Chapter 5

"Your fiancé, your husband, your child, all the glory and affection you once had, now belongs to me, Chloe."

"And you, you'll forever live in my shadow, a pathetic, broken substitute."

I couldn't stop to think about how she knew I'd figured it out. Burning with rage, I spat, "Lily is MY child! You stole her from me!"

Chloe sneered, "Your child? Lily doesn't think so. Want to test it?"

With that, she suddenly splashed the red wine onto her own chest, dropping the glass at my feet with a shriek.

Before I could react, a figure rushed over. Ethan held Chloe tightly in his arms, disregarding the wine stains all over her. He turned to glare at me, his eyes cold as ice:

"Maya, have you lost your mind?!"

"Chloe came here to comfort you, and you hurt her?! Don't you know she's allergic to alcohol?!"

I stumbled to regain my balance, trying to explain.

A small figure darted over from nearby, kicking my shin hard.

Lily, like an enraged little beast, pummeled me while screaming: "You bad woman! Don't you dare bully my mommy Chloe! I'll kill you! You bad woman! You don't have a baby, you're an unwanted monster!"

I looked down at her features, so similar to mine, yet now filled with hatred. My heart shattered into pieces.

I crouched down, trying to hug her, my voice choked: "Lily, I'm your real mom."

Chloe immediately snatched Lily back into her arms, looking at me with tears in her eyes: "Maya, I know you can't have children and you're upset. You're jealous of me, you target me, I've accepted all that. But how could you try to steal my child? "

I want to approach again, but Ethan blocks my path like a wall, his voice cold and hard: "Maya, haven't you caused enough trouble?!"

"Ethan, look me in the eyes! Tell me, whose child is Lily really?!" I scream, tears blurring my vision.

A flicker of emotion passes through Ethan's eyes, quickly replaced by icy coldness: "Lily is Chloe's child, of course. Our child died in that car accident, remember? I showed you the proof, didn't I?"

"What's gotten into you today? It's not enough to go crazy yourself, you have to hurt Chloe too? You're completely unreasonable! Apologize to Chloe right now!"

Lily struggles in my arms, swinging her little fists at me, her voice full of disgust: "Bad woman! I don't have a mom like you! I hate you! If you bully my mommy Chloe again, I'll have daddy Ethan lock you up!"

I close my eyes, tears rushing forth.

My husband, his heart occupied by another woman.

My daughter, treating an imposter as her mother, hating me to the bone.

When I open my eyes again, my heart is dead silent. I force a smile uglier than crying: "Yes, quite unreasonable. I'm sorry. I won't bother you again."

With that, I turn and walk numbly towards the exit.Ethan froze for a moment, feeling an inexplicable unease. He instinctively reached out to hold me back. "Wait, Maya, let me walk you..."

Chloe grabbed his sleeve, her voice weak. "Ethan, I'm so cold, and my head is spinning..."

Ethan hesitated, glancing at my resolute back as I walked away. In the end, he supported Chloe, gently comforting her as they left.

I returned to the villa and signed my name on the pre-prepared "divorce agreement" - a document detailing all of his crimes. I sent a copy to my lawyer and the investigative journalist who had been pursuing Ethan.

The flight ticket was for tonight.

My friend asked in surprise, "So sudden? Aren't you waiting for Lily's DNA results?"

I smiled bitterly, "No, I'm not waiting anymore."

They make a nice "family of three."

Even late into the night, Ethan hadn't returned. He only sent a message:

"Maya, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been so harsh with you today. Chloe wasn't feeling well, and I was just anxious."

"I know you want a child. I'm heartbroken too that we lost ours. Once Chloe feels better, let's talk about adoption, okay?"

I closed my eyes briefly and replied, "Okay."

The next morning, Ethan still hadn't shown up. He messaged saying he had an urgent international surgery conference and would pick me up in the afternoon.

I looked at the TV. Local news was broadcasting a tech summit live.

Ethan, as a special guest, sat side by side with Chloe. She clung to his arm, her smile radiant and captivating. Lily sat on Chloe's lap, occasionally interacting with Ethan.

The host referred to them as "the city's most influential couple and future little princess."

I turned off the TV and placed the signed accusation document and a copy of the data chip on the coffee table.

Taking one last look at this gilded cage that had imprisoned me for six years, I rushed to the airport.

Just before boarding, Ethan called, his tone tinged with impatience: "Maya, the meeting just ended. Where are you? I'll be home soon. Be ready to come downstairs when I get there."

"Ethan, the game is over."

"What? Maya, speak up, the signal's bad."

His end was noisy, with Chloe's coquettish laughter in the background. Seems the event wasn't over yet.

I hung up and boarded the plane.