Chapter 1

I still remembered that I stood in the hospital corridor in a daze for nearly an hour after I ended the call from the social security center.

My husband, Christian Stone, had been laid off last year. Half of our household income was gone.

Not long ago, our daughter, Alina Stone, was diagnosed with cancer. Our already difficult lives became even more suffocating. I worked three jobs on my own, barely managing to keep us afloat.

The days were hard. But I kept telling myself we would make it through.

Now, all I felt was despair…

"Dear, don't get worked up. Just listen to me," Christian said, standing up.

I kept backing away. The man in front of me suddenly felt terrifying. Revolting.

I almost went mad. "Christian, if I hadn't found out today, how much longer were you going to lie to me?"

His expression tensed. He dropped to his knees again.

I didn't say anything more. Not because I didn't want to. I simply didn't have the strength.

Alina's treatment cost over 5,000 dollars a month just for chemotherapy.

During the day, I worked as a housekeeper for the rich. At night, I sold snacks at a night market. On the weekends, I hauled bricks at construction sites, competing with men for shifts.

Feeling sorry for me, Alina said, "Mom, it's all my fault. If I weren't sick, you wouldn't have to work so hard."

I swallowed my tears and forced a smile. "Don't worry. When your father finds a job, things will get better."

But now, I didn't know how to tell her that her father had never cared about her.

One time, Alina saw a box of cherries in the grocery store, and her eyes lit up. She was always so considerate and never asked for expensive things.

That small box cost 20 dollars. I was about to buy it, but Christian pulled me away. "We can't afford that. 20 dollars could cover groceries for a week."

In the end, I walked away with Alina.

Hah! He couldn't even spare 20 dollars for fruit. Yet, every month, he sent money to support his ex-wife—money that he had gotten by exploiting my parents after their deaths.

"How pathetic is she that she needs her ex-husband to support her?"

When I mentioned his ex-wife, Lydia Swanson, Christian finally looked up. "Her husband died young. She's raising a child alone. It's not easy."

"And it's easy for me and Alina?" I shouted.

At that moment, all the anger I had buried deep down broke free, shattering all restraint and rationality. I rushed forward and slapped him hard across the face.

His head snapped to the side from the blow. After a long pause, he muttered, "Stop making a scene. From now on, I'll leave you 500 dollars a month. Is that enough?"

My vision went dark with rage. I grabbed his collar and screamed, "Christian Stone, you bastard! I'm calling the police. I'm going to give my parents a proper burial. I'm going to expose everything you've done!"

Hearing that, he sprang to his feet and grabbed my throat. "Winona Lewis, what the hell is wrong with you? I'm your husband. If I get arrested for fraud, that 90 thousand dollars will become marital debt, and you'll have to pay it too. What will happen to Alina then? Do you want to watch her die?"

Just as I was about to pass out from suffocation, Christian's phone rang. He released me, panting, and reached for his phone. The moment he saw the name on the screen, the fury vanished from his face.

He turned away, lowering his voice. "Hello? Lyds, what's wrong? Slow down…"