All these years, to save enough for my Susan’s “surgery,” I’d swallowed my pride and paid them off again and again.


    Now I finally knew–these thugs were all Daniel’s doing.


    “No money.” I looked up, eyes red–rimmed, voice hoarse.


    “Go ahead and kill me if you can.”


    They froze, probably never having seen me like this before.


    “Fuck, crazy bitch!” One of them cursed, spitting on the ground. “Bad luck!”


    They left, but the hatred surging in my chest burned like scalding oil, searing through my organs.


    All these years–every humiliation I’d endured, every drop of blood and sweat I’d shed, every sleepless night I’d survived–it had all been an borate lie.


    I looked down at my burn–covered hands and suddenlyughed. As Iughed, tears began to fall.


    With trembling fingers, I typed “ke family” into the search bar and saw Daniel’s photo from ringing the NASDAQ bell.


    “Heir to the ke empire, one of the city’s top wealthy families. Family assets in the billions. Publicly ims to be single.”


    The phone screen’s re hurt my eyes.


    Memories flooded back like a tide.


    Years ago, I’d saved him from a car ident. He told me he was just an ordinary office worker, promised he’d love me forever.


    I was from the West Coast, unfamiliar with this city. My family opposed our marriage, but I was stubborn–even cut ties with my parents.


    How pathetic.


    I’d abandoned everything for him.


    And he’d treated me like a toy to be yed with at will.


    The sound of keys turning woke me from my thoughts.


    When Daniel walked in, I was applying ointment to my burns.


    He paused. “Not working today?”


    I looked up at him, suddenly fully realizing that this man I’d shared a bed with for years was aplete stranger to me.


    “Got burned. Want to rest a few days.” My voice was barely recognizable.


    He immediately looked concerned. “Did you see a doctor? Is it serious?” He moved to examine my


    His phone suddenly rang.


    He nced down, his mouth unconsciously lifting in a smile before quickly suppressing it.


    “Honey, I need to travel for work for a few days.” He adjusted his tie, voice casual. “Get some rest.”


    I nodded calmly. “Okay, go ahead.”


    wounds.


    <b>Vama’s </b>Horo Face<b>–</b>Blind Billionaire<b>! </b>


    <b>53.6</b><b>% </b>


    I knew he was taking Susan and Serena Mitchell to Disney.


    The next morning, he got up unusually early.


    In all these years, he’d barely spent a handful of nights in this shabby rental. Always iming work was busy, business trips–we were always apart more than together.


    I watched him leave the alley and smoothly open the door of a Maybach at the corner.


    Through the car window, his expression as he looked at his phone was tenderly nauseating.


    Back home, I began packing. Thendlord woulde for the keys soon.


    I remembered countless nights when he’d held me, saying, “Once we save enough money, I’ll give you and Susan the good life.”


    My tears hit the floor again.


    Over the next few days, I sold my food truck that had been mypanion for three years, gave up this rental filled with lies, and threw away all the cheap gifts Daniel had given me.


    My phone suddenly rang–an unknown number with a stern police officer’s voice:


    “Are you Susan ke’s mother? The child was almost hit by a car!”


    When I arrived, my daughter was sitting on a bench, sobbing hysterically.


    The officer immediately scolded me: “What’s wrong with you?! What kind of mother are you? Letting a child run around alone in ny–degree heat! If <i>a </i>Good Samaritan hadn’t pulled her back, she’d have been hit!” <fna287> This text is hosted at find(?)ovel</fna287>


    I opened my mouth, then silently bowed my head.


    After the officer left, I crouched down to take my daughter’s hand. “Susan, don’t be scared, Mommy will take you-”


    “Don’t touch me!” She jerked her hand away violently. “You’re all greasy!” Disgusting!”


    She frantically wiped at her dress where I’d touched her, as if she’d caught some disease.


    I fell backward unexpectedly, my knees hitting the pavement hard, blood flowing instantly.


    “Daddy! I want Daddy!” My daughter stamped her feet<b>, </b>crying.


    With shaking hands, I pulled out my phone and called Daniel over and over.


    Not until the tenth try did his husky, satisfied voice answer: “Yeah?”


    ~”


    In the background, Serena’s coquettishughter was particrly grating: “Who is it? Such a mood killer ~


    I looked down at my bleeding knees and my daughter’s disgusted expression, my throat feeling blocked.


    “Susan… she almost got hit by a car…”


    “What?!” His voice instantly sobered. “I’ll be right there!”


    Twenty minutester, Daniel rushed over with a disheveled Serena trailing behind.