A chilling realization gripped me—I might be losing my baby.
"Help me... it hurts..."
I whimpered, my voice barely whispered as my vision blurred.
Neil cast me a cold, indifferent glance before turning his full attention to Kay.
"Kay, is your hand okay? Did you hurt yourself when you slapped her just now?"
Then, with an impatient scowl, he barked at me,
"Stop acting! Get up already and quit embarrassing yourself!"
At that moment, something inside me shattered.
I finally understood—this was how little I meant to him.
This was how little my daughter meant to him.
The people around us watched with detached amusement, whispering among themselves, their words laced with malice.
"She gave birth to a stupid child and still dares to flaunt her? What a disgrace!"
"Just look at her—acting all pitiful. No wonder her child turned out like that. It must be hereditary!"
Iris let out a mocking laugh.
"Haha! Wetting your pants at this age? Just like a fool. How pathetic!"
A nurse hesitated, stepping forward to help me, but Neil cut her off sharply.
"Don’t bother with her! She’s just putting on a show for sympathy. I’ve seen plenty of women like this!"
Just then, my daughter erupted.
"You’re not my father!" she screamed, her voice shaking with fury.
"I won’t let you bully my mother!"
Neil recoiled in disgust and quickly pulled Kay and Iris behind him, shielding them as if we were some sort of disease.
Kay smirked and tossed a parting jab.
"A fool is a fool, still causing trouble even when she’s about to die."
As soon as they left, my daughter lost all control.
She lashed out, flailing against the people around her, her cries piercing the air.
"Don’t bully my mom!"
Ignoring the stabbing pain in my abdomen, I struggled to reach her.
"Stacy, stop! Please!"
A wave of dizziness crashed over me, and the world went black.
When I woke up, I was met with the news that I had already braced myself for—I had lost the baby.
Oddly, I felt nothing.
Calmly, I took the necessary steps—I erased our records, and booked a flight.
Now, I just had to wait for the right moment to escape.
Then Neil walked in, feigning concern.
"Lynda, how are you? I’ve been so worried," he said, sighing dramatically.
"I'm heartbroken too... losing the baby was hard on me."
But before I could respond, his tone hardened.
"Kay is still upset. You need to come with me to the banquet and apologize to her."
I knew exactly what that meant—another opportunity for Kay to humiliate me.
I remembered all too well how, at a previous event, Kay stood before me in a dazzling gown, dripping in jewelry, and sneered,
"Just look at you… and then look at me. The difference is laughable."
Another time, at the mall, she spotted Stacy in her simple clothes and made a point to announce,
"This child looks so shabby! Does her mother have no sense of style?"
And Neil? He had always responded with the same indifferent words:
"Just ignore her. Don't let it get to you."
Back then, I thought he was protecting me. Now, I know better.
He wasn’t shielding me—he was shielding Kay’s happiness.
For the sake of my plan, I swallowed my anger and nodded.
The banquet buzzed with energy, but I felt nothing.
Neil strode onto the stage, raising his hand for silence, his face alight with a warmth I had never seen before.
With a beaming smile, he declared,
"Tonight, we celebrate the birthday of my beloved goddaughter, Iris! I have prepared something special for her."
A beautifully wrapped box was brought forward.
Inside lay a set of luxury car keys, villa property deeds, and shares in Frazier Corporation.
Iris, draped in an elegant princess gown, accepted the gifts as an extravagant custom cake was rolled onto the stage.
Applause erupted, praise filling the air.
Nearby, two noblewomen whispered, their voices were just loud enough for me to hear.
"Mr. Frazier truly spoils Iris. I’ve lost count of how many lavish gifts he’s given her over the years."
"Indeed. And that poor adopted girl? He doesn’t care about her at all. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s just waiting for her to disappear."
Their words sliced through me like a blade.
But this time, I felt no pain—only the steely resolve to leave this place for good.
