Chapter 1
The first thing out of Simon's mouth when he saw me was, "Does Erika realize what she did? Has she figured out how to apologize to Eunice and Lydia yet?"
I just stared at him. All I could see was myself standing outside the ICU minutes ago, praying with everything in me that Erika would pull through.
While I was on my knees, my phone had been blowing up with news coverage of a lavish birthday bash.
Those two pink diamonds were blinding. The sparkle was so sharp it made my eyes ache.
Through my tears, I'd heard people passing by sighing in envy, "Mr. Nelson adores his wife and daughter. God, I wish my husband was half that good."
If I'd told them the truth, no one would've believed me: I was Simon's actual wife.
Simon snapped his fingers in front of my face. "Hello? Are you zoning out?" He paused, frowning. "What's that on your forehead? Do you need a doctor?"
I'd hit my head during the panic of rushing Erika to the ER. I hadn't even noticed until now.
I pulled back from his touch.
Glancing down at the wedding band on my finger, a wave of disgust hit me. I slowly pulled it off.
I only had two questions for him:
"Why should Erika apologize? Just for calling you 'Dad'? Simon... aren't you Erika's father?"
Simon froze, then rubbed his nose like he had a massive headache.
"Lily, stop making a scene, alright? You're usually the reasonable one here. Erika was way in line this time," he insisted.
"Lydia's condition is fragile, and Eunice is doing this all on her own. I've been helping raise Lydia since day one. She truly believes I'm her dad. If she finds out I have a kid with someone else, the shock could put her in the hospital. My hands are tied here, Lily. Try to see it from my side, okay?"
I let out a bitter laugh. "See it from your side? Why does a fully capable woman need my husband to raise her child? And what about you?" I stepped closer. "Do you even remember you have a real wife and daughter?"
I threw the ring at his chest.
"I want a divorce. We're done!"
Simon looked at me like I was a toddler throwing a tantrum. "Lily, quit joking around. Go cool off. I'll hold onto the ring.
"When you realize you're being ridiculous and want it back, bring Erika with you to apologize."
He turned on his heel to walk away.
"Do you have any idea that Erika isn't doing well either?!" I yelled after him.
I wanted to scream that Erika had just been diagnosed with acquired heart disease—and that this whole nightmare triggered it.
But he cut me off, his voice sharp with irritation.
"What could possibly be wrong with Erika? She was literally playing on the garden swings when I got here.
"Lily, Lydia's illness is breaking Eunice's heart. Don't use something like that to make a point.
"It's not funny," he added coldly. "It's just cruel."
Me? Cruel?
A harsh laugh broke out of me, tears stinging my eyes again. What a joke!
I wasn't just going to keep Erika from apologizing—I was going to make every single one of them pay for what they did to my daughter.
Maybe feeling a sudden sting of guilt, Simon reached out to pull me into a hug.
I instantly backed away.
He didn't bother forcing it. "I'm going to check on Lydia. Talk to Erika and make sure she knows never to call me 'Dad' in public again. Be good, Lily."
The second he was gone, I pulled out my phone. Eunice was live-streaming with Lydia, showing off those ridiculous pink diamonds.
"Simon's way too generous," she purred into the camera. "I told him not to waste his money, but he insisted that spending on me and my baby is never a waste."
The chat was flooded with envious comments.
A cold smile crept onto my face as I dialed my lawyer.
"I need you to trace a 200 million transfer made by Simon," I said, voice dead even. "Find out which account it came from."
200 million in liquid cash wasn't pocket change.
"Also, pull up my prenup. I need to confirm my sole ownership of the core patents at the group."
Before I stepped down to have Erika, I was the company's CTO. Even now, the group's main production line relies entirely on my tech—tech the company claims as 'in-house research.'
My prenup explicitly states those patents are my personal, pre-marital property. They have nothing to do with Simon. For years, thinking we were a team, I never charged them a dime in royalties.
Now? It's time to collect!
