of sheer, flowing chiffon pajamas; lacy, silky, revealing.

The sight of it made her stomach twist.

Cesar had always had odd ideas about what marriage should be. Naya didn’t like them, but she couldn’t stand to see him upset. So she endured the discomfort and played along.

Back then, she was still lost in the illusion that he loved her with all his heart. She believed that the more she gave, the more he would love her in return.

But now, looking at the sheer, sultry sleepwear, all she felt was revulsion. She calmly folded the clothes and pushed them into the back of the closet.

When she looked up, Cesar was staring at her, clearly surprised. Naya just gave a small, knowing smile.

If it were back then, even if she disliked it, she would still pretend to be pleased.

“Abigail’s grown up now,” she said softly. “We should be more careful.”

Cesar sighed and turned to leave the room. But just as he reached the door, his phone rang.

Naya glanced up, and it was none other than Zora.