The Scattering of Love

After having a crush on someone for 10 years, out of love, my father drugged his friend and placed him on my bed. When he woke at dawn the next morning, his eyes were ice-cold. But he still accept our engagement. However, life after marriage wasn’t as good as I thought. Mike Ashton would frequently fly abroad and stay there for a long time. I gave birth to our daughter on my own as I waited for him to return home. After four years, when I heard that he was returning home, I postponed everything and went to the airport expectantly with our daughter in my arms. Our daughter reached out her little hand and was hoping for a hug from him. He just looked at me indifferently and said in a cold voice, “I’m sorry, but I’m a neat freak.” From then on, my daughter and I would wash our hands at least three times every day and the house would be spotless. However, he still rarely came home and never gave our daughter a warm hug. That was until when I accidentally saw a video with Mike in it. “Mike, what do you think is the happiest thing in the world?” He answered casually, “I think it’s when I tucked Oliver into bed and dragged Jennifer into the bathroom when I was abroad last week.” The people around him all laughed, but my heart felt ice-cold. Jennifer Bundred was Mike’s ex-girlfriend who he still had an entanglement with and Oliver was her son. It seemed that he had been living with them during the time that he was abroad for the past four years. This fact finally made me give up all illusions. I left a divorce agreement for him, gave up my and our daughter’s identities, and went abroad to start a new life. Chapter 1 When the nanny brought my daughter home from nursery, the latter's eyes were swollen and red from crying. Such a site made my heart ache. "Mommy, do I not have a daddy..." As she sobbed, her body would tremble. This made her look extremely aggrieved. "Daddy promised me that he would go to the nursery's parents' evening, but when he arrived, he told everyone that he's Oliver's daddy." As Melanie said those words, tears continued to trickle down her cheeks. "Mommy, my classmates all said that I don't have a daddy..." Her words made my heart ache. My heart felt like there was a hand squeezing it. My eyes instantly turned red and I quickly pulled Melanie into my arms. I opened my mouth in an attempt to comfort her, but when Mike Ashton's cold face appeared in my head, no words came out. At that moment, I was overwhelmed by regret and hatred. I regretted marrying Mike. I thought that after enduring those four long years, Mike had finally had a change of heart and returned to the country to enjoy life with Melanie and me. However, it turned out that it was simply because Jennifer mentioned she wanted to come back. With just one word from her, he acted like a puppet, booking plane tickets without hesitation. He also obsessed over every little detail and even enrolled his ex-girlfriend's son in the best local nursery. When Melanie and I went to the airport to pick Mike up, she was wearing her favorite dress and was jumping happily around me. She also asked nervously, "Mommy, will Daddy like me?" I forced myself to remain calm and nodded with a smile. "You're Daddy's only daughter, Melanie. Of course, he'll like you." However, when we arrived at the airport expectantly, the site we saw made our hearts ache. Chapter 2 Mike cast me a cold glance, but his hand clutched Jennifer's tightly, and in his arms, he steadily held a little boy around four years old. That gentle, doting expression of his stung my eyes and made them ache with tears. "Sorry, I’m going to settle Jennifer and Oliver first. You can head home," he said. His voice carried not a trace of warmth. He didn't spare Melanie even a single look—his gaze remained locked on Oliver from beginning to end. Thinking of this, I shut my eyes in despair, my heart filled with bitterness. After washing Melanie’s face and coaxing her to sleep with great difficulty, I noticed her tiny brows still furrowed tightly. Even in her dreams, she murmured softly, “Daddy, I want a hug…” That faint voice was like a sharp needle piercing straight into my already shattered heart. I couldn’t help but wonder—if it hadn’t been for that absurd night four years ago, maybe Melanie could have grown up carefree like any other child, wrapped in her father’s love, without suffering such injustice and pain. The days from four years ago still haunted me like a nightmare. Back then, Mike and my father were close. Though he was barely older than me, his talent and drive had forged a deep bond between them—one that left me secretly pining for him for ten long years. No one could understand the bittersweet ache of it, except my father, who saw it all and felt sorry for me. At last, he gritted his teeth and made a bold, outrageous decision—he drugged Mike and, while he was in a dazed state, sent him straight into my bed. When I saw what happened, I widened my eyes in shock, my voice trembling. “Dad, are you trying to kill me?” My father let out a heavy sigh, his eyes full of helplessness and affection. “Sweetheart, I’ve seen it all—how much you love Mike. I could tell he had feelings for you too, but he’s just too stubborn to admit it.” He paused, seemingly remembering something, then continued, “He was drunk that day, and I even heard him mumble your name. My heart was burning with anxiety. Seeing you two dragging things out, I decided to give you a push.” I was both furious and horrified, filled with resistance. Just as I was about to scold him for his recklessness, an intense wave of heat surged through me like a tidal wave. I turned to my father in panic, only to see him smirking slyly. “Sweetheart, I added something to your drink too. Make the most of tonight,” he said. With that, he turned and slammed the door shut, locking it with a loud bang. When that night finally ended, Mike slowly woke up. His eyes shifted from dazed confusion to icy coldness in an instant. He looked at me with cold eyes and said, “Shannon, I’ll be responsible. I’ll marry you.” At that moment, my heart swelled with complicated emotions. I was secretly overjoyed by his promise, but also filled with anxiety over how it all began. I thought that maybe I was going to live a happy life, but reality turned out to be far crueler than I had imagined. One encounter at a gathering shattered my fragile hope like a bolt of lightning. I had unintentionally overheard him talking with a friend. The friend’s voice was tinged with disappointment and frustration. “Mike, man, don’t you know how lucky you are? That girl, Shannon, she’s got the looks, the figure, the money—and most importantly, she’s head over heels for you. Just settle down with her already.” Mike took a drag from his cigarette, a cold smile tugging at the corner of his lips. But that smile was sharp as a blade. Chapter 3 "At first, I did have some feelings for her—but I never expected her to be someone who sleep with others so easily." He paused, took a long drag from his cigarette, and through the swirling smoke, his expression grew even colder. "Just thinking about how she drugged me that night and threw herself at me… it makes me feel disgusted." I stood frozen, overwhelmed by a tide of grievance and sorrow. I opened my mouth, unsure how to even begin explaining the truth, but before I could say a word, he had already applied for a visa and left the country just two weeks later. And as if fate was mocking me, that absurd night had left me with a child. In the days that followed, I bore the hardship of pregnancy alone. I brought my daughter Melanie into the world in solitude, and every day since, I waited in that empty house, endlessly hoping for his return. But after all the waiting, what I got instead was the sight of him entangled with Jennifer and her son—that scene cut into my heart again and again like a blade. In this echoing, empty villa, loneliness clung to me like a shadow. Feeling utterly desolate, I slowly pulled out my phone. My fingertips trembled as I hovered over Mike’s number, wanting to ask when he was coming back. Just then, the door creaked open. Mike walked in with large strides, his expression cold and distant. His eyes casually swept over the sleeping Melanie as he said indifferently, “Oliver is coming over to play tomorrow. You and Melanie should go out.” Seeing the confusion on my face, he gave a faint smile—but it didn’t reach his eyes. He explained blandly, “Oliver gets possessive. He can’t stand other kids calling me ‘dad’.” The anger that had just been simmering in my chest suddenly ignited like a barrel of gunpowder, exploding all at once. I trembled with rage, but my lips curved into a mocking, bitter smile as I stared at Mike and said, enunciating every word, “Mike, do you even know who your real child is?” I paused, taking a deep breath in an attempt to calm myself, though my voice still quivered uncontrollably. “Do you have any idea what happened to Melanie at nursery today…” Before I could finish, Mike furrowed his brows slightly and raised his hand to cut me off impatiently. “Shannon, there’s no need for you to remind me about this kind of thing.” He turned his head slightly, his tone detached, as if stating something utterly inconsequential. “It was my oversight at the nursery today. I’m sorry for that. But Oliver also had a parents' evening. Jennifer is raising him alone after the divorce—she’s overwhelmed, and she really couldn’t handle it on her own.” He let out a soft sigh, and a flicker of emotion I couldn’t quite decipher passed through his eyes. He continued, “Besides, I made a promise to Jennifer long before I ever met you—that no matter what happened, I would never let her suffer.” At that, his gaze suddenly became sharp. When he looked at me, there was distance and coldness in his eyes. “I already married you, just like you wanted. But don’t try to stop me from caring for them. I owe them that.” With those words, he casually tossed his jacket onto the couch and headed straight to the bathroom. The bathroom door slammed shut with a loud bang, and the sound of rushing water roared to life. That sound—it felt like an impenetrable wall, drowning out my helpless sobs, swallowing them whole. Chapter 4 I collapsed onto the floor, tears streaming uncontrollably down my face, my heart filled with regret. If I had known earlier that life after marrying him would be so full of pain and wounds, I would never have compromised that night, even if it cost me my life. I sat numbly in front of the computer, staring at the freshly typed divorce agreement on the screen—they stung my eyes. I gave a bitter smile as I looked at them. If it weren’t for Melanie, with my stubborn nature, I would have already thrown that paper in his face and walked away without a second thought. But whenever I thought of Melanie’s little face which was full of grievance, I couldn’t bear to do such a thing. I always wanted to try a little harder, unwilling to let her grow up without a father at such a young age. Melanie had woken up early. Upon hearing her dad had come home, the little one was as excited as ever, jumping up and down on her small bed. “I want to show Dad the drawing I just finished!” That was just how children were—innocent and kind. The pain she suffered at nursery yesterday had been forgotten after one night’s sleep. She had already forgiven Mike. Melanie ran downstairs with joy in her heart. But the sight before her stopped her dead in her tracks. There stood Jennifer and Oliver in the living room, and Mike was sitting on the sofa, gently peeling an orange for Oliver with a face full of tenderness. Melanie blinked and asked timidly, “Daddy, who are they?” Upon hearing her voice, Mike’s brows furrowed in annoyance. His tone held unmistakable disgust. “Why are you still at home? Where’s your mom?” Startled by the sudden scolding, Melanie flinched. Her eyes instantly reddened, but even so, she carefully held out the family portrait she had spent an entire week drawing. With a trembling voice, she said, “This is the family picture I drew. I wanted to give it to you when you arrive back at home…” Before she could finish her sentence, just as the picture—filled with her love and anticipation—was about to reach Mike’s hands, a small hand snatched it away rudely. “What kind of garbage is this? You call this a drawing?” Oliver’s little face flushed red with anger. He stomped his foot and, with a sharp tug, tore Melanie’s drawing in half with a loud rip. His arrogant, domineering attitude was on full display. With his hands on his hips and his chin raised, hi shoved my daughter hard and shouted, “Hmph! This is my dad! All the kids at school say you’re just some stray without a dad—who said you could call him Daddy?” Melanie’s frail little body swayed a few times before she fell to the floor with a loud thump, and then burst into loud sobs. Tears immediately welled up in my eyes. Panicking, I rushed forward and scooped Melanie into my arms, holding her tightly. Then, glaring coldly at Oliver, I said between gnashed teeth, “Apologize.” Mike saw the scene and immediately frowned. His face darkened with visible displeasure as he snapped at me, “Shannon, why are you being so harsh to a kid?” Without hesitation, he strode forward, bent down, and scooped Oliver into his arms, gently patting her back in comfort. “I told you last night, didn’t I? Oliver is very possessive. He can’t stand other kids calling me Dad. He was just upset and made a mistake—he didn’t mean to push Melanie.” I stood my ground like a stone rooted deep in the earth. My gaze remained unwavering and firm as I looked directly at him, without backing down an inch. Chapter 5 “Was he not doing it on purpose? Didn’t you see it just now?” I took a deep breath, trying my best to suppress the fire burning in my chest, but my voice still trembled. “Mike, he just called Melanie a bastard to her face—why don’t you tell him, is Melanie really a bastard?” Mike paused for a second, a flicker of hesitation flashing across his face. But within moments, he lowered his head again, gently coaxing Oliver in his arms, completely ignoring my question, with no intention of asking Oliver to apologize. At that moment, Jennifer, who had been standing silently on the side, shifted her eyes and suddenly put on a gentle, gracious smile. She spoke in a soft and delicate voice, “Ms. Harvey, I truly apologize. Oliver grew up abroad—he’s a bit straightforward and rough around the edges, he just says whatever comes to his mind. Please don’t take it to heart.” But just as those seemingly peacemaking words left her lips, the smug look on the little boy’s face didn’t diminish in the slightest—in fact, it became even more arrogant. Oliver raised his chin and shouted at the top of his lungs, “I wasn’t making anything up! That’s what everyone at school says! Melanie is a bastard! She stole my dad!” My fists clenched so tightly that my knuckles turned white. I stared at Mike, my gaze burning. I remembered how, in the past, he had used him being a neat freak as an excuse to show constant disdain toward me and Melanie—and we endured it all. We tiptoed around him in everything. I turned a blind eye when he claimed to be “working late”, while he was actually out sleeping with other women. I swallowed the bitterness and carried on. But today—I would not let anyone insult my daughter like that. “Mike, I’ll ask you one last time—” I paused, took a deep breath, my eyes rimmed with red, and asked slowly and firmly, “Is Melanie your biological daughter or not?” Mike’s expression darkened. A cold, bone-cutting sneer curled at his lips. “Don’t you already know that better than anyone how she became my daughter?” “Enough. Oliver’s paying a visit today. Let’s stop making a fuss, no need to ruin everyone’s mood.” Mike furrowed his brows slightly, his tone laced with irritation. His eyes held a kind of blame, as if I were the one being unreasonable, ruining this so-called "harmonious" moment. Next to him, Jennifer and her child exchanged subtle glances. The corners of their mouths lifted ever so slightly, eyes gleaming with a kind of triumphant glee—as though they were the true victors of this farce, and Melanie and I were just the unwanted losers in the background. Mike paid no mind to how I or Melanie felt. He walked straight up to Oliver, bent down with heartache etched into his face, and scooped him up in his arms. His voice was so gentle it almost dripped with honey. “Daddy’s going to buy you lots and lots of toys, okay? Even that limited-edition LEGO set you’ve been wanting—I’ll get it all for you.” “Yay!” Oliver clapped excitedly, his face lit up with pride and joy. Mike’s gaze softened even more at the sight, filled with a kind of doting tenderness that neither Melanie nor I had ever received. As I watched his figure grow smaller and smaller, a bitter cold crept up from the depths of my heart, as if I had been thrown into an ice cellar. All the grievances, anger, and crushing disappointment I had been holding back finally surged through me like an unstoppable tide. At last, I took a deep breath and said the words I had rehearsed countless times in my heart—the words I had hesitated over again and again, but never dared to speak aloud until now. Chapter 6 “Mike, let’s get a divorce.” Mike’s steps suddenly halted, as if he had just heard something unbelievable. He slowly turned his head, his eyes as cold as a frostbitten winter day. “Shannon, do you think playing this little act is funny?” He narrowed his eyes slightly, the corners of his mouth curling into a sneer. “If you think threatening me with divorce will shake me—fine, then I’ll give you what you want.” With that, he turned and walked away without looking back. That resolute figure seemed to declare that he had never truly cared about me or Melanie. A faint, almost imperceptible smile flashed quickly across Jennifer’s eyes. But it vanished in an instant, replaced by a carefully arranged look of false remorse as she returned to me. “I’m truly sorry, Ms. Harvey. There’s nothing between Mike and me. Please don’t misunderstand our relationship.” Mike is a man who values loyalty and affection deeply. He just feels sorry for me—divorced so early, my child without a father—so he’s been a little more caring. Please don’t take it the wrong way, and don’t let this make things unpleasant between everyone…” Before she left, Jennifer even hypocritically added me on WhatsApp, saying she wanted to compensate Melanie for the drawing Oliver had torn apart. “Jennifer, come here.” Mike was standing not far outside, holding Oliver in his arms. His voice was impossibly soft, calling to her gently. “Coming!” Jennifer’s face lit up with a radiant smile as she happily trotted over to him. Their figures hadn’t even fully disappeared from view when their hushed voices reached my ears with perfect clarity. “Mike, really? Ms. Harvey was just angry when she mentioned divorce. How could you just agree like that?” Jennifer’s tone carried a hint of playful blame, as though she were defending me. Mike let out a cold snort, his voice thick with ridicule. “She begged and schemed for this marriage—how could she possibly be willing to let it go? She snapped at Oliver just now. This is just a little punishment, and before long, she’ll come crawling back to me in tears.” Hearing that, I couldn’t help but curve my lips into a cold smile. ‘Mike… you’re wrong. People change. The Shannon who once chased love like a moth to a flame—throwing everything away without regret—she’s gone. Now, for the sake of my daughter, I would walk away from you without hesitation, leave behind this endless pain and humiliation once and for all.’ Melanie had locked herself in her room. Her muffled sobs pierced straight into my heart like sharp needles. After a long while, she finally choked out a question, her voice laced with that innocent grief and helplessness unique to children. “Mommy… everyone at school says Daddy is Oliver’s daddy. But I never tried to take Daddy away from him…” Her cries came in broken bursts, as if she was trying to pour out all the sorrow in her tiny heart. Eventually, the weeping faded. I gently pushed the door open. Melanie had fallen fast asleep, still clutching a photo of Mike, with teardrops glistening at the corners of her eyes. Her little face was streaked with dried tears, and the sight of it felt like a giant invisible hand had reached into my chest and twisted my heart. It hurt so much. And as for me me— I tossed and turned the entire night, unable to sleep. In my boredom, I reached for my phone. The screen lit up, and the moment it did, a new post caught my eye. Jennifer had just updated her Twitter. Chapter 7 "Oliver finally has the fatherly love he’s been missing. No one can take away something that belongs to us!" The words were blindingly harsh, and the photo that followed was like a sharp blade, cutting straight into my heart. In the picture, the three of them—Mike, Jennifer, and little Oliver—were huddled closely together. Their faces beamed with happiness, the perfect image of a warm and loving family of three. Almost as if possessed, I tapped “like” on the post. As if that casual, indifferent action could somehow hide the devastation roiling inside me. But before I could even gather my thoughts, my phone chimed with a ding. A new message popped up—it was from Jennifer. Confused, I opened it. It was a video. And there, clear as day on the screen, was Mike’s familiar yet increasingly unfamiliar handsome face. The timestamp showed it was from shortly after he returned to the country. In the video, a friend teased, “Mike, what do you think is the happiest thing in life?” Mike gave a lazy smile, but there was a tenderness in his eyes I had never seen before. He answered in a relaxed tone, “Last week overseas, after coaxing Oliver to sleep, I pulled Jennifer into the bathroom.” Laughter erupted from the people around him. But on this side of the screen, I felt cold from head to toe, as if I had been dropped into a frozen abyss. Before I could fully process the shock, another memory surfaced—a moment when Jennifer had once shared a post that read, “After having a kid, we never get alone time anymore. We can only sneak around after Oliver’s asleep to do this and that…” The implied intimacy between those lines now hit me like a hammer, each word pounding against my already shattered heart. Just then, my phone buzzed again—another message from Jennifer. “So sorry, I sent that by accident. Meant to send it to someone else, and by the time I realized, I couldn’t recall it.” Then came another. “But honestly, I think you already know how Mike feels, don’t you? You forced your way into this marriage with all your little tricks. The only reason you became Mrs. Ashton was because you backed him into a corner. For the past three years abroad, he’s been with me and Oliver. Even though Oliver’s not his biological child, Mike treats him even better than a real father would. Even if we separated, he’s never been able to let me go. It’s only a matter of time before we’re back together.” My heart felt like it was steeped in bitter water, each word soaking deeper than the last. To top it all off, she sent one last image— Oliver stood in the center, grinning brightly, while she and Mike kissed either side of his face. A flawless picture of a “perfect family”. I stared at the screen, lips twitching into a bitter, self-mocking smile. Then my fingers flew over the keyboard and typed just two words. “Alright then.” I took a deep breath and dialed my father’s number. The line connected, and his familiar voice came through. “Hello?” I fought back the sting behind my nose and tried to keep my voice calm. “Dad, I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to take Melanie and settle abroad. We’ll leave in a few days.” There was a pause on the other end, then a burst of joy. “Really? But I heard Mike has just returned to the country—didn’t your little family finally reunite? Is he okay with you leaving?” Hearing that, my eyes reddened. I let out a cold, bitter laugh. “He couldn’t be more thrilled.” Chapter 8 I used to stubbornly keep a lamp lit, no matter how late it got, waiting for Mike to return before I could sleep peacefully. It was as if that warm, dim light could illuminate his way home and warm the heart that waited for him. However, things were different now. This time, I wasn’t as foolish as I once had been. When Mike dragged his tired body back home, the clock had already silently ticked past 2 o’clock in the morning. The moment he pushed the door open, the house was pitch black and deathly silent. The warm light that used to be left on for him was gone, replaced only by the faint moonlight seeping through the window, outlining the furniture in vague, shadowy shapes. He instinctively furrowed his brows, seemingly unsettled by the unfamiliar darkness. In the days that followed, I completely changed my old habits. It wasn’t just that one night—I no longer lit that hopeful little lamp for him on any night thereafter. Nor did I wait expectantly in the living room for the sound of the door opening, for his return. For three full days, I treated him as if he were thin air, not uttering a single word to him. The atmosphere at home had become cold to the extreme. Perhaps, finally sensing this unusual coldness, Mike returned that day with a delicate gift box in his hands. He walked up to me, a slightly awkward look of apology appearing on his face, and said in a soft voice, “This is for you, Shannon.” After a pause, he turned his head slightly and continued, “Oliver was a bit unruly the other day and caused some trouble. I’m apologizing on his behalf—to you and Melanie.” As he spoke, he gently opened the box. Inside lay a necklace, resting quietly on a velvet lining. The design was outdated—clearly from another era. He seemed oblivious to that, reaching in to take it out, and leaned toward me slightly with a hint of trying to please me. “Come, let me put it on for you.” I gave the necklace a cold glance, then turned aside expressionlessly to avoid him. My tone was calm as ever. “No need.” In fact, that necklace wasn’t unfamiliar to me. I had seen it once in Jennifer’s Twitter. Back then, she had mocked it with disdain, writing that the style was so outdated and cheap that keeping it was pointless—yet throwing it away felt like a chore. Without a word, I walked past Mike, returned to the room, and swiftly picked up Melanie. I dressed her for going out, grabbed the car keys, and got ready to leave. Mike’s gaze followed my movements, and when he saw me wearing a tailored casual suit, he visibly froze. His eyes lingered on me for a long while before his voice broke the silence, “Where are you going? I'll drive you.” In the past, I always wore gentle, feminine dresses around him—obedient and soft-spoken. But he never knew that during the three years he was gone, I had carried the world on my own shoulders. I had been starting a company, handling social events, even fixing broken pipes at home with my own hands— I had forced myself to become an indestructible warrior. I was not someone who couldn’t survive without him. As for driving, a faint, self-mocking smile tugged at my lips. I replied firmly, “No need. When it comes to driving skills, I’m no worse than you—maybe even better.” In truth, I had a more important goal for today’s outing. I was going to take Melanie to give up our identities in the country—to completely cut ties with everything here and begin a brand-new life. Three hours later, we successfully completed the cancellation procedures. The moment we stepped out the door, I suddenly saw Mike’s car parked right at the entrance. Chapter 9 He furrowed his brows tightly, eyes filled with both anger and confusion, glaring at me as he snapped, “Shannon, what are you doing here with our daughter?” He had followed us all the way here. I had rushed into the home office with Melanie in my arms, and only emerged three hours later, visibly exhausted. During that time, he had waited outside in silence. Yet, for some reason, my heart felt as if an invisible hand had clutched it tightly, giving rise to a wave of inexplicable unease. When I caught his direct, penetrating gaze, I forced a smile and tried to appear composed as I said, “It’s nothing. Our IDs expired, so I came to renew them.” After a pause, I pretended to recall something and added casually, “Aren’t you busy today? I heard Jennifer’s looking for a job lately—she probably needs your help quite a bit right now.” Mike’s expression sharpened instantly, his eyes turning hawk-like as he stared straight at me. That look seemed as if it could pierce through my soul. His face darkened like a stormy sky right before the downpour. After a long silence, his lips curved into a cold, mocking smile, and he let out a bitter laugh. “Shannon, you really are something.” He narrowed his eyes slightly, his tone filled with sarcasm and frustration. “I’ve never seen a woman push her own husband away like this. Since you insist, fine—I’ll give you what you want.” With that, he slammed the car door shut with a loud bang, the sound jolting my heart. Then his car sped off like an arrow released from a bow, disappearing from view in the blink of an eye. I stood there in a daze, confused and baffled. I had meant well—wasn’t I just giving them my blessing? Why did he get so angry instead? Later, I learned the reason from Mike’s assistant. The assistant looked at me with a mix of regret and sympathy, saying in a soft voice, “Ma’am, did you know Mr. Ashton always set aside the entire day today? He just wanted to spend time with you and the child.” He sighed gently before continuing, “But now... things went south. He’s furious, drank himself into a stupor, and now he’s gone to see Jennifer and her son…” The assistant had always thought Mike and I were a perfect match. He had tried many times to play the mediator between us. But now, things had gone too far. All I could do was smile self-deprecatingly, my voice tinged with helplessness. “Thank you for telling me. But let him go.” After all, deep down, I knew— In just three more days, Melanie and I would leave this place of heartbreak for good. And yet, fate seemed determined not to let me off so easily. I never imagined that on the very day I completed Melanie’s school transfer, a nightmare would strike without warning. While playing in the park, Melanie was suddenly and viciously pushed into the water by Oliver. By the time we pulled her out, she had already developed an acute reaction—her little face pale as a sheet. At that moment, I heard a deafening buzz in my head, like something had snapped. I went completely mad, carrying Melanie in my arms as I dashed frantically to the hospital. At the hospital, I ran around in desperation, begging the doctors to save her. But it was then that I received a piece of devastating news. Mike had rerouted the entire city’s medical resources—just to treat Oliver’s allergic reaction. Staring at Melanie lying weakly on the hospital bed, barely breathing, I trembled as I dialed Mike’s number over and over again, my voice choked with sobs as I pleaded with him—begged him—to save Melanie. Chapter 10 The moment the call connected, the sound of Jennifer’s crying came from the other end of the line, and Mike’s voice sounded flustered. But right after, he let out a cold, chilling laugh. "Shannon, what are you pretending to be pitiful for this time? Melanie is perfectly fine—how could anything happen to her?" He paused, and his tone grew even colder. "That day, I was kind enough to spend time with you both, but you didn’t appreciate it and pushed me away. Now that Oliver has a severe allergic reaction, you’re stirring up trouble out of jealousy again? What tricks are you trying to play this time?" I felt a sharp, bitter taste in my throat, and just as I was about to explain, the call abruptly ended with a string of cold beeping tones, ruthlessly cutting off the last thread of connection. At that moment, despair surged over me like a relentless tide, drowning me completely. I felt as if I had fallen into an endless abyss of darkness. I thought Melanie would cry in fear, but to my surprise, her face was deathly pale as she lay on the hospital bed, wearing an oxygen mask. Her tiny, fragile body looked so weak, yet her eyes were unusually calm, filled with a maturity and sorrow far beyond her age. After a long while, she opened her mouth slightly. Her voice was weak but incredibly firm. "Mommy, this time... Daddy really doesn’t want Melanie anymore, does he?" As she spoke, she forced a sensible smile and raised her trembling little hand to gently wipe away the tears that kept falling down my face. "Don’t cry, Mommy. If Daddy doesn’t want me, then I won’t want Daddy either." Looking at her like that, it felt like a thousand needles were piercing my heart, and the pain made it hard to even breathe. With nowhere left to turn, I finally called my father. Upon hearing what had happened, he didn’t hesitate for a second. He pulled every string he could, using the connections he had built over decades, and managed to rush a top specialist over from a neighboring city. In that desperate race against time, every single second felt like an eternity. I prayed with all my heart, hoping Melanie would make it through safely. During the days she stayed in the hospital, Mike completely disappeared—as if he had vanished from the face of the earth. He never showed up, not even once. Yet outside the hospital, the world remained as noisy as ever. The television news looped endlessly with reports of Mike’s "heroic deed" of mobilizing all the city’s medical resources to save a patient. On the screen, his face was full of worry—an image of a powerful, concerned CEO—but at that moment, it struck me as utterly ridiculous. I sat beside Melanie’s hospital bed, staring coldly at the screen, as hatred and determination burned ever brighter within me. ‘Mike, since you love them so much, fine. My daughter and I will leave you to them.’ The day Melanie was discharged, the sun still shone as brightly as ever, but my heart was colder than ever. I calmly completed the cancellation of our domestic identities. With trembling fingers, I deleted Mike’s contact details, then snapped the SIM card in two—like that could sever all the painful ties to the past. Finally, I took Melanie’s hand and walked away without looking back, leaving behind this city that held far too many bitter memories...