Chapter 1

The first Christmas Eve after Edward Grant and I remarried was also the last Christmas my daughter, Lily Grant, would ever have. She sat between Edward and me, her face glowing with happiness. "If only I could always be with Mom and Dad," she said.

I turned away to wipe my tears, only to see Edward's sworn sister, Charlotte Summers, walk in.

Edward stood up at once. Even his mother, Nora Grant, broke into a smile. She glanced at me, then turned to Charlotte and said, "Edward only agreed to remarry because some people wouldn't leave him alone. I thought you wouldn't be coming this year."

Charlotte snuggled up to Edward affectionately, completely ignoring everyone else. "Edward asked me to come."

But this time, I didn't smash a glass or start yelling like before. I didn't go off the rails. I simply stood up calmly and gave up the seat beside me. "Charlotte should sit here like always," I said evenly. "It's right by Edward."

After that, I tuned them out and gently wiped the tears from Lily's eyes and said inwardly, "Don't cry, sweetheart. I wasn't sad at all."

After all, Lily only had two months left. If fulfilling her wish meant losing my dignity, then my dignity didn't matter.

*****

Because I had chosen to give way, the Christmas Eve dinner ended on a cheerful note.

Charlotte smiled and gave Lily a Christmas present.

Lily turned around and passed it straight to me. "Mom, from now on, don't let other people take advantage of your money." I nodded and slipped the present into my bag. The mood at the table turned awkward in an instant.

Charlotte pouted and called out, "Edward."

Edward frowned and scolded Lily. "How could you speak to Charlotte like that? Apologize."

Lily was about to say something, but I stopped her. "She's still young and doesn't know better. Why don't I apologize on her behalf?"

My sudden change stunned the entire family again. It was worlds apart from the woman who had once caught him in the act, lost her mind, and demanded a divorce on the spot.

Charlotte hurriedly waved her hands. "No need, Susan, I didn't mean it that way..."

I just nodded and snatched up the last buffalo wing, putting it on Lily's plate.

*****

After we left Nora's place, Lily fell asleep in my arms.

Edward stared at me for a long while before blurting out, "Susan, you don't seem like the same person you used to be."

"People change, don't they? Isn't that what you always say?" I said calmly.

He froze for a moment, then snapped back impatiently. "After we remarried, I promised I'd cut ties with Charlotte, and I did. I didn't even invite her tonight. She tried to talk to me several times, and I ignored her every time. Were you really trying to pick a fight just to make things hard for me?"

He was angry that I had put him in an impossible position as a son. "Charlotte is my dad's foster daughter. She's the one who usually stays by my mom's side and takes care of her. You're asking me to turn my back on her completely. I can't do that, and I can't explain it to my mom either."

Seeing that Lily was about to wake up, I nodded quietly. "I understand," I said. "After all, you're family."

My in-laws, Edward and Charlotte, were a family. My daughter and I were outsiders.

Edward took my savings to pay Charlotte's tuition, and I was expected to cover all four years of her college expenses.

When Lily fell ill and was hospitalized, Edward went off on a spur-of-the-moment trip with Charlotte. He did not even know our daughter had cancer.

I stayed in the hospital for ten straight days. When I went home to grab some clothes, I found them asleep in each other's arms on our bed.

Anger rushed straight to my head. I turned the house upside down, made a scene, and threatened to divorce him and take Lily away.

Edward didn't even look at me. He just shielded Charlotte and left, never once asking about Lily.

After the divorce, I took Lily from place to place for treatment, but chemotherapy did little good.

In the end, she was diagnosed with late-stage cancer. She had only two months left.

Lily wished that Edward and I would reconcile and stop fighting. I agreed through tears.

I stood in the snow outside Nora's house for an entire night before Edward finally came out to see me. "Susan, you insisted on leaving back then. I told you you'd regret it," he said. "I can remarry you, but you have to promise me you won't make trouble anymore."

I said nothing. I simply nodded.

The moment we got the marriage certificate, I went straight to cheer Lily up.

After the remarriage, everything felt the same, yet somehow different.

Lily was already awake, and as she listened to us talk, her tears landed on my neck, sending a chill straight to my heart. Suddenly, she cried out, "Mom, my stomach hurts so bad."

My face went pale. Her health was fragile, and the chicken wings she had eaten earlier were too greasy. If we did not get to the hospital right away, her life could be in danger.

Edward grew anxious as well. "Get in the car. I'll take her to the hospital."

I was holding Lily and about to get in when Edward's phone rang. It was Charlotte.

He hesitated for a second, then still answered. Her sobbing voice came through the line. "Edward, my stomach's acting up again. Can you come with me to the hospital? Please, I feel terrible."

I stood right there and heard every word.

Edward hung up the phone and turned to me. "Charlotte's stomach is acting up again. I need to go with her to the hospital first. Lily is just overeating. It's no big deal. You can get a cab yourself."

He left Lily and me by the roadside and drove off. I knew it well enough. Whenever Charlotte was involved, Lily and I were always pushed to the back of the line. After all these years, I had gotten used to it. One more time did not really matter.

The only problem was that it was hard to get a taxi here.

I held Lily and ran the whole way. When we finally reached the hospital and I saw her writhing in pain during the stomach pumping, it felt like knives twisting in my chest.

I returned home at dawn. As expected, Edward was not there.

Lily lifted her head from my arms, her eyes red like a little rabbit's. "Mom," she said softly, "I regret asking you to get back together with Dad."