Chapter 1

My daughter was dying.

Kneeling on the floor, I grabbed the hem of my husband Brandon’s pants.

He looked down at me with cold detachment, his arms wrapped protectively around his first love.

"She's just bleeding a little. Vanessa has a heart condition, and Bella is terrified. Their situation is far more urgent."

Later, he blocked every single chance my baby had to survive, letting her slip away into cold stillness.

I signed the divorce papers with a smile and vanished.

Three years later, he tore the entire city apart looking for me, finally cornering me outside my newly opened art gallery with bloodshot eyes.

"Vivi, I was wrong... Our daughter..."

I rested my hand casually on my new boyfriend's arm and cut him off.

"Mr. Hayes."

"That child died the very second you chose to save someone else."

It happened on the day of the dance competition Brandon’s company was hosting.

The stage collapsed.

Holding my blood-soaked daughter in my arms, I begged Brandon to take us to the hospital.

Instead, he walked right past me. He leaned down to help Vanessa, who only had a minor scratch, and scooped up her crying daughter.

"Vivi, you know Vanessa has a heart condition. Bella is terrified, too. If she has an episode before we get to the ER, it could be fatal."

I felt the warm blood pooling from my daughter. Terrified, my voice trembled violently.

"Nina is bleeding so much! Look at her, please! Your own daughter is badly hurt!"

Brandon cast a brief glance toward her. He hesitated for a second before frowning.

"The company’s medical response team is on their way. Nina’s injuries are probably superficial. Stay with her. I'm taking Vanessa to the hospital."

He wrapped his arm around Vanessa and her daughter and walked away.

The strength instantly drained from my body.

Nina was deathly pale. Holding her tightly, I was terrified to make a wrong move.

"Please, Jason, help me get Nina to the hospital!"

Jason, Brandon's chief assistant, stared down at me blankly.

"Ma'am, Mr. Hayes gave strict orders. We have to handle this quietly to avoid any negative press. The others aren't hurt badly, and Miss Nina just has a little blood. There's no need to cause a scene at the hospital."

"No need to cause a scene?"

My hands shook uncontrollably.

"Can't you see she's covered in blood? She's unconscious! She is Brandon's child! If anything happens to her, can any of you take the blame?"

Jason glanced down at Nina, then turned away to calmly instruct the staff to evacuate and reassure the other contestants.

I forced myself to pull it together.

Gently laying Nina down, I scrambled on all fours to find my phone.

The second I dialed 911, Jason snatched the phone right out of my hand.

"Ma'am, Mr. Hayes said no ambulances."

Tears streamed down my face. With blood-covered hands, I grabbed his pants.

"Give it back! Nina is completely unresponsive! I'm begging you, just look at her! Brandon won't fire you—she's his daughter!"

Jason hesitated for a split second, but his refusal remained cold.

"I apologize, ma'am. I'll tell the medical team to hurry."

I screamed at the top of my lungs.

"I don't want a medical team! I want my daughter in an emergency room! Please, someone call an ambulance!"

A few staff members heard my screams and rushed over. Seeing Nina's condition, some instinctively stepped forward to help, but a sharp glare from Jason stopped them in their tracks.

I fell to my knees beside my daughter.

"Someone please dial 911! She's slipping away!"

Parents and children walking past turned to look. Some wanted to step in, but the corporate security team quickly ushered them out.

Within minutes.

The entire venue was cleared of outsiders. There were only staff members left—and me, clinging to my bleeding child.

No one was going to help me.

I had to do it myself.

I picked Nina up, letting her blood drip onto the floor, and tried to bolt for the exit. But the security guards formed a wall in front of me.

"Mr. Vance, she's trying to take the girl to the hospital."

Jason stepped forward and forcibly pried Nina from my arms.

I let out an agonizing shriek.

"Don't touch my baby!"

Nobody cared.

Two guards grabbed my arms, dragging me backward.

Jason’s voice was devoid of emotion.

"Take Mrs. Hayes and the young lady to the private lounge."