Chapter 6
His parents believed I had caused the death of Julian’s brother and driven Julian away.
So after Julian left, they spread rumors about how I had seduced him.
Everyone in Julian’s family pointed fingers at me, calling me a whore with unmistakable hatred in their eyes.
After enduring daily humiliation, I finally couldn’t take it anymore. I found my opportunity and fled the house, taking nothing with me.
Penniless, I barely survived by working multiple jobs.
Then one day I suddenly collapsed. Kind strangers took me to the hospital, where I discovered I was
pregnant.
The doctor said I was too far along–if I terminated the pregnancy, I might never be able to have children again.
As I touched my belly, my heart softened, and I chose to keep the baby.
As my pregnancy progressed, I couldn’t find work. Without ID or anyone to support me, my part–time employers fired me once I struggled to keep up.
With no options left, I began collecting recyclables from trash bins to sell for money.
Though life was unbearably hard, I gritted my teeth and persevered.
After Liam was born, I thought I could return to work and things would improve.
3ut Audrey found me first:
‘You slut! You seduced Julian and made him run away! Our wedding was ruined because of you!”
‘You made me a laughingstock among my friends, you bitch. I won’t let you get away with this!”
After her threats, she hired thugs who dragged me to a private underground club.
The clients were beggars, disabled people, or disgusting men with STDs.
She forced me to serve them. If I refused, she’d torture my son.
I had no choice but to comply…
I thought after a few years she’d lose interest and leave us alone, but then Julian returned.
To eliminate any loose ends, that day she cursed at me, “I’m sending you to hell today! Stop thinking about Julian!” Then she handed me over to the most brutal clients at the club…
Watching Julian now, standing outside the ICU looking worriedly at our son, I felt nothing but hatred
Audrey excused herself to use the bathroom. Julian didn’t react.
But I knew she wasn’t going to the bathroom–she was contacting Julian’s mother.
His mother had always favored her, wanting her to become Julian’s wife.
My death had been partly her doing.
Just as I was about to follow Audrey, something unexpected happened–Julian stared intently at Audrey’s retreating figure and called his assistant:
‘Look into everything Audrey’s been doing these past few years. And… my parents‘ activities too.”
I’d thought he would just shed crocodile tears over Liam for a few days before moving on. I never
expected him to investigate.
Audrey quickly returned, pressing her body against Julian’s arm, deliberately brushing her chest against him:
“Julian, you’ve been running around all day for Liam. You must be exhausted.”
“Go home and rest. I’ll watch over Liam–nothing will happen to him, I promise.”
My heart tightened: “No! She’ll kill our child!”
Chapter
But to my horror, Julian slowly nodded: “Alright. Thank you.”
Audrey tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, a barely perceptible smile playing on her lips:
“It’s no trouble. We’ll be family soon anyway. I’d do anything for you.”
Julian didn’t respond, just silently left.
Once she confirmed he was gone, Audrey pushed open the ICU door and looked viciously at my son lying in bed:
“You little bastard, don’t blame me. If you weren’t able to tell the truth, I might have spared your life.‘
“But you know that I killed your slut of a mother, so you have to die!”
“In your next life, choose your parents more carefully!”
With that, she moved to remove Liam’s oxygen mask.
I watched in terror, desperate to stop her but helpless.
Just as she was about to pull off the mask, the door burst open.
Audrey turned toward the door in panic, her face instantly draining of color:
“Julian? Why did you come back?”
“You fucking bitch! How dare you?” Julian stormed in, his face like ice, and viciously kicked Audrey in the waist, sending her sprawling to the floor.
Audrey clutched her side in pain, face down with cold sweat beading on her forehead: “You’ve got it all wrong. I was just going to wipe Liam’s sweat.”
“Do you think I’m a fucking idiot?!”
“It hurts so much…”
Seeing Julian’s cold glare, she tried to play the sympathy card, but Julian had already heard her confession about killing me from outside the door.
There was no way he would forgive her.
As she looked at him hopefully, Julian tapped on his phone. Soon, a group of security guards rushed
- in.
“Lock her in the basement. No one sees her without my permission!”
The basement was where Julian dealt with people who had crossed him. It contained countless
implements designed to make people wish they were dead.
Audrey knew this well. As she realized what awaited her, the hope in her eyes vanished, replaced by terror as she clutched at his pant leg:
“No, not the basement! You can’t do this to me! I’ll die down there!”
Despite her screams, Julian just stared at her coldly:
“Did you think about that when you tortured my wife and child? Did you care if they died?!”
Audrey was terrified by his expression. Her trembling hands released his pants.
Unable to escape the burly security guards, she was dragged away.
In the empty room, Julian stood by his son’s bed, holding Liam’s small hand as tears of remorse
streamed down his face:
“I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. I failed you…”
Liam slept on, unable to respond.
Julian sat by his son’s bedside all night.
