Revenge on My Husband's Illegitimate Child

The moment the doctor declared my daughter brain-dead, the hospital corridor outside her room filled with people. Relatives crowded together, and even some of my husband Zion's coworkers showed up, their faces a mix of pity and curiosity.
Then Zion's childhood sweetheart, Anita, suddenly appeared. She entered the room, dropped to her knees, and begged me to donate my daughter's heart to save their illegitimate son.
The onlookers froze, their faces a blend of shock and anticipation. Though no one dared speak in front of me, I could feel their eyes on me, silently speculating. Would I agree? Or would I refuse? To them, it was a spectacle.
"Chloe," Anita sobbed, her voice trembling with desperation. "I know Zion and I wronged you, but you're a mother too. I'm begging you for the sake of my son. Benny's only hope is Quinn's heart. It's the only match. I've tried everything, and I'm out of options. Please, do this one good deed. Just help me save him, I'm begging you!"
Before I could react, my cousin Reela exploded. "You shameless homewrecker! How dare you come here asking for Quinn's heart? Are you blind? Can't you see Quinn is still breathing? I've seen shameless mistresses, but you've taken it to another level! Not only did you steal her husband, but now you want her daughter's life too? I'll kill you!"
Reela, hot-tempered as ever, grabbed Anita by the hair and slammed her to the ground.
"How dare you hit her!" Zion's mother, Maria, rushed to shield Anita. "Does your family think you can just beat people whenever you like? Where's the law in that?"
She glared at me, her tone sharp and full of blame. "Can't you just talk this over? Why so rude?"
Reela laughed bitterly, her voice laced with rage.
"The law? You old hag, you're so busy protecting this mistress that you forgot who your real family is! What a joke! You're all teaming up to bully Chloe, aren't you?"
Reela was always hot-tempered. She had never felt so irritated before, and Zion's family's shamelessness was now driving her crazy. She shielded me like a lioness, which made me feel even more touched and aggrieved.
Maria flinched at Reela's words but quickly regained her composure. She glanced at the crowd watching from the hallway, then turned back to us with renewed venom. "And who are you to speak here? You're just an outsider. Our family matters have nothing to do with you!"
She turned her sharp gaze to me. "Chloe, how many times have I told you not to air family issues to outsiders? But no, you'd rather run to Reela with everything. Honestly, I'm not sure who you're closer to, her or Zion."
Reela's temper flared even more. She rolled up her sleeves, ready to fight, but I grabbed her arm firmly, holding her back.
At that moment, Zion finally decided to speak. "Chloe, Mom's right. For every little issue, you run straight to Reela. People might start thinking the two of you are a couple, and I'm just the extra."
Reela's grip tightened in mine, her knuckles white with fury. If I hadn't held her back, she would've lunged at them again.
Zion's expression darkened as he shot Reela a hostile glance before turning back to me. "Chloe, we've been married for eight years. Be honest with yourself. Have I ever treated you or Quinn poorly? I raised her with nothing but love. But life and death... that's out of my control. Since things have come to this, why not try to move on?"
His words were calm, almost sorrowful, but I could see through the facade. I met his gaze and asked coldly, "What are you trying to say?"
He hesitated for a moment as if searching for the right words to soften the blow.
Finally, he spoke. "Chloe, I don't want this any more than you do. But you know I'm the only son of my family. And since you... you can't have more children, Benny is all I have left. I can't stand by and watch him die. I hope you can understand."
Maria, sensing my growing resistance, softened her tone. "Chloe, please, just agree. Benny is family too. Yes, they've wronged you, but that doesn't mean you should deprive an innocent child of his chance to live."
Their words, dripping with self-righteousness, made my chest ache as if a thousand ants were gnawing at my heart.
They were willing to sacrifice my daughter's life to save the child they cherished most.
Reela stepped forward before I could respond, her voice trembling with rage. "Zion, isn't Quinn your flesh and blood? How can you stand here and act like only that boy matters? Can't you see Quinn is still breathing?"
As she turned to Quinn, who was lying on the hospital bed as though peacefully asleep, her eyes were filled with tears of anger and grief.
I had always known that my in-laws wanted a grandson and had never been fond of Quinn. But I never expected them to be so brazen, saying such heartless things at my daughter's deathbed.
And Zion... his so-called love for Quinn had been nothing but a facade.
Unmasked by Reela's accusation, Maria dropped all pretense. "And who are you to criticize us? You're not even family! The donation papers don't need your signature. If Quinn can help her brother, she should feel honored. At least it won't waste all the care her father gave her over the years."
Zion, his face cold, barked at Reela, "How many times do I have to tell you to stay out of our family's affairs? Why can't you just stay away from us?"
Then he turned to me, his tone severe. "Chloe, I need you to be rational about this. Don't let her cloud your judgment."
I met his gaze, my voice icy. "So you already planned to give Quinn's heart to your illegitimate son."
My words struck like a thunderclap. Zion and Maria froze, their faces betraying the guilt they tried so hard to hide.
Reela scoffed in disgust, "Zion, you're truly despicable. My aunt trusted you so much. Have you forgotten the promise you made to her on her deathbed?"
"You jinx! Can't you just shut up? Do you enjoy messing with our family that much?"
Maria, enraged, lunged at Reela, her hand raised to shove her.
I stepped forward, shielding Reela. "Maria, how dare you touch her? What did she say that was wrong?"
Maria glared at me impatiently and then looked at Reela, who was ready to strike anytime.
Just then, some whispered about how my late mother had treated Zion like her own son.
Unable to bear the humiliation, Maria collapsed theatrically to the floor, wailing.
"Why is my life so hard? Widowed at thirty, raising my son alone, and now this? My granddaughter's dying, and my grandson's sick. Why are you all tormenting me? I might just die as well! Why can't Chloe just agree to save Benny?"
The hallway buzzed with louder whispers, some expressing pity, others scorn.
Maria sobbed theatrically, snot and tears smearing her face.
Zion, moved by her performance, approached me, his voice hoarse. "Chloe, I know you're hurting. But please, we really don't have other choices. You know that. Benny can't wait any longer."
Reela clung to my arm. "Chloe, don't listen to him!"
She truly worried that I would agree.
I looked at Reela, her fierce determination mirroring the protective love my late mother had shown me. But since she was gone, I had to make decisions myself.
I squeezed her hand and said softly, "Reela, trust me this time. Let me decide."
Her eyes searched mine before she reluctantly nodded.
I released her hand and turned to Zion and Maria. Finally, I looked at Anita, still kneeling and sobbing quietly.
"Do you really want to save your son?"
Anita's head shot up, her eyes filled with desperate hope. She nodded frantically.
Maria immediately stopped crying and stood. "Chloe, listen to me. Saving Benny will only bring you benefits. It's better to end Quinn's suffering as soon as possible, and Benny would grow up remembering the sister who saved him."
I fixed her with a cold stare. "You've known about Benny all along, haven't you? You knew Zion had a child with her and kept it from me. And what about the company? Have you been scheming about that too?"
Maria paled, unable to respond.
Anita looked away guiltily, her eyes darting to Zion.
Zion finally spoke. "If you agree, we'll sign the donation papers together."
I had long noticed Zion's calm yet expectant gaze. Then, I glanced at the secretary behind him, who was holding an agreement.
I nodded. "Fine. Since you've all planned so thoroughly, I'll agree."
"No! You can't sign this!"
Reela grabbed my arm, and everyone around gasped.
Maria and Zion, however, lit up with relief and joy.
Maria beamed. "You've made the right choice, Chloe! That's wonderful!"
Anita, however, remained tense. She stared at me warily as if afraid I might change my mind.
Seeing that I had agreed, Zion took off his mask and pulled Anita to her feet.
"What's your condition?"
I turned to Quinn's still form on the bed. "Give me one month. If Quinn doesn't wake up by then, I'll agree to the donation."
Anita started to protest, but Zion silenced her with a firm grip.
Reela tugged at my sleeve, panicked. "No, Chloe, don't sign anything!"
Zion snapped at her, "Shut up! This has nothing to do with you."
I looked at Reela and continued, "And if you want me to sign, you'll also sign the divorce papers and transfer your shares of the company to me. I'll have a lawyer verify everything."
Maria scoffed, "You? Run the company? Don't make me laugh."
I didn't dignify her with a response. Instead, I addressed Zion directly. "Once this is done, we're finished. Don't ever contact me again."
Zion tried to backpedal. "Chloe, I didn't mean we should divorce..."
He sounded reluctant, but I knew it was just a show for the outsiders.
I raised a hand to cut him off. Turning to the gathered crowd, I said loudly, "You're all witnesses. Once we sign, there's no turning back. After this, Zion and I are strangers."
Reela's eyes filled with tears. "Why did you let them have it? I won't let anyone touch Quinn!"
I almost burst out crying. Deep down, I felt sorry for Quinn more than anyone else.
The crowd behind me kept whispering. Some called me a fool, some called Zion a ruthless bast**d, and some scolded Anita for being shameless. But no matter what they said, life had to go on.
Zion didn't want a divorce, but in the end, he chose Benny over me.
One month later, on the day of the scheduled surgery, I received a furious phone call from Zion. "You b**ch! Where the hell is Quinn?" he roared.

Hearing Zion's enraged voice through the phone, I couldn't help but feel a twisted sense of satisfaction. "Oh? Isn't this exactly what you wanted? Why are you yelling at me now?"
"Where's Quinn?" His fury roared through the line. "I'm asking you! Where is she?"
I glanced over at my daughter, who was sitting quietly in the distance. Even now, the memory of those nerve-wracking days sent a chill down my spine.
I thought back to the agreement we'd signed: the surgery was conditional only if Quinn remained unresponsive after a month.
When we finalized the divorce, Zion got what he wanted: the company's management rights. In return, I walked away with half of the shares, a house, and twenty million in cash.
But now, his voice on the other end of the line was frantic, almost panicked. "You signed the papers! You agreed! Where is Quinn? What have you done with her?"
I chuckled coldly, "Yes, I signed the papers. But Quinn woke up. Or do you plan to carve her heart out of her chest while she's still alive?"
"You... That's impossible!" His voice cracked. "It's been a month! The doctors said she'd never recover. Where are you hiding her?"
"Why? Afraid you'll miss the window for your precious surgery?"
Through the surveillance app on my phone, I could see him losing it. He was now at what used to be our home, smashing expensive vases and furniture in his fury. Such a waste.
"You deceitful liar!" he spat. "This is illegal! We both signed that agreement. What did you do with Quinn's body?"
"Her body?" I replied icily. "Why don't you come and find out? Bring whoever you like, and let the world see how you're willing to rip your own daughter apart for your bast**d son!"
There was a long silence on the other end, and I almost thought he'd hung up. Then, his voice dropped to a low, menacing tone. "You planned all this, didn't you?"
I feigned ignorance. "Planned? What are you talking about?"
"Chloe," he hissed. "I underestimated you. You set me up, didn't you? You knew everything from the start."
Hearing his words, I couldn't help but laugh. "Underestimated me? Have you ever truly respected me, Zion? If you keep talking nonsense, just hang up already. We agreed not to bother each other."
His anger flared again. "You were so quick to sign everything, even inviting an audience to watch. You wanted me humiliated, didn't you?"
I laughed even harder. "If you knew it would ruin you, why go through with it? Couldn't possibly be that stupid, could you?"
"Chloe!" he growled, his voice shaking with rage. "Don't get too smug. Quinn is my daughter too. Even if we're divorced, her custody isn't guaranteed to go to you."
"Really? Tell me, Zion, does the law favor a father who cheated, fathered an illegitimate child, and plotted to steal his daughter's heart for his son? Big talk for someone with no leg to stand on."
"You!" He was so furious that he could barely form words.
I didn't give him a chance. "Oh, and by the way, if I hadn't noticed the needle marks on Quinn's arm, I wouldn't have uncovered your little scheme. Your precious childhood sweetheart couldn't hold back her excitement when Quinn's condition worsened, could she? It was only when I mentioned sending Quinn abroad that you all rushed to act. Did you really think you could get away with it?"
Zion sneered, "So you staged that whole spectacle at the hospital? What a trap you set."
"Did I have a choice? If I hadn't taken precautions, Quinn might have died without me even realizing. Your family's impatience and Benny's poor health were what exposed you in the end."
"You venomous woman," he snarled, practically growling. "This isn't over!"
I finally snapped, "Zion, don't push your luck. I've left with Quinn, I gave you the company, and all I want is peace. Why can't you let us go?"
"The company?" He suddenly laughed.
"You think I care about the company? You know what I've wanted all along. I endured your family's insults and even had to separate from Anita. If it weren't for your mother's death, the company wouldn't have fallen into my hands."
"And Quinn?" His voice turned dismissive. "She means nothing to me."
Zion didn't even bother to pretend anymore. "If it weren't for you, Benny would be a healthy boy. He wouldn't suffer from heart disease if Anita hadn't been so worried during her pregnancy. It's all your fault!"
I couldn't take such nonsense anymore. "Cut your bullsh*t, Zion. Why not reflect on why your son's condition is so poor? And don't bother calling again."
I was about to hang up when he shouted, "Wait! If Quinn is alive, I want to see her."
Finally, he was getting to the point.
I scoffed, "Didn't you just say she means nothing to you? Why should I let you near her after you planned to rip her heart out?"
"She's my daughter," he snapped. "I have the right to see her. Our divorce can't change the fact that I'm her father. If you refuse, don't expect a single cent from the company shares."
I smirked. "Oh, I don't care. I already sold them."
Seeing him almost crush his phone was satisfying. "You what? You sold the shares? To who? Why didn't you come to me first?"
"My assets, my choice," I said sweetly. "Why would I sell them to someone as heartless as you?"
"Chloe, where the hell are you? I'll kill you!" he roared.
"Try me," I replied calmly, hanging up and tossing the SIM card into the trash.
Ignoring Reela's protests, I took Quinn to a seaside property my mother had left me, far away from Zion's reach.
As I watched the waves crash against the shore, I began keeping tabs on Zion's downfall.
I heard from Reela that Benny wasn't doing well. Whenever he reached me, he had to do it secretly because many had witnessed how our marriage ended.
A father forcing his own daughter to give up her heart to save his bast**d son? Only someone as inhuman as Zion could come up with such a thing.
I made sure to hide Quinn and myself well, knowing Zion wouldn't easily find us.
Desperation turned him frantic. Believing that he was filthy rich and that money could solve anything, he poured obscene amounts into finding a heart donor for his son.
He even boasted publicly that he would spare no expense to save his boy's life.
But his desperation became his downfall. According to sources within his company, Zion spent his days shuttling between hospitals and meetings with intermediaries, exhausting himself. His lack of focus caused the company's performance to nosedive, but he remained oblivious.
Opportunistic scammers preyed on him, promising suitable donors, leading him to shady black-market dealings. He lost large sums of money, narrowly avoiding police entanglements.
His determination to save his son was truly reckless.
While he spiraled, I lived quietly with Quinn, assuming Zion's connections and resources would eventually succeed.
But fate had other plans. Despite his wealth and efforts, Zion couldn't save his son.
The irony was almost laughable. The surgery failed, and Benny didn't survive. Yet Zion lied to Anita, claiming the boy was in the ICU and needed six months of recovery.
Of course, lies had a way of surfacing. Within a month, Anita discovered the truth that her son had long since become nothing more than ashes. The revelation shattered her, driving her to the brink of madness.
Chaos consumed their household, and Zion, overwhelmed, neglected his business entirely.
But something didn't sit right with me. Why did Zion, a man as selfish as he was, go to such lengths to spare Anita the truth?
Could he really love someone that deeply? It didn't align with the man I knew.
By the time Zion returned his focus to the company, it was too late. Gaping vulnerabilities allowed new shareholders to swoop in and buy it out for a fraction of its value.
When I heard the news, I felt a fleeting pang of regret, but it was a small price for justice.
However, I hadn't expected Zion's next move. He wanted me and Quinn back to get back on his feet.
One evening, fresh from the shower, I found Quinn sitting silently with the phone in her hands.
She'd accidentally turned on the speaker, and Zion's voice filled the room.
"Chloe, please," he pleaded. "Give me another chance. The company is gone, and you don't want to see your mother's legacy end like this, do you? Just help me with some funding, and I swear I'll turn it around. I'll even treat Quinn like I used to."
"Then why did you want my heart? Daddy, I'm scared. It'll hurt."
Quinn suddenly spoke, tears streaming down her face.
Zion didn't expect Quinn to answer the call. He froze for a long while, digesting the fact that she wasn't dead. Then, he said softly, "Quinn, I love you the most. Did you forget that? How could I be so cruel to you? Don't believe your mommy's words."
Quinn sniffled. "Then why didn't you come for us before? Why did you leave Mommy and me?"
"I never wanted to leave you," he insisted. "Your mommy hid you from me. She wouldn't tell me where you were. Be a good girl and tell me where you are, okay? I'll pick you up."
Quinn's voice cracked with a sob. "Then why did you have a baby with another woman? If I got sick, would you take his heart for me?"
Zion didn't answer immediately, probably thinking about Benny.
Quinn continued, "Get rid of that bad woman, and I'll tell you where we are."
Zion's tone turned sharp, his patience unraveling. "He's already dead! Why can't you let it go? Quinn, don't you have any conscience? After everything I've done for you..."
Quinn wiped her tears and said firmly, "This is the last time I'll ever call you Daddy. By the way, I never told you, but I heard everything you and Grandma said at the hospital. I couldn't talk then, but I heard it all."
With that, she ended the call.
I pulled her into my arms, feeling heartbroken. "Don't worry, Quinn," I whispered. "Mommy's here. No one will hurt you ever again."
Her tears flowed freely as she finally let go of all the fear and pain she had been carrying.
The truth came out piece by piece. I had noticed needle marks on Quinn's arm and, after pressing her, discovered that Zion had secretly taken her to a hospital for blood tests.
My investigation revealed more than I'd bargained for. I learned about his affair with Anita and their sickly child, born only months after Quinn. Their son's health had always been fragile, and they'd been searching for a heart donor all along.
The realization that Zion had planned to sacrifice Quinn for his son's survival kept me awake for nights on end.
There was no other choice. I had to act.
So, I staged a car accident, a desperate gamble to expose the truth.
To get Quinn's cooperation, I showed her evidence of Zion's affair.
At first, she couldn't accept it. The father she had adored had betrayed her in the worst way, and now he wanted her heart to save his other child.
But the final blow came when she overheard Zion and Maria's heartless words at her bedside.
Perhaps when she answered the phone earlier, part of her still hoped for reconciliation. But after speaking to him, all hope was gone.
Some truths were painful, but the sooner you confronted them, the less they hurt. I wanted Quinn to grow up happy, but I refused to let her live in a web of lies. Facing reality now would help her avoid heartache in the future.
I threw out my SIM card, cutting off any way for Zion to contact us. Backed into a corner, he was forced to sell his house to scrape together funds.
He dreamed of starting over, but his reputation was in tatters, and he lacked the sharp instincts my mother had once used to dominate the business world. His delusions of grandeur were just delusions.
With nowhere else to turn, Zion prepared for one final, desperate gamble.

Through my sources, I learned that Zion was on his way to the city where I was hiding. His intentions were clear: this wasn't a friendly visit.
I immediately contacted my local connections. If he wanted to play dirty, I had no reason to hold back.
When Reela burst through the door, her face was flushed with anger.
She stormed inside, her voice practically a roar. "Where's that bast**d? I'll make sure he regrets it!"
Before I could respond, Quinn ran into her arms excitedly.
Reela shot me a glare. "You've got some nerve! Not even a word to me? What were you thinking?"
It took all my charm and endless pleading to finally get her to forgive me.
Reela had always been my shield, five years older and fiercely protective of me since we were kids.
But her fiery temper made her unpredictable, especially when it came to anyone bullying me.
Reela had helped me a lot when I escaped with Quinn, but I feared that Zion would blame her after I disappeared.
So, after I moved, I told no one where I was staying. This place, my mother's secret retreat, was known only to me.
Reela quickly got to work, updating me on our plan. "Everything's ready," she said with a sly grin. "Just sit back and watch the show."
She flicked my forehead playfully. "You're as sneaky as ever. My mom always said so."
Quinn giggled, curious. "Auntie, who are you talking about?"
Reela kissed her on the cheek. "You, my little troublemaker. Just like your mom."
Sure enough, not long after, Zion's voice echoed through the door. "Quinn, open the door for Daddy. I know you're in there!"
Then, in a colder tone, he added, "Chloe, if you don't want to make a scene in front of the kid, open the door now. Or don't blame me for what happens next."
His threats came with loud, relentless banging on the door.
The sound made Quinn tremble, clinging to me tightly.
I exchanged a glance with Reela, who nodded and quietly took Quinn to the bedroom. Once they were safely inside, I straightened my posture and opened the door.
Zion stood there, his eyes wild with fury. The moment he saw me, his expression darkened further. "Chloe, you're heartless! All I wanted was to save my son, and you've destroyed my entire life."
I glanced at the street, feigning confusion. "Zion, how odd. You have an affair, father a bast**d, then demand our daughter's heart to save him. When your scheme fails and karma bites, you show up here blaming me. Have you no shame?"
His chest heaved with anger. "Now I see it clearly. You planned this from the start! You tricked me into divorcing you, left me with an empty shell of a company, and when I was too distracted, someone swooped in and bought it out. It was you, wasn't it? You're the real owner now!"
I smiled, my tone calm and patronizing. "Zion, let's be fair. We were married for years, and we have Quinn. Things are hard for you now, so why don't you ask nicely? Maybe I'll consider helping you."
He hesitated, visibly thrown off by my words. Suspicion flickered in his eyes, but desperation kept him rooted.
I knew him too well. Zion was cautious to a fault; I had to lead him step by step.
"Remember when we first got married? You were broke, but I didn't care. I supported you without hesitation. Under your management, the company thrived. If you're willing to leave Anita behind, maybe we can put the past behind us. What do you think?"
His expression finally softened.
The thought of returning to his comfortable old life was clearly tempting.
Nobody could accept falling from the clouds. That was the nature of all humans.
"Chloe," he said, his voice almost trembling. "Would you really forgive me?"
I nodded solemnly. "Of course. As long as you're sincere. After all, you're Quinn's father."
Emotion flickered across his face, a mix of relief and nostalgia. "Chloe, we can go back to the way things were. Anita... she's just a mistake from the past. I swear, from now on, it'll be just us."
He reached out as if to take my hand, but before he could, a figure stormed up behind him like a hurricane and tugged at his hair.
The next second, the crisp sound of two slaps echoed in the night air, sharp and satisfying.
The show was on!
Anita stood there, her face twisted with rage and betrayal.
"You ungrateful bast**d! After everything I've sacrificed for you, this is how you repay me?"
Zion stumbled back, stunned. "You... How are you here?"
Anita didn't answer. Instead, she lunged at him, clawing and hitting wherever she could reach. Tears streamed down her face as she screamed, "Tell me the truth! Did you lie to me? Did you never want to save Benny? Were you just using me?"
Zion shoved her away, his voice cold and dismissive. "You're crazy. Get a grip!"
Anita's laughter was hollow and chilling.
"Crazy? You think I'm crazy? I must be, to have believed you for so many years. To have trusted a liar like you! I'm gonna tell them the truth..."
Before she could finish, Zion grabbed her, covering her mouth and dragging her away.
I watched, amused but curious. What truth was she about to reveal?
My thoughts were interrupted by a call from the police.
When I arrived at the station, I was greeted by the sight of Zion's mother, who was sobbing uncontrollably.
Zion was dead.
Anita had killed him in a fit of rage. From what I overheard, she'd mutilated him before stabbing him to death.
When Maria saw me, her grief turned into fury. "It's you! You sent Anita here, didn't you? How else could she have found this place?"
I folded my arms. "Why don't you ask yourself why your son came here? Did I invite him? Was it my call that brought him to my door?"
She stammered, searching for a retort. I pressed on. "I avoided him, hid from him, and yet he still showed up. Why? Because his business failed, and he needed my help? Or because he was bored of Anita and thought he could come crawling back to me?"
I stepped closer, my voice icy. "You know your son better than anyone. Don't pin his death on me. If you want someone to blame, maybe start with yourself. Your indulgence and constant enabling led him here."
Her anger dissolved into silence as my words sank in.
For the first time, she seemed to reflect on the chain of events that had brought us here.
Finally, she collapsed to the ground, wailing.
"My son! My poor son!"
The truth was all out.
Anita's mental state deteriorated after the loss of her son. Unable to cope with his death, she developed a severe psychological disorder.
Zion, burdened by her erratic behavior, seemed to have attempted various ways to contain her, likely overwhelmed by her outbursts. Eventually, he decided to confine her, hoping to regain some control.
However, Anita wasn't entirely incapacitated. Her episodes came and went.
One day, she received a message that led her to follow Zion to my place.
When she overheard him declare to me that she was nothing more than his past, her fragile psyche finally shattered.
Zion, afraid I might uncover the secrets they shared, dragged her away in haste.
Maria, unable to bear the loss of her son and the cruel reality of outliving him, suffered a stroke.
She was left in a semi-conscious state, neither fully alive nor dead, forced to endure the torment of her remaining days in humiliation and sickness.
When it came time for Zion's funeral, I asked Quinn for her thoughts. She firmly shook her head, refusing to attend.
I respected her decision without hesitation.
Reela, hearing of their tragic fates, sighed deeply in front of me, "If they'd known it would come to this, why did they make those choices in the first place?"
Indeed, greed knew no bounds.
You always reap what you sew.
That was the law of karma.
Reela urged me to return with her, but I shook my head. I had made peace with my choices. Life by the sea, with my daughter by my side, held a serenity I didn't want to give up.
Here, I could feel my mother's presence in every breeze and every wave.
It was a fresh start, one I intended to embrace fully.
One day, I received an unexpected call from a psychiatric hospital. A patient named Anita wanted to see me.
When I entered the sterile white room, I saw her sitting quietly.
Her mental state seemed stable, and her eyes held a faint glimmer of light when they met mine.
"I'm sorry," she said earnestly, her voice trembling with regret.
"I don't accept your apology," I replied without hesitation.
Anita had been declared unfit for criminal responsibility.
She reached into her pocket and took out a tiny gold cross. I recognized it immediately. It was the pendant I had once lovingly placed around my daughter's neck, but we had lost it long ago. I hadn't thought much of its disappearance at the time.
"I'm sorry," Anita said again. "I lived in self-deception, convincing myself that he truly loved me and my son. I thought you were the villain who tore us apart."
She continued, "I know it was your cousin who sent that message that day. I didn't believe it at first. I thought he was coming here to confront you. To... get revenge."
She let out a bitter laugh as tears streamed down her face, probably regretting that she had loved the wrong man.
Hadn't I, too, misplaced my faith in Zion?
"That day," Anita continued, "I wanted to warn you to stay on guard. Zion wasn't a good man. But he stopped me before I could say anything."
Her voice lowered as she added, "I finally understand now. I was just a tool, someone who stole happiness that was never meant for me."
She placed the pendant on the table between us. "Here. This belongs to you."
"You still have your daughter," she added. "Treasure her and live a good life."
I glanced down at the tiny golden cross, its surface gleaming faintly under the light. Engraved on its side was the letter Q, a symbol I had chosen to represent eternal peace and safety when I first had it made.
Perhaps Anita had only just noticed the engraving.
But I didn't take the pendant. My daughter's happiness and safety couldn't rely on a trinket.
Anita said she planned to recover and visit Maria, but the look in her eyes as she said this sent a chill down my spine.
As I walked away, her voice echoed behind me, soft and repetitive. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
The wind carried her words away, scattering the lingering shadows of the past.
Outside, the sun shone brightly, and Quinn called out to me. "Mommy, I'm hungry! Let's have a feast!"
"Of course!" I replied, smiling.
"And I want to go to the amusement park!" she added.
"All right, whatever you want."
The sunlight poured over us, casting our long shadows on the ground.

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