Chapter 3

The woman's voice was so alluring it could make your bones melt.

"Don't worry, just be gentle. It'll be fine."

"Besides, she's packed her things and left. Right now, her mind is completely focused on her dying daughter. She won't care about anything else."

"And I closed the door. Your house has such good soundproofing; she won't hear us."

"It's been so long, don't you want me?"

The next second, the man and woman on the guest bed were entwined, and the air was thick with the scent of their passion.

I pulled out my phone and, through the slightly ajar door, captured the scene.

Just as I put my phone away and prepared to leave,

Serena, beneath Liam, shifted her gaze, and our eyes met across the room.

In that moment, what more was there for me not to understand?

Serena had said she closed the door, but it was clearly open a crack.

Serena did it on purpose. She left the door just so. Orchestrated the scene for my eyes alone.

We are both women.

How could I not understand her intentions?

......

The next morning, I was at the hospital's payment counter, ready to renew my daughter's hospitalization fees.

But the staff member, after checking, looked at me in confusion.

"Lily? She's already been discharged. No more fees are needed."

At those words, my head buzzed. I lifted my leg and ran towards the chief doctor's office.

The moment I reached the doctor's office door, I heard Liam's voice.

"I am Lily's biological father; I am her legal guardian. I have the right to refuse treatment."

"Alright, Dr. Lee, I just don't want the child to suffer. Look at how much she's already suffering..."

I couldn't bear to listen anymore and burst into the doctor's office.

Liam was sitting opposite the doctor, with a "Do Not Resuscitate" order in front of him.

Every rational thought left me. I snatched the form, crushed it in my fist, and hurled the crumpled paper at his face.

"Liam, what kind of monster are you?"

"Refusing treatment means sending Lily to her death! Do you deserve to be a father?"

Liam gave the doctor an awkward smile, then looked at me.

"Sarah, what are you saying? I'm doing this for Lily's own good."

"Just now, Mom and I went to see Lily in her room. Look how worn out she looks! Isn't this just pure suffering?"

"I think you're just selfish. Just because you can't bear to part with the child, you..."

Before Liam could finish, I suddenly remembered.

That's right, Judy!

I turned and rushed to Lily's room.

The scene before me as I entered the room made my heart shatter.

Judy was dragging my daughter, still lying in her hospital bed, cursing her out with vile words.

"Get home now! Do you know how much it costs for you to stay here even one day?"

"Girls are just a bottomless pit for money! She's only a few years old and already knows how to spend so much!"

"Come with me now! Don't think I won't hit you just because we're in a hospital!"

My daughter was crying uncontrollably.

"Grandma, let go of me! Don't take me away."

"I want to wait for Mommy to come back. I want to wait for Mommy to come back."

I rushed forward and pushed Judy away, tenderly pulling my daughter into my arms.

"What are you doing? The child is already sick, and you're treating her like this!"

Judy stumbled from my push, almost falling. Liam, who had followed me, quickly caught her.

"Sarah! That's my mother! How dare you lay a hand on her?"

Judy also pointed a finger at me, her expression as if she had suffered some enormous grievance.

"Oh, you dare to hit me!"

"Divorce! I demanded my son divorces you! I demand it!"