Chapter 1

In the first year of our arranged marriage, I gave birth to Hazel, my precious baby girl.

On her fourth birthday, I hand-stitched the swan dress she had been begging for.

Yet, just outside her bedroom door, I overheard her speaking to my husband.

"Daddy, when are you going to divorce Mommy? I want Aunt Chloe to be my new mommy!"

"How about... tomorrow?"

"Yay! I love Aunt Chloe most! I hate Mommy!"

I froze outside the door, rendered completely speechless.

The very next day, I signed the divorce papers and flew overseas.

Five years later, news reached me that Hazel had passed away from an illness. I rushed back in sheer agony.

The moment my flight landed, an email pinged in my inbox:

"Mommy, let me tell you a secret. I came from the future to save you."

I retreated to the living room, waiting for their conversation to end.

Chloe. That was a name I hadn’t heard in ages.

After a while, the bedroom door opened and they stepped out.

Nathaniel frowned slightly upon seeing me, then said, "Hazel, Mommy’s home. Why don’t you see what present she brought you?"

I forced a strained smile. "Hazel, come here, sweetie."

Her eyes filled with blatant disdain. "Ugh, it's always the same boring stuff! Lame!"

Despite her words, she walked over to me.

She snatched the gift, took one look at it, and hurled it onto the floor. "It’s hideous! Who would ever wear such an ugly dress? Daddy, Daddy! Look at Mommy! She’s just using garbage to brush off your daughter!"

She threw herself onto the floor, screaming and thrashing in a full-blown tantrum.

Nathaniel scooped her into his arms with a mix of indulgence and helpless affection, murmuring soothing words.

Step by step, he carried her back into her room.

About half an hour later, he finally emerged.

"She’s just a little girl. She doesn't know any better. Don't take it to heart," he said in a cold, matter-of-fact tone.

Turning my back to him, I wiped away my tears. "I heard everything you two said in the room."

His dark eyes flickered for a second. "I was just playing along to humor a child. You don't need to take it seriously."

My hands clenched tightly into fists, and I lowered my gaze.

My own daughter hated her mother more than anyone, while adoring the woman who had always been her father's first love.

"I don’t care about the women you keep on the side," I demanded, voice shaking. "What I care about is that you turned my daughter into this! When did Chloe start coming around her?"

"Evelyn, drop the self-righteous act," he snapped. "Hazel wandered off because she was playing around, and Chloe was the one who found her and called me! Not everyone is like you, weighing pros and cons, scheming every second of the day."

I stood up abruptly. "Hazel went missing? Why didn't you tell me?!"

"Keep your voice down!" he hissed. "Hazel is already asleep!"

I stared at him in silence, a bitter lump burning in my throat.

I had missed far too much of Hazel’s life.

I sniffled and wiped my face clean. "Tomorrow, I’ll have my lawyer draw up the divorce papers."

The moment the words left my lips, his fingers twitched slightly. "No need. I already had mine draft them."

He walked into the study and brought out a stack of documents.

I scanned through the terms. "I won't take a single dime of our marital assets. But I want full custody of Hazel."

He let out a derisive scoff. "She won't go with you. She's going to have a much better mother."

"She is my daughter," I repeated firmly.

Slipping one hand into his pocket, he looked down at me with disdain. "Hazel has never once acknowledged you as her mother."

He stood there like an undisputed victor, holding every card in his hand.

"I won't give up," I threw back, before walking away in defeat.