Redemption Was Never Mine

After ending my call with my father and sending him my location, I pushed open the front door.

The absurd scene in the living room came into clear view through the half-closed gap.

Those rats were in the luxury apartment I had bought with my own blood, sweat, and tears. What was even more nauseating was that my mother-in-law, Mabel Lloyd, was clutching Daisy's swollen hand, her wrinkled face grinning from ear to ear.

Ethan carefully fed Daisy spoonfuls of imported manuka honey pudding. "Daisy, you've worked so hard carrying on our family line. Eat more, build up your strength."

Daisy lowered her head shyly and dabbed at her lips. The massive diamond ring on her ring finger caught the light, its glare stinging my eyes.

I clenched my fist, only to feel the old burn scars on the back of my hand, remnants from years of running a food truck at the farmers' market.

"Nicole is just a filthy food vendor! How is she worthy of your status as a CEO now that the company's gone public?" Mabel's sharp, venomous voice cut through the door and drilled straight into my ears.

"She can't even have children. She wouldn't still be living with us if it weren't for your soft heart! A parentless orphan like her… How could she possibly be living this kind of life if it weren't for you?"

I let out a quiet laugh.

When I first transmigrated into this world five years ago, Ethan and his family had still been huddled in a leaking slum. I had used the knowledge gap from the novel to point him toward business opportunities.

Later, when his startup failed, and loan sharks came after him, I set up a food stall. I slaved over the counter for over a dozen hours a day, breathing in grease and smoke just to help him repay his debts.

The day the loan sharks showed up, I took a blow to the abdomen from an iron rod to protect Ethan—and lost my ability to have children forever. Back then, he had knelt in the wreckage of the stall, slapping himself as he swore he would never betray me for the rest of his life.

Now, he had forgotten every step of the journey that brought him here.

I shoved the door open. The noise drew their attention immediately. The moment Ethan saw me, he instinctively moved to shield Daisy behind him, a flicker of panic and wariness flashing through his eyes. "Nicole? Why are you back?"

I let out a cold laugh, my gaze dropping to the hand he used to protect Daisy. "This is my home. Am I not allowed to be here?"

Daisy flinched like a startled rabbit, her voice trembling as she spoke. "Nicole… Please don't be angry! If anyone's at fault, it's me. My ALS… I don't have much time left. I just wanted to feel what it's like to have a husband and a child before I die…

"Don't blame Ethan. If it makes you unhappy, I'll leave right now!"

As I watched her clumsy performance, I cut her off without mercy, "That's quite the stench of cheap manipulation."

Ethan's brows furrowed immediately, impatience filling his eyes. "Nicole, what nonsense are you spouting now? Daisy is already suffering enough, and instead of being understanding, you're here making snide remarks?"

Mabel rushed forward, pointing straight at my face as she shouted, "You shameless bitch! Who do you think you are?"

After that, she shoved me hard. "Go cook already! You'd better prove your worth if you want to stay in this house!"

I staggered backward from the shove, my lower back slamming into the entryway cabinet with a sharp jolt of pain.

Ethan continued, his tone filled with self-righteousness, "Nicole, Daisy stopped her ALS treatment just to carry on our family line. She's risking her life to have this child. Can't you show a little gratitude instead of acting so ungrateful?"

Ungrateful?

A metallic sweetness surged up my throat, but I forced it back down.

Then, I fixed him with a cold stare as I questioned him sharply, "Ethan, summon your conscience back for a second and ask yourself this. Who exactly is the ungrateful one here?

"Have you forgotten where you came from? Have you forgotten who helped you get to where you are today, step by step?"

Ethan turned grim instantly. He looked at me with nothing but disappointment. "I'm grateful for all that you've done, but you should really stop using it to hold me hostage, alright?"

I looked at the face I had once given everything to and felt nothing but disgust.

When he saw me saying nothing and just standing there, he seemed to think I had given in. He took a deep breath to quell his anger and softened his tone into something almost patronizing.

"Forget it. I don't want to argue over meaningless things. Daisy doesn't have much time left. After she's gone, the child will belong to you and me. You'll be their rightful mother. What more could you possibly want?"

He paused, looking at me with a hint of expectation. "I'll hold a wedding to fulfill her final wish in 10 days. As compensation, transfer the 50% shares under your name to her and the child. It'll give them some security. Alright?"

10 days, he said?

What a coincidence. My father was also coming to pick me up in 10 days.

I suppressed the mockery rising in my eyes and forced out a smile devoid of warmth. "Sure. I'll be there on time."

And I wouldn't be coming alone as hundreds of armed men in black would be accompanying me. In fact, my father's subordinates weren't the only ones waiting to meet him because a freshly issued divorce certificate would be there to greet him as well.