Ethel let out a cold laugh and walked right up to me.
"So you're the mistress Nathan's been keeping on the side?"
The arms that had been clinging to Nathan slowly loosened. Every trace of warmth drained from her face, replaced by undisguised contempt.
"Sarah, right? Nathan told me all about you."
"And for the record, I'm not the mistress here. Sure, I have feelings for Nathan, but you've already moved on and started a new family. Why shouldn't I take my place beside him?"
"If you ask me, you're the real other woman."
She stepped closer, leaning in until her lips were inches from my ear.
Her voice dropped to a whisper, so quiet it could shatter a heart.
"The one who isn't loved... is the real other woman."
Daisy heard every word. She thrust out her small hands and shoved Ethel as hard as she could.
But she was just a child. There was barely any force behind it.
Yet Ethel crumpled to the ground, her head striking a rock.
A sharp cry rang out, and Nathan's hand shot forward, shoving my daughter to the ground.
But Daisy's voice didn't stop.
"My mommy is NOT the other woman! You're a bad lady! I won't let anyone bully my mommy!"
The skin on Daisy's palms was scraped raw.
I crouched down to help her up, but Nathan's gaze cut toward me, his brow furrowed.
"Sarah, is this how you've raised your child?"
"Stupid. Pathetic. Disgraceful."
Something inside me finally broke. My stomach churned, bile and bitterness rising all at once.
Blood crept up my throat, hot and metallic, threatening to spill past my lips.
I pressed my hand against my abdomen, sweat rolling down my forehead from the pain.
Daisy gently rubbed my back, her small voice tight with worry.
"Mommy, are you feeling sick again? Get up. I'll take you to the hospital."
Before I could open my mouth, Nathan reached out and shoved Daisy to the ground a second time, his face flushed crimson.
"Sarah, whose bastard is this? She's already learned how to lie?"
"And what's with this innocent act you keep putting on? You've been sick this long and still haven't gotten better? Shouldn't you be dead by now?"
"Ethel may have been blunt, but was she wrong?"
"You've already started a new life. Am I not allowed to find someone new?"
I couldn't hold it back any longer. Blood surged from my throat and splattered across the ground.
My face went ashen. My lips turned white.
Nathan scooped Ethel into his arms and walked in the opposite direction.
Daisy looked at the rocky path, then gripped my arm tight. In the next second, she let go and ran after him.
She dropped to her knees in front of Nathan with a heavy thud.
Her small hands clutched at his legs, tears streaming down her face.
"Mister, please, can you save my mommy? She's really, really sick. She needs to go to the hospital right now."
"Please. If she doesn't get to a hospital, she's going to die."
My daughter, on her knees, begging.
My tears fell one by one, hitting the dirt.
I raised a trembling hand toward her.
"Don't beg him..."
Nathan let out a cold scoff, turned, and pushed Daisy aside.
His arms tightened around Ethel.
"Why should I save another man's wife?"
"And—" He glanced back at me with a thin smile. "Sarah, you really think this little stunt is going to work on me?"
"Putting on a show with your own daughter?"
"Sarah, you really are pathetic."
"You managed to drag yourself all the way into these mountains. Don't tell me you can't drag yourself back out."
He turned away with Ethel in his arms and walked off without another word.
In the distance, he pulled out his phone, made a call, and disappeared from sight.
Daisy turned back to me. Her eyes locked onto my face, and the tears spilled instantly.
