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I held my daughter tightly, preparing to leave the chaotic scene behind. Suddenly, Emily stirred. She coughed a few times, struggled to open her eyes, and fixed a hateful glare on me.”
“Zoe, why are you still alive?!” Her voice was bitter, full of resentment. She hated that her plan had failed so miserably.
That day, outside the hospital ward, she had overheard more than just Lucas admitting the child was his. She had also heard him say,”
“If Zoe has given birth to my child, that means she hasn’t forgotten me. I will divorce Emily once I return–I want to be with Zoe again.“}
If Lucas really divorced her, what place would she have in the company? Would he even want their son anymore?}
The fear gnawed at her, pushing her to take the desperate risk of harming my daughter, hoping it would force Lucas to give up on me for good.
“Emily,” I said coldly, my voice steady, “if you harm my daughter, you will pay the price. No matter what Lucas does to protect you, I will never let you escape justice.“}}
The malicious burning in Emily’s eyes made me want to tear her apart–to settle every old and new grudge in one fierce act. But I held myself back. For now, I could only leave with my daughter.}}
The police and medical personnel who arrived handled the aftermath. Emily was rescued and taken into custody. I pressed charges against her for the crime.”
Not long after, Lucas appeared before me, bruised and battered from his injuries. I expected him to plead for Emily’s release. Instead, he knelt down, trembling.
“Zoe, thank God you and our daughter are safe… If I lost you again, I don’t know if I’d want to live,” he said, voice cracking.
“I’ve filed for divorce from Emily. She means nothing to me now.“}
He looked at me with hopeful eyes. “Zoe, I know you gave birth to our daughter… Will you give me another chance? Let me give you a home?”
I met his gaze quietly, feeling nothing but disgust for his words and actions.}
“Lucas, you only make me sick,” I said flatly.
Hearing this, his mother, Sandra, arrived in a fury, storming toward me.
“You bitch! Why won’t you just die already?” she spat, hands on her hips, hurling insults.
Lucas stopped her. “Mom, Emily’s wrong, and she deserves punishment.“}
Sandra slapped him across the face. “Are you even my son? You’ve been obsessed with that woman for years! What did Emily ever do to you? You let her suffer and want to divorce her? What about your son? He’s waiting for you to come home!“}
She wanted to settle everything with money, as always. But her hopes were dashed.}
Zachary had just informed me that he’d regained control of Lucas’s company.
Watching the disbelief wash over Sandra’s face, I felt a cold satisfaction. After all this time, the moment I’d waited for had finally arrived.
I also exposed Lucas’s infidelity from years ago. His reputation was utterly destroyed.}]
Sandra was arrested alongside Emily. I never forgot how they colluded to kidnap me for ransom.
Lucas had no way to save them.>
I thought Lucas might hate me or beg me to show mercy.
But on the day the court sentenced Sandra and Emily, I saw Lucas again.”
He looked older, unshaven, the beard on his face untrimmed.”
“Zoe,” he said quietly, “even if you hadn’t done all this, I wouldn’t have spared Emily. Once I knew she hurt you, I wanted to give up on her. She should have been punished long ago.“}
He looked deeply into my eyes and continued, “Mother hurt you, too. Believe me or not, I didn’t know about the kidnapping back then.”} “I thought you didn’t know. Now, I have no face to ask your forgiveness. I’m guilty as well.”
“In the future, without me disturbing you, you can live peacefully with our daughter.“}
“Don’t ever tell her she has such a father.”
With that, he turned away, shoulders stooped.}
I didn’t worry about what he might do next.}
The court ruling required Lucas to pay me a substantial compensation.{
That burden fell squarely on him. He would have to work hard to atone for his sins.
With Zachary’s influence, no company in this city would ever touch him again.”
He was sentenced to a life of hardship–and this time, there would be no one to help him.” My father had retired, and our family planned to leave this place for a better, quieter life.
When I told Nathan this, panic showed in his eyes.”
“What about me?” he asked.!!
Nathan was an orphan, taken in by my father years ago. Originally meant to study aircraft manufacturing, fate had drawn him to protect instead.@
9:01 AM
After I came home that day, my father officially assigned Nathan as my personal guardian.Я “Are you really leaving me behind?” Nathan’s voice trembled. “Where are you going?“\
I hadn’t decided yet, but seeing his worried face made me smile.§
“Of course you’re coming with me,” I joked. “If you weren’t here, my daughter would keep asking where her dad went.“! Nathan’s serious face instantly turned red.
Surprised by his reaction, I leaned in closer, teasing him, “Wow, you’re blushing.”}
He jumped back, startled, then ran out of the room with a bright flush on his cheeks.
Watching him disappear down the hall, the smile on my face lingered for a long time.
Maybe my future life won’t just be about pain–it might even be full of laughter and happiness.
