I nearly died of giving birth, and my daughter was left a fool.

My husband despised my mother and me, forced me out of our home, and married my best friend, Kay Sawyer.

When I had nowhere to turn, Neil Frazier, my devoted suitor, married me with a million-dollar dowry, promising to protect my mother and me.

But when the doctor said my daughter was in critical condition, I overheard Neil’s cold, impatient voice:

"I made her stupid on purpose. It’s better if she dies—she doesn’t deserve happiness."

The doctor pleaded with him to show mercy, but he sneered viciously:

"For Kay’s happiness, what’s wrong with getting rid of a fool? The lives of that mother and daughter mean nothing to me."

The truth struck like a bolt of lightning, and tears streamed down my face.

I knew, at that moment, I had to take my daughter away from this monster.

...

Clinging to the half-open door of the clinic, I clenched my fists.

My mind was blank except for one horrifying realization—my childbirth wasn’t difficult at all. My daughter’s suffering was Neil and the doctor’s doing!

Then, my daughter’s attending physician’s words echoed in my ears:

"Mr. Frazier, do you plan to keep the baby in your wife’s belly?"

Neil let out a scornful laugh, his voice dripping with disgust.

"Who knows how many men that bitch has slept with? It’s impossible to tell if the bastard in her belly is even mine! I’ve been secretly adding contraceptives to her medicine. A woman like her isn’t worthy of carrying my child!"

Instinctively, I covered my belly, where a tiny life was growing. To him, it was nothing but a disgrace.

Then, a realization hit me—I had switched to new vitamins recently. No wonder contraception had failed. I had been married for years without a child, and every test came back normal. It was never me. It was him. He orchestrated everything.

The doctor hesitated before speaking again.

"Mr. Frazier, your wife loves you deeply, and the child is innocent. Please reconsider—"

"Enough!" Neil slammed the table, cutting him off.

"Only someone pure and beautiful like Kay deserves to bear my child! I only married Lynda Owen to keep her in check, and to stop her from disturbing Kay’s life. If she dares to cause trouble, I won’t forgive her!"

The room spun. My world darkened.

A nightmare from five years ago came rushing back, suffocating me.

Back then, I had been eagerly waiting for my child’s arrival, filled with hope.

Then, Kay sent me a picture—one of her and my ex-husband, Jack McDaniel, tangled in bed.

She taunted me cruelly:

"You’ve always looked down on me. This time, I won."

My world shattered.

Overcome with grief and rage, I collapsed in pain, barely making it to the hospital before getting into a car accident.

I thought my life was over, but Neil saved me. He stayed by my side during my darkest days.

After my daughter was born, she suffered brain damage from lack of oxygen. I was consumed by guilt and pain.

Neil had always been so gentle with Stacy. I believed it was kindness, a blessing in my darkest times.

For years, he stayed by her side, feeding, dressing, and playing with her.

He held her close when she was sick and crying, whispering soft words to soothe her.

But now, I know the horrifying truth.

It was all a lie. A trap he had meticulously woven.

The doctor hesitated as if he wanted to say more, but Neil’s cold, ruthless gaze silenced him.

"You’d better keep this to yourself," he warned. "If Lynda finds out, you won’t be able to handle the consequences."

Hiding in the shadows, my entire body trembled.

I stumbled back to my daughter’s ward.

On the hospital bed, Stacy lay pale and weak, her breathing faint.

Even in her fragile state, she was still whispering, "Dad…"

I swallowed my sorrow and immediately reached out to a doctor friend, desperate for even a sliver of hope for my daughter.

Just then, the door to the ward swung open, and Neil stepped inside.

His sharp eyes flicked to my phone screen, and he asked suspiciously,

"What are you looking at? Still worried about Stacy's condition?"

My heart clenched. I quickly locked my phone and forced a calm smile.

"I'm planning a birthday surprise for you in a few days."

The corners of his lips lifted as he kissed my cheek, his voice gentle.

"Lynda, it's really great to have you."

I sneered inwardly—his acting was impeccable.

He walked over to Stacy’s bed, stroking her face as he murmured,

"Don't worry. Leave Stacy to my medical team. She’ll recover for sure."

My emotions spiraled out of control, and before I could stop myself, I snapped,

"No! I won’t entrust my daughter to anyone!"

The moment the words left my mouth, I regretted them.

Neil’s expression darkened. "Lynda, don’t you trust me?"

Our eyes met, and I felt like I had plunged into an icy abyss. His seemingly gentle gaze hid chilling cruelty.

Just then, his assistant hurried in and whispered something in his ear. Though they spoke softly, I caught three distinct words—"Kay."

Moments later, I saw Kay rushing toward him, tears streaming down her face. Clutching Neil’s arm, she pleaded,

"Neil, Iris is in severe heart failure! The doctor said only Stacy is a match. Please save Iris!"

Neil’s expression twisted in frustration. "Where the hell is that bastard Jack?" he growled before nodding.

"Don’t worry, I’ll make sure Stacy donates her heart to Iris."

A triumphant glint flashed in Kay’s eyes, but she choked back a sob, whispering,

"Neil, you’re so kind. I knew you wouldn’t abandon us."

Hearing this, my blood ran cold.

He made my daughter stupid, and now he wanted to take her heart?

Suddenly, frantic cries echoed from the ward.

My stomach lurched, and I bolted inside.

Stacy was curled up in a corner, terror filling her wide eyes.

Iris clutched her chest dramatically, shrieking,

"This idiot tried to hurt me! She bumped into me on purpose and threw my medicine away!"

As she spoke, she stomped on the shattered pill bottle, crushing the medicine into dust.

Stacy shook her head frantically, tears streaming down her face.

"No… I didn’t… I really didn’t…"

Neil stormed forward, his face livid as he bellowed,

"Iris’s health is already fragile, and you’re bullying her? Apologize now!"

Stacy looked up at him, her tiny body trembling.

"Dad… I didn’t do anything…" she sobbed desperately.

"Stop making excuses!" Neil snapped, his patience gone.

"If you won’t apologize, don’t expect me to care for you! I have no use for a stupid daughter!"

Stacy, who had always relied on Neil the most, crumbled.

With a broken cry, she clung to his legs, begging,

"Dad, I was wrong! I’ll apologize! I’ll kowtow to her if you want!"

She crawled toward Iris, her small body trembling, and slammed her forehead against the floor.

Watching my daughter being wronged and humiliated like this sent pure rage coursing through my veins.

I rushed forward, shielding Stacy as I yelled,

"It was Iris who bullied her! Stop blaming Stacy!"

Kay’s hand flew across my face in a stinging slap.

"Shut up! How dare you slander Iris? She’s sick—she’d never bully anyone!" she screeched.

Iris smirked, seizing the chance to sneer,

"You worthless bitch. You gave birth to a stupid daughter, and now you want to leech off us? You’re just jealous that I’m better than her!"

As she spat those words, she shoved me hard.

I crashed to the ground, a sharp pain tearing through my abdomen.

A warm, sickening liquid seeped from my lower body.

My mind went blank in horror.

A chilling realization gripped me—I might be losing my baby.

"Help me... it hurts..."

I whimpered, my voice barely whispered as my vision blurred.

Neil cast me a cold, indifferent glance before turning his full attention to Kay.

"Kay, is your hand okay? Did you hurt yourself when you slapped her just now?"

Then, with an impatient scowl, he barked at me,

"Stop acting! Get up already and quit embarrassing yourself!"

At that moment, something inside me shattered.

I finally understood—this was how little I meant to him.

This was how little my daughter meant to him.

The people around us watched with detached amusement, whispering among themselves, their words laced with malice.

"She gave birth to a stupid child and still dares to flaunt her? What a disgrace!"

"Just look at her—acting all pitiful. No wonder her child turned out like that. It must be hereditary!"

Iris let out a mocking laugh.

"Haha! Wetting your pants at this age? Just like a fool. How pathetic!"

A nurse hesitated, stepping forward to help me, but Neil cut her off sharply.

"Don’t bother with her! She’s just putting on a show for sympathy. I’ve seen plenty of women like this!"

Just then, my daughter erupted.

"You’re not my father!" she screamed, her voice shaking with fury.

"I won’t let you bully my mother!"

Neil recoiled in disgust and quickly pulled Kay and Iris behind him, shielding them as if we were some sort of disease.

Kay smirked and tossed a parting jab.

"A fool is a fool, still causing trouble even when she’s about to die."

As soon as they left, my daughter lost all control.

She lashed out, flailing against the people around her, her cries piercing the air.

"Don’t bully my mom!"

Ignoring the stabbing pain in my abdomen, I struggled to reach her.

"Stacy, stop! Please!"

A wave of dizziness crashed over me, and the world went black.

When I woke up, I was met with the news that I had already braced myself for—I had lost the baby.

Oddly, I felt nothing.

Calmly, I took the necessary steps—I erased our records, and booked a flight.

Now, I just had to wait for the right moment to escape.

Then Neil walked in, feigning concern.

"Lynda, how are you? I’ve been so worried," he said, sighing dramatically.

"I'm heartbroken too... losing the baby was hard on me."

But before I could respond, his tone hardened.

"Kay is still upset. You need to come with me to the banquet and apologize to her."

I knew exactly what that meant—another opportunity for Kay to humiliate me.

I remembered all too well how, at a previous event, Kay stood before me in a dazzling gown, dripping in jewelry, and sneered,

"Just look at you… and then look at me. The difference is laughable."

Another time, at the mall, she spotted Stacy in her simple clothes and made a point to announce,

"This child looks so shabby! Does her mother have no sense of style?"

And Neil? He had always responded with the same indifferent words:

"Just ignore her. Don't let it get to you."

Back then, I thought he was protecting me. Now, I know better.

He wasn’t shielding me—he was shielding Kay’s happiness.

For the sake of my plan, I swallowed my anger and nodded.

The banquet buzzed with energy, but I felt nothing.

Neil strode onto the stage, raising his hand for silence, his face alight with a warmth I had never seen before.

With a beaming smile, he declared,

"Tonight, we celebrate the birthday of my beloved goddaughter, Iris! I have prepared something special for her."

A beautifully wrapped box was brought forward.

Inside lay a set of luxury car keys, villa property deeds, and shares in Frazier Corporation.

Iris, draped in an elegant princess gown, accepted the gifts as an extravagant custom cake was rolled onto the stage.

Applause erupted, praise filling the air.

Nearby, two noblewomen whispered, their voices were just loud enough for me to hear.

"Mr. Frazier truly spoils Iris. I’ve lost count of how many lavish gifts he’s given her over the years."

"Indeed. And that poor adopted girl? He doesn’t care about her at all. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s just waiting for her to disappear."

Their words sliced through me like a blade.

But this time, I felt no pain—only the steely resolve to leave this place for good.