Chapter 2

2

In the end, I compromised for my mother's sake.

I never imagined that his version of punishment was simply forbidding Lila from having ice cream for a week.

I laughed at myself. This time was indeed serious; he was just making sure her period wouldn't be painful.

Lila getting into trouble wasn't anything new. She'd caused car accidents before, but this time, the cost was my mother's life.

Jasper always talked about teaching her a lesson in front of me, but he'd secretly clean up all her messes behind my back.

Once, I was trapped in the mountains during a thunderstorm. I called him thirty times, but his line was always busy. He was busy feeding Lila bird's nest soup because she had a cold.

Even when I was in labor, he received a call from her and left without looking back. I knew then that he was off to fix another one of her disasters.

But this time, it was different. This time, it was my mother.

After the ordeal, he held me, his voice devoid of any real emotion.

"Quinn, don't overthink it. We have a long life ahead of us."

"Lila made a mistake, but we have to set a good example for the baby. If we show kindness, he'll grow up to be a good person."

He used the sweetest tone to say the most gut-wrenching things to me.

I had foolishly hoped that, just once, he would take my side.

Clearly, I was delusional.

The guard dogs around us bared their teeth, staring hungrily at the ashes in my arms.

"Jasper, I'll drop it," I whispered, my voice shaking. "Just let the baby go... and leave my mother alone."

His face instantly lit up with joy, his tone becoming upbeat. "Quinn, I knew you were sensible. You're going to be a great role model."

"Next week is our third anniversary. I'll make sure to get you something spectacular, okay?"

His words were warm, but my heart was a graveyard.

My fingers shook so much I could barely hold the pen. Ignoring the crushing pain in my chest, I signed the withdrawal form.

I tried to suppress my emotions, lying numbly on the bed while scrolling through my phone.

A headline hit me like a physical blow: "Billionaire Jasper Harris Rents Top Three Floors of Luxury Hotel for Sister's Birthday."

In the photos, the gift he gave her was the Harris family heirloom―a priceless emerald bracelet.

When I married into the family, he never once mentioned that bracelet to me.

I used to lie to myself, thinking it was because I hadn't given him an heir yet.

Now I finally saw the truth. From the beginning, he simply didn't think I was worthy.

A notification popped up on Jasper's social media, searing my eyes: "Only the best for our precious little princess."

Seven years of being together, and he couldn't even be bothered to post a single photo on our wedding day.

Now, for Lila, he had no boundaries left.

My throat felt constricted, and my sobs were muffled in my chest.

The next day, the baby was taken for a bone marrow biopsy. Jasper casually said it was just a routine newborn check and told me not to worry.

My mind was so consumed by my mother's funeral that I didn't notice anything suspicious.

On the day of the funeral, I planted my mother's favorite white chrysanthemums by her grave.

I prayed she would have a peaceful next life and never choose a daughter like me again.

But Jasper actually brought Lila there. I had explicitly forbidden her from ever setting foot near the site.

By the time I saw her, she was kneeling there, burning ritual paper.

I rushed over and kicked the fire out, shoving her to the ground.

"Jasper, does she still hate me? I really am sorry..." she sobbed, clutching her face.

Jasper immediately knocked over the incense burner in front of me, his voice freezing. "It's just some paper, Quinn. Since when did you become so petty?"

Lila's tears fell even faster. "Quinn, I really came to apologize to your mom. Can't you just... forgive me this once?"

She reached out to grab me, but in a spot where no one else could see, she dug her nails deep into my skin.

The pain made me jerk away. I glared at Jasper. "Get her out of here, and I won't pursue this."

The surrounding relatives began to whisper, judging me. Lila's fake distress suddenly turned into pure venom.

"Why care about some old country woman dying? She was just a burden anyway!" she screamed. "If Jasper hadn't forced me, do you think people like you deserve an apology?"

Before anyone could react, she grabbed my mother's framed photo and smashed it onto the ground.

"You want a nice funeral? If I'm miserable, no one gets to be happy!"

I stared at the shattered frame, feeling as if my heart had been gouged out.

Before anyone could stop her, she pulled out a lighter and set the funeral drapes on fire.

"No!"

I screamed until my lungs burned. Everything went black, and I lost consciousness.