Chapter 3

3.

I didn't want to die!

My daughter was only six. I wanted so badly to watch her grow up, to protect her from the world.

But life and death were not for me to decide.

I fought so hard to live. Every infection, every fever, I gritted my teeth and pushed through because Grace needed me. But even the strongest soldier eventually falls.

Rose tried to explain more, but Jax cut her off brutally.

He stared directly at Rose's limp right hand, which had been injured years ago, his voice dangerously low.

"Remember what happened to that hand six years ago, Rose? I'd hate to see history repeat itself. Get Evelyn. Thirty minutes."

"After that... well, I can't guarantee what my men will do."

Rose trembled uncontrollably.

Six years ago, to force me to donate marrow to Vivian, Jax had arranged an "accident" that broke Rose's right hand, the hand she had used to play piano her entire life. Not only that, he used his influence in the tech world to cut off all of the group home's corporate funding. He called every major sponsor, his words carefully chosen.

"I trust our partnership won't be... impacted by an association with certain institutions currently under investigation."

Then, he hired a PR firm to fabricate a child abuse scandal about Rose, paying off several local media outlets to run the story. He even made anonymous tips to Child Protective Services, leading to repeated investigations of Havenwood. Though the accusations were eventually proven false, the reputation of my childhood home was destroyed. Social media was flooded with #HavenwoodAbuse. The donations dried up completely.

I had no choice. I had to undergo the bone marrow transplant, risking the life of my unborn child.

But even after the surgery, Jax's team of private investigators continued to monitor the home. He even planted "undercover volunteers" to gather more "evidence."

The memory was a knife in my heart.

Rose knew how cruel Jax could be. For the sake of the five remaining children, including my daughter, the once-respected old woman spoke with a trembling voice.

"Evelyn... she hemorrhaged badly after the marrow transplant... Her body couldn't take it."

"Two weeks later, she... she was gone."

Before she could finish, Jax shoved her aside, nearly making her fall.

"Impossible. If she died six years ago, how is there a kindergartener? A six-year-old should be in first grade!"

Jax stared at my daughter's face, a mirror of my own, his teeth clenched in hatred.

My daughter trembled under his gaze but bravely stepped in front of Rose.

"You're mean! Don't bully Auntie Rose. She's telling the truth. I've never met my mommy."

The storm clouds on Jax's face grew darker. My heart sank. The next moment, he strode forward, grabbed my daughter's arm, and started dragging her toward the door.

"Who taught you to talk back to me? Just like your bitch of a mother!"

Seeing the defiant look in her eyes, he squeezed her arm even tighter.

I could almost hear the precursor to a bone snapping.

I beat at Jax's hand, again and again, but my own hands passed through him every time. I was just swatting at empty air.

Rose struggled to her feet, trying to get between them.

"Stop it, Jackson! Can't you see? She's yours! Grace is your biological daughter!"

He heard her, and a mocking smile twisted his lips.

"My daughter? You really expect me to believe that?"

He was about to say more when his phone rang. Jax let go of my daughter. She crumpled to the floor, a bright red handprint already forming on her arm.