All Chapters of A Daughter’s Ordeal: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

9 Chapters

Chapter 1

After seeing Ms. Chapman off, I returned to the ward.Natalie was sleeping peacefully on the hospital bed, her lips pale, her small body drowning in the oversized hospital gown.The doctor told me that Natalie didn’t just have low blood sugar. She also had moderate anemia and gastric mucosal damage, and many of her vitals were lower than usual.Such a level of malnutrition was almost certainly not a result of missing a couple of meals, but long-term starvation.Aside from that, the doctor also found many old bruises on her arms, back and thighs.The doctor asked tactfully if the child has been subject to any physical punishment.My mind blanked out at his question.Natalie had been living with my mother-in-law. Could she have been abusing her?The mere thought of it felt unbelievable.Over the past six months, I would video-call home at least three times each week. Every time I called, there would be a feast laid before Natalie: Grilled salmon, pork ribs, poached shrimps…My

Chapter 2

When I realized that was the case, I didn’t immediately expose her. Instead, I asked innocently, “What about Caleb? Natalie is hospitalized. I called him dozens of times, but he picked up none of my calls.”“He went on a business trip overseas,” Olivia replied to me, her answer coming swiftly. “Work has been very busy for him recently. You clearly know about it. I can care for the child. Don’t keep going to him for every trivial matter and affect his work.”I didn’t say anything in response.Before I called Olivia, Caleb Johnson had already replied to my text with something dismissive.[At a meeting. Mom is taking care of Natalie, she’ll be fine.]Even upon knowing that her daughter was hospitalized, he didn’t ask whether her condition was severe or even promise to come visit.It was as though his daughter’s hospitalization was no big deal.How did I never realize how cold and heartless he was to Natalie? “Wanda, you’re still overseas now, right?” Olivia probed.“I’m at the

Chapter 3

That night, I didn’t sleep a wink.The next day, I contacted my friend who does security systems.While Olivia was out buying groceries, I seized the chance to have hidden cameras installed in every nook and cranny at home.After all was done, I packed my bags and told Olivia with feigned helplessness, “Mom, something cropped up with my project. I have to go back to work tomorrow.”“Natalie was just discharged, and you’re leaving?” she asked. I bowed my head, looking guilty. “I have no choice. This project concerns the company’s development over the next three years. I’ll have to rely on you to take care of the home.”Olivia sighed. “Go ahead and don’t worry about us. Natalie is my darling granddaughter. I wouldn’t mistreat her, would I?”That afternoon, Olivia sent me to the airport in person.While I put on my shoes at the door, my daughter stood right next to me with her head bowed. Her hands grabbed the hem of my shirt tightly.I crouched down and hugged her tight, whisp

Chapter 4

I sat in front of the screen, my head buzzing.Just then, the door to the villa opened once more. and Caleb walked in with a gaming console in hand.“Son, miss me?”The doting look on his face was something I had never seen him give Natalie.Tina walked over and took off his jacket like it was the natural thing to do. Meanwhile, Olivia served them more fruits.The four of them sat in the living room, looking like a family.My daughter, on the other hand, was locked in a windowless utility room.Zephan hugged the gaming console and ran around the house, yelling proudly, “Dad, is this the latest version? Only two of my classmates have this!”“But of course,” Caleb said, rubbing Zephan’s head affectionately. “Whatever other people have, my son must have it, too.”I once heard him say something like that.When Natalie turned four, she saw her classmate owning a pink piano. She went home and cautiously asked Caleb if she could have one as well.At that time, he said with furrowed

Chapter 5

My arrival sent the lively banquet hall into silence.Caleb stared at me in shock. “Wanda, aren’t you supposed to be overseas?” I ignored him and headed straight to Olivia. “Mom, happy 60th birthday.”Her face turned pale.“What's the meaning of this? Why are you giving me a basketful of plain buns to celebrate my birthday? You’re deliberately embarrassing me in front of our relatives, aren’t you?”Fury overtook her. She raised a hand and overturned the bamboo basket, sending over a hundred buns rolling across the floor. Some of them rolled to her feet, and she stomped on them unceremoniously.At the sight of the flattened buns, I suddenly burst out into laughter.“Mom, don’t waste them. Don’t you always say that these buns are the most nutritious?”Her eyes widened.Caleb grabbed my wrist. “Wanda Mason, have you had enough? We’ll go home and talk things through. We’re celebrating Mom’s birthday today.”“It’s precisely because all our relatives and friends are around that ma

Chapter 6

Until now, he was still trying to trivialize things.“Caleb Johnson, you’re right,” I said as I raised the microphone, remaining calm.“I am frequently overseas, but why is that the case?“Because you told me that since the company is stable in local markets, I should go all out and expand into overseas markets.“You were the one who told me that Mom will take good care of Natalie. You even told me that you love me and Natalie, and that you will never betray our family!“In the end, while I was busy earning money overseas, you took my money and gave it to your affair partner and illegitimate son back home.”I opened another document and flashed transfer record after transfer record on the screen.Everything totaled up to 1.476 million dollars.“I’ve dug up all the money you’ve transferred to Tina’s company over the years under the name of business. This afternoon, the court accepted my application for property preservation.“The apartment, car and bank accounts under Tina’s na

Chapter 7

My assistant had relocated Natalie to a safe place, where she was accompanied by a psychiatrist and a nanny round the clock.When I rushed back, Natalie was curled up in a corner on the sofa.There was a warm bowl of porridge before her, which she didn’t eat. She was simply looking at everyone with a guarded look on her face.I picked up the bowl and tried a mouthful before handing her a spoon of porridge.“Natalie, it’s safe to eat. Grandma isn’t here, and there isn’t anyone else here. From now on, no one will hit you because you eat anything.”Natalie finally picked up the spoon after a long while. She only took a small sip before tears started falling down her cheeks into the bowl.I hugged her tight. This time, she didn’t avoid my touch.The next afternoon, a last-minute board meeting was called. I made it just in time with my lawyer in tow.Caleb sat at the other end of the long table, his eyes bloodshot.Yet, when he saw me, he flashed me a confident smile.“Wanda Mason

Chapter 8

After that, I became busier.I went back to the office to clean the house and prepare to divide shared marital assets with Caleb. I spent the rest of my time with Natalie.The doctor confirmed that Natalia was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after long-term intimidation and abuse, as well as selective mutism.Her diagnosis broke my heart.Thankfully, my company every day saw a positive effect on her. Today, she finally took the initiative to hold my hand.“Mom…” Her voice was hoarse and weak.I crouched down low as tears sprung up immediately. “I’m right here.”She looked cautiously at the door. “Will Grandma…come?”“No. She’ll never be able to lock you up again.”Natalie fell silent for a long time and suddenly pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from under her pillow. There were a few crooked words scrawled on it.[Grandma said that Mom no longer wants me.][Dad said that my brother is family.][If I were to say any of these, Mom will die.]I hugged Natali

Chapter 9

I called Caleb.“I can sign the agreement, but I must see Natalie in person. Otherwise, I’d rather destroy the company than to let you have a single cent.”The resolve in my voice probably convinced him that I was being serious. Ten minutes later, he sent me an address.I hid a tracking device and audio recorder in my clothes and rushed over with the agreement in hand.Natalie was all tied up in a corner of a warehouse, with Olivia standing right next to her. Harvey was guarding the back door.Caleb was seated at an old table with a pen in front of him.“Sign it,” Caleb said as he slid the agreement toward me. “Sign it and I’ll send both you and Natalie back. Wanda, I didn’t want things to come to this point. As long as the company is still around, we’ll still be a family.”I was almost tickled to laughter by his shamelessness.How dare he think we could still be family after all these?I picked up the pen, my gaze firmly fixed on Natalie.Just as the nib of the pen touched t

SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP