Chapter 5

Daniel and I, we were once so deeply in love, weren't we?

I first met him during summer vacation.

I was back at our family's rental property, looking after things for my parents, and he was one of our tenants.

He had the highest electricity bill in the whole building, always burning the midnight oil, lights blazing all night long.

Back then, I thought he was such a diligent and ambitious young man.

He was handsome too, so well-mannered, studious, and seemed incredibly dependable.

I'd see him several times a day, descending the stairs in an ill-fitting suit to take out the trash.

He later confessed he'd been smitten with me at first sight, saying I was adorable and that his whole routine was just to get my attention.

And he certainly did. He was good-looking, and his grades were excellent.

Every time he returned, he’d bring me a dessert. He'd say my smile was even sweeter than the treats.

My family was wealthy, but I was naive, perhaps a little sheltered.

I was completely captivated by a man like him. My parents wanted to send me to study abroad, but I flat-out refused.

I happily lost myself in his tender embrace.

But looking back now, once we were together, he didn't even have to pay rent anymore. And I frequently gave him money to support his graduate studies.

He resented the wealthy, yet had no qualms spending *my* money.

He'd whisper, holding my hand:

"Darling, once I make it big, I'll buy us the most beautiful home."

He always thought that old, humble rental property was the extent of my family's wealth.

Later, he did make good on his promise, buying a spacious apartment in the city.

And that felt more exhilarating than when my mom gifted me two mansions in Los Angeles.

I actually considered telling him the truth about my family's wealth, but later, he started using 'work' as an excuse, rarely coming home.

After Leo was born, my entire world revolved around him.

He was often sick with colds and fevers, and taking care of him meant I barely got four hours of sleep a night.

To see my own son, the one I had nurtured and raised with such devotion, personally trying to poison me... it ripped my heart out.

"Leo, Mom doesn't want juice today. Can you get Mom something else?"

Leo is only ten years old, and I knew it must be the adults, corrupting his young mind, that made him do this.

I decided to give him one last chance.

If he just swapped out the juice, I could forgive him, keep him with me.

"Mom, I've already poured it for you, just drink it, everyone's watching us."

Leo, probably thinking he'd soon be rid of me, couldn't hide his impatience.

He was turning into a carbon copy of his father, using the eyes of others to corner me.

The first time I caught Daniel lying about working late, he was out to dinner with colleagues.

When I confronted him, he gave me a grim look and retorted,

"What's the big deal? Everyone's here, it's just a work dinner, I'm not doing anything else!"

Those words became his go-to excuse, used with increasing frequency.

I just never imagined my own son would use them on me.

I picked up the glass and downed the juice in one gulp.

Scarlett rushed into the banquet hall, her expression suggesting she had successfully 'arranged' my supposed affair partner.

Leo nervously looked up at me, clearly waiting for the drug to take effect so they could proceed with their plan.

"Mom, are you dizzy? Let me take you to rest!"