The daughter I had raised with such care suddenly found her biological parents. As reluctant as I was, I still sent her back to them.
But once the little girl reached her real parents, it was as if she had forgotten me, the adoptive mother who had loved her all her life. She hadn’t contacted me for an entire month.
Unable to bear it any longer, I went to see her, only to find her parents hosting a lavish engagement banquet.
Yet the girl standing by their side wasn’t my daughter. And on her wrist—was the bracelet I had given to Isabella Hayes!
When they saw me arrive, her father sneered, “So you’re that cheap woman’s foster mother! You want to find her? Fine, go look underground!”
They treated my daughter with such disdain, not realizing that I am a mother who protects her child with everything I have.
…
I strode up to the girl, gave her a hard look, and suddenly grabbed her wrist.
“Where is Bella? Why are you wearing her bracelet?”
The girl jumped in fright.
At once, Richard Carter barked, “Where did this country bumpkin come from? How dare you lay hands on my daughter! Someone throw her out!”
Margaret Carter grew furious as well. “Any stray dog or cat dares to touch my daughter?”
She shoved me back and protectively clutched the girl’s hand. But I yanked the bracelet off her wrist and slapped her across the face.
“When you’re asked a question, you answer!”
“Why are you wearing Bella’s bracelet?”
Chloe Carter froze, covering her face in shock. Then she stammered, “Y-you… you’re Isabella’s mother!”
Turning to the wealthy ladies beside her, she shouted, “She’s Bella’s backwater mom!”
At once, the Carter couple’s faces twisted in disgust.
“You have the nerve to come here? Ever since she showed up, our house has been in chaos. Who knows what kind of upbringing you gave her!”
I sneered, “You’re right—I didn’t teach her well enough, which is why she’s so soft and easy for you to bully.”
“If you look down on her so much, why are you flaunting her bracelet? Even the dress on your daughter is one I bought for Bella.”
“What is it? The Carter family going bankrupt?”
I shoved past them. When they tried to block me, my bodyguard kicked them aside.
Gasps rippled through the hall as I strode in, flanked by only three men, moving as though I owned the place.
“Bella! Isabella! Mommy’s here to see you!”
I had my men drag Chloe by the hair and throw her into the center of the hall.
“Talk! Where is Bella? If you don’t tell me, today’s engagement party will be remembered only as your day of disgrace!”
Chloe screamed at the guests, “Are you all dead? Why aren’t you doing something?”
Before her words could settle, my palm cracked across her face. She shrieked, clutching her cheek. My ring tore across her skin, leaving a deep, bloody gash that split half her face in two.
The crowd recoiled in horror. Richard and Margaret rushed forward, pointing at me furiously. “You—”
Before Richard could finish, one of my bodyguards twisted his fingers until they snapped with a sickening crack. He howled in agony.
I sat down in the host’s seat and seized the microphone.
“Where is Bella? Bring her out to me!”
“If I don’t see her today, no one in this room is leaving!”
“You’re insane! Do you know where you are? You dare cause a scene here? Call the police, now!”
Bang!
The man who had spoken went flying across the room, crashing to the floor and unable to rise.
