Chapter 2

"You agreed to it?" A sharp pain pricked at my heart. I could not believe what I was hearing.

David looked uneasy. "Jasmine, as her sister, you want her to get better too, right? The fortune-telling master said once she's married, Emma's health will recover quickly! And it's just for show. It won't affect our relationship. You're still Betty's mom, my wife. I'd never betray you."

Before I could say anything, our daughter grabbed my hand and looked up at me pleadingly. "Mom, Godmother Emma's been really sad lately. She cries alone all the time... Please let Dad help her, okay?"

I froze.

Yes, years ago, despite my protests and tears, they insisted on making Emma our daughter's godmother.

Even my daughter was closer to her than to me.

As I looked at this so-called family, my eyes welled with tears, but I forced them down.

One was the man I had loved for years. The other, the child I had risked my life to bring into the world.

In their world, Emma was family. I was just the 'overly emotional' mother.

I looked at David calmly. "Alright. As long as it makes you all happy."

David's eyes lit up with surprise and delight. He immediately pulled out the divorce papers he had clearly prepared in advance. "Just sign here."

"Mom, here's a pen!" My daughter eagerly handed it to me.

My heart sank. So they had been waiting for this moment.

I signed quickly and handed the divorce papers back.

"As soon as Emma recovers, I'll remarry you right away. Don't worry, you're the only woman I love. And Betty will always be your daughter," said David as he hurried to add his signature.

I felt wronged, but managed a strained smile. I would not live to see that day.

"Jasmine, you're so much more understanding than before. I wasn't perfect either. I'll make it up to you."

"Mom, you're so good to Godmother. I'm proud to have a mom like you!"

I felt nothing but bitter irony. I had still held onto a shred of hope. At this point, though, it was gone.

I turned to go upstairs. Just as I lifted my foot, everything went dark. I could not catch my breath, and collapsed.

I was jolted awake by cold water.

David and our daughter were standing over me. "Mom, why are you pretending to faint again? Mom, you're not even sick, and you keep faking it to trick us. We need to bring dessert to Godmother. Get up, you're wasting time!"

"Jasmine, I've told you over and over—the divorce is just for appearances. I'm not going to leave you. You don't need to fake illness to test me."

Their first reaction upon seeing me collapse was not to call an ambulance, but to accuse me of playing games.

"Mom, you look so healthy. How could you be sick? You're a grown-up, and I'm more mature than you."

Her words pierced my heart.

It seemed the doctor's medication really worked. I did not look sick at all.

Still, in three days, I would be dead.

"I'm fine now. I'll come with you. Emma still needs to sign some transfer papers."

David clearly did not want me going to the hospital, but hearing that some formalities were incomplete, he nodded.

At the hospital, Emma was leaning weakly against the bed, looking pale and frail.

She truly looked more like someone beyond saving than I did.

"Jasmine, you're here!" Emma greeted me warmly. "Jasmine, thank you for believing in me. Once I recover, I'll work hard to take our jewelry business global."

"Yes, Jasmine. Didn't you always love to travel? With Emma managing things, you can travel and still receive dividends from the company. Isn't that wonderful?" Mom beamed with genuine joy.

I smiled too. "Yes, it sounds perfect. So I've decided to transfer all the money in my accounts, and all the properties under my name, to Emma as well. That way, I won't need to worry about a thing anymore."

At that, everyone froze.