Chapter 1

It wasn't until five years later that I crossed paths with Killian again. The moment his eyes landed on the little girl in my arms, they instantly turned bloodshot.

"You're pregnant? Wait…are you actually scavenging through trash with my child? Oh, my god! How skinny she is! What kind of mom are you, anyway?

He rattled on and on in front of me, but it took a solid moment for the reality to sink in. It was Killian, my ex-husband, the man I had divorced five years ago.

He kept harping on, "Why is she so scrawny? Sierra, how could you be such a failure of a mother?"

I just brushed him off, yet he wouldn’t stop gabbing, "Why are you even here? Are you just putting on a pathetic show because you knew I was coming to inspect the area?"

Clutching my little daughter tightly, I couldn't be bothered to waste my breath on him.

The gorgeously dressed woman in designer labels, clinging possessively to his arm, was none other than Vivienne, the orphan girl he used to support. My thoughts drifted back to five weeks ago.

[Flashback]

I was busy preparing for the wedding at that time, but he, the man who supposed to be cold and ruthless, suddenly decided to finance a high school girl from an orphanage and let her move into our home. Her name was Vivienne Moore‌.

She was sallow, emaciated, and dressed in rags. Overcome with maternal instinct, I not only prepared nutritious meals for her but also stayed up late to tutor her. Thanks to my care, Vivienne blossomed, becoming lively and radiant. She excelled in her studies and successfully got into Harvard.

However, I never expected that the first thing Vivienne would do after turning eighteen was to get into Killian's bed.

[End of Flashback]

Seeing that I remained silent, Killian fixed his gaze on my daughter, frowning in displeasure, "Why is it a girl? Don’t you know the Moretti‌’s family rule? It clearly stipulates that the heir must be male. How am I supposed to explain this to the family if you only give me a daughter?"

It finally dawned on me that Killian thought the daughter in my arms was his. I let out a cold, humorless laugh. I never thought he could be so delusional.

I had waited for Killian my entire previous life in vain. How could he possibly expect me to make the same mistake again? Suppressing the anger rising in my chest, I took a deep breath and stepped back, shielding my daughter.

"You've misunderstood. The child isn't yours…"

Before I finish my words, Vivienne abruptly cut me off. She shook Killian's arm and whined in a sickeningly sweet voice, "Killian, I can bear sons for you! I’m fully recovered now. I can give you a whole football team if you want."

Killian pinched her nose affectionately, "You've just recovered. How could I bear to put you through that? You just need to stay by my side and be my princess."

Then, he turned to me and spat out his accusation, "Vivienne has been stuck abroad suffering through treatment for the past five years. But all you’ve ever cared about is fighting your stupid power games with her. Not a single word of concern ever crossed your mind. You’re a cold-blooded fucking monster! You never deserved a single ounce of her kindness! Only sweet, innocent Vivienne could still be so dumbly besotted with you that she’d beg me to come all this way just to check if you’re still okay!

His words left me speechless. I just sighed and rolled my eyes. In my previous life, my inbox was constantly flooded with travel photos and private videos from Vivienne every now and then. It had been the same for the past five years. I had flipped through those photos. Vivienne looked rosy-cheeked and robust. She didn't look like a sick patient in the slightest.

I couldn't be bothered to waste another second on them, so I just waved the trash-picking tongs in front of them. Vivienne stomped her feet and screamed in terror.

Killian looked me up and down, covering his nose in disgust as he stepped back. "Look at yourself. You look no different from a beggar. I know you're desperate to remarry me. But I never said I wouldn't take you back. There's no need to threaten me with my kid."

My daughter was frightened and buried herself in my arms, wailing loudly. Killian's expression suddenly softened. He reached out, trying to hold her.

"Don't cry. I'm Daddy. Come home with me. Don't stay with this crazy woman."

Upon hearing his words, my daughter’s wails only grew louder.

"Go away! You are not my daddy! You're the bad guy who bullies my mommy. I hate you!"

Killian was publicly humiliated, and his face immediately darkened.

He looked at me coldly. "How did you raise my kid? You've brought her up over five years, but she's picked up nothing but bad habits! Give her to me right now! I'll take her back and discipline her properly!"

There isn't a mother who can put up with her child getting cursed out.

I clenched my fist and glared at him, “Don't get the wrong idea. She is not your kid. She has nothing to do with you.”