02

Why was she in this place?

What a silly question.

"You promised to bring our children to pick me up today,” Noa said, clenching her fists and moving forward. “Did you overlook?”

Had he forgotten about her release?

However, Czar’s face remained solemn. "Depart. Your presence here might harm Mya’s standing."

Was he concerned that she may cause Mya problems?

Noa’s eyes moved to Mya, who played the ideal victim by pressing herself into Czar. “There are a lot of reporters present, Noa. If people notice you, consider the headlines. Like Czar says, please just go home." Mya said in a tiny voice.

"Are you frightened I'll tell the truth? Mess up your—"

Before Noa could complete her sentence, Eli yelled, interrupting her.

"Bad woman! Go now! Leave as mum and dad said.”

With his tiny hands hammering Noa’s tummy, Eli let out a scream.

What remained of Noa’s heart was broken by each strike from her own kid.

Her own son.

The child she had sacrificed everything to bring into the world, the one she had carried through nine months in prison, in suffering, was now standing in front of her, addressing another woman as "Mom." He was striking and shouting at her while protecting another woman against her.

Noa felt as though her heart was being torn apart. She stared at the small figure, so near but so far away, her hand shaking as she extended it to touch his tiny face.

But Eli quickly smacked her fingers away. "Don't touch me with your dirty hands!"

"Eli, I'm your mom."

Noa knelt down, completely unconcerned that he had struck her. "Li, I'm your real mom," she continued, her soft, tearful eyes fixed on his. “You—“

"Disperse! You can never be my mum.”

Eli then bolted back to Mya and clung to her. "My mother is here! Stop acting fake!"

Gia was at her breaking point and said, "Eli! She is your real mother, your dad's wife! Are you truly blind?”

After pausing, Eli gave Noa an even more icy glance. "So, you are the murderer! My dad needs to get divorced immediately! I don't want a murderer as a mother.”

Homicide?

Noa’s heart broke. Tears were streaming down her face as she gripped her chest, gasping for air.

When she learned that Czar was with Mya, she hadn't shed a tear. When her kid hit her and rejected her, she hadn't sobbed.

She finally lost it, when she heard Eli accuse her of murder and demand that she leave their family.

Noa opened her mouth to speak, shaking her head.

She forced herself to stand, turning away from Eli and toward Czar. "Where's my daughter?"

Since coming in, she had searched the entire space for her daughter. But only their son was visible to her.

Then Czar looked directly into her eyes, his face expressionless. "She died last year."

What? Died? How?

"Noa," Mya interrupted, her voice shaking. “Czar is not at fault. I'm to blame. Elodie had a high fever when she was four. It persisted for days before developing into pneumonia, and she was unable to survive."

Tears clouded Mya’s words. "Noa, I'm so sorry.”

Elodie had left. Her sweet baby girl is dead?

Mya’s justifications did not appeal to Noa. Grabbing Czar by the collar, Noa pushed Mya away. "Czar, never! What did you promise me? On that day, what did you swear to me?”

He had vowed to look after their children.

What was the outcome?

Her daughter had perished in his care, and her own son had spurned her!

Was this what she had gained from her four years in prison?

A family in ruins! A husband taken! Her daughter gone!

And her supposed sister, the real criminal, was living her life, stealing everything that belonged to her, and throwing a celebration party guilt-free!

"Have you had enough?"

With a chilly gaze at Noa, Czar pushed her aside and assisted Mya in standing. "Mya gave it her all. What more would you like?”

Czar looked about the space. "Go home now, Noa, if you don't want to be on the news! Mya is celebrating today. Give up spoiling things and causing a commotion. Later, we'll discuss this.”

Her spoiling things? Wow!

At Czar’s signal, security personnel materialized and forcibly led Noa to the exit. Gia was also taken out as she attempted to step in.

"Get your hands off me!"

Noa managed to elude the security personnel. "I may have just gotten out of prison, but I'm still Mrs. Holland! I said let go, you dogs.”

Startled, the guards took a step back.

With her nails sinking into her palms, Noa bit her lip. "Czar, you don't need to force me out like this," she said resolutely after giving Czar and the others a cold gaze. “I'll depart by myself. But I want a divorce, therefore I expect you home tonight!"

Noa held Gia’s arm and went off without giving Czar another glance.

Noa’s abrupt demand for a divorce caught Mya off surprise. "Czar..."

Czar remained there, astonished as he watched Noa walk away, feeling an unusual tightness in his chest.

Mya pretended to be nervous, pulling on Czar’s sleeve, even though she was ecstatic about the prospect of their divorce. "Perhaps you ought to bring Li home and try to reconcile with her. In any case, this celebration isn't very significant." She said.

"No need. She is simply upset and speaking out of rage.” Czar responded.

How could Noa want a divorce? Everyone knows how much she cherished Czar.

Noa was simply behaving this way without thinking because she was upset about the kids at the moment. She would come to her senses after she’d had time to calm down, Czar thought.

Noa had tricked her way into his bed, got pregnant in order to compel a marriage.

Czar didn't think Noa would genuinely want to leave him. Besides, she had just been released from prison. Where would she even go if she leave him?

…

Noa started crying onto Gia’s shoulder after returning to the car.

"G, do you know where Elodie’s grave is?" Noa asked.

Gia consoled her by holding her hand. She gave a head shake. "No, i didn't know Elodie was dead. The Holland’s never attended a funeral. Every time I tried to go into the villa, Mya would stop me. I eventually gave up since that brat Eli always gave me a sneer.

“I apologize, Noa. I couldn't save Elodie. I’m worthless."

Noa shook her head and grinned bitterly. "You're not to blame, G. You couldn't spend as much time with them as Mya did.”

“To be honest, I don't understand Czar’s problems. How could he be attracted to Mya? It's not as if he is ignorant of the truth.” Gia said.

"They were childhood friends. They would have been married if it weren't for that evening. It was never meant to be me.”

It was a night Noa used to be grateful for. She wished now that it never happened.

How could she have been aware of Czar’s and Mya’s affair? She trusted Mya when she said she would take care of Eli and Elodie until she got out of prison.

How foolish she had been.

"I need you to draft divorce papers, G. And.. I don’t want anything from Czar or Eli’s custody."

Gia frowned. "Are you insane?" She gazed at her incredulously. "If you want to give up Eli, it’s fine, but leaving empty-handed? After spending four years in prison for that bitch?”

Gia was a lawyer.

When Noa didn’t say anything more, Gia didn't press any harder. "Okay. Now, what are your plans?”

"After learning the truth about Elodie, I will return to Grandma's house and resume my craft. I refuse to allow Mya to damage Mr. Nash’s standing.”

Her gaze became resolute. "I also intend to retract my confession. Since Mya is my sister and my parents set everything up, I was going to overlook it, but not anymore.”

She refused to be used as a scapegoat by anyone after what she'd witnessed today and what had happened to her daughter.