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Chapter 1 Betrayal

My heart sank. If I were to be specific, it felt like it'd been plunged into an icy abyss. That was the voice of Zoe Wilson, my husband's true love. Tim Brook's true love.We grew up in the same group house, but she had all his love and affection for more than 10 years. Six years ago, she left him at the altar and fled overseas. And so, Tim married me in a fit of temper.Everyone jeered at me, calling me a thief, calling me someone who finally got her wish. Unease had gripped me since then, and it only grew stronger. I desperately wanted a baby, naively thinking that I would at least have a connection with Tim even if Zoe returned.Fate decided to slam that door in my face. Tim was diagnosed with low sperm mobility, and I'd gotten many injections over the years just to get a successful IVF. My body was already covered in bruises from my attempts, yet my efforts were all for naught.I didn't think Zoe would come back, but here she was. As if it couldn't get any worse, Cece was

Chapter 2 Hatred Burns

I smiled bitterly as I said, "I need you to look into a certain someone. Find out who Cece Brook's real parents are."It was during my phone call to Henry that I found out when Zoe was coming home. It was right smack on my sixth anniversary. Henry said Tim had booked a hotel and was planning to hold a grand welcome for Zoe.My ears began to ring, and something invisible squeezed my heart into a shriveled raisin. Breathing itself became something taxing on my body.Tim would cook up something simple every anniversary. I thought he didn't like grand parties. And now he wouldn't even bother making a simple meal for me just because Zoe was coming home.Henry was cursing Tim out, angry on my behalf. He kept telling me to get a divorce.Frustration was beginning to spread and tie me up like a hostage. I answered half-heartedly, "Yes, yes, right away."Tim had come out before I knew it, and he was standing behind me, saying nothing. When our eyes met, he said calmly, "Calling someone?

Chapter 3 A Drama

I swiveled and walked off before he could do anything.When I came back home with the printed divorce papers, he was in the living room, playing with building blocks with Cece. It was a heartwarming scene, and they looked like an actual father and daughter.It took me waking up from my fantasy to finally notice that I was the stranger, the outsider.He didn't even raise his head. Instead, he ordered matter-of-factly, "Where'd you go? Come on, make some snacks for Cece. Strawberry tart, her favorite."We had nannies and childcare experts for those jobs, but he insisted that I did everything myself. He claimed that earnest feelings were always rewarded. I used to lap that story up like a good pup. Now, I merely raised my hand and interrupted him.Then, I shoved the divorce papers into his arms and went to my room to pack my things.He froze for a moment. Tim's face fell, and he stormed after me. "If this is your idea of a joke, it isn't funny. Zoe's coming back to treat Cece, and y

Chapter 4 She's Pregnant

Henry's eyes flitted over to my belly as he said warmly, "And you're two months along."I froze, my eyes filled with disbelief as I stared at Henry. I'd begged and prayed for years to have a child of my own. I'd even gone overseas for better treatment just to up my chances. Everyone knew how desperate I was to have a family.Henry was part of that group, and he would never joke about my pregnancy. After the IVF treatments nearly destroyed my body, the doctor told me pregnancy would be difficult for me. As time passed, Tim began to care less and less about my desire to start a family.I'd hoped for a baby for six whole years. Yet, it came at the most inopportune moment. Tears spilled from my eyes, and my voice came out raspy. I mocked myself, "Is that supposed to be good news?""At least you have one more family to call your own now." Henry held my hand tightly. His eyes spoke of encouragement.He was a child born out of wedlock and grew up with that label. After his mother's death

Chapter 5 Drama Queens

Henry and I were denied entry when we arrived at the venue. Soon, familiar figures showed up before us. Zoe had her arm looped around Tim's, and her other hand was holding Cece. They looked like the perfect family.The sight of me wiped Tim's smile off his face as he frowned in displeasure. He noticed Henry holding me up and fell into his habit of starting a lecture. "You should be at home, reflecting on your mistakes, not hanging around with his lot."Then, he scanned Henry coldly. "I heard you picked my lock, injured my housekeeper, and absconded with my wife. I should've called the cops, but I didn't. Now, you're going to mess up Zoe's welcoming party? I will make you pay!"Zoe held her head high, and every inch of her body shouted arrogance. Of course, she was haughty. Tim was already doing all the work for her without her even saying a single word.Henry couldn't stand that man anymore. Before I could say anything, he waved the documents and shrugged. "Guess we're not welcom

Chapter 6 Retaliation

The video showed Tim playing with Cece when I wasn't around. In that video, Cece could speak, and she spoke fluently.Everyone was flabbergasted."What is going on?"I stepped forth and crouched before the girl. Then, I asked softly, "Tell us, have you really been unable to speak until now?"Cece looked at me and was about to answer when Zoe coughed loudly, causing the girl to shut her mouth. Then, she immediately burst into tears.Tim picked the girl up and told someone to take her away. I spread my arms and stopped them. This confrontation was going to happen whether they liked it or not.Tim's chest was heaving with rage, but he tried his best to rein in his temper. "Cece can only speak thanks to Zoe. Don't start any nonsense!"The guests backed them up."Everyone knows Zoe's a great doctor. That's why Mr. Brook wanted her to be the godmother.""Yeah, but someone's a jealous harpy. That someone even stole Zoe's husband and isn't even grateful that Zoe healed her daughter. P

Chapter 7 Not Their Daughter

"Do something, Tim! The Internet's spewing all sorts of stuff at me!" Zoe was panicking, for once. She feigned fury and demanded that Tim give her justice, wanting him to tap into his connections to cover up for her.Alas, she'd forgotten one crucial detail. Tim's family was now also embroiled in scandals of their own. Therefore, Tim was busy dealing with the stakeholders' incessant calls.Oh, but my revenge had just begun. This wasn't enough. Far from it, in fact. The pile of evidence of their underhanded dealings aside, someone must be punished for my father's death.Zoe eventually realized Tim was too busy to help, and the Internet was getting more relentless with their bullying. So, she started a livestream and cooked up a sob story, telling everyone Cece was her daughter and pleaded for mercy for the Brooks."Come at me if you want to vent your rage!"Some actually lapped that story up. A significant part of the Internet was shipping her and Tim, calling them a star-crossed c

Chapter 8 Zoe Punished

"I only did it because you had a change of heart! You promised you'd love me forever, but you married her instead! You changed so much after that!"Zoe's answer came out in short, broken parts. Her eyes were already bloodshot from being strangled by her furious lover.Tim froze and abruptly loosened his grip around her neck. He was rooted to his spot, unable to look at me. Perhaps that was because Zoe's words had exposed his true feelings to the world.Henry lapped up the drama like it was the prime entertainment. He even nudged me playfully with his elbow, making me roll my eyes at him.Still, I interjected calmly, "I couldn't care less whose child it is, but you'll pay for your murder, Zoe!"The news hit the crowd like a bombshell. Everyone's eyes fell on Zoe, and the livestream exploded.At the same time, sirens from police cars blared through the air.Zoe's legs buckled, and she crumpled to the ground. When a group of cops came barging in, Zoe scrambled over to Tim like a di

Chapter 9 Taken Away

Henry and I strutted away from the scene like triumphant peacocks, leaving the fiasco behind us.Tim hurried after us and stopped our car. He begged me not to leave. "Please, don't leave. The papers don't count! I never wanted this divorce. We can start again. Zoe's right. I've had a change of heart. Please, give me another chance."Tim's eyes were red rimmed, and his knuckles were white as he clenched his fists around the door.I said nothing, so he scrambled to fish out a box from the inner pocket of his suit. It was a sapphire necklace. "It's our sixth anniversary today, and I got you a present. Please, stop throwing a tantrum. Stop joking around, please? You've never refused me, Yvonne. Please."The sapphire gleamed brightly under the silvery moonlight. It reflected in Tim's eyes and made them glow with more love than ever.I wanted to say no, but something caught the corner of my eye. That was when I saw a crowd huddling around us after Zoe had been taken away by the cops.T

Chapter 10 New Family

Tim started incessantly asking to meet up with me after that eventful night. He even bought out all the ad slots in the whole city to apologize and confess his feelings for me. I turned a blind eye to it all.After all, his love came far too late, at far too great a price. His gestures didn't move me in the slightest. If anything, they only intensified my hatred for him. Although I had pulled out all the stops to ruin him, I had kept one piece of evidence away from the public eye during that night.That piece was all the IVF treatment sessions I'd gone through after the marriage.The Brook family had great power over the medical world, and every IVF session was supervised and completed by the staff of the hospitals they owned. Yet, I failed every single one of them.I used to think it was my problem, but I realized that those IVF procedures I'd been through weren't standard practice at all. I could've become a mother, but someone made sure every single treatment failed.It didn'

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