Chapter 1

On our eighth wedding anniversary, my husband treated Anya Hemsworth to dinner. Our five-year-old son asked for the first course.

She suddenly cried. “Sister, I know you’ve never liked me, but today is my birthday. How could you let a child humiliate me?”

My husband became furious and threw our son into the pigpen.

I knelt, admitted my mistake and begged him to spare our son. I promised I would never act recklessly again, only asking him to let our child live.

He ordered his bodyguards to hold me down and sneered. “Your precious son, whom you raised, has no manners. Since he likes to fight for food so much, let him fight with the pigs.”

I was forcibly injected with sleeping pills and when I woke three days later, I learned the starving pigs had eaten my son. I collapsed in the rain, crying, clutching his severed finger.

Nearby, my husband held Anya by the waist, lighting a sky lantern for her and taking photos of her favorite things.

Broken and hopeless, I took out my phone and called my husband’s sister.

“Sophie Taylor, the family has no heir now. I’ve repaid my debt. Please let me go.”

“Sophie, did Henry bully you again? And what do you mean the Taylor Family has no descendants? Isn’t Andrew…”

“Sophie, Andrew is dead,” I cut her off. “Henry locked him in a pigpen for three days and nights and starving pigs ate him.”

I stared at the tombstone in front of me and gently touched the photo in black and white. “Sophie, I gave everything for this child, but in the end, it couldn’t stop Henry’s canary from speaking a single word.”

“Let me go. Four years ago, the doctor said Henry could never have children. I’ve repaid my debt. I just want to take Andrew and leave.”

“How could this happen?” Sophie sounded shocked. “Is there some misunderstanding between you two? Or was Andrew just being naughty and hiding somewhere—”

“Sophie!” I laughed coldly. “I wouldn’t joke about Andrew. Besides, Henry is busy showing off at an auction with his canary, lighting lanterns for her and buying a British princess’s jeweled necklace worth hundreds of billions.”

There was a long silence on the other end before Sophie finally said, “Okay, I understand. Thank you for your hard work all these years. I shouldn’t have forced you. From now on, do whatever you want.”

After hanging up, I went home, drenched from the rain. When I saw the mess of clothes on the floor, my numb heart gave a painful jolt.

Andrew’s body was still warm, yet Henry was still enjoying himself.

“Hey, Kate Vergara, you’re back? What happened to you? You look like a ragpicker.”

Anya, wearing my pajamas, came quickly down the stairs. She brushed her hair back, revealing a purple kiss mark on her neck. “It’s because Henry is so full of energy. I can’t satisfy him, so he takes it all out on me.”

I looked at her without a word.

When I stayed silent, Anya’s eyes turned cold and she sneered. “I heard a pig ate your son. So, how is it? Do you like this gift, sister?”

I froze, then demanded in disbelief, “You did it? You killed my Andrew?!”

She gave a careless nod. “Not only did I make sure a starving sow ate him, I even recorded it. He kept calling me ‘Mom,’ and it sounded so sweet, hahaha…”

“Anya, you’re not human!”

I lunged at her in fury, but before I could strike, a large hand grabbed me.

“Henry, what are you doing? She killed our child! Are you protecting her?!”

Henry hesitated. Beside him, Anya covered her face, wiping away tears. “Henry, I only came downstairs and saw her soaking wet, so I kindly offered to help her change. But then…”

“Maybe I should just leave. You’ve never liked me. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have let your child order the first dish on my birthday…”

Henry’s expression darkened. “Kate, apologize to Anya.”

“What did you say?!” I stared at him in disbelief.

“In Anya’s hometown, the birthday person always orders the first dish, or they’ll have a miserable year ahead.” Henry placed his arm around her waist. “Apologize to Anya and this will be over.”

“Also, make some seafood dishes. Anya and I haven’t eaten since yesterday. After that, go get our son and take him to kindergarten.”

I listened to his commanding tone and smiled bitterly.

My thoughts snapped back. My face turned cold and I gritted my teeth. “Henry, don’t you understand? I said Andrew is dead….”

Before I could finish, Anya cut in, pretending not to understand. “Henry, why would Kate curse her own child? Could it be she doesn’t like your child with hers?”

“Although I don’t know how children feel, I believe no mother would curse her own child, unless she didn’t love them. After all, I’m a woman too, so I understand.”

Henry listened and my brows furrowed. “Kate, have I been too good to you? Have you forgotten how you even became my wife?”

“If you dare curse my son again, I’ll throw you out and you’ll never be my wife.”

I bit the inside of my cheek, tasting blood and spoke coldly. “Henry, let’s get a divorce.”

His face showed a flicker of panic before he scoffed. “Kate, do you think I care about you just because you’re pulling this trick? If Anya hadn’t said she was worried you hadn’t eaten in three days, I wouldn’t have come back.”

“Anya is so kind! I truly regret marrying you.”

“Then divorce me. That way, Anya and I can be happy.” I looked at him without emotion.

Maybe my stare was too sharp, because for the first time, Henry seemed uneasy.

He pulled Anya into his arms. “Stop playing hard to get. It won’t work on me.” Then he left.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out the severed finger I had found in the corner of the pigpen. It was Andrew’s.

After a long silence, I took out my phone and called Professor Zion Martin.

When the call connected, I went straight to the point. “Professor Martin, do you still need help?”

He sounded a little surprised. “Kate, why did you think of calling me? Have you finally decided?”

I stared at the severed finger in my hand and Andrew’s voice echoed in my mind. “Mom, you used to be so successful. Why do you insist on staying home as a housewife?”

“If one day you could return to your old job, I’d be so proud of you!”

My thoughts returned and I choked up. “I’ve decided. I’m willing to join the Bessemer project.”

“Good. Then I just need to cancel your identity. You know this is top secret. And your husband’s family…”

“Professor Martin, don’t worry about them. Give me a week. I’ll meet you after I’m done and I’ll cancel all my documents.”

I had just hung up when Henry’s angry voice sounded behind me. “What are you canceling? Planning to leave without me?”

Chapter 2

I turned to him and said evenly, “Nothing, just that my ID card is about to expire, so…”

“Didn’t you just get your ID card two years ago? How could it expire so soon?”

I froze for a moment, not expecting him to remember going with me to get it two years ago. That was also the day he met Anya.

Henry walked over and snatched my phone. After unlocking it, he saw no recent calls in my history and his frown eased.

Then he accused me. “Can’t you just give me some peace? Do you think I actually care about you? You’re trying to threaten me like this? I’m telling you, your tricks only make me sick. You’re not even one-tenth of Anya.”

Before I could respond, he turned and left. From the doorway, Anya’s playful voice floated in. “Henry, why are you coming out empty-handed? My underwear is still in your bedroom.”

“There’s something dirty in there. I’ll take you to buy new ones.” His voice faded away. I sat on the floor, drained and dejected.

I quickly pulled out my phone and opened another system interface. A message from Zion, sent a minute earlier, appeared.

[Kate, welcome back. I look forward to you creating another legend.]

I replied with a simple “OK” and turned off my phone.

Two days later, early in the morning, I went to a specialty goods shop. I showed the staff the severed finger and stated my request.

At the same time, I applied online to cancel my identity information.

While waiting, I received a taunting message from Anya.

It was a photo of Henry in the hospital, wearing a stethoscope and looking serious.

Anya wrote: [Henry said he couldn’t help himself because he wanted to hear the newborn’s heartbeat. I wonder if he treated you like this when you were pregnant?]

I gripped my phone tightly. Anger burned inside me, but I forced myself to stay calm. I had only seven days left before I left them.

I still remember Henry’s expression when I was pregnant.

He wasn’t happy or excited about the child’s arrival.

His first words were, “Finally, you’re pregnant! I don’t have to eat those things anymore.”

Although Henry had been in pain at that time, he never refused me.

I told him I had a hidden illness and convinced him to join me in recuperating. I also said that once I became pregnant, I would no longer force him into anything.

But what Henry didn’t know was that the one with the illness wasn’t me, it was him.

Henry had been a gangster, often smoking and drinking. He also had asthenospermia, which made conceiving difficult and no one wanted to marry him. That was when Sophie came to me, offering me the favor of saving my life in exchange for staying with Henry and giving the Taylor Family a child.

For the first three years, I cared for Henry and nursed him back to health. In the fourth year, I finally became pregnant, but the baby almost miscarried. Sophie was terrified, knowing the doctor had already said Henry could never be a father.

I looked at the man in the photo, a sarcastic smile tugging at my lips.

Henry, you weren’t fit to be a husband, let alone a father.

Chapter 3

I pushed open the door and saw Henry feeding Anya at the dining table. She was being spoiled, throwing a tantrum and refusing to eat properly.

When he saw me, Henry frowned. “The kindergarten teacher just called and said you didn’t send Andrew to school. What’s wrong with you as a mother?”

“Andrew is still young and naïve, but you’re an adult. Don’t you know how to behave? He has no manners and no upbringing and that’s all because of you!”

I gave a cold smile. “Henry, I said we’re getting a divorce. I’ll leave the house, but the child will stay with me.”

I didn’t want Andrew’s last bit of peace to be disturbed.

Anya suddenly spoke, looking confused. “But Andrew is the heir of the Taylor Family. If you take him away, wouldn’t that be…”

Henry looked embarrassed. “Kate, you’re really scheming. It was one thing to plot against me back then, but now you’re even scheming against a five-year-old. Is this fun for you? You’ve treated Andrew like some wild child.”

“Kate, I’ll give you one million, but Andrew must be mine.”

“Henry, Andrew is already dead. Can’t you just let him rest in peace?” I said coldly.

Anya’s face showed a flicker of unease, but Henry sneered. “Kate, do you think I don’t know? You deliberately encouraged Andrew to play pranks with you. Just to get a bit of money, you even made up a curse about his death. I really underestimated you. Add another million and Andrew must be mine.”

I was about to answer, but Anya quickly changed the subject. “Henry, I suddenly feel pain in my stomach. Is the baby kicking me?”

She pretended to blush and lowered her head.

Henry turned to her, his eyes gentle and doting. “The baby isn’t even formed yet. How could it be so naughty so soon?”

Watching them, I suddenly remembered when I nearly miscarried during my first pregnancy five years ago because Henry didn’t hold me steady. He had said carelessly, “Is such a small thing worth making a fuss over? It’s still unfinished, isn’t it? It’s not that easy to die.”

That night, I had just stepped out of the shower when I saw Henry sitting on the bed.

“Kate, you’re really clever. Not only did you trick Andrew into deceiving me, but you even joined forces with my sister to do this to me?”

Wrapped in a bath towel, I looked at him cautiously. “What are you talking about?”

The wariness in my eyes seemed to sting him. He rushed over, pushed me onto the bed and pressed his weight against me.

The next moment, he covered me with kisses. The scent of gardenia perfume, the one unique to Anya, burned in my nose.

My stomach turned. I tried to push him away, but I couldn’t.

“Henry, let me go!”

A chill spread across my chest, my heart pounding. Humiliation surged through me and tears rolled down my face.

“Why are you crying?” Henry looked up, his eyes dark and impatient.

When I stayed silent, he stood, grabbed the coat beside him and said coldly, “Isn’t this what you wanted? Why pretend to be some chaste heroine? I’ve seen every part of you, especially that ugly scar on your stomach. It disgusts me every time, just like you do.”

With that, Henry slammed the door and left.

I climbed out of bed, took the broken finger necklace from the drawer and pressed it against my heart, looking at it with tenderness and longing.

Andrew, don’t be afraid. Mommy will take you away.

Chapter 4

Henry hadn’t come home for two days, while Anya’s taunting messages kept coming.

The one that stood out most was when she bragged, “In three days, Henry is throwing me a party for our two-year anniversary.”

My hands shook and I froze on the spot.

My mind went back to the anniversary of my first time with Henry. I had begged him for so long before he finally agreed to take me to the amusement park. But that day, he was distracted the whole time. When I asked him about it later, he scoffed, “I don’t see the point of you women celebrating these things all the time. Do you really think an anniversary can keep anything?”

My thoughts were cut short by the sound of my phone ringing. It was Henry calling.

I instinctively answered the call and the soft, breathless sounds of a man and woman tangled together came through.

Anya’s voice panted softly. “Henry, I want to wear a wedding dress on our second anniversary. Let me pretend to marry you, okay?”

Henry’s voice was breathless. “Sure. I’ll you in your wedding dress, it’ll be something special.”

Anya giggled. “Hate it, Henry! Aren’t you afraid she will get jealous and make a scene?”

“If she gets upset, I’ll lock her in the basement, her son Andrew, too. Then no one will bother us.”

The disgusting voices made my stomach churn. I swallowed my nausea and hung up.

I stood, walked to Henry’s study and went to his computer. I typed in Anya’s birthday.

The screen unlocked.

I sneered. “Henry is really the same as before.”

In the three years when Henry and I loved each other most, he went from knowing nothing about love to becoming gentle and caring under my guidance. I taught him everything, even how to set phone screensavers and computer passwords.

Before he met Anya, Henry had been involved with other women, but those flings were nothing serious. I didn’t care, even when he used their birthdays as passwords.

But after meeting Anya, Henry changed completely.

I pushed my thoughts aside, drafted a divorce agreement and printed it in the study.

Suddenly, the paper in my hand slipped to the floor. When I bent to pick it up, I saw a broken piece of the table corner resting on a keepsake pouch.

I recognized it instantly; it was the blessing bag I had earned by climbing nine hundred and ninety-nine steps, kneeling to Henry with each step.

Now it lay tossed in a corner, treated like a piece of trash.

My heart trembled. My sincerity had been trampled without a thought. Eight years of feelings ended in that moment.

Chapter 5

The next day, while I was packing my clothes, Anya suddenly barged in.

She glanced at what I was doing and smirked. “So, you know you can’t beat me and you’re giving up? Hmm, smart choice. Remember to divorce Henry and take your son’s things with you. I don’t want that bad luck left here.”

As she spoke, Anya leaned on one hand and stroked her flat belly with the other. Her face was full of pride as she said, “From now on, my child will be the true heir of the Taylor Family. As for that bastard of yours, he deserved to be eaten by pigs.”

I froze, my gaze turning dark as I stared at her. She flinched slightly. “Why are you looking at me like that? Am I wrong? That brat deserved to die. He was always targeting me. Do you think I can’t deal with you, too?”

She laughed coldly. “Hahaha, he’s dead anyway, ah!”

I rushed forward and slapped her. “Anya, you’ll pay for this!”

A sharp look flashed in Anya’s eyes. She raised her hand as if to strike me, but dropped it and instead grabbed my wrist, pulling me forward.

She stumbled out of the room just as Henry came upstairs. Seeing the scene, he rushed over to help her up.

Then he turned on me. “Kate, what’s wrong with you? You were a mother once, too. Why would you be so cruel to harm Anya’s child?”

I met his eyes and repeated his own words back to him. “Didn’t you say the child wasn’t even formed yet, so it didn’t matter if it died?”

Henry froze for a moment, then looked away, his voice still stubborn. “Anya is different from you. She’s been weak since she was young, so she’ll be more careful when she’s pregnant.”

“Just apologize to Anya and let this go.”

“And apologize to Andrew, too, after all, you’re the one who failed to raise him as a child.”

I looked at Henry coldly. Anya quickly said, “It’s okay, Henry. She probably heard I was pregnant and worried about how it might affect Andrew, so she thought…

“I’m a little upset, but this is our first child. I just didn’t expect her to be so cruel.”

“That slap just now was the lightest punishment and warning she could give me. I only ask that she not hurt my child. For anything else, she can come to me directly.”

Henry’s face darkened. He walked up to me and said, “Apologize to Anya.”

“I did nothing wrong. Why should I…”

My head snapped to the side, my cheek burning.

“I said, apologize to Anya. If you don’t, you’re not leaving this room today.”

Chapter 6

I stared at Henry for a long moment, realizing he wasn’t joking.

Thinking of the things I still needed to prepare for Andrew’s burial, I swallowed my resentment and humiliation, then bowed to Anya. “I’m sorry.”

Anya’s eyes fell on the necklace around my neck and she feigned curiosity. “Henry, doesn’t that look like a lucky charm? Since you can’t come with me to pray for the baby these next two days, why don’t you lend me yours for a while?”

My heart tightened. That necklace was made from Andrew’s severed finger.

Without hesitation, Henry reached toward me. “Give it to her.”

When I didn’t move, his brow furrowed. “Kate, can’t you hear me?”

“Anything else, I can give her. Not this.” I gripped the necklace tightly.

But Anya was set on taking it. Henry yanked it from my neck and shoved it into her hand.

The moment she saw it clearly, she flung it away in disgust.

I ran out like a madwoman, trying to catch it, nearly throwing myself off the third-floor balcony.

Henry grabbed my hair and yanked me back.

Behind me, Anya’s eyes flashed with jealousy.

“Kate, are you crazy? If you want to die, don’t do it in the house. That’s bad luck!”

I ignored Henry completely. Even when he almost tore my scalp, I didn’t make a sound.

Thinking of the severed finger necklace lying in a corner, I shoved Henry away, pushed Anya aside and rushed downstairs.

In the flowerbed, bright roses bloomed. Anya loved flowers, especially roses, so a year ago Henry filled the yard with them for her.

But I was allergic to pollen. Even after I begged Henry three times to consider my feelings, he refused.

He even called me pretentious in secret, saying, “No one else has allergies, but you do. Trying to act special?”

I endured the sting of my pollen allergy and tore at the rose bushes with my bare hands.

The thorns cut into my skin, but I didn’t care.

After a long while, thunder rolled overhead and the autumn wind slapped my face, blowing my tangled hair.

Soon, heavy rain poured down. I bit my lower lip, forcing myself to stay calm.

Just as I was about to lose hope, I saw something.

I pushed aside the roses and pulled out the broken, mud-stained necklace, holding it close to my chest. Instinctively, I looked up at the master bedroom on the third floor.

Through the closed window, I saw two figures, locked in an embrace, kissing passionately. The sight sent a jolt through my heart, leaving my mind blank.

I gripped the severed finger tightly.

Andrew, Mom will take you away.

Two days later, I woke up in the hospital.

I opened my eyes and saw Henry sitting by the bed, peeling an apple. Without even looking at me, he said, “You know your body isn’t well, yet you still do such shameless things. Don’t think this will make me pity you.

“If Anya hadn’t been so kind and worried you might die there, I wouldn’t have saved you. Now that you’re awake, go thank her.”

He finished peeling the apple, then began carving it slowly. “Anya was terrified when you fainted. The doctor said she miscarried and needs care.”

“Since you’ve been pregnant and given birth before, you should take care of Anya’s daily needs.”

My face was pale, my eyes empty as I listened to Henry’s endless words.

When I didn’t respond, his eyes flashed with irritation. “I’m talking to you. Didn’t you hear me? Or did you lose your voice after getting caught in the rain?”

I stayed silent and Henry waved his hand impatiently. “Don’t play stubborn with me. Don’t forget, your Vergara family fell long ago. You’re only alive now because my Taylor Family kept you.”

Chapter 7

After Henry left, I glanced at the apples on the bedside table.

Before leaving, he had tossed the scraps at me with a smug look. “Anya doesn’t eat scraps and I don’t like apples. These are for you.”

My chest rose and fell with anger and I threw the scraps onto the floor. Why should I take what Anya didn’t want?

“Hey, Kate, are you mad?”

At some point, Anya had leaned against the doorframe, watching my frustration with amusement.

I turned my head away, ignoring her. She walked over on purpose and waved her phone in front of me. “Do you know what’s in here?”

When I stayed silent, she went on, “It’s a video of your precious son crying and calling for his mother. Do you want to hear it? No? You don’t look that upset anyway. But I have another fun one for you.”

I stayed silent the whole time, but then Anya played a recording from her phone.

“Henry, she always let Andrew bully me. Is it because she doesn’t like me? Do you want me to apologize or something?”

“You’re just too kind. If Andrew bullies you again, I’ll throw him to the wolves. I don’t like him anyway—he’d be better off dead.”

“But I can’t explain that to Kate. What if she gets angry? I’m afraid she’ll get upset…”

“She’s an orphan with no parents, living off me. What right does she have to be angry?”

The recording ended.

A sharp pain shot through my chest and I curled up in bed.

Anya smirked in challenge and I raised my hand to knock the phone away.

Henry’s angry voice cut through the air. “Kate, I’m really doing you a favor. Anya came to see you out of kindness and you dare to bully her!”

Before I could speak, Henry left with Anya.

I stood up and caught a glimpse of Anya’s phone. Three minutes later, before Henry returned, I transferred all the video evidence from her phone to mine, deleted the chat history and erased every trace of my browsing.

When Henry came back, he saw the phone lying quietly on the other side. He picked it up and warned coldly, “If anything happens to Anya and the baby, I’ll come after you.”

At the word “baby,” my numb heart trembled faintly.

Ever since I was pregnant with Andrew, Henry had called him “bastard.” After I gave birth, I begged him to change and he reluctantly started calling him “wild child” instead.

After Henry left, I took out my phone and booked a flight for nine o’clock the next morning.

The next moment, the closed door burst open and Henry stormed in. Without a word, he dragged me out of bed.

He yanked the needle from the back of my hand, making me flinch in pain, but I stayed silent. Every time I cried out, Henry called me pretentious. Instead of comfort, I was thrown out roughly.

“Kate, you’re unbelievable! You actually dared to stab my Anya and our baby with dolls! Can’t you just leave Anya alone?”

Chapter 8

I didn’t understand what Henry was talking about, not until he dragged me to my knees in front of the emergency room door.

Everyone’s eyes were on me, but I had no strength to struggle.

Henry yanked my hair hard, forcing me to kneel before a woman in a wheelchair.

I looked up and met Anya’s smug, taunting gaze. In that instant, I understood she had planned this.

“Apologize! If you don’t apologize to Anya today, don’t even think about standing up,” Henry said coldly, his voice full of anger.

Anya spoke in a soft, fake tone. “Henry, don’t do that. You’re scaring me.”

“Our child survived even after what she did. That means we’re meant to be together.”

“I’ve forgiven her, but the baby in my belly hasn’t. He’s still young and doesn’t understand. So let her bow to him three times and I’ll forgive her on his behalf, okay?”

Without giving me a chance to refuse, Henry grabbed the back of my head and forced it down hard.

As I looked up from the motion, a drop of liquid slid down.

Before I could react, Henry pushed my head down two more times.

My vision went black.

When I woke, it was already six in the morning.

I went straight to the hospital desk, signed the discharge papers and took a taxi back to the villa.

While searching for my ID in the guest room, a sharp smell of cigarette smoke filled my nose. I turned and saw the room quickly filling with smoke.

I rushed to the door and grabbed the handle, only to burn my hand on the red-hot metal.

Trembling, I pulled my hand back. From outside came Anya’s arrogant laughter.

I took out my phone and calmly turned on the recording.

I shouted at Anya, “Anya, what are you doing? Let me out now!”

“Let you out? Dream on! Your bastard is dead, so you should go with him. At least you’ll have company in the afterlife.”

“As soon as you’re gone, I’ll officially be Henry’s wife.”

Anya laughed a few times and walked away.

The fire spread quickly and thick smoke filled the room.

The first rays of sunlight touched me just as I handed the package to the courier.

After that, I turned and boarded the plane without regret.

At the banquet, Henry, dressed in a black couture suit, felt an uneasy panic when he saw Anya walk in wearing her custom-made wedding gown. It was as if something was slipping away.

Anya walked toward Henry with grace, her face as rosy as a blooming rose. “Henry, am I beautiful today? Do I look swollen from pregnancy?”

Suppressing his unease, Henry gently touched the tip of Anya’s nose. “You’re beautiful no matter what. As long as it’s you, it’s perfect.”

Anya smiled shyly and turned aside to wait for the banquet to begin.

Remembering my bloodied face from yesterday, Henry told his assistant, “Guard the gate. If that bitch Kate shows up, stop her immediately.”

“We can’t let her interrupt Anya and my wedding today. A jealous woman like Kate will definitely cause trouble if she finds out.”

“And that kid, Andrew—he’d stand up for his mother. Make sure you’re all in position.”

The assistant patted his chest confidently. “Don’t worry, Mr. Taylor. Andrew’s funeral was over a week ago. He won’t be disrupting you and Anya’s wedding again. Besides…”