Chapter 1

At Unity Hospital, I screamed hysterically, “Callum, if you walk out that door, we’re over!”

He froze mid-step. He rushed back, wrapped me in his arms, and kissed my forehead.

I instinctively grabbed his hand and was unwilling to let him go.

He gently pushed my hand away and murmured, “Babe, don’t overthink it. I’ll go check on her and come right back.”

Then, he turned and broke into a run.

He left me standing alone with tears streaming down my face.

It was disgusting and absolutely abhorrent.

How dare he call me “Babe” and then sprint off to another woman without hesitation?

‘Callum, we are over. This time, I would not forgive you,’ I thought.

My mother, Martha, had come looking for Callum. She grabbed my hand and pleaded, “Mira, please understand. Catherina has severe depression. She’s very ill. Let Callum comfort her, alright? I’m begging you as your mother!”

I was heartbroken. It felt as if a knife had been plunged into my heart.

My own mother was asking me to be the bigger person and “lend” my husband to another woman.

Before I could compose myself, another person burst through the door.

It was my older brother, Gale.

The first thing he did was to scold me.

“Mira, can’t you be more generous? Callum is just keeping Catherina company. Why are you being so dramatic?

“Besides, the only reason you’re still in this house is because Catherina spoke up for you. Whatever she wants, you should give it to her!”

I staggered back and glanced at Martha. She averted her eyes and refused to meet my gaze.

After lecturing me, they hurriedly left.

A WhatsApp notification sounded. On my screen was a message from Catherina.

[Mira, how does it feel to be abandoned again? You never should’ve come back. You belong in the pigsty in Millford.

[I told you before, this family is mine. Everything here belongs to me, including Callum. Whenever I want them, they’ll choose me over you.

[If I were a pathetic loser like you, I’d just die. What’s the point of living like this?]

I felt nothing but numbness reading her words.

Ever since I was little, I had always lost whenever I went up against Catherina.

After I returned home, Catherina had sent me these taunting messages many times.

I showed her cruel texts to my parents and hoped they would finally see Catherina for who she really was.

But they looked at me in disgust.

“Mira, don’t use such shallow tricks against Catherina. You disgust us!”

“You disgust us…”

How could parents say that to their own child?

Later, I found out Catherina had prepared her defense.

She told our parents I had been forging fake rumors about classmates and begged them to “talk sense into me.”

So, trust could indeed be unconditional, just never for me.

When did the real nightmare begin?

When I was little, our family went on a trip. The tour bus got into an accident.

Martha instinctively shielded Gale, while my father, George, held Catherina.

They clung to their favorite children and comforted them, but never noticed me behind them. A trafficker clamped his hand over my mouth and dragged me away.

I cried desperately and struggled with all my might, but I was no match for an adult.

In my heart, I screamed, “Mom… Dad… please! Just turn around! Look at me! Your daughter is being taken away! Please… just one glance!”

Even when the drugs knocked me unconscious, I never saw them turn back.