Chapter 1

In the ninth year of my relationship with Damien, I became pregnant again after multiple miscarriages.

At six months, it was discovered to be an ectopic pregnancy, requiring surgery.

I contacted Damien, asking him to come to the hospital, but received a cold response.

"You must give birth to our Stone family's son!"

My heart shattered as I questioned him, "Is having a son more important than my life?"

Damien Land became angry:

"Don't try to scare me with talk of life and death. If you don't want to have it, there are plenty of women out there eager to do so!"

That day, I suffered severe bleeding in the hospital, and only survived by having my uterus removed.

Meanwhile, he was in his office, intimately entangled with my best friend.

Years of marriage crumbled in an instant.

At that moment, I let go of everything and left without a backward glance.

————————

1

Opening the suitcase, I sort through my personal belongings.

Yet I realize that over the nine years of our marriage, I've gradually lost myself.

In this spacious house, the things that truly belong to me are pitifully few.

Just as I finish organizing everything, Damien's phone call comes through.

After a few seconds of hesitation, I press the answer button.

But a familiar female voice comes from the other end, "Ma'am, Mr. Stone asked me to inform you."

"He'll be coming home tonight, and requests that you wait for him without fail."

I hang up without responding.

After nine years of marriage, it's the first time I haven't happily agreed.

I turn and take a cab straight to the airport. My sister-in-law had contacted me a month ago.

Today is the day she's bringing Melody back to the country.

But before I leave, I still want to catch a glimpse of my daughter.

I gave birth to Melody in the second year of our marriage.

She's eight years old now. The Stone family doesn't like girls.

When Melody was three, her aunt took her abroad to live.

To receive a high-quality foreign education.

And I, her birth mother, due to my ordinary background, am not worthy of accompanying her as she grows up.

When I see Melody, her cold expression is identical to her father's. Wearing headphones, she glanced at me twice before continuing to walk forward.

Her aunt had a helpless expression as she turned to me and said, "Damien has already arranged a welcome dinner for Melody. The flight was delayed, so I thought you wouldn't come to pick her up anymore."

Over the years, I've grown accustomed to being excluded from everything related to Melody by the Stone family.

To the Stone family, I've always been an outsider.

From the moment my daughter got off the plane, my eyes never left her.

Compared to six months ago, she had lost quite a bit of weight and grown taller.

She sat in her chair, eating silently.

She was clearly quite hungry.

I was so engrossed in watching her that I was startled when she suddenly looked up and asked me, "Where's Dad? When is he coming?"

For a moment, I was taken aback by her question.

After a few seconds, I slowly began to reply, "Your dad, he's busy with work right now..."

Before I could finish, the door to the private room was pushed open.

It was Damien, and beside him stood a woman who bore some resemblance to me.

My former best friend, Vienna.

At some point, Melody had run over to her and thrown her arms around her in a hug. With a coquettish tone, she said, "Aunt Vienna, I love the earphones you gave me so much."

Vienna's face beamed with a wide smile, and as she hugged Melody back, she threw a glance at me.

She looked utterly pleased with herself.

Melody pulled her to sit beside her, and Damien Landry spoke with a hint of jealousy.

"Melody, do you only have eyes for Vienna now? Have you forgotten about your dad?"

Melody looked up at him and said in a wheedling tone.

"Dad, you can just sit with Mom and Auntie."

Damien sighed in resignation and finally glanced at me before sitting down.

As he took his seat, he spoke in a low voice.

"Didn't I tell my secretary to have you wait for me at home?"

"Why did you come out? Don't you want to stay home and rest properly if you want to get pregnant again?"

"If you don't want to have a baby, stop wasting my time!"

Just as I was about to respond, Vienna spoke softly.

"Damien, Melody has grown quite a bit taller in the six months we haven't seen her."

"As for Genevieve, it's been a while, but you look increasingly haggard."

"Even your figure, which used to be similar to mine, has lost its shape quite a bit."

"Having children truly is a double-edged sword that makes women age quickly and lose their figures!"

Damien's gaze followed the two of them, the love in his eyes bottomless.