My son, Alaric Kaufman, was kidnapped on his fifth birthday.

To save him, I begged the kidnappers to take me hostage instead.

The kidnappers tortured me, and in the end, they broke my spine.

Antonio Kaufman sacrificed almost half of the Kaufman Group to secure my rescue.

On the verge of losing consciousness, I faintly heard my son's voice.

"Dad, the doctor said that if Mom is not treated in time, she'll be disabled for the rest of her life. But Ms. Clifford also needs Mom's kidney. What should we do now?"

Antonio said in a firm tone, "Alaric, your mom definitely won't be willing to help Adela after waking up. Don't worry, even if she's disabled, we can take care of her for the rest of our lives. But I regret it very much that I couldn't be with Adela back then. Now, there's only one thing I can do for her.

"Besides, Alaric, you volunteered to play a role in this action. You also want to help save Adela, right?"

Alaric responded without any hesitation, "Yes! I like Ms. Clifford. I want to save her!"

A tear slipped down the corner of my eye.

I thought I had a happy family, but it was nothing more than an illusion.

I refused to live in this illusion any longer.

***

When I was pushed into the operating room, I heard the doctor's concerns and repeated warnings.

"Mr. Kaufman, please reconsider. Ms. Parrish is in critical condition. She will need an extended recovery after the kidney transplant before she can undergo spinal surgery. By then, it might be too late.

"Besides that, having a kidney transplant surgery now might be life-threatening to her! She's too weak to take it!"

But Antonio looked at the doctor with a frown and said impatiently, "Enough. Just do the transplant."

Alaric also echoed, "That's right. Ms. Clifford is still suffering. You must quickly take the kidney to save her!"

The doctor sighed with sympathy, asking Antonio, "You're her husband. Aren't you afraid that she'll hate you after knowing what you've done to her?"

I could feel that Antonio carefully touched my face with his calloused hand.

Then, he replied, "She won't find out about this. It's all those kidnapers' doing, isn't it?"

With a threatening tone, he said to the doctor, "Do it, and I'll give you 800 thousand dollars. Remember, don't let anyone else know about this, or else you'll face consequences."

The doctor hesitated for a long moment before sighing. "Fine."

Half-conscious, I felt as if I had fallen into an abyss of ice.

Alaric held Antonio's hand and said in a hurry, "Dad, Ms. Clifford is still waiting for us for dinner. Don't keep her waiting. Let's go!"

After the two of them left, I couldn't hold back anymore and broke into tears.

After being injected with the anesthesia, I lost consciousness.

Hours later, I woke up again. With a single movement, I felt pain all over my body.

Antonio stood by my sick bed with red eyes.

He said in a choked voice, "Grace, I'm sorry. I failed to stop those kidnappers from taking you away.

"You have no idea how crazy they are! They took away your ... kidney."

At this time, Alaric also stumbled into my arms and cried loudly, "I'm sorry, Mom. You got hurt all because of me. It's all my fault.

"But don't worry. I'll definitely take care of you in the future. I won't let you get hurt again!"

My gaze fell on their similar faces, on which the regret and concern seemed so genuine. I have to admit that they could make really good actors. But it was too late for me to notice it.

Trying hard to hold back my tears, I said lightly to them, "Get out. I'm tired and want some rest first."

At my words, Antonio and Alaric visibly relaxed.

Antonio said gently, "Alright. Grace, take a good rest. Remember, no matter what, Alaric and I will always be there for you."

Antonio and Alaric visited me daily, their attentiveness drawing envious glances from other patients.

But I sneered mockingly in my heart and called my mom, who was abroad.

I wanted her to help handle the procedures and take me to live abroad as well.

Back then, Mom wanted to take me abroad. But I was already pregnant at that time and refused to go with her, insisting on marrying Antonio.

One day, I asked the caregiver to help me go outside for some fresh air. When we passed by a ward, I heard familiar laughter from inside.

Antonio and Alaric were holding a cake, celebrating the success of Adela Clifford's surgery.

Alaric held the cake and said with a big smile, "Ms. Clifford, Dad especially had someone make this cake! You can have it as well!"

Adela touched Alaric's head with a smile and then looked at Antonio with affection.

She said, "Antonio, thank you. You saved my life."

Antonio's gaze towards her was affectionate yet restrained as he responded, "As long as you can get better, I can do anything for you."

Alaric immediately leaned in and said, "And me, Ms. Clifford! I also helped this time.

"When you were in surgery, I also prayed for you."

Adela's smile grew bigger. "Thank you, Alaric. If only I could have a child as good as you."

Alaric hugged Adela and murmured, "I also want to have a mom like you, Ms. Clifford. Look, I'm Alaric, and you're Adela. Our names are pronounced quite similar, like a family. Can I call you Adela in the future?"

The three of them chatted and laughed happily, looking like a real family of three.

Outside the ward, I sat in a wheelchair, feeling so cold in my heart. Back then, after I gave birth, Antonio named our son Alaric without any hesitation. Now, I finally knew that it was all because of Adela.

After another glance at Alaric, who appeared so cute in front of Adela, I hurriedly turned away as if fleeing from something horrible.

I went to the doctor, asking him to perform spine surgery for me as soon as possible. I couldn't wait any longer. The sooner I got better, the sooner I could leave them.

But on the second day after my surgery, Antonio handled the discharge procedures for me.

I asked him anxiously, "I just had surgery, and I have a rejection reaction. The doctor said that I needed to stay in the hospital for observation. Why discharge now?"

Antonio looked at me with a hint of guilt in his eyes. He said, "Grace, I'll hire a professional caregiver to take care of you at home."

Just as I wanted to refuse, Adela walked out with a pale face and chimed in, "Grace, I'm sorry. It's all my fault.

"Something went wrong with my ward, and I can't keep staying in it. But there aren't any extra wards in this hospital."

Hearing her words, I looked at Antonio in disbelief, uttering, "So you want me to give her my ward? But I'm severely injured, and my physical condition is very poor. I don't want to be discharged."

Antonio frowned slightly and said in a somewhat irritated tone, "Grace, Adela's condition is worse than yours. Besides, you're fine now. Just let her take this ward. It's not a big deal."

Alaric also came forward and tugged at my sleeve, complaining, "Ms. Clifford just had a major surgery and is in poor health. Mom, don't be so stingy, OK? If you don't let her move in, then I don't want a stingy mom like you anymore."

Alaric's words made me heartbroken.

At this time, Adela spoke up, "It's all my fault. Sorry. Actually, there's no need for that. I can get discharged right away. You're family. Don't argue because of me."

She stood in front of my wheelchair apologizing. But suddenly, she stumbled and fell down.

Antonio hurriedly held her up. Seeing that she had cried, he roared angrily at me, "Grace, what are you doing? She just had kidney transplant surgery! Why did you hurt her?"

I explained, "I didn't do anything. Since she couldn't even stand steady, she shouldn't have gotten out of bed in the first place."

Alaric hurriedly checked on Adela and then shouted at me angrily, "You're a bad mom! Why did you hurt Ms. Clifford? You're bad and stingy. I don't want you to be my mom anymore!"

Looking at my son, who I had been raised with my whole heart for years, I felt heartbroken.

"OK, if that's what you want," I responded lightly to him, and he was stunned.

Antonio thought I was just making a fuss, and he said to me with a commanding tone, "Anyway, you must move out of this ward today!"

Later, he forced me to get discharged. My face turned paler due to the pain, but he disregarded it and brought all my things home.

He hired a caregiver and said to me, "Grace, she's professional and will definitely take good care of you.

"By the way, I didn't mean to yell at you earlier this afternoon. I just didn't want you to be so stingy. Adela is the daughter of one of my elders. I have to take care of her."

Silent, I looked at the message Mom had sent me earlier. "I've almost done handling your documents over there. Just wait for the papers to come out."

Then, I looked up at Antonio and smiled lightly, "Alright. I understand."

Unexpectedly, that night, due to rejection after surgery, I had a low fever.

I cried out for help hoarsely, but no one in the villa responded.

I made a sound by smashing the plate onto the floor. Only then did the caregiver open the door of my room and come in.

She rubbed her eyes and complained in a sleepy voice, "What was that noise? It's late at night! Will you be quiet?"

It was fatal to have a low fever after surgery. Ignored her bad attitude and said, "I'm having a low fever. Please send me to the hospital."

However, the caregiver said impatiently, "It's just a fever. Not a big deal. You can make it."

Having no other choice, I rolled the wheels of my wheelchair and slowly moved towards the outside. But that caregiver suddenly kicked hard on my wheelchair.

As a result, I fell down to the floor. The caregiver then said to me with disdain, "Why bother going to the hospital? Just rest on the floor. You'll be fine."

Enduring the pain in my back and my heart, I looked at her and asked, "Aren't you afraid that I'll tell Antonio about this and let him fire you?"

But she chuckled casually, "You know what? It was Ms. Clifford who recommended me to Mr. Kaufman. And Mr. Kaufman hired me without any hesitation. He won't fire me."

With that, she went back to her room directly to sleep.

I wiped away the tears from the corner of my eye and dialed Antonio's number. But the phone only rang twice before being hung up.

I then dialed Alaric's watch phone number. This time, it was picked up. But it was Adela.

"Grace? Sorry. It's my first day in this new ward. Antonio and Alaric were worried about me and insisted on accompanying me. They've just gone out to buy things for me. Don't worry. After they come back, I'll let them go home to accompany you."

Not wanting to hear Adela's complacent voice anymore, I directly hung up the phone, crying silently.

I felt like on the verge of death. But now, I could only call the ambulance myself. When the medical staff arrived, I almost blacked out.

Later, the doctor told me that if they arrived a little bit late that night, I might have probably died there already.

I was woken up by Alaric's cry. "Mom, we shouldn't have left you alone at home last night." I knew he was acting.

At this time, Antonio also spoke up with guilt, "Sorry, Grace. How do you feel now?"

I turned my eyes and looked at them indifferently. To my surprise, Adela and that caregiver were also there.

Adela asked, "Didn't Antonio hire a professional caregiver for you, Grace? How come you ended up like this?"

The caregiver immediately explained in tears, "Mr. Kaufman, I wanted to take Ms. Parrish to the hospital last night, but she refused. She said... She said she wanted to make you regret forcing her out of the ward."

When Antonio and Alaric heard this, their expressions changed, and Antonio immediately rebuked me, "That's too much, Grace! I've already hired someone to take care of you. Isn't that enough?"

Alaric echoed, "Mom, that's very bad of you! Why do you have to make an enemy of Ms. Clifford?"

I sneered and took out my phone, placing it in front of them. "See for yourself."

Before, when Antonio forced me to be discharged, he was afraid of me having some accident at home, so he installed a camera in the room. But I reckoned that he had probably forgotten about it. Anyway, everything that happened last night had been recorded.

When Antonio and Alaric saw in the video that the caregiver was so rude to me and even kicked my wheelchair, causing me to fall down, they instantly flew into a rage.

"How dare you!"

The caregiver panicked and immediately apologized, "I'm sorry, Mr. Kaufman. But it was Ms. Clifford! She paid me to do that!

"She didn't want me to take care of Ms. Parrish. She said it was best if Ms. Parrish died at home."

Hearing this, Adela turned pale. She immediately held Antonio's hand and cried, "Antonio, I didn't, I swear. I just found that she was professional in taking care of the patient, so I recommended her to you.

"We've known each other for so long. You know I'm not that kind of person!"

Seeing Adela cry, Antonio softened his heart and said, "Of course. I believe you."

Seeing this scene, I felt pain in my heart again. After taking a deep breath, I said, "Whether you believe her or not doesn't change anything. I'll call the police. They'll handle this matter properly."

The expressions on Antonio's and Alaric's faces instantly changed at my words.

Alaric hurriedly snatched my phone away and said, "Mom, Ms. Clifford didn't do it. She's a kind person. Anyway, I won't allow you to hurt her!"

Antonio also spoke up with confidence, "I believe Adela. She was just being kind to recommend that caregiver to me, but that caregiver fooled her. She's also a victim in this matter. Besides, Grace, you're fine now, aren't you? So just forget about it, OK?"

Seeing that both Antonio and Alaric were so protective towards Adela, I closed my eyes and sighed, "Never mind."

I thought it was time to let go and move on. After all, I had already known that the one they cared about and loved wasn't me, hadn't I?

Probably because of the incident that day, both Antonio and Alaric felt guilty. They found a new ward for me and began to take care of me attentively.

Meanwhile, my mom told me that the procedures were about to be done.

Staring at the text on my phone, I gradually lost in thoughts and didn't notice that Alaric had leaned in.

"Mom, what are you looking at? I just saw something like 'leaving'. What does that mean? Who's going to leave?" he asked me curiously.

But I pushed him away and responded perfunctorily, "Nothing. It's just one of my friends."

Because Alaric was still a kid, he didn't think much or ask further.

Then, I lay back and pretended to have fallen asleep. Soon, I heard Antonio come in.

Alaric whispered to him, "Dad, we've been staying by Mom's side all these days. But Ms. Clifford will be discharged soon, and we'll have a celebration party for her. What should we do to go without letting Mom know?

"Mom disliked Adela very much, and she'll definitely be very unhappy if she finds out about it. I don't want her to upset Adela.

"Dad, what should we do?"

Alaric was my son, and I raised him with my whole heart.

I thought I had gotten used to being placed second to Adela in their hearts. But when I heard Alaric's words, I still couldn't help but feel a bit of pain in my heart.

After a moment of silence, Antonio said, "How about this? I'll ask the doctor to give her some drugs and let her sleep for a while."

Alaric asked with a bit of worry, "Will that be bad for her health?"

Antonio shook his head. "No matter what we do, her condition won't get any worse than this. It's alright. We can take more care of her in the future."

Hearing this, Alaric was no longer worried and happily went to prepare gifts for Adela.

I tried hard to hold back my tears. Adela would have her new bright life, but my life had become hell because of her.

On the day of Adela's discharge, Alaric gave me a pill, which I had never seen before.

He stood there and looked at me with an innocent face. "Mom, time to take the medicine."

I pretended not to know anything and put the pill into my mouth.

Alaric's eyes lit up. But I felt a little dizzy and said, "I want to get some sleep. You may leave then."

Antonio and Alaric tried hard to suppress the joy within them, and Alaric said to me, "OK. Mom, have a good sleep. After you wake up, Dad and I will bring you a surprising gift!"

Looking at their receding figures, I suddenly called out to them, "Antonio, Alaric..."

When they turned and looked at me, I smiled, "May you have your brand-new life."

The two of them were a bit confused. But they didn't ask anything. After they left, I spat out that pill into the trash can.

Soon, someone came into my ward. At that moment, I finally couldn't hold back anymore and broke out in tears.

"Mom, please take me away now."