“Mother Anderson, we’re scared!”
Hearing their voices, Daniel muttered,
“I almost forgot about that brat.”
I spread my arms instinctively to shield Lily, but a bodyguard passed through me and dragged her before him. Daniel pinched her chin, scrutinizing her face, then wiped his hands in disgust.
My daughter sobbed,
“Mother Anderson, where are you? I’m scared!”
Ms. Anderson crawled over and shouted,
“What else do you want? She’s your own daughter—why won’t you spare her?”
Daniel’s face twisted,
“Who told you that brat is mine?
Who knows which client Grace was fooling around with when she mixed drinks and got pregnant?
I never touched her.”
Ms. Anderson cursed furiously,
“That’s bullshit! I grew up with her—I know her better than anyone.
She spent her life’s savings building this orphanage. How could she be the kind of woman you say she is?
Only a filthy heart sees filth everywhere.”
I saw the fury in Daniel’s eyes and thought back to that night—
Six and a half years ago, Daniel had been drugged. To save him, I lay with him, but when I awoke, it was a stranger beside me.
Seeing Lily’s terrified face tore my heart apart.
Daniel stared at her and said,
“Grace, I’ll give you five minutes to appear in front of me. If you don’t, I’ll sever this brat’s arms.”
I floated frantically toward him, screaming, “I’m right here! I’m right in front of you!”
But he couldn’t hear me. Blood spilled across the floor, passing through my body, as Lily collapsed in pain.
Her cries broke me. I pounded Daniel’s chest, but my fists went through him. He walked past me to examine Lily, who was gasping for air.
She looked at Ms. Anderson weakly and whispered,
“Mother Anderson… help…”
Before she could finish, Ms. Anderson rushed to spray her medicine, but Daniel snatched it away—
