Chapter 1

The lights on the search boats flickered in the distance while the reflective strips on the rescue team’s uniforms glimmered as they moved.

It had been eight hours since my daughter went missing. All that remained on the shore was a single small shoe.

My vacant eyes followed the rescue boats slowly returning to shore. The rescuers came one by one to offer their condolences. Looking at the endless darkness of the ocean, I couldn’t stop thinking how terrified my little Celeste must be at the bottom of the sea.

As though I were a broken doll stripped of its soul, I stumbled step by step toward the water as if in a trance. A quick-acting police officer pulled me back, forcing me to return home under their watch.

The entire villa was brightly lit, and the garden was adorned with flowers and decorations. Dressed in a pink princess gown with a crystal crown, Queenie Lane stood at the center of a lively crowd.

My husband, Sutton Cook, stood by her side, lovingly holding her hand as they cut the cake. “Here’s to you growing another year older—may you always be safe and sound, Queenie,” he said with a smile.

‘How ironic. Your Queenie gets to grow another year older while my daughter will never grow up again.’

“Ah, Cheyenne’s back!” Someone in the crowd spotted me, their tone mocking.

Queenie sliced a piece of cake and nestled against Sutton, her smile sickly sweet but piercing. “I didn’t want to disrupt your vacation, but Sutton insisted on rushing back for my birthday. On the phone, I even heard Celeste’s voice. Why didn’t she come back with you?”

Hearing my daughter’s name was like a knife twisting in my heart. She knew Sutton was with Celeste, yet she still urged him to abandon her just to come to celebrate with her. How cruel could she be?

I shoved open the half-closed door and stepped into the living room. My muddy shoes left ugly stains on the polished marble floor.

Sutton frowned in displeasure. “Why are you so filthy? Go and change before coming back for the cake.”

With a cold laugh, I ignored him and walked straight up to the dining table. With all my strength, I flipped it over.

The lavishly dressed crowd was instantly doused in soup and oil, their clothes ruined, their faces panicked. Screams filled the air as plates shattered, scattering shards across the floor.

“Now, who’s dirty?” I snarled, glaring venomously at the woman who had caused my daughter’s death.

Queenie’s eyes immediately welled up with tears. She crouched on the floor, picking up the ruined cake with trembling hands. “Cheyenne, what did I ever do to upset you?”

“You being alive upsets me,” I spat, enunciating every word with poison.

Perhaps it was the malice in my gaze that frightened her. Queenie staggered backward and fell into Sutton’s arms, her tearful eyes pitifully fixed on me.

Sutton’s anger erupted. “Apologize to Queenie now! Or I’ll never forgive you.”

I scoffed, my voice dripping with disdain. “And who do you think you are? Why would I care about your forgiveness?”