Chapter 2

I had nothing to say to Betty.

My chest throbbed with a suffocating, piercing pain.

I wiped my tears and struggled to get past her.

The wedding was magnificent—far grander than the one Julian had given me.

The guests were dressed in glamorous gowns and tuxedos.

Hailey’s wedding dress shimmered brilliantly under the spotlight.

Standing right beside them was a little boy, about three years old.

Guided by the officiant, he was carrying the wedding rings.

"And now, would the groom and bride please exchange rings, the symbol of their eternal love."

Thunderous applause erupted in the hall.

"Stop!" I screamed.

The entire room went dead silent.

All eyes turned to me.

Before I could take another step, security guards rushed in and dragged me away.

Betty smiled warmly, turning to the crowd. "I am so sorry, everyone. This is just a homeless woman from the street."

"The security team made a mistake and let her slip in. I'll have her removed immediately."

Disgusted whispers broke out.

"Ugh, a homeless person? No wonder it smells so bad in here."

"Today is Julian and Hailey’s wedding of the century. Some people really have no shame, trying to crash an event like this."

"Exactly. I bet she just wanted free food."

With sneers and mocking glares raining down on me, I was carried out.

Julian’s eyes brushed over me for a fraction of a second before he looked away, completely indifferent.

Inside, they slid the rings of eternal love onto each other's fingers.

Outside, I was thrown onto the cold, hard pavement.

My mother's emerald-green heels appeared in my field of vision.

She frowned deeply. "Sophia, how many times do I have to tell you? Today is Hailey’s wedding. Did you really have to come here to ruin it?"

"What about you guys? You lied to me for three years! You let me rot in prison for a lie! Doesn't your conscience hurt?!" I screamed, my voice raw.

Betty’s frown tightened. "We had no choice, Sophia. Why can't you understand that?"

"Go home right now. If you don't, you will never see Lily again."

Lily...

Lily was the baby girl I gave birth to three years ago, right before I went to prison. My parents had promised they would take good care of her.

"Where is Lily? What did you do to her?"

At my question, a flicker of guilt crossed my mother's face.

She looked away, refusing to answer. Panic seized my chest.

I didn't care about anything else anymore. I scrambled up and ran toward our family home.

The passcode to the front door hadn't changed.

I pushed it open. A maid was cleaning the living room. When she saw me, she gasped in horror.

"Miss Sophia? How... why are you here? Weren't you..."

"Where is Lily?!" I rushed forward and grabbed her shoulders.

Terrified, the maid stammered, but her eyes kept darting toward the basement door.

I sprinted down and kicked the door open.

In the darkest corner of the damp basement, a tiny figure was curled into a ball.

Hearing the door slam, her little body shook violently.

"Don't hit me! I'll be good, Aunt Hailey! Please don't hit me!"

"Lily, it’s me... it's Mommy."

Tears flooded my eyes. I rushed over and pulled her into my arms. She was so thin, her bones sticking out painfully.

I wasn't here for three years. How on earth did they treat my baby girl?!

"M-Mommy?" The little girl peeked out from under her arms, her eyes wide and timid.

Once she realized it was really me, she threw herself into my chest, sobbing.

"Mommy, you're back! I have a mommy now!"