Chapter 4

After I woke up in the hospital, I made all the arrangements for her funeral by myself, with no one by my side.

Then I shut myself inside our home and spent every waking hour watching the videos I had taken of her throughout the years.

Within six years, she had grown from a fussy little infant into such a bright, happy little girl.

Simon's mother never wanted anything to do with her because she was a girl, so she refused to help care for her.

It had always been just me. I raised that child completely on my own.

Just a few days before it happened, she had told me in her sweet, childish voice that she was about to start elementary school.

She said she was a big girl now and that someday she would earn enough money to take me traveling and buy me the most beautiful necklace in the whole world.

She was such a precious little girl. She had her whole beautiful life ahead of her.

And now all that was left of her fit inside a box no bigger than my arms.

I could feel my heart tearing itself apart, one piece at a time, until I could barely draw a breath.

So many times I sat down on the windowsill, looking down nineteen floors to the street below, and thought about ending it all, just to make the pain stop.

Then, after ten days of radio silence, Simon finally called.

"Tomorrow's Mom's sixtieth birthday," he said without any warmth. "We're having the party at the Sunrise Grand Hotel. I want you to bring Daisy and come celebrate with her.

"All the relatives and close friends will be there, so do us all a favor and make yourself look decent for once. And please, don't start any trouble. I don't need everyone whispering about us.

"Dress Daisy up nicely and teach her a few charming things to say to Mom. If she can make a good impression, maybe Mom will finally take a liking to her."

His voice was cold and carried that familiar tone of authority, as if he were giving orders to an employee rather than speaking to his wife. Before I could get a single word out, he hung up.

I glanced down at the photograph of Daisy in my arms and smiled.

A birthday party? Fine. I'll give them a gift they won't see coming.

Olivia had been Simon's first love, the one who walked away from him years ago to chase her career overseas. She chose ambition over him without looking back.

Now, seven years later, her career had hit a wall, and she had come home again.

In the beginning, Mabel had actually been grateful to me. She thought I had pulled her son out of a dark place and set him straight.

But then she found out that giving birth to Daisy had taken a serious toll on my body, that I would have a very hard time ever getting pregnant again. From that moment on, her gratitude turned to barely concealed disgust.

And she took it out on Daisy too.

Now that Mabel knew Olivia was back in the country, she had been doing everything in her power to push Simon back into her arms.

Simon told me he would never do anything to betray Daisy or me. But his actions had already told a different story.

Ever since Olivia returned, he hasn't touched me, not once.

For my daughter's sake, I swallowed every bitter feeling and tried to fight for our family.

But my daughter is gone now. And if Simon and his mother think they're going to live happily ever after, they are sorely mistaken.

The day of the birthday party arrived. Outside the Sunrise Grand Hotel, flowers lined the entrance in full bloom, and the event hall had been decorated with elegance and care.

Olivia stood by Mabel's side, her dog in her arms, smiling warmly as she offered her birthday wishes.

Mabel's eyes narrowed with delight. She turned to the guests and began to sing Olivia's praises without restraint. "Isn't she just lovely? Pretty as a picture, and with a heart to match.

"Look at the way she treats that little dog. With so much tenderness. And with people? Even more thoughtful. You can't help but adore her.

"Honestly, if one day she and Simon were to have a child together, I'd be the happiest woman alive."

Olivia's face turned crimson on the spot. "Mrs. Carter, please don't say things like that. Madison..."

Before she could finish, Mabel's brow furrowed in open disgust. "Why even mention her? Such a bad omen.

"You're the one we all adore. Just look at that figure. Built for having babies, if I've ever seen it."

Blushing deeper, Olivia lowered her head and said nothing, letting the implication hang in the air as though it were nothing but the truth.

Watching the whole scene unfold, I felt a wave of sickness rise in my stomach.

I was wearing a plain black dress with a white flower pinned just above my heart, and in my arms, I carried an urn. As I stepped into the room, everyone froze in shock.