Chapter 3

My marriage to Zack was arranged for business purposes, with no feelings between us.

But because my mother-in-law kept pressuring us to have children, I got pregnant soon after the wedding.

Having never felt much family warmth from my own parents, I was really looking forward to this child.

After ten months of pregnancy, all the physical discomfort and pain of childbirth dissipated the moment I saw my daughter.

Even Zack's eyes held a hint of tenderness when he saw our tiny daughter.

During that time, Zack and I were just like all new parents, clumsily but happily taking care of our daughter.

I thought our days would continue peacefully like this.

But on the night of our daughter's one-month celebration, I got up to check on her.

I found James' adopted sister Amy standing in front of the nursery, which was engulfed in flames, smugly locking the door.

I frantically rushed over to snatch the key from her hand, desperately rescuing my daughter from the fire despite the danger.

Seeing Zack hurriedly running over with the servants, I finally collapsed in his arms, too weak from my injuries.

When I woke up again, I heard from Zack that our daughter had died from respiratory failure after inhaling too much smoke.

Unable to bear the devastating news, my burns worsened and I was rushed to surgery.

But Zack, who had heard from me that Amy was the arsonist who burned our daughter to death,

took advantage of my emergency surgery to clean up all the surveillance footage and fingerprints from that night.

As soon as I regained consciousness after surgery, I immediately called the police to report Amy for deliberate arson and murder.

The police searched the scene multiple times but regretfully informed me there was no substantial evidence, so my accusation couldn't stand.

Zack tied me to the bed with restraints, his tone full of threats:

"Enough, Lily. The fire was just an accident, it had nothing to do with Amy. You can call the police a hundred times, it's useless."

"Be a good girl. We can have more children in the future."

Zack confiscated all my means of communication and confined me at home.

He even had my own parents come to persuade me to give in.

That couple looked at me struggling desperately to the point of reopening my wounds, as coldly as if looking at a stranger:

"We arranged for you to marry into the Potter family to maintain our company's partnership with them."

"It was just a child who couldn't even talk yet. Who told you to make such a big fuss?"

"Zack has already promised to have another heir with you. You better know when to stop."

Seeing how the two of them looked down on me condescendingly, I completely broke down:

"My daughter died for no reason! I want Amy to pay the price - how is that making a fuss?"

"Zack clearly knows as well as I do that Amy set the fire, but he wants to cover for Amy and let my daughter die in vain!"

My mom scoffed coldly:

"So what if Zack saw Amy start the fire with his own eyes? My dear daughter, don't be naive."

"He won't allow a murder scandal in his family. If you were smart, you'd turn a blind eye to his and Amy's affairs from now on."

My parents left, abandoning me to complete despair, betrayed by both my husband and parents.

At that time, it was James, Zack's older brother, who defied everyone's opposition,

Cut through the restraints and rescued me from the room full of surveillance cameras.

With eyes full of sympathy, he took me to get treatment for my injuries.

After I woke up, he offered several prime burial plots, letting me personally choose a feng shui treasure land for my daughter to rest.

My daughter's funeral, which had been suppressed by the Potter family, was held grandly with James' help.

Touching the words "Daisy, daughter of Lily Evans" engraved on the tombstone, I cried to the point of collapse.

James supported me and took out divorce papers:

"Lily, I've negotiated with Zack for you. Once you sign this, you'll have no more connection to him."

"From now on, Daisy will be only your child."

It wasn't until after the divorce cooling-off period that I learned

Zack was willing to sign the divorce papers because James had given up half of his shares.

On the day I received the divorce certificate, James gave me a large bouquet of bright sunflowers and knelt on one knee with a diamond ring:

"Lily, your new life is beginning. Will you give me a chance to be your support?"

Maybe it was because the sunlight that day was too beautiful, or James' gaze was too sincere and passionate.

I accepted his pursuit.

After marrying James, I felt the warmth of home I had always dreamed of.

Although I still couldn't get over the grief of my daughter's tragic death,

With his companionship, I no longer resisted therapy and even started to actively engage in it.

Even though it took a lot of effort to digest the psychological knowledge and work on self-healing.

Even though each hypnosis session would make me dream of the nursery engulfed in flames that night.

But now I'm told that James' initial approach to me

Was to help Amy get Zack, to remove me as an obstacle.

He said he had already given himself to me as compensation, and would give me another child in the future.

But James,

I don't need your cheap and hypocritical compensation.