My daughter froze to death because my husband thought I kidnapped his bastards.

He tied her upside down to a utility pole. In the middle of a blizzard. And left her there all night.

By the time I reached her, her tiny lips were blue, her lashes covered in frost, and her arms hung limp like a broken doll.

I screamed her name—once, twice—but Kiara didn’t answer. My baby didn’t even flinch.

I fell to my knees, clutching her frozen body, barely breathing as I whispered, “Colsen, she’s your daughter too. How could you do this to her?”

“She’s my child,” he snarled, “just like Rafael and Brian. If you hate me, fine—but why punish innocent kids? Where did you hide them, Elsie?!”

My throat tightened. I didn’t know how to respond—because nothing I said would matter.

So he did worse.

He ordered someone to throw my already unconscious daughter into a frozen lake.

I dragged her out with trembling hands, screaming until my voice cracked. But Kiara never woke up.

At the hospital, the doctor shook his head. “There's nothing we can do. Her organs have shut down. It’s too late.”

She had just turned seven yesterday.

And now she was gone. Not because of illness. Not because of fate. But because I married a man who thought his mistresses’ children were worth more than our own.

I took her lifeless body to the funeral home that night, then wandered back to the house to fetch her favorite doll.

But the moment I opened the door, I heard laughter.

There they were—Colsen’s “missing” sons—playing happily in the living room.

And Colsen?

He was on the couch with her, arms wrapped around the woman who helped ruin everything.

My head started spinning at the sight. My mind went completely blank.

When Colsen noticed me, the grin on his face disappeared. "Oh, you're back?" he said flatly.

He gave me a cold glance and added, "Looks like the punishment worked. You must've been scared enough to return Rafael and Brian in the middle of the night. Since they're both fine, and Astrid is kind-hearted, I'll let this whole thing go."

I didn't respond. He narrowed his eyes and said with a chill in his voice, "To keep the boys from going missing again, I'll be keeping them close from now on. Starting today, Astrid and her two sons will be living here too. You'd better drop whatever wicked ideas you've got and learn to get along."

Get along? What a joke.

Kiara had just passed away, and he expected me to live under the same roof as his illegitimate twins, like nothing had happened.

I clenched my fists, but my throat was too dry to speak.

Seeing I was silent, he frowned and asked, "Where's Kiara? What did you do with her? I shouldn't have tied her up like that, but you left me no choice. If you hadn't hidden my two sons, I wouldn't have gone that far. Kiara's always been a smart kid. I'm sure she'll understand."

Understand?

But he had no idea that the sweet, gentle child who never gave him trouble was dead because of him. Killed by his own hands. Just thinking of Kiara made my chest feel like it was being torn apart.

I looked at those two boys laughing on the slide, and fury exploded inside me. If it weren't for them, my daughter would still be alive!

In a sudden rage, I lunged forward and grabbed both boys by the neck with all the strength I had.

"Elsie Flynn! What are you doing?!" Colsen rushed over and yanked me back violently, throwing me to the floor.

"I thought you had changed, but you're still so cruel and full of hate! What did these boys ever do to deserve this from you?!"

Astrid quickly wrapped her arms around the crying children and burst into tears. "Elsie, it's all my fault. If you're angry, be mad at me. Please, just don't hurt them anymore..."

"Colsen stared at me with a cold expression, his gaze sharp and cold.

"Elsie, Astrid has always been kind and never tried to take anything from you. Why can't you just accept her?"

My eyes burned with tears, and my heart felt like it was being torn apart. "Colsen... do you even know... do you have any idea what you did to Kiara..."

Before I could finish, I suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood.

The sorrow overwhelmed me, and I collapsed unconscious.

When I opened my eyes again, I realized I was locked inside the room. I reached into my pocket to call for help, but my phone was gone.

Still in shock, I heard the door creak open slowly. Standing in the doorway, lit from behind, was Colsen.

He walked over and stopped near the bed, speaking in a calm but serious tone, "Elsie, it's normal for rich men to have more than one woman. Can't you be more understanding? No matter how many women are out there, you'll always be my legal wife. Kiara will always be my eldest daughter. No one can take your place. Why can't you accept that?"

I looked at the man before me, crying silently. He felt like a stranger now, and it terrified me.

We had fallen in love back in college. We married after graduation and had been together for over ten years.

In the beginning, I gave him all my savings to help him get started. I stayed by his side as he grew from a broke student into a billionaire businessman.

But just a year after he became successful, he had an affair. Everything he had promised me became meaningless.

When I discovered he had another family, I lost control. I screamed, cried, and made a huge scene.

I refused to divorce him because I didn't want the money we built together to end up in the hands of his illegitimate children. So I clung to the marriage certificate, refused to sign the divorce papers, and did everything I could to keep control of the company's finances. I promised myself I'd protect Kiara's inheritance—no matter what.

But it was my refusal to let go that ended up causing Kiara's death.

Now I finally see things clearly. I'm done fighting and making a fuss.

In a raspy voice, I told him, "Colsen, I won't argue anymore... I just want a divorce."

"You're stubborn!" he snapped, his eyes darkening as he slammed his hand on the table. "You still don't understand the situation! Since that's the case, stay in this room until you reflect on yourself. Once you realize your mistake, I'll let you out!"

Then he turned and walked out, closing the door behind him with a loud bang.

"No!" I screamed, rushing to the door and banging on it. "Colsen, open the door! I can't stay locked in here!"

Kiara is still lying in the funeral home. I haven't even buried her yet. I can't be trapped here!

"Open the door, Colsen!" I shouted.

But no matter how desperately I shouted, the only answer I got was the hollow echo of my own voice in the empty room.

It wasn't until later that night that the door finally opened again. Astrid came inside, holding a glass of water.

She stood in front of me with a mocking smirk, her voice dripping with provocation. "Elsie, just look at yourself. You look completely drained. No spark, no youth, no life left in you. No wonder Colsen chose me instead!"

Her words didn't bother me anymore.

I truly didn't care who Colsen chose to love.

"Oh, right, did your daughter die?" Astrid asked, sneering proudly. "Honestly, I hid the twins on purpose to make you look like the bad one. And it was my idea to hang your daughter up in the freezing wind all night. I suggested it to Colsen. Who would've thought it'd work so well and kill that little brat in one go? She's just like you—weak and pathetic.

"Elsie, the Breslin family business will soon belong to my kids! And I'll be the next Mrs. Breslin!"

"Astrid!" The second I heard her cruel words, I couldn't stay calm anymore.

Furious, I ran toward her, grabbed her hair, and screamed like a mad woman, "You vile woman! My daughter didn't do anything to you. Why did you hurt her?"

"Ah!" Astrid suddenly dropped to her knees with a loud thud and started begging with fake tears. "Elsie, I'm sorry. I never should've gone after Colsen or destroyed your family. Please stop hitting me..."

Then, the door burst open with a loud bang.

Colsen stormed in, his face filled with rage. "Elsie!"

He marched toward me and slapped me hard across the face. "Astrid came in to bring you water out of kindness. Instead of being grateful, you hit her? How could you be so cruel?"

The blow knocked me over.

My forehead hit the edge of the table, and a sharp pain followed. Warm blood started dripping down my face.

But I didn't care about the injury. I stood up, pleading with him. "Colsen, please let me go. Kiara froze to death because of you. Her body is still at the funeral home. She hasn't even been cremated. I can't let her leave this world without peace..."

"Stop lying!" Colsen's expression turned harsh. He glared at me and said coldly, "You're heartless enough to curse your own child? Kiara was always healthy. There's no way she froze to death! You're just trying to run away!"

But that night, the temperature was -20°C. Kiara was only seven. How could she survive that kind of torment?

"Colsen, I'm not making anything up. I can prove it with this death certificate..." My hands were shaking as I pulled the document from inside my clothes.

Astrid gave a cold laugh. "Elsie, where did you get that fake certificate from? My friend got one made for two dollars, but yours looks way more convincing."

"You're terrible, Elsie!" Colsen shouted, his face full of fury. He ripped the certificate from my hand and threw it at me.

"You really faked something like this just to trick me? I'm warning you, my patience is running out! Keep this up, and Astrid will replace you as my wife for sure! All the family's money will go to her twins!"

The sharp paper scraped across my face, cutting my skin and drawing blood.

A wave of despair washed over me.

Just then, a sudden clatter came from Kiara's room next door, followed by a strong scent of smoke.

My heart tightened in alarm. "What's going on out there?"

Astrid crossed her arms and spoke with tears in her voice, "Elsie, Rafael, and Brian really like Kiara's room. Colsen said he'd clear out all of Kiara's stuff so they could move in. He also said she had too many useless toys, and the storage room couldn't fit them. So he told the nanny to burn everything."

"What are you saying..." I gasped, completely stunned.

I ran outside and shouted, "Stop! Don't touch her things! Don't burn them!"

Colsen's face turned cold as he shouted, "Enough! Elsie, don't you get it? Letting Kiara keep all this junk will destroy her future! This is your fault! You spoiled her. Myla, burn everything!"

"No, you can't do that..." I rushed forward, trying to stop them, but Colsen yanked me back, holding me still.

Astrid pretended to comfort me. "Elsie, please trust Colsen. He only wants what's best for the kids."

In the end, all I could do was stand there, watching helplessly as Kiara's most beloved toys were swallowed by flames—reduced to ashes before my eyes. The fire roared, lighting up the room in a blaze of red, and all I could see was the burn in my eyes.

I collapsed to my knees beside the ashes, sobbing.

"I'm so sorry, Kiara. It's all my fault.

"I couldn't keep you safe, and I couldn't protect your things either.

"I'm a terrible mother."

Then I was locked up again. No matter how many times I banged on the door or pleaded, Colsen wouldn't let me out.

I didn't eat or drink for three days. I just lay there, weak and crying for Kiara. The pain in my chest was endless, unbearable.

On the third day, it was the twins' third birthday. Colsen threw them a grand, extravagant party.

The sound of music and laughter downstairs made my pain feel even worse.

As I sat in silence, the door burst open with a loud bang. Astrid came in with the twins.

"Elsie, I brought you some cake," she said, proudly holding a plate of exquisite small cakes. "Colsen made them himself! Can you believe it? A man who's never stepped foot in the kitchen actually baked for his kids. He dotes on the twins so much. Elsie, I bet you and your daughter never got to eat anything homemade by Colsen, right? What a shame, too bad your little girl never will..."

I was so furious that I jumped up and smacked the plate right out of her hands. The white cream splattered all over Astrid's clothes.

Her face turned red with rage as she raised her hand and slapped me across the face. "Elsie, what are you even proud of? Do you still think you're the dignified Mrs. Breslin? Let me tell you, those days are over!"

Then, all of a sudden, she shoved her younger son, Brian Breslin, with force.

Brian lost his balance and toppled backward, hitting his head on the edge of the coffee table. Blood began to stream from the back of his head.

He wailed in pain, his cries echoing through the room.

Colsen rushed in, alarmed by the noise. "Astrid, what's going on in here?"

Astrid looked terrified as she held the injured Brian close, crying. "Colsen, Brian was just trying to be kind. He brought Elsie a piece of cake. She didn't want it, fine. But she actually pushed him! Brian hit his head and now he's bleeding... My poor boy, what did he ever do to deserve this?"

Her eldest son, Rafael Breslin, chimed in quickly, "Daddy, that bad woman is so evil! She called Mommy a vile woman, threw her cake, and pushed Brian! She's so mean, you have to punish her for what she did!"

"Elsie!" Colsen's eyes darkened with fury as he suddenly raised his hand and struck me across the face.

He grabbed me by the neck and shoved me hard against the edge of the window, his expression twisted with rage, eyes nearly blazing. "Elsie, Astrid has always been gentle and always puts up with you. Why do you keep crossing the line? Looks like I've let you off too easily. That's why you act so full of yourself!

"Apologize to Astrid. Right now!"

My face burned, and it was getting hard to breathe. I felt like I was suffocating. But even then, I forced out a reply, "I'll never... apologize!"

"You won't learn your lesson until it's too late, huh?" Colsen growled, his voice low and threatening. His teeth were clenched as he glared at me. "If you don't apologize to Astrid, I'll throw you out this window. Are you scared now?"

I laughed. Soft, bitter, unhinged.

After being married for a decade and sticking together through so many ups and downs, this is how it ends.

What a terrible ending.

"You don't have to do it." I whispered, my lips trembling.

"I'll jump on my own."