My daughter was born with a severe allergy to seawater. When I received the doctor's call, my daughter's heart had already stopped beating. I emotionally collapsed and called my husband ten times in a row, all hung up. Until the eleventh time, he answered impatiently: "Why did you pick up the child without telling me? Coming out once, dare not play this dare not play that, is this how you usually educate her? Today the Company Retreat really made me lose all face?" "Wait until I go back, I will listen to your explanation!" Before I could speak, the phone was hung up and blocked by him. Just then, Giselle updated a TikTok: Romantic seaside, two people holding hands happily dancing a suggestive dance. Matching sunglasses looked particularly dazzling. I silently shed tears, sent a message. "Roll back to divorce." ... Chapter 1 When I rushed to the hospital, my daughter's heart had already stopped beating. "Knowing the child is allergic to seawater, still let her go surfing?" "For your own happiness, don't want daughter's life anymore? Never seen such a mother." Out of professional ethics they didn't scold me too hard, but I could still feel the contempt from doctors and nurses. Just I seemed to hear nothing. In my eyes, only that small body on the morgue bed. Daughter's face pale blue, lips dark purple. Hair wetly pasted on forehead, body still carried the salty wet coldness of seawater. On her small face, expression painful and twisted, full of fear and struggle before death. My heart felt like fiercely grabbed by a big hand, painful to unable to breathe. Julian Vance said today was daughter's birthday, wanted to take her to Company Retreat, experience the adult world in advance. I didn't think too much, ordered her favorite strawberry cake at home, prepared a table of dishes, waiting for them to come back. Result I waited was the news that daughter would never come back. A whole day, I alone, ran front ran back, handling daughter's funeral affairs. Julian didn't have a single phone call, a single message! As if he also died at the seaside. I thought, this marriage should end here. Wait I and lawyer drafted the divorce agreement, he then returned home. First sentence was questioning me: "You picked up the child early, didn't even tell me. Giselle waited for the child to send coconut until sunburned. You are really too selfish, agreed today child I take for a day, you are not willing to give me even a day's time?" I sneered: "Still send coconut?! Julian are you crazy, your daughter is only six years old. You let the coach press her on the surfboard, said not allowed to come down without three hours, you let her use what to send, use her life to send?" Julian's face instantly gloomy, smashed computer bag directly on me. "What are you shouting for, just three hours, other kids can, why just she can't?" "She caused Giselle to be sunburned and still in hospital now, she still has face to complain first? I see she is spoiled by you, now let her roll out, immediately follow me to hospital apologize." "Since you this mother can't teach, then I this father want to good teach her the principle of being a person!" I endured anger, threw the divorce agreement on his face. "Sign, my daughter how is not your turn this cheating scumbag to teach, what thing are you? Since you like Giselle, I fulfill you guys." Julian saw the four words divorce agreement, instantly furious. "Just because I discipline daughter, you want divorce me?" "Serena, are you sick? What crazy fit? My biological daughter I can't say two sentences right? Did wrong thing go apologize what's wrong? Spoiled by you like this, I don't manage again, this child definitely will be useless in future!" Julian's questioning pierced me like a knife. I rose angrily, eyes seeing stars. "I spoiled her? Julian, your daughter is six years old this year, have you fulfilled a father's responsibility? Did she do anything against heaven and reason, to be pressed on surfboard for three hours by you this biological father? You this biological father don't know she is allergic to seawater..." I haven't finished, interrupted by his roar: "You have no end right? Surfing just less than five meters from shore, also have coach watching aside, what can happen?" "She came back then complained to you right? Company Retreat other kids very sociable, just she diving not want go, swimming not want go, no princess ability but have a pile of princess temper." "I tell you, later child matters I manage determined, you don't interfere!" Looking at his hideous face, I suddenly felt, daughter's death no need to tell him. Such father better not have. Julian casually threw down a packaging box. Like giving me a sky big grace. I casually looked, is a free gift from two people's matching sunglasses, a cleaner. "Last time you said glasses can't wash clean, I always remembered, yesterday just passed by bought it." Julian always like this, finished sending gift to Giselle, then throw free gift to me. Before I knew truth, but to give daughter a complete home. I endured. Even for maintaining this pathetic marriage, still have to pretend surprised ecstatic. But my concession didn't preserve this home well. Instead let daughter lose life. Now daughter gone, this ridiculous marriage, I also don't want. "No need, give your secretary." "You sign now, later daughter also won't come noisy you." "Daughter did nothing wrong, only wrong, is having a dad like you." See me so not know good bad, Julian cold to extreme "You have no end right, gift I also gave, still want how? Daughter now so big, you want divorce me? Dream!" "Daughter's custody you don't even think, my Vance family child can only my Vance family raise. If you can't manage, I have plenty ways manage her." Roared at me finish, Julian directly went back room. Ten years, this is our first cold war. He probably still thought, I same as before, just jealous, throwing temper. He waited for me next morning, like usual, put breakfast on table, give him a step down. But he thought wrong. This time, I really can't hold, too tired. Key, and signed divorce agreement, I all left in that cold home. I left, left this place trapped me ten years. Outside car window neon flashing, past days like movie passing in brain. Just met Julian time, he embarrassed unbearable, business failed, collapsed. Giselle, his childhood sweetheart, disliked him no future, turned head went abroad. Was me, accompany him, bit by bit climbed out from mud. Passionate love that while, he said I was his light, his salvation. I foolishly thought, I this late comer catch up, won against that childhood sweetheart. Laughable, in the end, still people childhood sweetheart love stronger than gold. Day Giselle returned country, was our wedding day. Julian, threw me alone at wedding scene, butt bump ran to give her welcome. To show off how successful he is in front of her, offered twenty times salary hire her as "Private Secretary". Really a big slap on my face. For daughter, I endured so many years, grievance all swallow into stomach. I thought child can tie this home, result? Trapped only myself. I held daughter's urn back to pre-marriage home, that small nest only me one person. Cemetery said burial need queue wait three days, just enough for me clean up daughter's little dresses, little hair clips, and those papers drawn with crooked little people. Third day, I holding urn just opened door, head on bumped into Julian and Giselle. Behind them stood a row of black suit bodyguards, like a wall squeezed into my home door. "Where is the child?" Julian's voice cold. I was bumped a stumble fell on ground, hands dead protect urn in arms, inside that is my daughter's last trace. Julian grabbed my collar, angrily said: "Serena, you really capable ah, now dare cold war with me three days? Think like this I will soft heart? Go dream your spring autumn dream!" "You indulge daughter do this kind of thing, even you guys run to sky end sea corner, I will also catch people back!" I looked up, word by word pop out: "My daughter now has no half dime relation with you, take your lover, roll out of my house, otherwise I call police." His slap directly flung on my face, burning pain made my eyes black. "I said how daughter became so vicious, turns out upper beam not straight lower beam crooked ah!" "You usually talk like this in front of child? No wonder she can grow into this virtue today, since you can't teach, later child matters you also don't think interfere!" "Last time matter Giselle already generous not pursue, she actually dare intensify, looks like I also no need save face for you!" He turned to bodyguard roared, "Find for me!" Ten odd men in black rushed into my room, started searching for daughter. My heart sank to bottom at once, fingers unconsciously dug tight urn edge. "What do you mean? My daughter exactly did what? With me here, you don't think let my daughter carry black pot!" Eye see my emotion about to explode, Giselle grievance walked forward. "Julian, forget it... child only six years old, she definitely not intentional. Maybe just have some misunderstanding to me, later I slowly communicate with her fine, little kid..." More she act good person like this, anger in my heart burn more prosperous. Surface pleading for daughter, actually every word pouring dirty water on my daughter. Julian's face instantly gloomy down. "You now actually still want speak for that little rabbit bastard? Today dare destroy your work, tomorrow don't know will do what thing! You indulging her like this, is harming her!" "Have Serena this kind of mom, this child not good discipline, sooner or later will cause big trouble!" He gritted teeth said. I fierce look up hiss roar: "Julian! That is your biological daughter ah! You rather believe this bitch words also not believe own flesh blood?" Daughter all cremated, this woman still not willing let go her. "Slap!" Julian's slap again heavy fan on my face. "Shut up!" He roared. "You instigate child break into Giselle home, burned her work, do you know this is company's most important project this year?!" "You usually jealous I just endured, now actually do this kind of thing, you f*cking became what look? That is whole company one year blood sweat!" "Child only six years old, you let her be your accomplice, you this kind person not worthy be mother! I really blind eyes then fancy you!" My head buzzing, but brain still can turn. High-end community Giselle lives, enter out need face recognition, my six years old daughter how possible enter? "Daughter only six years old! How can she alone find that place?" I roared back at him, "You go crazy also move brain ah! Giselle self didn't put work well, based on what blame my daughter?" I voice hoarse strength exhaust, ten years grievance like flood explode. Julian's eyes almost spit fire, more furious than me. "Giselle room only she entered, home no others, not her who is?" "Have you this good mom, places she can go many! House Giselle live just under my name, record a face not very easy? You everyday behind back check me, how possible not know address?" "Don't pretend! Giselle home monitor all filmed. Where child hide? Hurry hand out!" I just about counterattack, Giselle already took out phone, click open a video. In monitor screen, a small figure wearing my daughter's that day floral dress, steps unsteady walked into study. Small hand holding lighter, trembling lit that exquisite wedding dress work. Wedding dress twisted deformed in flame, less than two minutes turned to ashes. Giselle lowered head, force act grievance sobbing. "Sister Serena, I know you don't like me, but I follow Julian really just for work ah! That work is company this year most important project, you... you hate me again, also shouldn't take daughter vent destroy everyone blood sweat ba?" "Now work gone, whole project scrap, one year effort all wasted! You let me how face so many colleagues trust me?" She hand busy foot messy closed phone, movement fast like thief. But my eyes faster than her hand. Monitor time I saw clear clear. Two days ago. That time my daughter already became a box of cold ashes. I face hung tears, sneered. "Giselle, to frame me and my daughter, you really painstaking ah." "Want be Mrs. Vance just say clearly, why act this bitter drama? Position give you, no need so vicious pour dirty water on dead person." Julian angered by my attitude, whole face twisted into a ball. He kicked on my chest. Urn rolled out from my arms, turned few circles on floor. I like crazy pounced over, whole person lie on ground, dead protect that box containing daughter. He quick eye quick hand, grabbed my hair pull back, nails embedded into my scalp. "What hidden in this box?" I gas extreme. "With you have what relation?" Julian furious, hand strength increase, I feel whole piece scalp want be torn down by him. Warm blood flow down along hair root, sticky on neck. Bodyguard came out from bedroom, expressionless reported: "Mr. Vance, child not here." Julian took deep breath. "Where is child? I ask you last time." I looked up face, tears blurred vision, but couldn't block irony on my face. "Child? You now know care child?" "In your eyes beside this bitch still have what? You still remember you have a daughter? Tell you, she died! Died! You satisfied?" Julian's hand paused, immediately face surfaced deeper anger. "Just discipline child, need you make up this kind ghost talk?" "Serena, I thought you just won't be wife, didn't expect even being human so disgusting!" "Learn surfing at seaside can die people? Then national so many seasides early closed!" Giselle's gaze fell on urn I dead hugged. "Julian, what inside that box? Sister Serena hug so tight, maybe hid work original drawing ne." Julian immediately reach hand come snatch, I desperate protect, nails scratched blood marks on floor. "Roll away! Don't touch my daughter!" "You all give me roll out!" Julian gave bodyguard a wink. Five six men in black swarm up, press my limbs, like subdue mad dog press me on ground. My face suffered dozen slaps, burning pain. Julian holding urn weigh in hand. "Serena, do wrong thing should be punished." "Wait find child, you leave with nothing, custody belong me, perform good, one year let you see once." He fierce force, urn lid flew out. Inside box only gray white ashes. "Original drawing ne?" He roared at me. I red eyes, break free bodyguard, pounce towards him. "Here no thing you want! Giselle say what you just believe what! I say daughter died why you not believe! You really sick! Return my daughter! Don't touch her!" Just rushed out two steps, was pounced down by behind bodyguard, face heavy hit on floor. Giselle again gently said. "Under box will or not hide something? Pour out look ba." Julian hands flip. Daughter's ashes spilled a ground, quietly paved on floor. I hiss roaring, crying shouting. Julian can't find wanted thing, anger burn heart, swing urn smash on my head. Warm blood flow down along forehead, vision blur. His leather shoe stepped on my hand back, bone emit break sound. "Serena, you really not see coffin not drop tear, like acting right? Good, I fulfill you." "Daughter I definitely will find, this life you don't think see her one face again!" Bodyguards filed out, only left me and a ground ashes. I lay on ground, like holding treasure, gather ashes bit by bit into arms. Julian hugging Giselle, sneering stepped up. "I let you pretend!" He force step, ashes fly up, like a smoke, from door crack drifted away mostly. Vision suddenly pitch black, I anytime want faint pass. Julian cold face took out phone, dialed assistant number. "Immediately find my daughter, bring person back for me! Also, re-draft a divorce agreement for me, Serena must leave with nothing, a cent don't think take away!" Assistant on phone end silent two seconds. "Mr. Vance..." Assistant voice obviously reveal confusion, "Your daughter already passed away three days ah, this moment body should already cremated finish ba. Before we couldn't contact you, cemetery still I helped Mrs. Vance queue..." Assistant voice more and more light. Julian froze in place at once. Giselle take advantage his lost mind moment, turn to me.
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