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

As I came out with the prepared "gift," my friend's reminder echoed in my ear:


"It won't be easy to get Lily back. She's legally Chloe's daughter now, protected by that big shot."


"Unless you can prove Ethan and Chloe's crimes, and also, get Lily to choose you herself."


That "accident" happened before I even got to see my daughter's face.


My only option was to approach Ethan and Chloe.


I arrived at the children's hospital where a charity gala was taking place. Ethan, as the main donor, was giving a speech on stage.


"Dr. Thorne is so young and accomplished, not to mention handsome and wealthy," one nurse remarked.


"Indeed. I heard his wife is in poor health and rarely makes public appearances. But Dr. Thorne dotes on her and never lets the media bother her," another replied.


"Miss Chloe is here too, with her daughter. She's gorgeous, like a little angel."


"I heard Miss Chloe and Dr. Thorne go way back. They're super close. Her daughter seems to adore Dr. Thorne."


Their eyes lingered on me with curiosity.


I forced a smile. Ethan never allowed me to appear at his work events, claiming he didn't want the outside world to taint my purity.


He never gifted me jewelry either, saying my beauty didn't need such worldly embellishments.


Now I realize it was all carefully crafted lies.


I found Ethan in a corner of the ballroom.


Chloe was on his arm, all smiles and laughter, watching a little girl in a princess dress playing nearby.


"Ethan, that VIP seems quite pleased with Lily, doesn't he?" Chloe's voice held a barely detectable note of ingratiation."Mm, Lily is the perfect heir. As long as she's happy, he will continue to support us," Ethan said calmly, his gaze fixed on the girl.


From a distance, the doll-like little girl ran over and threw herself into Ethan's arms. "Daddy Ethan, Mommy Chloe, Lily's hungry."


"Huh? Who's this lady?" she asked curiously, looking at me.


Only then did Ethan notice me, a flash of panic crossing his eyes before he quickly concealed it.


He handed Lily to Chloe, subtly positioning himself in front of me, his voice still gentle: "Maya, what are you doing here? Are you feeling better?"


"Don't misunderstand, this is Chloe's daughter Lily. I'm very fond of her, she's like... my goddaughter."


Chloe approached, her smile sweet but her eyes full of smug victory. "That's right, Maya. Lily doesn't know any better, she likes to call people whatever. Please don't take offense."


That face - it was exactly the same as when she stood on the ruins of my wedding, arm in arm with Ethan, declaring they would face the future together.


I raised my hand, wanting to slap her, but Ethan gripped my wrist, his hold so tight it nearly crushed my bones. He shielded Chloe behind him, his eyes filled with an icy warning.It was on that day that Ethan whispered eternal promises in my ear with the gentlest voice.


But he didn't love me; he just needed me as his "vessel."


Chapter 3