Chapter 3 · My Husband Made Three Million People Hate Me

I had exactly ninety minutes until the livestream.

Maya called me one last time. "Emma, listen. Ethan doesn't want your silence. He needs you to lose control in front of three million people."

I packed a small bag.

I brought only three things: a flash drive with ten seconds of unedited video, my corporate founder's certificate, and an override code for the brand's main account.

I thought Lily was safe next door. I was wrong.

At exactly 8:00 PM, I opened the livestream on my phone.

Ethan sat bathed in professional studio lighting. He looked deeply exhausted. The perfect image of a heartbroken martyr.

"I still love my wife," Ethan told the camera, his voice breaking right on cue. "But love cannot make a difficult home healthy."

Then, the camera slowly panned to his right.

My blood ran cold.

Lily was sitting next to him on the couch.

I immediately dialed my neighbor. Mrs. Gable answered, her voice panicked."Emma, I'm so sorry! Ethan came with court papers. He left with her."

On the screen, Ethan leaned toward our little girl. Three million viewers were watching.

"Tell them, baby," Ethan whispered softly. "Tell them why Mommy makes you upset."

Lily kept her head down. Her tiny voice trembled.

"Mom is... unstable."

The live comment section flooded with anger.

"Get that child away from her!"

"Keep that toxic mother away!"

"Ethan is a hero for protecting his little girl."

My heart pounded. I wanted to break down. But then, I looked closer at the screen.

Beneath the edge of the glass coffee table, Lily's hand rested on her knee.

She tapped her index finger three times.

Pause.

She tapped three times again.

My heart stopped. It was our secret—a silly little "I'm scared" game we’d played since she was five. She did it whenever she wanted a hug.

Come get me.

She was overwhelmed. She was silently asking her mother for help.

On screen, Ethan leaned closer to Lily, subtly blocking her from the camera's full view.

"Tell them the rest, Lily," Ethan commanded gently. "Tell them how your mother ruined things."

Lily slowly lifted her head. Her large eyes were brimming with tears. She looked directly into the camera lens.

---

Lily opened her mouth.

One sentence could cost Emma her daughter forever.

---

(Click here to unlock Chapter 4)

Chapter 3

I had exactly ninety minutes until the livestream.

Maya called me one last time. "Emma, listen. Ethan doesn't want your silence. He needs you to lose control in front of three million people."

I packed a small bag.

I brought only three things: a flash drive with ten seconds of unedited video, my corporate founder's certificate, and an override code for the brand's main account.

I thought Lily was safe next door. I was wrong.

At exactly 8:00 PM, I opened the livestream on my phone.

Ethan sat bathed in professional studio lighting. He looked deeply exhausted. The perfect image of a heartbroken martyr.

"I still love my wife," Ethan told the camera, his voice breaking right on cue. "But love cannot make a difficult home healthy."

Then, the camera slowly panned to his right.

My blood ran cold.

Lily was sitting next to him on the couch.

I immediately dialed my neighbor. Mrs. Gable answered, her voice panicked."Emma, I'm so sorry! Ethan came with court papers. He left with her."

On the screen, Ethan leaned toward our little girl. Three million viewers were watching.

"Tell them, baby," Ethan whispered softly. "Tell them why Mommy makes you upset."

Lily kept her head down. Her tiny voice trembled.

"Mom is... unstable."

The live comment section flooded with anger.

"Get that child away from her!"

"Keep that toxic mother away!"

"Ethan is a hero for protecting his little girl."

My heart pounded. I wanted to break down. But then, I looked closer at the screen.

Beneath the edge of the glass coffee table, Lily's hand rested on her knee.

She tapped her index finger three times.

Pause.

She tapped three times again.

My heart stopped. It was our secret—a silly little "I'm scared" game we’d played since she was five. She did it whenever she wanted a hug.

Come get me.

She was overwhelmed. She was silently asking her mother for help.

On screen, Ethan leaned closer to Lily, subtly blocking her from the camera's full view.

"Tell them the rest, Lily," Ethan commanded gently. "Tell them how your mother ruined things."

Lily slowly lifted her head. Her large eyes were brimming with tears. She looked directly into the camera lens.

---

Lily opened her mouth.

One sentence could cost Emma her daughter forever.

---

(Click here to unlock Chapter 4)