It wasn't a big deal?

Celine let out a mocking laugh. "Right. She's virtuous, and I could never measure up. I'll never spend my life playing second fiddle to a man, wasting all my energy trying to keep him happy!"

The words had barely left her mouth when Steven's expression changed. She followed his gaze and spotted Quinn standing at the bottom of the front steps.

"I'm so sorry, Celine. This is all my fault. I've interfered with your life and caused you so much trouble. But I… I just…" Quinn looked at Steven with tears pooling in her eyes.

"You didn't do anything wrong. She's just being petty."

Steven finished comforting Quinn, then turned to Celine with a command. "Apologize to Quinn."

Celine was exhausted. She'd been woken up early that morning, bruised her leg playing that stupid game at noon, and spent the entire afternoon packing. All she wanted now was to find somewhere quiet and rest.

She had no interest in another pointless fight. But clearly, peace and quiet were too much to ask for in this house.

Celine turned, grabbed her bag, and headed for the door. Steven had just helped Quinn inside when he saw Celine walking out with her bag. Her temper seemed to be getting worse by the day, and anger surged through him.

"If you leave, don't bother coming back."

Perfect! Celine scoffed and kept walking.

Quinn stood just beside the doorway, blocking a small portion of the path. Celine deliberately angled her body to slip past. She'd just gotten one foot over the threshold when Quinn screamed and fell backward.

Celine's hand shot out instinctively to catch her, but she missed. She could only watch as Quinn tumbled down the steps and hit her head hard enough to draw blood.

"Celine! What the hell is wrong with you?"

Steven's furious voice exploded in her ear. He rushed over to check on Quinn. "Where are you hurt? I'm taking you to the hospital."

Quinn swayed on her feet as if she were about to faint. She stood up, one hand covering her injury, the other pushing Steven away.

"I'm fine, Steve. As long as Celine feels better, that's all that matters. You two should work things out. I'll go home and take care of this myself."

Quinn was firm in her refusal. She insisted on drawing a clear line between them and absolutely would not go to the hospital.

Steven looked frantic. When he saw Celine standing there completely unmoved, he strode over, grabbed her arm, and dragged her in front of Quinn. This time, his grip was even more brutal as he tried to force her down.

"Apologize to Quinn!"

"Steven, if your eyes don't work, go to the hospital and get them checked. You want me to apologize? Never."

Celine wrenched herself free with all her strength. She'd just regained her balance when a sudden force at her waist sent her toppling backward.

There were still two or three steps behind her. She hit the ground and rolled down before finally coming to a stop.

Pain exploded at the base of her spine. The pain was so intense that she broke out in a cold sweat immediately. Her vision swam, and Quinn's shrill voice echoed somewhere in the distance.

"Celine, are you okay?"

"She's fine. She's just putting on a show because she doesn't want to apologize!" Steven's voice dripped with contempt.

"But she looks like she can't get up…"

"It's two or three steps. What's there to get up from? You fell down nearly eight steps, and you're still standing. Quinn, listen to me. That head wound needs to be treated right away. I'm taking you to the hospital."

"I…"

Celine couldn't hear the rest. Steven must have dragged Quinn away.

…

When Celine opened her eyes again, she found herself lying in a hospital bed. It took her a moment to piece together what had happened. She hadn't just stopped hearing them. She'd passed out.

Lydia was the one who'd brought her in. The moment she saw Celine awake, she started fussing.

"You scared me half to death! I was walking past your place on my way back from the market, and there you were, lying on the ground. You wouldn't respond no matter how much I called out to you. I thought…"

The implication was too grim to voice, so Lydia trailed off and switched gears.

"Now that you're awake, you should call your family and have them come stay with you. The doctor said you took a pretty bad fall and needed to be hospitalized for a few days. I have to get home now."

Celine thanked her softly.

Celine didn't call anyone. She hired a private nurse and planned to recover in peace.

Still, Quinn showed up at her door. A bandage was taped to her forehead, and when she looked at Celine lying in the hospital bed, all the warmth and gentleness from before had vanished. In its place was smug satisfaction and barely concealed glee at Celine's misfortune.

"Celine, if you know what's good for you, you'll leave and make room for me. Clinging to your position won't end well for you. You can't win against me!"

Celine watched her gloat and found it almost amusing.

"If you're so confident, why bother coming here to tell me all this?" she asked with genuine curiosity.

A flash of resentment crossed Quinn's eyes. The truth was, she'd noticed that while Steven treated her just as well as before, he'd been keeping a certain distance lately.

It made her uneasy. That was why she was so desperate to get rid of Celine.

"You should know him pretty well by now. He's stubborn and set in his ways once he's made up his mind. But he also hates people who are manipulative and ruthless.

"What do you think would happen if he found out everything you've done? Do you really think he'd still treat you well?"

After all these years, Celine felt she had Steven figured out completely.

"Are you threatening me?" Quinn's expression darkened. She stared at Celine with undisguised hatred.

Celine's tone remained calm. "I'm just telling you the truth."

"Then, let's test it. Let's see who Steve believes, you or me. Just like this time, I fell down those steps on my own, but he didn't even ask questions before deciding you pushed me."

Quinn brought it up herself, probably trying to regain some confidence.

"Even your own son can't stand you. He likes me better. Celine, what do you have that could possibly beat me? You've already lost!

"I'm giving you one last chance. Leave on your own, and as a reward for being sensible, I'll let Zane visit you from time to time.

"Otherwise, I'll make sure he never acknowledges you as his mother for the rest of his life."

After Quinn left, Celine pulled out the phone she'd kept hidden beneath the blanket and stopped the recording.

Celine spent a week in the hospital. Aside from her rival's visit, Steven never once showed his face. Zane did come by once, though it was on Quinn's behalf.

He demanded that Celine apologize to Quinn. He said the wound on Quinn's forehead might scar. He called her vicious for hurting someone's appearance.

Perhaps it was all the time she'd spent lying in that hospital bed, but Celine had done a lot of thinking. She'd come to realize that compared to life and death, everything else was trivial. Hearing Zane say these things didn't hurt or enrage her the way it once would have.

She was almost curious now, so she asked, "What are you going to do if I don't apologize?"

Was he going to use violence like Steven?

Zane glared at Celine, his voice loud and firm. "If you don't apologize, I won't call you my mother anymore! I don't have such a cruel and vicious mother!"

Celine waved him off. "Bye, Zane."

Father and son really were cut from the same cloth. Both of them wanted her gone, and so did Quinn. Perfect. All of them were working toward the same goal.

"You're completely unrepentant!" Zane huffed and stormed out. He never came back after that.

Once the pain subsided, Celine checked herself out of the hospital and returned to the villa one last time. Before going back, she made sure to check the security cameras and confirm that both Steven and Zane were out.

She threw away everything she hadn't managed to get rid of the first time, grabbed her identification documents, and checked into a hotel.

Just three more days. In three days, her contract with Evelyn would expire.

Celine had planned to spend those three days resting peacefully at the hotel. Once the time was up, she'd take the passport Evelyn had prepared for her and leave. But on the final day, someone knocked on her door.

It was Steven.

"Celine, there's a limit to how long you can throw a fit." Steven tugged at his tie as he walked in, frustration simmering beneath the surface. When he saw Celine's indifferent expression, his anger flared even hotter.

"You don't answer your phone, and now you're running away from home? Have I been too easy on you all these years?"

"Sorry," Celine apologized immediately, and Steven's expression softened slightly.

But then she followed up with, "I blocked your number. That's why I didn't get your calls."

"You!" Steven's hands trembled with rage.

"Did you need something?"

The days Celine had spent in the hospital had been the most peaceful she'd had in five years. Now, seeing Steven again, she couldn't muster even a shred of patience.

"If there's nothing else, you should go. I need to rest."

"Celine, have you forgotten what tomorrow is?" Steven forced the question through gritted teeth.

Celine drew a blank. What day?

"Tomorrow is Zane's birthday. I'm throwing him a party at Fester Hotel. Be there at 6:00 pm sharp." Steven finished speaking and fixed Celine with a meaningful look.

"After the party, we need to talk."

Celine didn't hesitate. "I'm not going."

"Celine, you're his mother!" Steven's voice rose sharply.

"He doesn't see me as his mother. If I go, I'll just get dirty looks. I'm not that bored that I need to go looking for a bad time." As she spoke, Celine pushed him toward the door and shut it firmly in his face.

The hallway fell silent.

As for Steven wanting to talk? She almost laughed. When she'd wanted to talk before, had he ever given her the chance?

No. And now Celine didn't want to give him one either.

The idea that she'd once wanted a clean break, that she'd felt the need to hash everything out, seemed absolutely ridiculous now. She must've lost her mind.

No one cared then. And now, she didn't care either.

Steven must have complained to Evelyn, because that evening, Celine received a call asking her to attend Zane's birthday party.

"Celine, just think of it as the last thing you have to do under our contract." Evelyn's tone was subdued, almost pleading. "This is the first birthday party Zane's ever had. The whole family will be there. Just show your face."

Celine agreed.

Evelyn was right. It was the last day of the contract.

She could endure one more time.

Celine was the type of person who, once she made a promise, would follow through and do her best to see it done.

She arrived at the venue an hour early and had even dressed up for the occasion. But as it turned out, there was absolutely no need for her to be there.

Zane stayed glued to Quinn's side the entire time. As the birthday boy, guests naturally congratulated him first, but all the small talk that followed was directed at Quinn.

When the servers had questions or needed clarification on arrangements, they asked Quinn. Celine stood in the banquet hall feeling more out of place than the actual guests.

Fortunately, she'd already made peace with it all. With a calm mindset, she found a quiet corner and sampled the drinks and hors d'oeuvres. Rather than dwelling on the sadness of being excluded by her own son, Celine found herself looking forward to her new life.

At 6:00 pm sharp, a massive seven-tier cake was wheeled in. Candles were lit, the lights dimmed, and the birthday song began to play.

Zane stood in front of the enormous cake with his hands clasped together politely, making a wish with utmost seriousness. Quinn stood right behind him.

Steven had walked in just one minute before the lights went out. He glanced at his son, who was surrounded by well-wishers, then made his way toward Celine in the corner.

The moment the lights went out, Celine heard him ask, "Why aren't you over there?"

She didn't bother answering. After the birthday song finished, the lights came back on. Next came the cake-cutting ceremony.

Zane eagerly grabbed the knife and fork and was about to hand them to Quinn when Evelyn stopped him.

"Zane, sweetheart, today is your birthday. Five years ago today, you met your mom for the first time. Shouldn't she be the one to cut the cake?"

Evelyn bent down and spoke to him gently, taking the utensils from his hands. She waved at Celine through the crowd.

"Celine, come cut the cake."

The guests seemed to suddenly remember that Celine was the biological mother. All at once, curious eyes turned toward Quinn with unspoken questions.

Quinn struggled to keep the smile on her face. She instinctively looked at Steven.

"Mom's asking you to cut the cake." Steven was currently looking down at Celine, repeating the instruction. Celine's temper had really gotten out of hand lately.

Celine took a deep breath, stood up, and walked over. Steven followed her movements. The crowd parted to let her through.

Hatred flashed through Quinn's eyes, but it was gone in an instant. The moment Evelyn handed the knife and fork to Celine, Quinn let go of Zane's hand.

Zane turned to look at her. Seeing her hurt and upset expression, he immediately started making a fuss.

"I don't want her to cut it! I want Quinn to cut it for me!" He lunged forward, trying to snatch the utensils back.

Evelyn blocked him, her tone growing stern. "If you want, we can bring out a new cake in a bit and let Quinn cut that one."

Zane refused, "I want this one!"

"Zane Kirk!" Steven used his full name, and Zane stopped his tantrum, looking at Steven with a trace of fear.

"Let Mom cut the cake." Steven's tone left no room for argument.

"But I already promised Quinn she could cut it!" Zane's voice turned whiny with grievance.

He turned on Celine, venting all his frustration at her. "Who told you to come? I never asked you to be here! You're so annoying! All you do is ruin everything for me! Go away! Just go away!"

Zane broke free from Evelyn's grasp and shoved Celine.

Kids never knew their own strength. Celine's injuries had only just healed. As he pushed her backward, he forgot that behind her was an elaborate display of wine glasses arranged in neat rows.

The whole thing came crashing down.

"Celine!" Steven had been standing right behind her and immediately reached out to catch her.

Celine had been standing too close. Even though Steven managed to keep her from falling into the pile of broken glass, shards still scattered across the floor and cut her. Pain shot through her legs.

Evelyn quickly called the servers over to clean up the mess. Guests scattered as the scene erupted into chaos.

"Zane, are you okay?" Quinn rushed over to check on him.

Zane looked shaken. He was scared.

Quinn watched Celine intently as Steven helped her up. She looked down at Zane. "Don't be scared. Let me take you outside."

She bent down to pick Zane up. As she stood, her body swayed, and she collapsed.

"Quinn! Dad! Dad, Quinn's hurt!" Zane immediately spotted the blood and cried out for Steven in panic.

Steven's attention snapped toward them instantly, and he let go of Celine. He didn't notice Celine sway the moment he let go.