Chapter 1

After Everett Hale was paralyzed in a car accident, I ran off with his money and left without a word.

Everyone thought I'd hit the jackpot and abandoned him as a burden.

I was being trafficked, and after five years, I finally broke free from my chains.

With the last of my strength, I pushed Celeste Hale away and told her, "Run! Don't look back."

Celeste obediently took the old phone I'd hidden for her.

Barefoot, she ran for miles through the mountain trails until she finally arrived at town.

Trembling, she pressed the only number saved in the contacts, her voice choked with sobs as she said, "Daddy, when are you coming to pick me up?

"I did what my mommy said, I just ran out without looking back."

On the other end of the phone, Everett's voice came through, cold and full of hate.

He spat, "Liora, don't you find it disgusting, teaching your kid to make up such lies?"

*****

Celeste sniffled and said, "Excuse me, are you Everett Hale? I'm your daughter."

I drifted behind Celeste, watching her clutch my old phone tightly.

The mountain path was steep, and her bare feet were already raw and bleeding, leaving bloody footprints on every step she took.

I whispered, "Celeste, my sweet girl, does it hurt? Let me touch it, it'll feel better."

I reached out, desperate to wipe away the blood on her foot, but my hand passed right through her.

I almost forgot I had been beaten to death by the butcher, Gideon Voss, who bought me.

Back then, Rowena Thorne knocked me out and tossed me into this living hell.

She said with a smile, "Time to hand over the title of Mrs. Hale. It's mine now."

But at that time, I was already carrying Everett's baby.

There were so many nights when I'd sit in the yard, cradling Celeste in my arms.

And I'd point up at the North Star and told her, "That's your way out. If you ever run, follow that light."

I'd push Gideon's buttons on purpose, and while he was busy hitting me, I made sure Celeste could slip away unnoticed.

I traded my life for her to escape.

The other end of the phone was silent for a moment, then a cold, derisive laugh came.

Everett sneered, "Liora, it's been five years. Are you still playing these pathetic stunts?

"You really think you can just pick some mountain kid, teach her a couple of lines, and want me to be taken advantage of? Do you really think I will believe you?"

Celeste flinched with fear from his stern voice.

Her little hand clutched the phone tightly, and though her voice was soft, she argued back with a defiant stubbornness.

She insisted, "My mommy doesn't play tricks. She's not one of those people in the village who puts on shows. She is the best person in the world."

Everett went stunned for a second. Then a gentle female voice cut in.

She said, "Everett, isn't what this kid's saying creepy?

"Did something really happen to Liora?

"But back then, she took the money and ran off with others. She said she'd rather die than be with you, a cripple."

I could even picture Rowena's expression at this moment.

She'd look all worried, but there was a malicious gleam hidden in her eyes.

She knew exactly how to fire up Everett's temper, and she never missed a chance to deepen his wounds.

Sure enough, Everett's voice turned even colder, laced with anger as he snapped, "What's Liora to you, anyway? Tell her to come over and answer the phone herself."

Celeste couldn't hold it in anymore. She burst into tears and sobbed, "My mommy's not coming back.

"A bad guy beat her, and she fell asleep. She told me to run really far and find you, Daddy."

Rowena sighed, pretending to be heartbroken, and said, "Everett, how could Liora teach her kid to say such things?

"She was reckless, ditched you behind, and now she's got someone lying just to mess with you.

"Letting the kid call you 'Daddy' so casually, and making her say such jinxed things. It's too cruel."

There was a brief silence on the other end of the phone.

Then I heard Everett say coldly, "Tell Liora, I'm coming to find her now.

"If she wants money, she can come and get it herself. Don't let the kid act out."

Then he slammed the phone down.

Celeste stood there, dazed, her little hand still holding the phone.

Seeing her cold and hungry, my heart felt like it was being shredded.

She was supposed to grow up carefree and happy.

But she was forced to be trapped in the mountains with me.

Celeste crouched by the trash can, looking at every passing car with hopeful eyes.

She whispered into the empty air, "Mommy, is Daddy really coming?"

I nodded desperately, even though I knew she couldn't see it.

I whispered, "Yes. He will definitely come."

But honestly, I wasn't sure myself.

Everett hated me so much. How could he believe a kid who just showed up out of nowhere?

But to my surprise, a black Bentley really drove into this run-down town.

The door opened, and Everett got out of the car.