The philandering husband eloped with the orphaned girl
Until one day before my due date, I accidentally overheard him talking to his buddy, Jake.
Michael, that young woman you've been sponsoring, is she still bothering you? She's younger and prettier than your wife. Don't you feel anything for her?
Michael scoffed, a sneer twisting his face.
"What is she? She's not even fit to shine my wife's shoes. I'm just doing something good to earn some good karma for my wife. The sooner she's gone, the better."
A wave of sweetness swelled in my heart. I thought I'd finally found true happiness.
But who would've thought? The very next day, as I was on my way to the hospital, that girl drove her car straight into us.
She held a terminal diagnosis in her hand, tears streaming down her face, unable to stop them.
"Michael, I don't have much time left. If you won't have me, are you forcing me to die to finally feel at peace?!"
I was already bleeding, kneeling in the car, begging Michael to rush me to the hospital.
But he ruthlessly kicked me away and locked the car doors.
"Get out! If Novia gets hurt, neither you nor the baby in your Belly will live!"
I was trapped in the car for an entire day and night.
By the time someone found me and pulled me out, my baby's heartbeat was gone.
At my lowest, Michael actually called.
"Let's get divorced first. Novia's condition can't wait. I need to take her abroad for treatment as her husband."
Tears streaming down my face, I agreed to his demand. I clutched my baby's ashes and left that heartbreaking place.
Five years later, I was living in a remote fishing village, scavenging for junk to survive. I never expected to see Michael again.
His gaze fell on my three-year-old daughter in my arms, and his eyes actually reddened.
"Didn't I tell you to wait for me at home? And what do you do? You're out here picking up trash with my daughter! Look how thin she is! Are you even fit to be a mother?"
*****
"A five-year-old kid is so thin. Elma Pollitt, how exactly do you take care of her as a mother?"
"I thought you were so principled, not contacting me for five years. Turns out you're just out here picking up trash with the kid, huh? Don't tell me you knew I was coming for an inspection today and decided to put on this show for me?"
My little daughter was in my arms, and my mind went blank, being yelled at by the man who'd suddenly appeared.
It took me a while to realize who he was. It was Michael Dryden, my ex-husband from five years ago.
And the woman clinging to his arm, dressed in designer clothes, was none other than Novia Camilla, the young woman he'd sponsored back then.
Seeing them so intimate, I instinctively hugged my daughter tighter. My mind spun, memories dragging me back five years.
Back then, I'd just gotten pregnant. Michael, who was always cold and distant, suddenly started sponsoring a high school girl from an orphanage and even let her move into our home.
The first time I saw Novia, pale and in worn-out clothes, my heart softened.
Even with my baby bump, I cooked her nutritious meals. I'd stay up late, helping her with her studies, tutoring her often.
Under my care, Novia brightened up significantly, smiling more often.
Her grades skyrocketed from last in class to first in her grade, and she eventually got into a prestigious university.
But I never imagined that the first thing she'd do after turning eighteen was to hook up with Michael, betraying me!
Seeing that I hadn't spoken, Michael's eyes fell on my daughter.
His brows furrowed, and he said with clear dissatisfaction, "Why is it a girl? My mother has been hoping for a grandson for years, and she was already unhappy with you. Now you have another daughter? How am I supposed to explain this to her?"
Only then did I realize he thought the child in my arms was his.
I couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.
He had the nerve to bring that up?
That child, our child, had died five years ago, suffocated to death inside me.
And the one responsible for the baby's death was *him*, the biological father!
Anger churned in my chest. I took a deep breath and stepped back, hugging my daughter tightly.
"You're mistaken. This child isn't yours…"
?
My clarification was cut short.
Novia suddenly interrupted me, shaking Michael's arm as she purred, "Michael, I can give you children! My illness is long gone. I can have as many as you want."
Michael affectionately pinched her nose, smiling. "You've just recovered, sweetheart. I can't bear for you to go through that right now. You just need to be my little princess."
Then, he turned to me, looking utterly disdainful.
"Elma Pollitt, for the past five years, Novia has suffered so much abroad, endured so much pain. And you? All you know is to compete with her, throwing tantrums all day, not even a single word of comfort. Someone as cold and heartless as you truly doesn't deserve her kindness."
I rolled my eyes at his words, completely speechless.
For the past five years, my email had been flooded with photos and videos Novia sent from all over the world.
In those pictures, she looked rosy-cheeked and full of life. Where was the sick patient?
I had no interest in saying more. I picked up the garbage tongs beside me and waved them in front of him.
This gesture instantly scared Novia, and she started crying.
Michael looked me up and down, pinching his nose and frowning as he took a step back.
"Look at you now, a complete mess! You reek of garbage. What's the difference between you and a homeless person? So you pretended to be dignified for five years? In the end, you still came crawling back to me, didn't you?"
"Don't think bringing a child here will make me take you back or start over. We ended things the moment you impulsively blocked me."
My daughter in my arms was startled by his tone and burst into tears.
Michael's expression softened slightly, and he reached out to her. "Shh, don't cry, sweetie. Daddy will take you home. Don't stay with this crazy woman."
What he got in return was Nina's even more heartbroken scream: "I don't want you to hug me! You're not fit to be my daddy! You're a meanie who bullies Mommy! I hate you the most!"
Publicly humiliated, Michael's face instantly darkened. He glared at me and said coldly, "Is this how you raise her? She has no manners whatsoever! I lived with you for five years, no wonder you're full of flaws! My family won't acknowledge such an ill-mannered child. Don't show your face to me again until you've sorted yourself out."
No one can tolerate someone speaking ill of their child like that.
I clenched my fists and spoke coldly, "You're wrong. This isn't your daughter. She has nothing to do with you."
Michael froze for a moment.
Then he scoffed, completely uncaring. "Elma Pollitt, always so quick with your words, aren't you? I hate that fake innocent act of yours. It's disgusting."
"Still pretending at a time like this? If you don't get down on your knees and beg me, then just get lost and spare me the sight of you!"
With that, he pulled a few bills from his pocket and slapped them against my face. "Look at how poor you two look. Take this and buy yourselves some decent clothes. Don't go around embarrassing yourselves."
Then, he put his arm around Novia and walked away.
I looked down at my old, orange work uniform and couldn't help but curse his ancestors in my mind.
Michael, of course, had no idea that the T-shirt I was wearing underneath was a limited-edition design by world-renowned designer Krena, priced at a staggering one hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
My daughter's cartoon jacket was also a high-end luxury brand.
As for me, I had remarried four years ago and had another child. How could I ever go back to the past?
My special ringtone rang. I collected myself and answered. A gentle, deep voice came from the other end: "My dearest wife, you must be tired from your business trip. I've arranged the lounge for you. Take the baby in and get some good rest."
"I really want to see you right now. I'll come over right after my meeting this afternoon."
My usually reserved husband was actually whining like a big kid, and my heart warmed.
After hanging up, I led my daughter to the lounge door. From inside, I heard faint, intimate sounds of heavy breathing…
?
Pushing the door open, I saw Michael and Novia entangled on the sofa, in a very intimate embrace.
I quickly covered my daughter's eyes and ears.
Michael angrily picked up a nearby water glass and threw it at me.
"Get out! Who let you in? Is this a place for a beggar like you?!"
The glass hit my forehead, and the pain made my vision swim.
Before I could even recover,
Several project managers rushed in, politely apologizing to Michael.
"We're truly sorry, Mr. Dryden. We were negligent. We'll take her out immediately."
Furious, I shook off the person holding me and shouted, "This is *my* lounge! What right do you have to kick me out?"
The scene fell into a sudden silence.
Then, a few people started laughing.
Seeing they didn't believe me, I was about to pull out my phone to prove myself.
But Michael rushed over, snatched my phone, and violently smashed it on the floor. The screen shattered into several pieces.
Before I could speak,
He sneered coldly, "Have you been dreaming for too long? Is your mind not clear? This lounge is exclusively for Richard Bill, one of the wealthiest men in the country. Even I can only sit here to discuss business. Who do you think you are, spouting such nonsense?"
"You've gone this far to seduce me. You really have no shame."
A few stout middle-aged men eyed me with strange looks.
"Mr. Dryden, who is this woman?"
Michael chuckled coldly, casually saying, "Don't know her. But looking at her, she's probably selling herself, isn't she?"
Novia leaned against him, giggling, her fingers tracing circles on his chest. "Michael, you're so mean to my sister."
After hearing Michael ruthlessly humiliate me,
The project managers' faces immediately twisted with disgust. A barrage of nasty comments followed.
"This kind of woman actually dares to come here and seduce Mr. Dryden, and with a child! She has no shame. Be careful not to catch anything."
"With your pathetic appearance, you can't do anything else. You might as well go beg for food."
"We've seen plenty of women like you. They're full of tricks, willing to do anything for money. If Mr. Dryden doesn't want her, you can give her to me to play with. I haven't seen a piece of trash like this in ages."
I kept my daughter tightly hugged, not letting her hear those vulgar words.
"Don't go too far! There's a child here!"
But it still scared Nina. The little girl cried out.
Michael seemed to think it had gone a bit too far. His face darkened, and he roared, "Who told you to talk like that? Are you looking to die?!"
The men exchanged glances and quickly shut up.
I ignored him, focusing on comforting my daughter in my arms.
Just as I finally managed to calm her down,
I looked up and saw Michael staring at me thoughtfully, a hint of complexity in his eyes.
He seemed about to say something, but Novia spoke first, putting on a generous and gentle facade:
"Sister Elma, it must have been hard for you raising a child alone all these years. My body is still recovering, and I just happen to need a nanny. Why don't you come and take care of me? I'll pay you two thousand five hundred a month. It's much better than picking up trash outside."
As soon as she finished speaking, Michael pulled her close and kissed her deeply on the lips.
"Novia, you're so considerate. You really break my heart."
Novia blushed and buried her head in his chest.
Watching them being so sickeningly sweet, I felt goosebumps all over my body. Suppressing my disgust, I refused:
"Thank you for your kind offer, but I really like my current job."
With that, I ignored Michael's grim face, hugged my daughter, and walked straight out.
These two lunatics. If I can't deal with them, I can at least avoid them, right?
Behind me, I heard the sound of things smashing, mixed with Michael's furious roar:
"Elma Pollitt, are you really that useless? You're still a complete failure, aren't you? And you still think you can remarry me? No way!"
I slammed the door shut.
?
My phone was shattered, so I had no choice but to find a shady spot to rest with my daughter.
The little one leaned softly against me, asking in her tender voice, "Mommy, who were those people just now? Why were they saying mean things? When is Daddy coming to pick us up?"
I gently kissed her forehead, softly telling her, "Those were bad people, Nina. Don't mind them. Daddy will be here soon to pick us up. Let's wait patiently, okay?"
She nodded vigorously, and her expression made me kiss her little cheek again.
The weather was getting hotter. I told my daughter to sit quietly here and wait while I went to get some water.
But when I came back with the water, I suddenly heard my daughter crying loudly, "Mommy, help me! Let go of me!"
The sight before my eyes broke my heart.
Novia was clutching my daughter by the neck, slamming her onto the ground.
Seeing this, my rage erupted. All reason vanished.
I lunged forward and slapped Novia hard across the face.
Just as I snatched Nina from her grasp,
Michael rushed over.
Novia was already crying uncontrollably, snot and tears running down her face as she threw herself into his arms. "Michael, I saw her alone there and just wanted to be nice and keep her company. But then this child suddenly bit me! I only said a few words to her, and Sister Elma rushed over and hit me!"
Michael looked at the red mark on her face and the teeth marks on her hand. His face instantly turned cold, his eyes blazing with fury.
"Elma Pollitt, how dare you lay a hand on my woman?! You truly don't respect me!"
He grabbed my hair and ruthlessly kicked me in the chest.
The kick was so heavy that I coughed up blood.
My chest throbbed with excruciating pain, as if my whole body was falling apart.
"Mommy! Mommy!"
My daughter's heartbreaking screams came from behind me.
Michael didn't seem satisfied. He turned and slapped my daughter, sending her sprawling onto the ground.
"You little brute! If your mom can't control you, I'll teach you a lesson!"
Hearing my child's cries, my heart twisted with pain.
I struggled to crawl towards her, but Michael stepped on my head, pinning me to the ground.
Novia walked over, hugged my crying daughter, and clamped her hand over Nina's mouth, forcibly muffling her cries. Nina's face turned bright red from holding her breath.
"Sister Elma, since you don't know how to raise a child, making her suffer so much, why don't you let me take her?"
Michael looked down at me with a cold sneer. "Stop talking nonsense. This woman doesn't deserve to be a mother. The child belongs to me today. You'll never see her again."
His leather shoe pressed down heavily on my back, and he continued with his cruel words: "She can't even control a child. If this keeps up, this little brat will grow up to be just like you, causing trouble. Might as well get rid of her now."
"Michael!" I shrieked, suddenly grabbing his ankle, my nails digging into his flesh. I screamed the truth hysterically—
"She's only three! She's not your child at all! She's Richard Bill's child! And I'm Richard Bill's wife, the current Mrs. Bill!"
?
As my voice echoed.
Everyone's faces instantly changed.
Then, piercing laughter erupted.
"Hahaha, Mr. Dryden, what is this woman spouting? If she's Mrs. Bill, then I must be the richest person in the world! Are you serious? Is she out of her mind?!"
"What nonsense! Everyone knows Mr. Bill's wife is a beautiful, elegant woman. This tramp, picking up garbage, thinks she can compare?"
"Yeah, and the Bill family only has one young master. That little girl beside her isn't even fit to carry Mr. Bill's son's shoes."
Amidst the noisy laughter, Michael grabbed me and yanked me off the ground.
"Elma Pollitt, you really don't prepare your lies, do you? Someone as high-and-mighty as Richard Bill, do you think he'd even glance at a woman like you, a woman I tossed aside?"
Michael's eyes were full of contempt, as if I were a piece of dirt on the ground.
"I was actually wondering if you were genuinely remorseful, if I could take you back. But it turns out you're not only unrepentant, you're also trying to cling to Mr. Bill. Elma Pollitt, your very essence is worse than this trash. No matter how much you wash, you're still garbage."
Before he finished speaking, Michael picked up a nearby garbage can and dumped it over my head.
The putrid smell quickly enveloped me, making me gag.
The surrounding managers pinched their noses and laughed.
"Well done! That's how you teach people like her a lesson."
One man offered a suggestion.
"Mr. Dryden, rumor has it that Mr. Bill is extremely protective of his wife. If he knew someone was impersonating his wife, he certainly wouldn't let her off easily. I know there's a cold storage nearby. Let's lock her in there and let Mr. Bill deal with her personally when he arrives. Then our collaboration project will surely be a go."
Looking at this group of ugly-faced people, my heart filled with hatred.
Michael stared at me and sighed.
"Elma Pollitt, I'm giving you one last chance to apologize. Just kneel down and apologize to Novia in public, and I'll let you go. Otherwise…"
"You wish!"
Seeing my defiance, Michael's expression turned completely cold.
He gave a look, and several burly men immediately swarmed me, binding my hands and feet before tossing me into the cold storage.
In the freezing cold storage, below ten degrees Celsius, my entire body quickly became covered in frost.
A strong will to survive made me incessantly bang on the door, desperately scratching at the metal with all my might. My nails were ripped off, exposing raw, bloody flesh.
My daughter cried out for Mommy from outside, only to be slapped several times.
"Who do you call 'Mommy'? From now on, *I'm* your only mommy! You little thing!"
Seeing Nina continue to cry uncontrollably, Novia simply stuffed a foul-smelling rag into her mouth.
Suddenly, a roaring sound came from a distance. A black Maybach screeched to a halt beside them.
A pair of perfectly tailored long legs stepped onto the ground, and a custom suit outlined the cold, handsome figure of the newcomer.
He was holding a cute little boy in his arms.
In the split second before my consciousness faded, I heard someone shriek:
"Mr. Bill and the young master are here!"
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