Damien and his ex-wife got divorced five years ago, and then he married me. When I married him, he had a 13-year-old adopted daughter named Lily.

After our marriage, Damien treated me exceptionally well and I always treated Lily like my own daughter, even when she occasionally showed hostility towards me, I didn't mind. That's normal for a teenage girl.

Until my father was accidentally hit by a car and left in a vegetative state, I accidentally overheard a conversation between Damien and his assistant.

"Boss, I don't get it. Why block the craniotomy?" the assistant asked, sounding confused. "The doctors say there’s a high chance he could recover. Why are you insisting on conservative treatment?"

"He can't wake up," Damien’s voice was suppressed with pain. "He saw Lily's face."

I clamped my hand over my mouth, my fingernails digging deep into my flesh.

Lily is the adopted daughter of Damien and his late ex-wife, Sarah. Sarah died saving Damien, so he has always treated Lily with a mix of guilt and utter indulgence.

Damien continued, his tone incredibly conflicted. " But Lily didn't do it on purpose! She is only thirteen... If she gets a criminal record, her life is over. Sarah’s only dying wish was for me to take care of Lily and see her grow up safe and sound. I can't give up on her."

The assistant fell silent for a few seconds. "And what about your wife?"

"I’ll make it up to her," Damien’s voice softened. "I’ll provide her with the most prosperous life, and secure the largest private ward along with the best caregivers for her father who’s suffered from the car accident. I don’t care how much it costs."

My heart sank completely. Just because you feel guilty towards Sarah and Lily, you're going to sacrifice my father?

With trembling hands, I saved the recording and had my lawyer prepare the divorce papers.

But when I completely disappeared, the once powerful CEO went mad.

A month ago, my father was accidentally hit by a car and left in a vegetative state.

When I heard the news, I nearly passed out. I lost my mother when I was young, so my father was the one who raised me. When I finally came to, my husband, Damien, was holding my hand tightly.

"I’ve got this, babe," he promised, gripping my hand. "I swear I’m going to find the bastard who did this to your dad and make them pay."

But in the end, the case was closed because there were no surveillance cameras at the accident site.

However, when I went to the hospital to visit, I accidentally overheard a conversation between Damien and his assistant.

"Boss, I don't get it. Why block the craniotomy?" the assistant asked, sounding confused. "The doctors say there’s a high chance he could recover. Why are you insisting on conservative treatment?"

"He can't wake up," Damien’s voice was suppressed with pain. "He saw Lily's face."

I clamped my hand over my mouth, my fingernails digging deep into my flesh.

Lily is the adopted daughter of Damien and his late ex-wife, Sarah. Sarah died saving Damien, so he has always treated Lily with a mix of guilt and utter indulgence.

Damien continued, his tone incredibly conflicted. " But Lily didn't do it on purpose! She is only thirteen... If she gets a criminal record, her life is over. Sarah’s only dying wish was for me to take care of Lily and see her grow up safe and sound. I can't give up on her."

The assistant fell silent for a few seconds. "And what about your wife?"

"I’ll make it up to her," Damien’s voice softened. "I’ll provide her with the most prosperous life, and secure the largest private ward along with the best caregivers for her father who’s suffered from the car accident. I don’t care how much it costs."

I stood there, body ice-cold, fighting the urge to rush in and scream at him.

Three years of living in this house had already taught me a harsh lesson: In Damien's eyes, the living can never compete with the dead. And I could certainly never compete with Lily, who held that "get out of jail free" card.

My mind flashed back to two months ago, when Lily fell into the pool.

When I heard the cries for help and rushed over, she was thrashing in the water.

I jumped in without hesitation, risking my life to hoist her toward the bank. She struggled constantly, leaving scratches all over my face and neck.

I swallowed several mouthfuls of water and got a cramp in my calf, nearly sinking to the bottom.

By the time I dragged my sorry self out of the water, before I could even catch my breath, Lily had already thrown herself into the arms of Damien, who had just rushed over.

She pointed at me, shivering and crying with heartbreaking innocence. "Daddy, she said I didn't deserve to be your daughter, and then... then she pushed me in! I was so scared..."

I was soaked to the bone and shaking uncontrollably from the cold. I tried to explain, "I didn't! She fell in on her own. I just saved her..."

"Enough!" Damien cut me off coldly. "She’s just a child, Aria. Do you really think she would lie? You can refuse to admit your mistake, but you shouldn’t have framed her."

Without waiting for me to say another word, he picked Lily up and walked away.

Because of that incident, Damien and I were stuck in a cold war for a month.

Until the day of my father's car accident.

Late that night, I got a call from the hospital saying my father had been hit and the driver had fled.

When I arrived at the hospital, my father was already in the ICU.

Damien didn't show up until the next morning.

He completely dropped his cold attitude. His eyes were bloodshot, and the moment he saw me, he hugged me tightly, his voice trembling. "I'm so sorry, Aria. God, I'm so sorry... I never should have frozen you out. You shouldn't have to go through this alone."

In that moment, I thought he actually loved me. I thought he truly couldn't bear to see me suffer alone.

For the next two months, he transformed into the model husband.

He cancelled all his business engagements and came home on time every day to eat with me.

He ensured the doctors used the best medicine for my father and hired three gold-standard caregivers to watch over him in shifts.

Thinking back on it now, it was all just to soothe me, to keep me distracted so I wouldn't investigate the truth behind my father's accident.

Everything he did was to protect his adopted daughter, Lily.

My heart filled with hatred.

Three years ago, my father didn't agree to me marrying Damien—a single dad raising a child on his own.

He warned me that being a stepmother was a thankless job. But back then, I wouldn't listen; I thought true love could conquer all.

When we got married, Damien told me his ex-wife, Sarah, died saving him, and he carried a lot of guilt toward her.

Lily was an orphan. Sarah had once passed by an orphanage, saw Lily being bullied terribly, and adopted her. Sarah couldn't have children of her own, so Lily was the only person in the world she was tethered to.

In the beginning of our marriage, I also felt sorry for Lily.

I thought that since I loved Damien, I should accept this child who had lost her mother.

Even when Lily shredded my wedding dress the night before the ceremony, or poured oil on the stairs to make me fall.

Damien always told me, "She’s just a kid, she didn't mean it." Although I was upset, I never held it against her.

But she should never have touched my father.

With trembling hands, I downloaded the recording of the conversation I just heard and saved it to a USB drive.

I will take revenge myself!

When I returned home from the hospital, I saw thirteen-year-old Lily wearing hot pants, straddling my husband Damien’s lap. Her arms were hooked around his neck, and she was whispering intimately into his ear.

And my husband—Damien, the ruthless businessman who cut down competitors without blinking—was indulging her completely. He was even reading a document in his hand, acting as if this was perfectly normal.

Watching this "father and daughter" acting way too close, I felt sick to my stomach.

I used to warn Damien every time I saw this. "Lily is thirteen, not three. You two shouldn't be this intimate."

Damien would always frown, looking at me like I was a monster. "Aria, how can you think like that? Lily is just insecure. Sarah died young, and I'm the only family she has left. Is it so strange that she wants to be close to me? You're the adult; you should be more understanding. Honestly, I wish she could be closer to you too."

But this time, I didn't rush over to pull her away in a misguided attempt to protect her, nor did I yell.

I walked past the sofa without a word, ignored them completely, and went straight to the bedroom.

Lily’s voice drifted from behind me, sickeningly sweet and provocative. "Daddy, is she mad at me? Was it wrong to ask you to help me with my homework?"

Damien’s voice followed, dismissive as usual. "She's just in a bad mood. I'll handle it. Don't worry about her; just focus on being happy. Let's continue."

I locked the bedroom door and called my lawyer.

"Mrs. Aria, have you made up your mind?"

"I have." I looked at my pale but determined face in the mirror. "Draft the divorce papers. Send them to the house tomorrow."

After hanging up, I pulled out a suitcase and started packing.

When I was almost done, I remembered the painting in the study—the last thing my mother left me before she died.

I left the suitcase by the door and went to the study. The moment I pushed the door open, my blood ran cold.

Lily was standing at the desk, smearing black paint all over the painting.

"What the hell are you doing?!"

I screamed and rushed over. Lily jumped, and a glob of black paint splattered onto the frame.

She turned around. Seeing it was me, she didn't look panicked at all. Instead, she smiled eerily.

"Aria." She blinked her big eyes innocently, the brush still in her hand. "You've been sad lately, so I wanted to give you a painting. Since this is your favorite, I thought I'd study it so I could paint you a better one."

Rage snapped my sanity. Before she could say another word, I rushed forward to grab the brush. "Stop it! That's my mother's legacy! You psycho!"

Slap!

The moment I grabbed her wrist, she yanked it away and slapped herself hard across the face.

Then she grabbed a utility knife from the desk and slashed the canvas, ripping it apart completely.

She threw herself to the ground, knocking over the easel. "Ah! Daddy! Help! Daddy!" Her shrill screams echoed through the villa.

I stood there, frozen, looking at the ruined painting amidst the mess, feeling like a piece of my heart had been gouged out.

The door burst open, and Damien rushed in. He saw Lily on the floor, covered in paint, a bright red handprint on her face, gasping for air between sobs.

"Aria! What the hell is going on here?" He looked at me.

Lily stumbled up and threw herself into his arms, shaking. She pointed at me, sobbing convulsively. "She... She said I messed up her study... She grabbed my brush and hit me... Daddy, I didn't mean to, I just wanted to make a painting to make her happy..."

Damien looked up sharply. "Aria, you've crossed the line! She's thirteen! How could you hit a child? Even if she made a mistake, you're supposed to teach her, not hit her. That's your job as a parent."

Looking at this man who couldn't tell right from wrong, I suddenly found it laughable.

"Look closely." I pointed at the shredded painting, my voice hoarse. "She destroyed my mother's keepsake."

"It's just a painting!" Damien roared. "Is a painting more important than a human being? Look at what you did to Lily! Her face is swollen!"

"I didn't hit her." I looked at him coldly.

"Shut up!" Damien's expression turned icy. "She's just a child. You think she hit herself? I let the pool incident slide, but this time you’ve gone too far!"

He stepped closer to me. "Aria, I really misjudged you. I thought you were kind and generous, but you're capable of hitting a child. Apologize to Lily. Now."

"Apologize?"

I repeated the word, looking at the man I had loved for three years.

I gave him my whole heart, and in return, I got my father in a vegetative state and my mother’s legacy destroyed.

Sarah saved your life; that was her choice. But that doesn't mean I have to sacrifice everything I cherish for you and her adopted daughter. Why should I pay the price for your gratitude?

"Damien, let's get a divorce." I didn't bother explaining anymore. I just said it calmly.

Damien looked like I’d physically slapped him when I dropped the D-word. A flash of hurt crossed his eyes before he quickly masked it.

He waved a hand, signaling a maid to take Lily away, then followed me into the walk-in closet.

"Honey, look, I know you're grieving your dad, and I'm doing everything I can to fix this. I've already contacted a team of specialists abroad. As long as there's even a one percent chance, I won't give up on him."

He stepped closer, trying to pull me into a hug. "But you can't take your anger out on the kid just because you're upset, and you certainly shouldn't be throwing the word 'divorce' around. Is our marriage a joke to you? And Lily... she’s just a child who’s starved for affection. The handprint on her face still hasn't faded. Today is her birthday. Can you please just let it go?"

He smoothed my hair, his tone shifting from pleading to commanding. "Tonight is Lily's thirteenth birthday party. You are the lady of the house; you have to be there. I know you and Lily have your issues, but let's talk about this tomorrow, okay?"

I scoffed internally. There won't be anything to talk about tomorrow. The divorce papers will be here by then.

Before the party started, Lily barged into my closet without knocking. Her eyes scanned the display shelves greedily before locking onto the Hermès bag I was holding.

"Daddy, that bag is literally perfect for my dress. Can I please wear it tonight?" She clung to Damien’s arm, whining sweetly, while shooting me a look of pure provocation.

Damien didn't even ask for my opinion. He just assumed I’d agree. "Aria, since Lily likes it, just let her carry it for the night."

I kept my face completely blank, though I was sneering on the inside. I handed the bag over without a fight. "Whatever. Take it."

Once the party started, Damien’s performance was Oscar-worthy. He played the doting husband to perfection, keeping his arm around my waist, blocking drinks for me, and adjusting my shawl.

We were surrounded by envious glances and empty compliments. "Mr. Damien is so thoughtful. You are so lucky, Aria."

My expression remained flat. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lily watching us, unable to hide the jealousy burning in her gaze.

When I slipped away to the restroom, Lily followed me. She checked to make sure we were alone, then suddenly shoved the Hermès bag hard into my chest. It hit me with enough force to hurt.

"Here! Take it back!" Lily looked at the bag with disgust, as if it were contaminated waste. "It’s out of season anyway. Only an old hag like you would treat it like a treasure. I don't want to carry your garbage."

She let out a cold laugh and stomped off.

I walked back into the main hall just in time to hear a woman scream.

"My bracelet! My diamond Cartier bracelet is gone!"

It was Mrs. Blackwood. The crowd instantly buzzed with commotion. That bracelet was a limited edition worth millions; she had been flashing it around all evening.

Lily stepped forward, her face the picture of innocence, her voice loud enough for everyone to hear. "Mrs. Blackwood, was it that diamond panther bracelet?"

Mrs. Blackwood nodded frantically.

Lily gasped, covering her mouth in mock surprise. "Oh no... I think I saw that bracelet in my Mom's purse when I was in the bathroom."

She quickly clamped her hands over her mouth, acting as if the secret had just slipped out.

Every eye in the room turned to me.

I turned to look at Damien.

In that split second, Damien's face changed. He knew better than anyone that Lily had the bag the entire time.

He walked up to me, leaning in to whisper so only I could hear, his voice practically begging. "Aria, give her the bracelet. Just do this for me. Don't make a scene."

"Excuse me?" I looked at him in disbelief.

He didn't wait. He snatched the Hermès bag from my hands, and in front of everyone, reached into the inner pocket.

A second later, the glittering Cartier diamond bracelet was dangling from his hand.

The crowd gasped.

Damien gripped the bracelet tightly and turned to the owner. "Mrs. Blackwood, I am terribly sorry. My wife has been... mentally unstable lately. She must have liked your bracelet and taken it by mistake. Could you please let this go, for my sake? After all, we’re signing that partnership deal tomorrow."

Mrs. Blackwood looked furious, but she glanced at Damien, then thought about the multi-million dollar contract. She gritted her teeth and forced a smile. "Since you're asking, Damien... of course. It was just a misunderstanding."

The guests immediately started whispering, but the narrative had shifted completely.

"Oh my god, Damien is a saint."

"His wife steals in public, and instead of getting mad, he uses a massive contract to protect her."

I stood there, frozen, listening to these absurd praises. Damien walked back to me, pulled me into his arms, and resumed his act. "It's okay, Aria. I'm here. No one can hurt you."

Just then, sirens wailed outside.

Police officers marched straight into the banquet hall.

The lead officer looked stern. "Who called 911? We received a report of grand larceny."

Mrs. Blackwood rushed forward. "It was a misunderstanding, we've settled it privately..."

"Misunderstanding?" The officer’s face darkened. "Do you know that filing a false police report is a crime? Who made the call?"

Lily, hiding behind the crowd, suddenly burst into tears. She shrank back, trembling. "Waaah... I'm sorry... I called... I saw Mom take the stuff and I got scared... I didn't mean to..."

Hearing that Lily could be held liable, the arm Damien had wrapped around me went stiff.

His face turned pale. He lowered his voice, speaking rapidly into my ear. "Aria, you have to take the fall for this. Please, just do this for me. I'll make it up to you later. I'll give you anything you want. But Lily can't have a criminal record. She's just a child. I promise I'll discipline her later and make her apologize."

Before I could even open my mouth, he looked up at the officer and said clearly, "I'm sorry, officer. My wife stole the necklace."

When the cold handcuffs clicked around my wrists, my body began to shake uncontrollably. A deep, bone-chilling terror seized my throat, making it impossible to speak.

Damien knew.

Before we got married, I told him my deepest trauma. When I was ten, I was framed for stealing a classmate's luxury watch. I spent three days in juvenile detention. Those three days were a living nightmare that still haunts me.

The older girls in the cell forced me to drink toilet water. They slammed my head against the wall. They stripped me naked to humiliate me.

After I got out, I spent three years in therapy. To this day, I can't be alone in a confined space.

Damien had sworn—he swore—that he would never let anyone wrong me like that again. He promised to protect me.

And now, he was the one sending me back to hell with his own hands.

Damien couldn't even look me in the eye. He turned his head away, focusing on Lily, who was fake-crying into a handkerchief. His voice was dry and hollow.

"Aria, just go with them. I'll have my lawyer bail you out. You'll be out soon. Just... endure it for a little while."