Chapter 5%
Seeing this, Anne put on a look of gentle surprise, lightly patted Reese’s head, and smiled softly, “Reese likes Teacher, and Teacher likes Reese too. But you only have one mommy, okay? You shouldn’t say things like that.
But Reese shook her head stubbornly. “I don’t want to! I just like Teacher Anne! I want her to be my mommy!”
Anne cast a sidelong glance at Julia, her eyes filled with contempt and disdain.§
Julia let out a bitter laugh, turned around, and walked away without another word.
She was leaving soon anyway. Just a little longer. She didn’t want anything to mess up her plan.8
Julia forced herself to clear her mind and soon drifted off to sleep.
But in the middle of the night, a noise stirred her awake. She caught a glimpse of her daughter’s small figure slipping past the doorway.E
She didn’t think much of it. Feeling thirsty, she reached for the calming tea on her nightstand and drank it in one gulp.
The taste seemed off, but she didn’t dwell on it
Moments later, heat rushed through her body, and her breathing grew shallow, labored, and tight.
Julia switched on the light and gasped. Her reflection in the mirror was covered in horrifying red rashes.!
She was having an allergic reaction &
Without hesitation, she rushed to the room where the medical supplies were kept. That door had never been locked, but tonight, no matter how hard she tried, it wouldn’t budge.
She tried to call for help, but no sound came out. Her throat burned, her head throbbed, and the rashes spread like fire beneath her skin.E
Desperate, she pounded on Cameron’s bedroom door..
No answer.I
Not a sound.
In a panic, she staggered down the stairs, clutched the car keys, and drove herself to the hospital.
The doctors rushed to perform emergency treatment. Her stomach had to be pumped. The violent vomiting tore through every nerve in her body.
The attending doctor frowned, his tone laced with irritation. “Miss, you know you’re severely allergic to walnuts. Even a trace can be fatal. Why did you eat them?”
Julia froze. Her whole body trembled.
She hadn’t eaten anything with walnuts that night.
How could this have happened?
Then it hit her, that brief moment, that fleeting glimpse of her daughter’s figure at the door.”
By the time Cameron arrived with Reese, Julia was already hooked up to an N
Cameron frowned, his voice edged with impatience. “What are you making a fuss about in the middle of the night? What now?“I
Julia clenched her fists, struggling to stay calm. “What happened? Ask your precious daughter.” “Why did she put walnut powder in my drink? You both know I’m allergic.”
She couldn’t hold back anymore; tears of bitter disappointment streamed silently down her face. Cameron froze for a beat, a flicker of shock passing through his eyes. He looked down at Reese. “Reese, is that true?”
The girl pouted, her cheeks turning red. She said nothing.
Cameron’s face darkened. “Why would you do something like that?*%
Suddenly. Reese burst into tears.
“Waash, because then Mommy would leave, and Daddy could be with Teacher Anne more!”
Cameron’s expression shifted, softening with a mix of surprise and guilt.
He let out a sigh, part indulgent, part helpless. “Reese, you can’t ever do that again.“X
Julia watched the scene unfold, father and daughter in their own world, and felt a cold chill rise from deep within her bones. Julia’s body trembled uncontrollably. “Cameron! Didn’t you hear me? Your daughter drugged me again! Just to make space for another woman!”
“I could’ve died from that walnut allergy! Do you not understand? If you don’t correct her now, what kind of person will she
12:01 AM
grow up to be?!“;
“Enough!“%
Cameron’s face tensed with irritation. “She’s just a child. What could she possibly know? It was a harmless prank. Why are you overreacting? She’s your daughter, too. Stop scaring her.”
Julia almost laughed in disbelief, her anger boiling over. I’m scaring her? She almost killed me!”
Just then, Cameron’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen, and his expression softened. Answering the call, his tone instantly shifted.
“Teacher Anne? What’s wrong?”
Anne’s voice floated gently through the speaker, soft and unsure.
*Mr. Cruise, I’m so sorry to bother you… I can’t figure out the water heater at your place. I’ve tried everything, but there’s only cold water. I just wanted to take a shower…”
Her voice faded, trailing into silence X
But before she could finish, Cameron cut in, his voice warm and reassuring. “Don’t worry, I’ll come back and fix it for you.”
The daughter who had just been crying suddenly stopped. She grabbed Cameron’s arm excitedly.
“Daddy, was that Teacher Anne? Is she asking us to go back? Let’s go! I want to be with Teacher Anne!”
Julia stared at Cameron in disbelief.
*There are maids at home, Why didn’t she call them? She had to call you?”
Cameron’s voice turned cold. “Don’t speak ill of others behind their backs. Teacher Anne has a kind heart. She didn’t want to trouble the maids this late.
He picked up Reese, casting a glance at Julia.
“Just focus on finishing your IV. When it’s done, press the nurse call button. I’ll come back for you later.“”
He left the hospital room without a word, not even bothering to close the door behind him.
From the hallway, her daughter’s cheerful voice rang out, full of joy.”
Julia stared at the IV drip, watching each drop fall, time slipping by, second by second.
When the last bottle was emptied, she climbed out of bed again to press the nurse call button.
A nurse came in quietly and removed the needle.
Late into the night, Julia lay alone in the sterile quiet of the hospital room.
A bitter smile tugged at her lips.
Mustering what little strength she had left, she stood up, peeled the tape off the back of her hand, and called a car to take her home.”
