Chapter 4

After saying that, Simone picked up the ashes and the memorial portrait on the ground and turned to leave.

The system's voice echoed in her mind.

[Ten days remain until the mission ends.]

...

Back in the room, Simone carefully gathered Dorothy’s ashes and placed them into a jar.

After meticulously wiping clean Dorothy’s memorial portrait, she finally took out a medical kit to tend to the wound on her shoulder.

Suddenly, Martin pushed the door open. His gaze lingered for a moment on Simone's wound, which was bone-deep. "What did you mean earlier when you said Lily should become Jack’s mom?”

Simone pulled her clothes back on. "Exactly what you heard. Since he’s so fond of Lily, I’m simply granting his wish."

Martin had not expected her to give away her wedding ring and the necklace that once symbolized their love, and now, she was casting aside their own son as well.

He suddenly panicked. "Are you threatening me, or are you just taking your anger out on Jack? I’ve told you. Nothing's going on between Lily and me. I was merely repaying her for saving my life."

Simone looked up at him. "You don’t need to explain anything to me. Whoever you choose to love or spend your life with is entirely up to you."

Martin was thoroughly angered by her indifference. "I’ve clearly been too indulgent with you this past year. Lily was injured because of you, so she’ll be staying here in our home to recover. You will be responsible for taking care of her until she’s fully healed."

Simone scoffed. "You really ought to get your head checked. You want me to look after her? Aren’t you afraid I might poison her?"

Martin’s expression turned icy. "You won't. Come in!"

Several bodyguards pushed the door open and headed straight for the jar and the memorial portrait resting on the table.

Simone’s chest tightened as she sprang up to stop them.

Martin grabbed her by the arm and flung her aside.

Her back slammed against the corner of a table, and she gasped in pain.

"Go make some soup for Lily. You can only see Dorothy again when you’ve earned Lily’s forgiveness."

With that, Martin turned and left the room, his men following close behind.

Simone dug her fingernails deep into her palms.

Even though the system had promised that completing the mission would bring her daughter back to life in her own world, she simply could not bring herself to hand over her daughter’s ashes and memorial portrait to that wretched couple and let them trample all over them.

Gritting her teeth, she pulled herself up and headed to the kitchen to prepare the soup.

Once it was ready, she carried it to Lily’s room.

Inside, Martin was feeding a peeled grape to Lily, who was propped up against the headboard, while Jack sat nearby, kneading her legs.

Seeing Simone enter, Lily pretended to sit up. "Simone, thank you."

Martin pressed his hand firmly onto Lily’s shoulder. "Stay still. You’re injured. Besides, this is the least she should do."

Simone held out the tray and looked at Martin. "I’ve made the soup. Now, give Dorothy back to me."

As Lily reached out to take it, her hand suddenly jerked, knocking the bowl over. "Ah! It's burning hot!"

The scalding soup spilled all over the back of Simone's hand, leaving it red and swollen.

Martin ignored Simone and immediately pulled Lily’s hand toward him to check it carefully. "Lily, are you hurt?"

Jack rushed over and kicked her lower leg hard. "You burned Ms. McRae on purpose! You wicked woman!"

Simone stumbled to the ground, and the back of her hand grazed some shards of broken porcelain.

Blood gushed out, causing a piercing, agonizing pain.

Lily covered her mouth and shouted, "Jack, how could you treat your mother like that?"

Jack snorted coldly and buried himself in Lily’s embrace. "She’s not my mother. You are!"

Martin watched Simone in her disheveled state. A flicker of heartache crossed his eyes, but it was instantly replaced by indifference.

"Did you purposely serve Lily scalding soup? Go and make another bowl, or apologize immediately. Stop acting out and making a scene. We'll go back to living our lives as we used to soon."

Simone slowly pulled herself up from the floor and spat, "If she wants soup, let her get down on the ground and lap it up herself."

Everyone’s expressions soured instantly.

Lily’s eyes turned red. "Since Simone hates me so much, perhaps I should just leave. I don’t want to be a nuisance."

Martin and Jack immediately began to dissuade her.

"Who says you’re a nuisance? You’re just too kind-hearted."

"Exactly! She’s the one who should be leaving!"

Unbothered to pay them any mind, Simone turned to walk away.

"Apologize! Or do you no longer care about Dorothy?" Martin’s voice rang icily.

She stopped immediately,

Lily spoke up weakly. "No need for an apology. I happen to be recruiting logistics volunteers for the hospital. Why don’t we have Simone help out?"

Martin nodded. "Simone, you’ll be working in the hospital’s logistics department. Once you’ve completed a full week, I’ll leave Dorothy in your care."

Simone took a deep breath. She had no choice but to agree for her daughter’s sake.

...

The next day, the hospital’s logistics supervisor, Jessica Bradford, led Simone straight to the public washroom.

"Mr. Jenning has ordered that you complete the tasks assigned to you. From now on, every washroom in the entire hospital is yours. You are to scrub every single urinal and toilet bowl until they are thoroughly clean."