Chapter 2

I stepped off the private jet, clutching a meticulously wrapped birthday gift. In my mind, I pictured Lily's adorable face, lighting up with surprise.

But the moment I exited the airport, my phone buzzed with over a dozen missed calls.

It rang again. I answered casually.

"This is Grace Medical Center. Are you Lily Thorne's mother?"

"She was hit by a car yesterday while scavenging by the roadside. We've just finished saving her, but the medical bills need to be paid."

I froze, the words hitting me like a lightning bolt.

"How is that possible?" I blurted out, my voice barely a whisper.

The nurse's voice sharpened, rising in volume. "Are you trying to skip out on the bill? Come to the hospital and pay immediately, or we'll have no choice but to discharge your daughter!"

Then, click, she hung up.

Bewildered and alarmed, I urged Ben, my driver, to speed to the hospital.

Lily? Scavenging for scraps? Even if she ran out of money, we have staff at home, she would never go hungry. Besides, with an unlimited black card, how could she not afford medical bills?

The car screeched to a halt. I sprinted into the ward, my eyes falling on my daughter, lying in bed, fragile and skeletal.

Both her arms and her right leg were broken, encased in thick plaster casts that made her slender limbs look even more delicate.

Her dull eyes met mine and instantly welled with tears.

I rushed to her, pulling her into my embrace, gently patting her back.

"Shh, my sweet, don't be scared. Mommy's here now."

Her face was bruised and swollen in several places, and her exposed arms were covered in scratches and cuts. In just a year, my once vibrant, mischievous little princess had been reduced to this state.

Lily's tears flowed like a dam breaking. She clung to my shoulder, sobbing. "Mommy, Nurse Reynolds said today's the deadline. If we don't pay, they'll kick me out."

Her hot tears seared my chest. I stroked her hair, my voice soft with concern.

"Mommy left you a black card, didn't she? How could you be out of money?"

Her small body trembled. Under my encouraging gaze, she finally spoke.

"Julian… Julian took my black card and gave it to Cassandra. He said I don't deserve to be a Thorne, and I'm not good enough for him."

Julian was Mrs. Jenkins's son, our head housekeeper. Cassandra was the child who was mistakenly swapped with Lily at birth. Julian and Cassandra had grown close.

Many people whispered that Julian was destined to marry into the Thorne family and eventually take over the Thorne empire.

When Lily was found and brought home, I worried she'd be unhappy, so I immediately sent Cassandra out of the mansion. I gave her enough money to live comfortably for the rest of her life. I thought I had been more than fair.

I never imagined these ungrateful vipers would dare to bully my daughter.

I would make them regret the day they were born.

Seeing Lily's timid, haggard appearance, my heart twisted in agony.

"Mommy won't let them get away with this. No one will ever dare to bully you again, my love."