I stood in the corner, my heart heavy with sorrow.
Every year, Stacy had nothing more than a plain, old-fashioned cake for her birthday. Neil would always say she needed to "remember the bitterness to appreciate the sweetness."
She once asked for a beautiful dress, but Neil scoffed, saying she could never compare.
Meanwhile, every year on Iris’s birthday, a lavish party was thrown in her honor. The pile of gifts was stacked up like a small mountain, overflowing with extravagance.
Neil always justified it, saying Iris was weak and needed support for her future marriage.
But for the daughter of a mistress—why?
I had fought with him over it before, but the argument went nowhere.
I now realized he must have continued showering her with gifts in secret. I was the only one left in the dark.
As I stood there, beads of cold sweat formed on my forehead from the pain in my lower abdomen.
Just then, Kay sauntered over, twisting her waist as she walked, with Iris by her side.
Her lips curved into a fake smile, but her eyes gleamed with provocation.
In her hands, she held an urn.
Loudly, she sneered, “This is for your daughter who died early. You might be needing one yourself soon.”
The room instantly fell silent.
All eyes turned toward us.
I clenched my teeth, my voice shaking with fury.
“Kay, you’ve gone too far!”
Kay smirked, covering her mouth with fake innocence.
“Oh, come on, I was just joking! Why are you taking it so seriously?”
Neil’s face darkened. He immediately stepped in front of Kay and snapped at me.
“Haven’t you made enough trouble? Kay didn’t mean any harm.”
I bit my lip, swallowing my rage and humiliation.
Neil let out an impatient sigh.
“Enough of this nonsense. Today is Iris’s special day.”
Forcing down my fury, I plastered a smile on my face, took the urn from Kay, and said calmly,
"Kay, you really do love to joke."
Then, without hesitation, I tossed it back at her feet and smiled coldly.
"But I think your daughter with a heart condition might need it more."
I turned to leave, but before I could take a step, a sudden force slammed into me from behind.
Iris shoved me.
Like a vicious little demon, she sent me sprawling into the freezing water of the nearby pool.
I gasped, the shock of the cold seizing my body.
Laughter erupted around me.
“Hahaha! Look at her—she looks just like a drowned dog!”
“Oh god, she probably peed herself out of fear! How disgusting!”
Iris’s shrill laughter rang the loudest.
My body, still weak from the miscarriage, trembled violently.
As I struggled, the water around me darkened—tainted red with my own blood.
Summoning every ounce of strength, I fought my way to the surface, glaring at Iris with all the fury I had left.
“Iris, you’re trying to kill me! You won’t get away with this!”
Neil yanked me out of the water.
But instead of concern, he barely spared me a glance before speaking in a cold, detached voice.
“Don’t make a scene over a child’s mischief.”
A fresh wave of rage surged through me.
“A child?” I trembled, my voice rising.
“She’s a monster! And you—are you my husband or Iris’s real father?”
Murmurs rippled through the crowd as people exchanged questioning looks.
Neil’s face twisted in anger. Without warning, he struck me hard across the face.
“You and your jealousy need to know their limits! Get out of my sight and go be with your idiot daughter!”
Stunned, I clutched my stinging cheek. Tears burned in my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.
Humiliated, I turned and walked away.
That night, Neil came home reeking of alcohol.
He staggered into the room and froze when he saw the suitcase at my feet.
For a moment, his dazed expression held something unreadable.
Then, a mocking smirk curled at the corner of his lips.
“Running away from home? How childish. Enough of this drama.”
As he spoke, he suddenly reached out, grabbing my arm and dragging me toward the bed.
I thrashed against him, shouting,
“Neil, let go of me!”
But he was too strong.
His grip tightened as he pressed me down, his breath hot and heavy with liquor.
His voice slurred, thick with desire.
“Stop pretending. Isn’t this what you want? A man to love you?”
His hold became suffocating.
“If you don’t behave,” he murmured darkly, “I’ll make sure you regret it.”
His eyes burned with something primal. His hands, relentless.
I knew then—this wasn’t love.
It never had been.
My arm was gripped so tightly it ached, but I swallowed my nausea, forced a smile, and said softly,
"Neil, your birthday is coming up in a few days. I’ve prepared a special gift for you."
Neil paused, his smug expression turning even more self-satisfied.
"How coincidental," he smirked. "I’ve also prepared a surprise for you."
I already knew what his so-called "surprise" was—he planned to give my daughter's heart to Iris.
So, I decided to play along.
In the days that followed, Neil pretended to be a loving husband and father.
He occasionally brought home small gifts, whispered sweet nothings, and acted like a doting man.
But I saw through his deception instantly.
Kay, on the other hand, continued to provoke me as usual, sneering,
"Lynda, do you really think you’re worthy of stealing Neil from me? Just wait—you’ll be thrown out like trash!"
I clenched my teeth in silent rage but forced myself to remain indifferent.
I no longer wanted anything to do with that scumbag.
Finally, Neil’s birthday arrived.
Everything was in place.
Without a word, I left quietly with Stacy.
At the hospital, just outside the operating room, the doctor glanced over the medical records and nodded.
"Prepare for surgery. Push the patient in."
Nurses wheeled the gurney forward, slowly guiding Iris toward the operating room.
Then suddenly—
A nurse came rushing in, panic written all over her pale face.
Her voice trembled as she stammered,
“N-No… something terrible has happened! Miss Frazier and Miss Stacy are gone!”
