ManyWriters

At our engagement dinner, my fiancé Liam publicly announced his secret marriage to socialite Chloe.
Dressed in my wedding gown, I became the laughingstock of the evening.
In that moment, my childhood friend Ethan, a renowned surgeon, slipped a ring onto my finger: "Maya, you're mine now."
I nodded in agreement.
Seven months pregnant, I suffered a terrible car accident.
Ethan arrived like a guardian angel, pulling me from the wreckage moments before it exploded, performing emergency care on the spot.
When I opened my eyes again, he was by my hospital bed, his eyes bloodshot, his voice hoarse: "Maya, I'm so sorry, we lost the baby and your uterus..."
I was devastated beyond words.
Ethan held me tight: "Don't be afraid, I'll always be by your side."
But six years later, I accidentally stumbled upon a surveillance video:
"Chloe's infertile by nature. Am I supposed to watch her lose Liam's love? Maya's child is the perfect 'asset'. That accident must look flawless, ensuring the 'asset's' safety."
"As for Maya, her survival is already my act of mercy. Making her infertile ensures she'll be mine forever."
What I thought was my salvation turned out to be a carefully crafted cage.

Caged By Love

"When you were still in my belly, I wondered what you would be like."


"It's wonderful. Lily turned out even cuter and prettier than I imagined, like a real little princess."


"No matter who you're with in the future, whatever difficulties you face, no matter how old you get, I hope you'll always remember that there's someone in this world who sincerely wishes for your happiness and joy, and never wants to see you afraid or crying again."


I don't know if she can understand, but this is what I most want to tell her.


Perhaps my tone was too gentle. Lily's crying gradually subsided, and she timidly and curiously asked me, "Are you... really my mom?"


I could see that when she asked this, her innocent eyes were filled with confusion, caution, and a hint of barely noticeable resistance.


Holding back my heartache, I smiled gently and said, "No, I'm not."


She noticeably relaxed and mumbled softly, "That's good... Chloe mom is the best mom."


Chapter 10