Lily said, “Of course. You treat me so badly, forcing me to jump out the window, forcing me to eat broccoli. Aunt Sophie and Aunt Sarah were so kind, always giving me burgers. Who do you think I’d choose?”
I looked at Lily in disappointment.
“Remember what you said today, Lily.”
“What, even your own daughter has to bully and threaten you now?” Ethan shouted angrily.
“I’ll deal with you later. If you don’t apologize, don’t expect me to pay your medical bills.”
He picked Sophie up and was about to leave. I stopped him.
“So if I don’t apologize, you won’t pay my medical bills, right?”
“That’s right!”
“Fine. Then let’s divorce. Sign the papers. I’ve already signed.”
I handed Ethan the divorce agreement.
Sophie sneered, “Maybe she just wants half the property. My sister swore she saw Emily with another man.”
“That’s impossible!” Ethan snapped. “Half the assets? Dream on.”
I gave a cold laugh. “Do you think I care? Look at the terms.”
He read them, his face changing.
“What? You’d rather walk away with nothing than stay married to me?”
“That’s right. I don’t want anything.”
“Just a trick to lure me in, huh?” Sophie said.
“Think what you like. Just sign.”
“No,” Ethan said. “We’ll talk when I get back.”
Then he walked out carrying Sophie. Lily followed.
I watched Lily’s back as she left. My daughter—you’ve lost me completely.
At midnight, Daniel Smith, Jessica’s brother and my former admirer, came to see me. He was shocked when he saw me.
“How did you end up like this? Ethan, that bastard! I could kill him.”
“Daniel, don’t. This is my fight. Just take me away.”
“Alright.”
“Help me remove my social security record,” I said quietly.
“Got it.”
Daniel staged my fake death. He threw down my clothes, spilled pig’s blood, scattered some hair, and staged a fall from the window. He even set up ropes and gear to smuggle me out unseen.
No guards noticed, and no cameras caught us.
As he carried me away, I leaned against him. “Daniel, when did you learn to move like this?”
He laughed. “Since I met you.”
When we reached the research institute, Jessica and my professor were waiting.
Seeing me with no legs, my professor wept. “You poor child. At least you made it back alive.”
Jessica was also in tears. “You stupid girl! Serves you right for marrying a pretty face. My brother’s always been better, but you wouldn’t have him.” Her words were harsh, but I could hear her heart aching for me.
Daniel rubbed his nose awkwardly, saying nothing.
Ten days later, Ethan saw a video online of a woman jumping from a building. He thought she looked familiar and called Lily over.
“Doesn’t that look like your mom?”
“A little,” Lily admitted.
Ethan summoned Rachel Green, his secretary.
“What’s going on? Is that my wife?”
Rachel glanced at the screen. “It looks like her. The hospital seemed to have informed us about your wife. I’ll go check.”
“Go.”
She returned hours later with a death certificate.
