Chapter 1
On the ninth year of my marriage into the Dolton family, my husband, Maxwell, brought home the woman he's always loved, Maia.
She was gentle, beautiful, and endlessly understanding, someone everyone adored.
Right under my nose, Maxwell started a romance with her, and soon enough, she was running the household.
Even my two children, whom I loved with all my heart, began to prefer calling her "Mom."
Just when despair left me hollow, I uncovered the truth about who I really was.
No one in the Dolton family was worth my loyalty anymore.
When my identity was finally restored, I didn't hesitate to ask Maxwell for a divorce. And I returned home to claim the inheritance that was rightfully mine.
*****
I was packing my things to go home when Ava rushed in after coming back from school.
The moment she saw the bandage wrapped around my hand, Ava froze for a second, then her face twisted with disgust.
Ava said, "Mom, you have to apologize to Maia.
"She was only filling in for you at my speech contest, and you messed with her porridge, which made her go through several stomach washes.
"If you don't apologize, then I don't want you anymore."
I gave her a calm look and said indifferently, "Fine, then don't."
My words left Ava choking for a moment, but then she raised her chin higher, even more defiant. "This time in art class, the teacher told us to draw our moms, but I drew Maia instead."
I used to believe Ava was an angel heaven had given me. But now, she changed completely.
"Maia is about to be your mom. Your wish is coming true," I said coldly.
The ungrateful child standing before me was my own daughter.
I still remembered that accident—how I had shielded her with my body and nearly lost my life because of it.
But afterward, Maxwell brought in a fortune-teller, claiming Ava's birth had brought misfortune, and he wanted to send her away.
Back then, dragging my broken body, I confronted Maxwell. "Whoever dares to send my daughter away, I'll go down with him."
Maxwell couldn't overpower my determination, so he backed down.
But he had no desire to put his heart into raising her. He said a girl just needed to grow up and marry well.
I was set on giving my daughter a proper education, so she wouldn't be bullied later in life.
When Ava showed a deep interest in painting, I found her a world-renowned artist to be her private mentor.
She was already making her mark in international children's art competitions when Maia showed up.
Maia said, "A child should have a happy and carefree childhood.
"Adults shouldn't dump their own unfinished regrets onto their kids."
Because of Maia's so-called concern, Ava stopped taking painting lessons and quit all her practice sessions after class.
But Ava was grateful. She said, "Mom forces me to paint every day just for her pride. Maia is the one who really cares about me."
Maia even took her shopping and for manicures.
I thought she was too young, and that nail polish could hurt her skin, but Ava just grew impatient.
She told me. "You're just jealous of Maia because she's prettier than you. Now that I'm getting pretty too, you can't stand it.
"You're just bitter because you lost your memory and you don't know where you came from, so you're using me to fight your jealousy."
I knew those words came straight from Maia, and with Maxwell's indulgence, Ava had the guts to throw them in my face.
Thinking about all that, watching her stand there defending Maia over and over, I didn't even feel hurt anymore.