The corner of my mouth lifted in mockery.

Even though I'd expected it, there was still a faint sting deep down.

Kneeling in front of Mom's grave, I thought again about how, after Jasmine's parents died in an accident, Mom took her in. She didn't just give her food—she treated her the same as me, her biological son.

When I grew up, I still remember the day Mom died. The girl's eyes were clear; blushing, she swore to me:

"Alex, I will always remember my Adoptive Mother's kindness, and cherish and protect you for the rest of your life."

But now, in just a few years, she'd forgotten it all.

The cold wind blew past, and I hurriedly wiped away my tears.

The brick phone I carried with me rang. I heard Jasmine's hesitant voice.

"Come back. I have something to tell you."

Could there be news about our son's bone marrow donor?

Thinking of that possibility, I couldn't hide the joy in my heart.

I rushed back, only to find that Jasmine's eyes were evasive.

"Alex, I have some news to tell you."

Under my expectant gaze, she clenched her teeth and said,

"There's a company-funded trip at the plant—a business trip to Capital City with accompanying family members. I've already decided to take Derek and Tommy."

My heart slowly cooled, carrying a trace of bitterness that was hard to detect.

Derek curled his lips smugly beside her, acting like the man of the house.

"Brother-in-law, don't worry. When we come back from Capital City, we'll bring gifts for you and Ethan."

Jasmine looked at me in a panic.

"You know Derek and Tommy used to have it so hard…"

That line again.

Just because they had it hard, did I have to give up the opportunity that should have belonged to me and my son?

Fortunately, I no longer cared. As long as she could do her duty as a mother and find a suitable bone marrow donor for our son, that was enough.

I still said yes, understanding as always.

It was just that my mind again recalled how, when the plant was just getting started, Jasmine had been worried about how to go to Capital City to learn the technology. It was me who scraped together money and borrowed travel expenses, giving her the chance to go to Capital City to investigate and study.

Back then, with red eyes, she'd said, "To have a husband like this—what more could I ask for in this life?"

"When the plant gets big, I'll definitely take you to the bustling Capital City to have a look."

But later, as the plant grew bigger and bigger, she never mentioned this again.

It no longer mattered anyway.

Seven days passed quickly. When I went to pick up my son from school, from far away I saw two people standing out from the crowd at the school gate.

Derek was wearing a fashionable suit bought in Capital City, standing together with Jasmine.

When my son and I walked past, an auntie I knew pulled me aside to gossip.

"Look, that's the legendary low-key husband of the plant director. Isn't he handsome? Such a great match with the director."

People around all looked over. If I didn't answer, I would seem out of place.

I smiled and casually echoed, "Yeah, they're quite a match."

But Jasmine suddenly darkened her face and grabbed my wrist. "What did you say?"

I calmly broke free from her grip.

"Wasn't it you who said not to expose our relationship outside?"

She froze in place, and there was actually a hint of grievance in her voice.

"Alex, these seven days you didn't send a single letter. Before, if I went out for half a day, you couldn't wait to send three…"

I pretended not to hear. Just then, someone from the post station told me that an uncle and aunt far away had mailed me half a bag of brown sugar.

My heart tightened, not knowing how long they had gone without food and without spending to save it up.

I took it carefully, then looked at Jasmine warily.

"Brown sugar is precious, but for you it definitely doesn't count as anything. Don't you dare set your sights on my brown sugar!"

Pain flashed in her eyes. In disbelief, she said, "In your eyes, am I that kind of person?"

Memories of my past life surfaced again. I curled my lips bitterly—it wasn't paranoia.

Ever since Derek moved into our place, whether it was the expensive suit I'd only worn twice or the fabric coupons I'd saved up for months, Jasmine gave them all to him under the guise of "subsidizing" him.

Now, as if to prove she didn't care about my little bit of brown sugar, she had her people bring over everything she'd brought from Capital City—specialty children's toys, and a precious, expensive suit.

The people around us gasped. "That's a department store suit! It feels so silky just touching it—I can't imagine how handsome you'd look wearing it..."

Slowly, everyone got the point. "So he's the real factory director's husband..."

Mocking looks fell on Derek. He shot me a vicious glare, gritted his teeth, and left.

I didn't bother with him. I just stared at that familiar suit, and that night I dreamed of my past life again.

Back then, after Derek moved in, I refused to give up the master bedroom. Jasmine and I had a huge fight.

She cursed me for being an unreasonable, jealous husband and kicked me out to spend the night outside in below-zero temperatures.

The brown sugar my uncle and aunt mailed me? "Subsidized" to Derek.

Even the suit I loved most—this very one—he eventually took from me after tricking her with just a few words.

Our fights became more and more frequent. At first, she would patiently coax me, but eventually she grew impatient.

The moment I truly gave up was when I went to bring her food at the factory.

A massive chandelier came crashing down. The person she instinctively shielded was Derek.

After I was discharged from the hospital, I brought up divorce. Jasmine gritted her teeth and told me not to regret it.

A divorced man's reputation is greatly affected.

The Art Troupe, my only source of income, fired me.

Not long after, our son was diagnosed as terminal. With nowhere else to turn, I went to beg Jasmine to pay for treatment and find connections.

She thought I was using our son to play the victim.

When we were kicked out of the hospital, our son weakly said he wanted to see Mom one more time.

Eyes burning, I carried him on my back and rushed over—only to find her and Derek, father and son, enjoying themselves like a happy family.

My son's face went pale. In my arms, he slowly stopped breathing.

I drank the rat poison I'd bought long ago, crying the whole time.

Before I died, I thought: if there is a next life, I will never again hope for a woman's true heart—only that my son can live safely for a lifetime.

When I woke from the dream, my pillow was soaked through with tears.

My son had already been sent to school. I hurriedly got out of bed and rushed to the Art Troupe.

Today was an important day—the principal position would be decided.

When the results came out, everyone was shocked.

The position went to Derek, someone who had never practiced.

The corner of his mouth hooked into a smug arc. "Sorry, brother-in-law. I was bored staying at home, and Jasmine wanted me to get out more, so she donated fifty pounds of rice, flour, and oil to the troupe..."

"Pah! So what if you're a nepotism hire! Alex's ability leaves you in the dust!"

A close friend beside me wanted to stand up for me, but I pulled him back.

I was so calm it surprised everyone.

"Is that so? Congratulations, then."

As long as my son's life could be saved, I wouldn't argue about anything anymore.

The brick phone in my pocket rang—bringing the good news that my son's bone marrow match had succeeded.

I almost cried tears of joy.

As I passed by Derek, I laughed softly and said, "It's just a woman. If you like picking up trash, go right ahead."

Then I hurried to the hospital.

But I missed the resentment and malice in his eyes.

When I arrived and asked the doctor when surgery could be done, he stammered out that the bone marrow source had been taken up again.

It was like being struck by lightning. I almost couldn't believe my own ears.

"Doctor, who took it? We waited so long—we finally got our turn!"

"It was… Director Sullivan."

I froze. All the blood in my body rushed backward, ice-cold.

A small hand gripped my palm. My son looked up at me, eyes wide.

"Dad, am I going to die again?"

It felt like my chest was being ripped open. My voice shook. "N-no. You won't. Dad won't let that happen."

I was about to call Jasmine when I saw her in the next room, hovering over Tommy's bed.

"Mrs. Sullivan arranged the best room for you, Tommy. Just hang in there!"

Derek's eyes were red, making him look pitiful. He leaned into her arms.

"Jasmine, thank God I have you. Otherwise, what would a widower and his child even do?"

Rage ignited in my chest, burning through every ounce of patience I'd held onto these past few days.

It hit me instantly—Derek was behind this.

The exact moment Ethan needed surgery, his son conveniently got sick too.

My teeth ground together so hard they clicked. I wanted to storm in and confront them.

But their next words pinned me in place.

Derek wiped his tears, his voice weak, almost casual.

"Jasmine, if your husband finds out we took Ethan's bone marrow match… what do we do?"

Jasmine hesitated. He let a few more tears fall.

"You know Tommy's condition is acute. But Ethan's different—he's late-stage, he can still wait…"

The doctor beside him nodded quickly.

"Yes, Director Sullivan. Your son's body can handle a few more months. It won't matter."

My heart lurched. Ethan was late-stage—that's exactly why he couldn't wait!

I looked up. The doctor's eyes darted away.

He'd been bought off. Of course he had.

Jasmine gritted her teeth and made her decision.

"Don't worry, Derek. Before your mother died, her greatest wish was for me to take care of you and Tommy."

"Ethan can wait. If Alex asks, I'll say the hospital made a matching error…"

My heart turned to ice.

Only by digging my nails into my palm did I stop myself from charging in and slapping them both.

How hard it is to find a matching donor—I couldn't let myself think about it.

If I hadn't overheard them today, would I have waited obediently until my son died, never knowing who killed him?

The thought that Ethan's life-saving bone marrow had almost been quietly stolen by Derek made my whole body shake with fury.

But I knew—now wasn't the time to tear off their masks.

In a flash, I thought of the young woman whose life I'd accidentally saved in my previous life.

She'd promised me one favor. Anything I needed, she could make it happen.

With trembling hands, I gritted my teeth and dialed her number.