It was Anne’s voice. She had followed Julia out and quietly walked up beside her.

“Are you alright? Children speak without thinking. Julia, don’t take it to heart. Reese just likes me a little too much; that’s why she said those harsh things. You’re her mother, of course, you wouldn’t blame her.”

Julia didn’t reply. She didn’t even want to look at that face pretending to be innocent.

Anne’s gaze drifted to the necklace around Julia’s neck, a delicate diamond pendant shaped like a ballet slipper, intricately set and gleaming under the light.

Anne spoke with open admiration. “Julia, your necklace is beautiful.”

She reached out to touch it.

Julia instinctively raised her hand and said coldly, “Don’t touch it.”

At that moment, Reese’s voice echoed from a distance. “Teacher Anne, where are you? I want to eat cake with you!”

Anne, having been blocked, suddenly staggered as if losing balance. With a sharp cry, she fell toward Julia.

Caught off guard, Julia tried to dodge, but Anne grabbed at her, and both of them went crashing backward!

Julia’s back and legs slammed hard against the sharp edge of a statue. Warm blood soaked through her clothes almost instantly, and the searing pain made her body tremble uncontrollably.

“Teacher Anne!” Reese rushed over to Anne and looked up at her, eyes full of worry. “Does it hurt? Daddy, hurry, help Teacher Anne up!”

Anne had only landed on the grass, suffering a small scrape, yet her eyes shimmered with tears. “Thank you, Reese. It doesn’t hurt.”

She turned to Cameron with a pitiful look. “I just… thought Julia’s necklace was beautiful and wanted to admire it. That’s all.”

Cameron frowned but stayed silent. He stepped forward and helped Anne up. As he did, she leaned gently into him, her hand resting on his shoulder, making him visibly stiffen.

Reese’s face twisted with anger. She screamed at Julia, who was still on the ground, “You nasty, fat witch! How dare you push Teacher Anne!”

She lunged at Julia, her little fists pounding. “Bullying Teacher Anne! See if you dare do it again!” Then her tiny hand gripped the necklace at Julia’s throat and yanked it with all her strength.

With a sharp snap, the chain broke.

Reese clutched the broken necklace like it was treasure and held it up to Anne.

“Teacher Anne, here! This pretty necklace, fat witch doesn’t deserve it!”

Anne made a show of modest refusal, her tone gentle. “Reese, you shouldn’t. That belongs to your mommy.”

But Cameron’s voice followed coldly. “It’s a kind gesture from the child. Just take it as an apology from her mother.”

Julia, still enduring the burning pain in her back, forced out a hoarse whisper.

“I didn’t push her…”

Cameron’s gaze turned cold. “Julia, apologize to Teacher Anne.”

Julia stared at him in disbelief.

“I didn’t do anything wrong. She lost her balance and dragged me down!”

Reese pointed a finger, her face twisted with contempt.

“You’re fat like a pig! Teacher Anne is skinny. How could she push you? You’re just jealous! You did it on purpose!”

All trace of warmth vanished from Cameron’s eyes, replaced by nothing but disgust.

“Julia, you’ve truly let me down, so petty, so pathetic.”

He scooped Anne into his arms.

“Teacher Anne’s hands are meant for the piano; they’re too precious. I apologize on her behalf.”

Then, his tone softened as he turned to her. “Come on. I’ll take you to the hospital and have that wound looked at.”

Reese trailed after them like a loyal shadow, not once glancing back at Julia.

The pain in Julia’s back seared through her skin, but she still let out a laugh, low, bitter, and soaked in tears.

This was the child she had nearly died giving birth to. This was the man who once swore he’d love her forever.

And now, without a shred of hesitation, they protected an outsider, leaving her behind like she meant nothing.

In that moment, Julia made a quiet vow to herself: She would never again cling to this man. And as for that heartless child, she was done.

Julia called her private doctor to treat her wounds.

But on the other end came a hesitant voice. “Madam, Mr. Cruise just called and asked me to head to the hospital. The piano teacher was injured... so...”

Julia let out a cold laugh.

“There are plenty of doctors at the hospital. I’m the mistress of this house, too. I’ll pay double for today’s visit.”

After the ordeal and a fresh wave of pain, she finally drifted into a groggy sleep. Her injuries throbbed, every muscle aching.

But not long after, noise from the house jolted her awake. Squinting in confusion, she walked out, only to see Cameron practically turning the living room into a medical ward.

When he saw her, he explained, “As an apology, Teacher Anne will be staying here to recover.”

Julia gave a bitter chuckle. “She only scraped some skin. Does it really warrant all this drama?”

Cameron frowned.

“What if it affected her tendons? I’m doing this as an apology from you.”

On the side, Anne looked torn. “President Cruise, perhaps I should still return to the hospital.”

But Reese sprang up, defiant.

“Teacher Anne, just stay here! Don’t mind that fat woman, just treat her like the maid!”

Cameron quickly stopped her.

“Reese, stop giving Mommy nicknames.”

Julia couldn’t be bothered to argue with him. She rolled her eyes at Reese and turned away, letting them do whatever they pleased.

The next morning, she saw Cameron lounging on the sofa, seriously browsing something on his iPad.

When he noticed her, he called out, “Julia, come here.”

She walked over, only to see him scrolling through listings of luxury villas.

In the blink of an eye, he transferred a $10 million deposit.

Cameron pointed to a stack of documents on the coffee table.

“Julia, I want to discuss something. I’m thinking of buying a villa for our daughter to practice piano in, so Teacher Anne can live there and tutor her conveniently.”

He tapped the page.

“This is a spousal gift agreement. As a token of appreciation, the villa will be registered under Teacher Anne’s name.”

Julia let out a cold laugh. "You already paid the deposit, what’s the point of asking me now?"

"No need to go through the trouble of signing a spousal gift agreement. Have you forgotten we’re already divorced?"

Cameron froze for a moment, clearly stunned. "Julia, sorry, I forgot."

Then he asked again, carefully, "What day does the cooling-off period end?"

Julia replied flatly, "The twentieth."

Cameron let out a breath of relief and reached out to hold her hand, but she quietly stepped back.

"Julia, Teacher Anne is a guest after all. I didn’t mean to neglect you, I just didn’t want to be rude to her."

Seeing Julia remain silent, he continued, "Reese is still young. It’s natural for her to be a bit willful, but she’s still our daughter."

Julia frowned. "You don’t need to say all this."

Because I’m leaving soon anyway, the second half stayed locked in her throat, unsaid.

Cameron gently closed the iPad and said softly, "Alright then, make a few light dishes for dinner tonight. Reese and I will stay home and keep you company, okay?"

Julia sneered inwardly. Was it really to keep her company or just another excuse to spend more time with Anne?

"My leg is injured. I’m still recovering. I won’t be cooking these days. Just let the maid handle it."

Cameron’s lips curved into a cruel smile. "But you can walk, can’t you? What, still dreaming of dancing ballet with those legs?"

"What kind of ballet dancer weighs 150 pounds?"

Julia’s fists clenched tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms. Every word he spoke was laced with contempt and mockery.

Seeing her expression, Cameron gave a half-hearted apology. "Sorry, I was just joking."

"If your leg’s inconvenient, just stay home. I’ll take Reese and Teacher Anne out for dinner."

After Cameron left, Julia didn’t care in the slightest.

She lay on the sofa, browsing through everything she could find about liposuction surgery.

When they returned, full and content, Julia didn’t even lift her eyelids.

The moment Reese stepped in, she noticed her slippers were scattered on the floor, and the maid hadn’t brought her new pajamas. She exploded on the spot.

"Fat witch! Why didn’t you clean up or get shoes for me, Daddy, and Teacher Anne?"

Before, aside from the maid’s cleaning, Julia had handled everything in the house herself. She had cared for the father and daughter with meticulous effort.

But now, she didn’t want to lift a finger.

She stared coldly at her daughter.

"Why should I? Do I owe you anything? From now on, take care of your things."

Cameron frowned slightly but said nothing.

Reese grew even more furious. She pointed straight at Julia and shouted, "You eat my daddy’s food, drink my daddy’s water, so you should do the work at home! You owe us!"

Julia let out a cold laugh. "Who said I eat and drink from him? I hired the maids. They answer me. If you want someone to serve you, go hire your own."

Cameron quickly stepped in, patting Reese’s head. "Mommy’s just upset. Don’t take it seriously."

But Reese cried out, "I don’t want a fat and ugly woman to be my mommy! I want Teacher Anne to be my mommy. She’s so gentle and pretty. I wish I had been born from her instead!"

Hearing those words from her daughter, the heart Julia had already given up on still twisted in pain, like a breath caught in her chest, refusing to release.

Anne stood off to the side, feigning surprise, then quickly spoke with a soft, apologetic tone.

"Mrs. Cruise, please don’t blame Reese. This is all my fault. I only meant to be kind to her, I didn’t expect it to turn out like this… I must’ve been too patient, and she ended up seeing me more like a mom."

Julia clenched her fists. "Anne, stop pretending to be the good person!"

"Julia, don’t be rude." Cameron frowned, then lowered his gaze to his daughter and asked gently,

"Reese, do you really want Teacher Anne to be your mommy?"

The little girl gave a firm nod. "I do."

Cameron stayed silent, his expression unreadable.

Seeing this, Anne put on a look of gentle surprise, lightly patted Reese’s head, and smiled softly, "Reese likes Teacher, and Teacher likes Reese too. But you only have one mommy, okay? You shouldn’t say things like that."

But Reese shook her head stubbornly. "I don’t want to! I just like Teacher Anne! I want her to be my mommy!"

Anne cast a sidelong glance at Julia, her eyes filled with contempt and disdain.

Julia let out a bitter laugh, turned around, and walked away without another word.

She was leaving soon anyway. Just a little longer. She didn’t want anything to mess up her plan.

Julia forced herself to clear her mind and soon drifted off to sleep.

But in the middle of the night, a noise stirred her awake. She caught a glimpse of her daughter’s small figure slipping past the doorway.

She didn’t think much of it. Feeling thirsty, she reached for the calming tea on her nightstand and drank it in one gulp.

The taste seemed off, but she didn’t dwell on it.

Moments later, heat rushed through her body, and her breathing grew shallow, labored, and tight.

Julia switched on the light and gasped. Her reflection in the mirror was covered in horrifying red rashes.

She was having an allergic reaction.

Without hesitation, she rushed to the room where the medical supplies were kept. That door had never been locked, but tonight, no matter how hard she tried, it wouldn’t budge.

She tried to call for help, but no sound came out. Her throat burned, her head throbbed, and the rashes spread like fire beneath her skin.

Desperate, she pounded on Cameron’s bedroom door.

No answer.

Not a sound.

In a panic, she staggered down the stairs, clutched the car keys, and drove herself to the hospital.

The doctors rushed to perform emergency treatment. Her stomach had to be pumped. The violent vomiting tore through every nerve in her body.

The attending doctor frowned, his tone laced with irritation. "Miss, you know you’re severely allergic to walnuts. Even a trace can be fatal. Why did you eat them?"

Julia froze. Her whole body trembled.

She hadn’t eaten anything with walnuts that night.

How could this have happened?

Then it hit her, that brief moment, that fleeting glimpse of her daughter’s figure at the door.

By the time Cameron arrived with Reese, Julia was already hooked up to an IV.

Cameron frowned, his voice edged with impatience. “What are you making a fuss about in the middle of the night? What now?”

Julia clenched her fists, struggling to stay calm. “What happened? Ask your precious daughter.”

“Why did she put walnut powder in my drink? You both know I’m allergic.”

She couldn’t hold back anymore; tears of bitter disappointment streamed silently down her face.

Cameron froze for a beat, a flicker of shock passing through his eyes. He looked down at Reese.

“Reese, is that true?”

The girl pouted, her cheeks turning red. She said nothing.

Cameron’s face darkened. “Why would you do something like that?”

Suddenly, Reese burst into tears.

“Waaah, because then Mommy would leave, and Daddy could be with Teacher Anne more!”

Cameron’s expression shifted, softening with a mix of surprise and guilt.

He let out a sigh, part indulgent, part helpless. “Reese, you can’t ever do that again.”

Julia watched the scene unfold, father and daughter in their own world, and felt a cold chill rise from deep within her bones.

Julia’s body trembled uncontrollably. “Cameron! Didn’t you hear me? Your daughter drugged me again! Just to make space for another woman!”

“I could’ve died from that walnut allergy! Do you not understand? If you don’t correct her now, what kind of person will she grow up to be?!”

“Enough!”

Cameron’s face tensed with irritation. “She’s just a child. What could she possibly know? It was a harmless prank. Why are you overreacting? She’s your daughter, too. Stop scaring her.”

Julia almost laughed in disbelief, her anger boiling over. “I’m scaring her? She almost killed me!”

Just then, Cameron’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen, and his expression softened. Answering the call, his tone instantly shifted.

“Teacher Anne? What’s wrong?”

Anne’s voice floated gently through the speaker, soft and unsure.

“Mr. Cruise, I’m so sorry to bother you… I can’t figure out the water heater at your place. I’ve tried everything, but there’s only cold water. I just wanted to take a shower…”

Her voice faded, trailing into silence.

But before she could finish, Cameron cut in, his voice warm and reassuring. “Don’t worry, I’ll come back and fix it for you.”

The daughter who had just been crying suddenly stopped. She grabbed Cameron’s arm excitedly.

"Daddy, was that Teacher Anne? Is she asking us to go back? Let’s go! I want to be with Teacher Anne!"

Julia stared at Cameron in disbelief.

"There are maids at home. Why didn’t she call them? She had to call you?"

Cameron’s voice turned cold. "Don’t speak ill of others behind their backs. Teacher Anne has a kind heart. She didn’t want to trouble the maids this late."

He picked up Reese, casting a glance at Julia.

"Just focus on finishing your IV. When it’s done, press the nurse call button. I’ll come back for you later."

He left the hospital room without a word, not even bothering to close the door behind him.

From the hallway, her daughter’s cheerful voice rang out, full of joy.

Julia stared at the IV drip, watching each drop fall, time slipping by, second by second.

When the last bottle was emptied, she climbed out of bed again to press the nurse call button.

A nurse came in quietly and removed the needle.

Late into the night, Julia lay alone in the sterile quiet of the hospital room.

A bitter smile tugged at her lips.

Mustering what little strength she had left, she stood up, peeled the tape off the back of her hand, and called a car to take her home.