Chapter 2

Scarlett continued, "You're so wrapped up in your own grief over your daughter's death, have you forgotten what it means to be a wife? Kamden's long tired of seeing you like this.

"Now that my son is here, he needs to be added to the Camacho family record. I'm done waiting. My boy is the rightful heir, and soon, I'll be Kamden's official wife, his equal."

The truth slammed into me, and I coughed up blood on the spot. "Sadie... Faith? So that's it." I let out a cold, furious laugh.

My daughter was Sadie Camacho, and Scarlett's girl was Faith Camacho. So, the year Sadie died, Scarlett was already carrying Faith in her belly.

'Kamden, how could you possibly do this?' I glared at him, hatred boiling in my chest. "You're unbelievably cruel. That lake was icy cold, and she was your own daughter."

Scarlett let out a shrill, mocking laugh. "You gotta risk something if you want to catch a big prize! Just stay here and nurse your wounds, Tess.

"Kamden's marrying me next month, so you'd better stick around long enough to raise a glass at my wedding."

Crushed by grief and consumed by hatred, I couldn't take it anymore. On the day Kamden made Scarlett his official wife, my rage and heartbreak finally killed me.

After I died, my soul never found peace. I was stuck haunting the Camacho mansion. Because Faith was still listed as my daughter, Scarlett just waltzed in and claimed my assets for herself, acting like she owned the place.

Helpless, I watched that happy little family of four burn through my assets, living it up like nothing ever happened.

I struck a deal with the underworld's judge, offering a thousand years as a slave in exchange for a chance to start over.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back in the carriage, heading home after visiting my family.

"Help! Somebody help!"

As my carriage was passing by the frozen lake, I heard a girl's cry for help. Her voice was childish, but there was something forced about it.

"Mrs. Camacho, someone's fallen into the water! It's a little girl," Julia shouted.

I pulled my satin coat tighter around me, not even bothering to look up. "Don't stop. Keep going."

Faith might have looked just like my daughter, but she was nothing but a heartless brat, not worth my trouble.

In my last life, I was the one who risked my neck to save her, and gave her nothing but kindness after she moved in. But her mother, Scarlett, used her own kid as bait to set me up, clearly never cared about her at all.

And Faith? Wearing my daughter's face, she helped her mom torment me when I was sick and dying.

If she died, it was her mother who killed her. It was none of my business. She couldn't even compare to a single strand of Sadie's hair.

Julia was stunned for a moment, but kept quiet. She knew better than to question my decision.

"Yes, keep going. Hurry up, and don't waste any time." Julia told the coachman.

The coachman snapped his whip, and the carriage picked up speed.

Hidden in the bushes, Scarlett was getting frustrated when the carriage didn't even slow down. 'What's wrong with Tess, that damn woman? She heard the cries for help, why isn't she doing anything?'

"That bitch! What the hell is she waiting for? Someone needs to save her, now," Scarlett cursed under her breath.

"Help... help. Mom, save me... Mom, I'm so cold, please save me, Mom," Faith cried out, her voice growing weaker by the second.

Faith thrashed in the water, choking on every breath, clearly losing strength.

Scarlett watched Faith struggle in the water, a flicker of pity crossing her face. Even though she was just a girl, Faith was still her own flesh and blood.

Scarlett rubbed her swollen belly, unable to watch Faith any longer. She muttered under her breath, "Faith, just hang in there a little longer. That bitch will jump in to save you soon.

"After today, you'll be the legitimate daughter, and your little brother will be the legitimate son. It's all worth it, just hold on a bit longer."

Scarlett was pregnant again, and the doctor said it was a boy. For her son, she had no choice but to go through it.

Tess's daughter had drowned, and Faith was the spitting image of her. Scarlett was sure that if Tess heard those cries and saw Faith's face, she'd have no choice but to jump in and save her.

Scarlett stared at the carriage, her fists clenched so tight her palms were slick with sweat, her heart pounding in her chest.

She was waiting, waiting for Tess to stop the carriage and jump into the icy lake to save Faith.

At that moment, I reclined on the plush carriage seat, letting the cozy scent of incense fill the air. Eyes closed, I simply rested, ignoring the fading cries for help outside until they finally went silent.

Only then did I open my eyes and flick up a corner of the curtain. A gaping hole had split the ice, and a tiny body floated in the freezing water, ringed by shattered ice.

Faith was motionless. She was dead.

Any warmth in my eyes vanished.