Chapter 1

My mother was Cassandra Williams, the president of a multi-billion-dollar conglomerate. She was the most admired woman in all of Harville.

She was crying hysterically. Tears poured out of her like a broken dam.

When she reached out her hand toward me, it was trembling uncontrollably.

“Isabel, come to me!”

The person to my right was my father, Robb Payton.

He was, by all accounts, a scum who had just been released from prison on parole for assault.

My father cheated on his wife and beat his mistress so badly that she had a miscarriage. Each vile act he committed was worse than the last.

He was leaning back in his chair with his arms crossed while looking at me with disgust.

The choice of parentage was a no-brainer.

Therefore, I decided. “I choose my father!”

The entire courtroom was shocked into stunned silence the moment I announced my decision.

“She must have lost her mind!”

“Why would she choose such a scumbag for a father?”

“Her father must be blackmailing her somehow.”

Countless speculations erupted all across the courthouse.

At last, my father had recovered from his shock.

He stared at me with the same look of shock written all across his face. Soon, it morphed into unabashed disgust.

He spat right there on the spot, “What a joke! I’d rather raise a pig than have to waste my money taking care of a brat like you!”

My mother, who was a reputable businesswoman known for her stoicism, had completely broken down.

She seized me by my shoulder and was beside herself. She no longer cared what people thought of her.

“Isabel! Do you have any idea what you're saying?!

“Have you forgotten what kind of man he is?

“He locked you in the car under the scorching sun so he could go on a date with that woman. He’s the reason you got heatstroke and had to be sent to the emergency room!

“Remember when he abandoned you at the amusement park to go to the casino? You were stranded there until midnight and almost got kidnapped!

“He left you all alone at home when you had a fever and were even convulsing, all just because he didn’t want to spend a couple of hundred dollars on hospital bills!

“Have you forgotten about all of this?!”

I looked at my mother, who was bawling her eyes out. All I did was smile stiffly and insist adamantly, “I remember. But I still want to choose him."

As soon as I said so, all the color drained out of her face in an instant.

She staggered backward and would have fallen over if not for my uncle catching her from behind.

“Isabel!”

My uncle was furious.

“Have you lost it? Why would you want to be with a douchebag who has treated you like a burden for sixteen years?

“Your mother would gladly die for you, and this is how you repay her?”

I shoved him away expressionlessly.

“This is my final choice.”

There was already a flock of reporters gathered outside the courthouse. I was immediately showered by flashing lights the moment I stepped outside.

“Ms. Williams, what do you have to say about your daughter’s choice?”

“Mr. Payton, what strategy did you use to win the custody battle?”

My father was elated by the media circus all around him. He put his arms around my shoulder and smiled brightly in front of the camera.

“Strategy? Blood is thicker than water, that’s all I need to say about it!

“She’s my daughter! Of course she would pick me!”

Then, he looked triumphantly at my mother, who looked completely ashen.

“Are you watching, Cassandra? Just because you have money doesn’t mean you can buy my daughter’s heart!”

That was when a man suddenly charged through the crowd of reporters.

His eyes were bloodshot, and he had a dagger in his hand.

“Robb! You bastard! You’re going to pay for ruining my sister!”

It was the brother of the woman whom my father had beaten to the point of miscarriage!

My father’s expression dropped. His first instinct was to use me as a shield.

“Isabel! Watch out!”

A figure suddenly zoomed in front of me out of nowhere and shoved me aside.

Thump!

My mother had shielded me with her body.

In an instant, her white suit was stained red with blood.

She turned to me and smiled with relief.

“Isabel… you’re safe… I’m so glad…”

Just like that, she gave out and collapsed at my feet.

The police nearby immediately sprang into action and pinned the murderer to the ground.

While the crowd was still reeling from shock, I looked at my shoe that was stained with my mother’s blood and frowned before stepping away.

I took the arm of my father, who was stunned silent, and urged him on, “Let’s go home, Dad.”