Under the entry, all the photos showed Selina’s performance art.

She placed the newly formed fetus on a plate, posing it in different ways, each paired with a lengthy explanation.

In the final picture, she even let a dog devour the fetus.

The comments were divided; some called it art, others said it violated human dignity.

The uproar grew worse. Clara shut off her phone, feeling completely drained.

Her own flesh and blood had become a piece of meat on a plate.

Closing her eyes in agony, Clara wished it was just a nightmare.

She wished she had never conceived this child.

Just then, the taxi stopped.

A group of men in black dragged Clara out, ignoring her struggles, blindfolding her, and forcing her inside.

Clara didn’t resist.

She would rather die now than keep living like this.

After an unknown time, the car halted, and Clara was pulled into a room.

The blindfold came off, a harsh spotlight hit her, and her vision went white.

Tears welled uncontrollably. The next moment, Simon’s voice reached her.

"Clara, it’s me."

Clara froze, eyes widening in disbelief.

Simon smothered his cigarette, his voice low and threatening.

"The novel New Life caused a massive uproar. People are attacking Selina online. She’s an artist; she can’t bear this stain."

His tone was chilling. "Go explain that the child was stillborn, and that you used Selina’s artist reputation to gain fame, so you gave it to her willingly."

Clara thought she had misheard. He kidnapped her just to clear Selina’s name.

"You’re delusional!"

Her voice shook as she slapped him hard. "You murderers deserve judgment. I’ll never take the blame for you."

The next second, the man gripped her chin firmly.

Pain shot through her bones. Clara endured it. "Simon, if you dare, kill me."

Simon released her, speaking coldly.

"If you refuse, then the orphanage doesn’t need to exist. The director cared for you like her own; will you just watch it disappear?"

Clara clutched his arm, lifting her head with effort, hatred burning. "Simon, are you mad? That’s where you grew up."

Simon’s gaze darkened, and he shut his eyes. "For Selina, I’d give up anything."

Give up anything?

Including her, including her child, even the orphanage.

She knew Simon never made empty threats.

Even if the director rejected her, she couldn’t let him destroy the orphanage.

Closing her eyes in despair, Clara whispered, "Fine, I’ll explain. Don’t touch the orphanage."

Once the camera pointed at her, the live stream started.

A metallic taste filled her mouth, and Clara forced herself to speak. "Regarding the ‘New Life’ exhibition..." Following Simon’s demands, she shouldered all the blame.

The live comments exploded instantly.

[I knew Selina was kind; how could she do something so vile? Turns out she was framed.]

[That was your own child! How could you be so heartless, you monster! You don’t deserve to be a mother!]

[Pretty face but rotten inside. No shame at all, just for fame!]

[Arrest her!] Watching the flood of insults, Clara’s eyes burned.

After finishing the last word, she rushed to the bathroom to vomit.

Disgusting, utterly disgusting.

She had helped the one who murdered her baby escape punishment.

Stumbling, she tried to flee, but bodyguards blocked her.

"Madam, Mr. Carter said you can’t leave until everything is settled."

He wouldn’t let her go until Selina was safe.

She let out a bitter smile and glanced at the clock.

The plane had already taken off; she missed her flight to Italy.

A sharp pain shot through her head. She forced a smile and walked back inside.

She knew Simon wouldn’t let her go easily. She only hoped her backup plan was already in motion.

She slept for a full day and night. When Clara woke up, it was already evening.

Seeing the calendar on the wall, she suddenly remembered that tomorrow was the anniversary of her parents’ death.

Although she hadn’t managed to fly to Italy, at least she could see her parents one last time.

In previous years, Simon would accompany her to pay their respects.

But from now on, she will go alone.

She opened her phone to order flowers for them, when several messages suddenly popped up on the screen.

[The wicked Clara is actually the orphan of a narcotics police officer.]

[The orphan of a martyr has no bottom line when it comes to hype; she’s utterly depraved!] Seeing these headlines, Clara froze completely.

Trembling, she clicked on the headline and found that her and her parents’ lives had been fully exposed.

It was all too detailed, so detailed that only Simon knew these things in the world.

The comments below were unbearable.

[The orphan of a martyr doing this kind of thing; it’s truly disgraceful.]

[People like her don’t deserve to live; she should just disappear.]

[Maybe she even caused her parents’ deaths; she’s a curse!] No one cared about Selina anymore; she became everyone’s target.

Clara staggered downstairs and saw Simon pressing Selina down, kissing her deeply.

Seeing her coming down, Selina leaned on his chest with a faint smile. “Thanks to Miss Hart, otherwise my artistic career would have been ruined.”

Clara didn’t look at her and simply questioned Simon: “You arranged for someone to leak information about my parents.”

It wasn’t a question but a statement.

Simon nodded, saying casually, “To calm things down, we need a more explosive topic to divert public anger; that’s the best way.”

So he sacrificed her again without hesitation.

Even using her long-dead parents to shield Selina?

Clara’s lips curved faintly as she stared at him, her eyes completely numb.

“Simon, the one thing I regret most is loving you.”

That look made Simon’s spine tense; a strange feeling flashed through his mind.

He stared at her for a while, about to speak, when Selina suddenly cried, “Simon, my stomach really hurts, can you check it for me?” Simon frowned.

He bent down, lifted Selina, and carried her back to the bedroom in front of Clara.

“I’m sorry.” The sounds of their intimacy followed soon after, while Clara stood quietly in place.

After a long while, she suddenly let out a soft laugh and murmured, “Simon, I always keep my word.”

“The thing I regret most in my life is loving you.”

The next day, Clara went downstairs and found Simon waiting.

As if nothing had happened, his tone was calm. “Today is your parents’ death anniversary. I said I’d visit them with you every year.”

Before she could respond, Selina spoke up.

“Simon, did you forget? You promised to attend my friend’s art exhibition.”

Her eyes glistened with tears. “It’s fine, Simon, go with Miss Hart. I can go alone. Back when I lived abroad, no one accompanied me; I always went alone.”

Hearing this, Simon didn’t even hesitate. “Selina, I’ll go with you.”

He then told Clara, “The anniversary comes every year; missing one won’t matter. You go by yourself.”

It was expected. No matter the situation, as long as Selina was there, Simon would always cast her aside.

Seeing Selina’s smug look, Clara remained emotionless and headed to the Martyrs’ Cemetery alone.

Standing before her parents’ tombstones, she placed her mother’s favorite blue roses.

“Mom, Dad, I’m sorry. Your daughter is unfilial; I’ve brought shame upon you.”

Tears fell uncontrollably. She bowed deeply and walked away in distress.

Suddenly, several threatening men approached and surrounded her.

Realizing the danger, Clara pulled out her phone to call the police, but her hand slipped, dialing her emergency contact—Simon. She had no time to change it.

Before she could say anything, she cried out, “Simon, save me!”

Before she finished speaking, the kidnappers struck her head violently.

Just before she fainted, she heard Selina’s mocking voice on the other end.

“Sorry, Miss Hart, Simon is showering and busy.”

When she woke again, Clara found herself hanging over a beach.

The leader of the drug dealers, holding a gun, sneered, “If not for the news, I never would’ve known the couple had a daughter alive. Impressive, you’ve survived this long.”

She understood instantly.

These were the criminals who murdered her parents fifteen years earlier. They always acted ruthlessly, and now they were here to kill her.

Recalling her parents’ deaths, Clara bit her lip until it bled.

“Kill me if you dare, or I’ll make sure you suffer.” The drug dealer laughed. “I won’t let you die yet. Let’s play a game. Call your first contact; if he pays ransom, maybe I’ll let you live.” Clara froze. Since she first had a phone, Simon was always her top contact.

Before she reacted, the dealer grabbed her phone and dialed Simon.

Soon, the sounds of bodies colliding came through the phone.

The drug dealer smirked and said, “Mr. Carter, stop fooling around. Your wife is with me.”

Silence followed, then Selina’s voice.

“Simon, why don’t you accompany Miss Hart? She must be upset you ignored her, so she’s joking like this.”

Simon’s voice turned icy. “Clara, what nonsense are you causing now? This joke isn’t funny.”

“Simon!”

Clara shouted. “What if I said I wasn’t joking? What if I really was kidnapped?”

Simon scoffed. “Being kidnapped isn’t something you just claim. Do you think people are idiots? Stop these childish tricks. You’re just jealous and dramatic. I already said the position of Mrs. Carter is yours, so stop acting up.”

Then he hung up.

Her last hope vanished. Clara shut her eyes in despair.

How pathetic. Just a single word from Selina made him dismiss her life.

The drug dealer sneered, “Miss Hart, how pitiful. Even at death’s door, your husband’s still cheating.”

Clara turned pale and whispered, “Did Selina send you?”

“How did you know?”

The dealer scoffed. “So you’re not that dumb. But even if you know, so what? In your next life, try being smarter.”

The rope was cut, and Clara plunged into the sea like a bird losing its wings.

The water was freezing cold, and the moment she sank, suffocation overwhelmed her.

Maybe this time, she really wouldn’t survive.

Images from the past flashed rapidly, and almost all of them had Simon in them.

“Clara, don’t be with anyone else, or I’ll go mad with jealousy.”

“Clara, I love you. I’ll love you forever and protect you with my life.”

“Clara, when we’re old, tell our story to our children.” Ten years passed in an instant, ending with the day he said he no longer loved her.

Simon, from this moment on, we will never be tied again, in life or in death.

As the suffocation peaked, all memories vanished.

She.

sank to the bottom of the sea.