During our six-year marriage, my husband never lived with me. Instead, he was under the same roof as his younger brother's wife every day.

Antonio Kaufman imposed his family's traditions on me, leaving me to raise our daughter alone.

In the sixth year of our marriage, he inherited everything from his brother—including his wife.

As part of his so-called family duty, Antonio slept with Kristen Holman every night.

Then he'd come to me for sleep.

"I'll be able to have a wedding with you as long as Kristen can give my brother a baby. It won't be long..."

But in the end, they were getting married.

"Marry me, Kristen. I'll make you the happiest woman in the world!"

Under the candlelight, I watched as Antonio got down on one knee and proposed to Kristen with heartfelt devotion.

Meanwhile, Kristen stroked her baby bump with delight.

My daughter and I were at the door.

At that moment, I realized that I had been the only one who was kept in the dark.

***

After returning from Kaufman's villa, my daughter Alison quietly went back to her room.

Through the crack of the door, I saw Alison shaking under a blanket, my heart aching.

"Dad, Mom, I changed my mind."

Exhausted, I called my parents overseas and finally agreed to leave the country.

One week later, Alison and I would leave here forever.

And that day happened to be the 10th anniversary of the day Antonio and I first met.

I sat in the living room all night, crying until I had no more tears left.

With a sharp click, the living room lights flicked on. Antonio strode over and pulled me into his arms.

"Why don't you wait in the bedroom? You will catch a cold here."

I struggled out of his arms. He paused before chuckling.

"Good sense of smell. Someone smoked near me."

I hated the smell of cigarettes.

Antonio never succeeded in quitting smoking, not even after I gave birth to Alison.

However, he made it 6 months ago, for someone else.

Antonio kissed me on the forehead and slipped his hand to my breast.

He had a strong desire for me over the past 6 months.

I thought it was because he loved me more. But actually, it was because the woman he really cared about was pregnant and he could only take it out on me.

What was I in his heart?

I felt disgusted and pushed him away.

Antonio paused, his face flickering with a glimmer of resignation.

"Alright, alright. I'll take a shower. Go wait for me in the bedroom. I miss you, babe!"

I watched him walk into the bathroom. He was still so dashing, not like a middle-aged man.

Six years ago, he knelt in front of me and asked me to marry him.

"Grace, believe me. I'll make you happy forever!"

But in just six years, everything had changed.

His phone on the table suddenly rang, playing an unfamiliar tune.

I was about to pick it up from the table when he did that with a wet hand.

"What? Kristen isn't feeling well? OK. I'm on my way!"

He frowned with worry.

He hastily dried himself with a towel before throwing on his clothes.

"Kristen? What's wrong with her?"

Antonio stiffened before explaining, "Since my brother passed, Kristen has never moved on. You know our family customs. My parents expect me to take responsibility for both families."

After seconds of silence, he turned around and held my shoulder, looking at me with affection.

"But I only love you, Grace. I'll marry you even if my family all disagree!"

It was only after he proposed that he told me about his family's custom of living apart after marriage.

Thus, we had a marriage certificate, but we never had a wedding or met each other's parents.

I thought love meant respect, so I got through all that alone after our marriage.

But he shouldn't have lied to me.

When he was about to leave, I couldn't help but say, "Antonio, you..."

"Grace, can't you be a little more understanding? I've already defied my family's rules for you. What more do you want?"

I held back what I would have said.

Instead, I looked at his impatient face and said in a low voice, "Tomorrow is Alison's birthday."

With a start, Antonio revealed a guilty look.

"OK. Got it."

I didn't know what he meant.

But Alison and I were going to leave him anyway.

The next morning, Alison waited for Antonio in the living room.

But as usual, he didn't show up.

To make Alison happy, I took her to an amusement park to enjoy ourselves.

But Alison didn't get happy. She glanced at the entrance frequently.

I knew she was like me, waiting for a man who wouldn't show up.

In the evening, I carried my sleeping daughter home.

However, when we just arrived, we were taken to the Kaufman's villa.

"How can I help you?"

It was the first time that I met Antonio's mother.

But Savanah Kaufman only gave me a cold look and said in an authoritative tone, "Where's your manners? I'm your elder. You should've greeted me first. What a rube!"

I knew that I was an ordinary country girl in the Kaufman family's eyes.

They were wealthy, and Savanah must think I had thrown myself at Antonio.

Alison never met Savanah either.

I didn't want to wake Alison up, so I covered her ears. Savanah was watching me with disdain on the sofa.

"Kristen is pregnant with my first grandson."

Savanah's words wrung my heart.

Meanwhile, a man's gentle voice sounded from upstairs, "Kristen, be careful. You're pregnant."

Antonio and Kristen showed up like a happily married couple.

When Antonio saw me, he frowned. But still, he helped Kristen walk downstairs.

Savanah went to them with a smile and touched Kristen's belly.

"Only a real lady gets to bear my grandson."

Savanah gave me a scornful look like I was a piece of trash.

"Antonio, since you and Kristen are getting married, you should cut some unnecessary ties."

Antonio held Savanah's hand with knitted brows.

"Mom, didn't you agree..."

Meanwhile, Kristen looked at him with tears.

Antonio hesitated.

At that moment, I figured out his choice and felt sad.

"Alison is my daughter. She's not your concern."

Alison was woken up, looking sleepy in my arms. She touched my red-rimmed eyes.

"Mom, don't cry. I'll be good."

I hugged her tightly and pecked her on the cheek.

"Alison, from now on, you'll have no Dad, all right?"

Antonio opened his mouth and wanted to explain it.

But I didn't look at him.

He didn't expect me to agree to Savanah's demand so fast. After all, I was stubborn.

I had chosen to stay in the country against all my loved ones' wills just because of my love for him.

Alison was confused, but I could see the sadness in her eyes.

I didn't want Alison's feelings to be hurt again, so I headed out. But Kristen stopped me.

"Antonio, why haven't you told Grace about that thing?"

I turned to Antonio, who avoided eye contact with me.

"I've been unable to sleep well since I got pregnant. Antonio told me that your house in the village was quiet, so I want to move in there for my baby."

I turned to Antonio in anger.

"That's my house! How can you agree to let her move in?"

Kristen leaned against Antonio, who wrapped his arms around her out of instinct and held her baby bump.

The baby had all of Antonio's love when it was still in Kristen's womb.

But what about my daughter?

Her father never spent time with her.

Everything turned out to be traceable.

Antonio bit his tongue. But seeing Kristen's tearful eyes, he still said, "It's just a couple of months..."

But my grandma left the house for me.

Back then, Antonio knelt beside my grandma's sickbed and held my hand, promising that he would be nice to me forever.

Never mind.

I clenched my hands to check my anger.

"OK. I'll sell it to you for 500,000 dollars."

Kristen's smile froze.

I turned around and chose not to look at them.

"Since you're rich, you won't take advantage of me, right? When I get the money, you'll be able to move in. Or no deal."

Antonio agreed with no hesitation, "OK. I'll transfer the money to you now."

But I carried Alison out of the Kaufman's villa at a fast pace.

We would never come back again.

On the way home, Alison got fully awake and realized something.

She leaned against my chest.

When I found she was crying, her eyes were already red.

"Alison, I'll take you to my parents, OK?"

She sobbed, "What about Dad?"

I wasn't sure how to answer, but I still chose to tell her the truth.

"He's going to be another kid's dad. So let's leave him, OK?"

I didn't want Alison to put up with things just because she craved her father's love.

She pursed her lips and clasped the doll closer to her arms.

"But...but I want my dad to lift me."

In the amusement park, all those fathers lifted their kids over their shoulders.

Meanwhile, Alison could only watch them with envy.

I hated to see her so upset, so I said, "I'll agree to everything you want."

When I got home, I saw Antonio's messages, but I had no patience to read them one by one.

So I only replied, "It's Parents' Day the day after tomorrow. Come to the kindergarten for Alison that day, and I'll give you the house."

Soon, Antonio replied, "Grace, I know I am not doing the right thing, but I have my reasons. Rest assured. I'll be there that day."

On the morning of Parents' Day, Alison put on a beautiful princess dress.

"Mom, Dad is coming too. I'll be the happiest kid there!"

I nodded with a smile and pecked her on the cheek.

But I didn't see Antonio in the kindergarten when I arrived.

I asked Alison's teacher to keep an eye on her and called Antonio several times. But he didn't answer.

Alison turned from joyful to disappointed.

"Mom, other kids' dads all came."

She tried hard to hold back tears and comforted me. "But I have the best mom in the world! I don't need Dad."

Alison was forced to accept the fact that her father wasn't present.

It was too sad to bear for a 6-year-old kid.

I was furious.

Alison had done nothing wrong. She didn't deserve that.

Right then, Antonio sent me a message, "I'm in Fortune Village."

The house my grandma had left for me was in Fortune Village.

I was relieved. It turned out that Antonio didn't forget. He just wanted to make amends to Alison.

"Alison, Dad is waiting for us at my grandma's house!"

Alison jumped with excitement and told the other kids proudly, "My dad is waiting for me!"

I took Alison to Fortune Village.

But why were there so many luxury cars?

When I got in the yard, I saw a wall had been pushed down.

There was a champagne tower and many other fancy decorations in it, but there was nothing that Alison liked.

Still, Alison was over the moon.

She shouted "Dad" and ran in. Before I could stop her, she rushed into Antonio and hugged his thigh.

"Dad, I've missed you so much!"

Antonio stiffened and pushed Alison away out of instinct.

"Why are you here?"

Those in suits around Antonio gave a searching gaze at Alison, who was on the ground.

"Is her Mr. Kaufman's illegitimate daughter?"

"I don't think so. Isn't Kristen his only fiancée?"

"It's normal. There are many women out there wanting to marry Mr. Kaufman."

Alison didn't understand any of that. She reached out to Antonio.

"Dad..."

"Don't call me that!" Antonio huffed with a look of anger and panic.

Alison blinked and managed to stand up.

"Antonio, can you lift me?"

"No, he can."

Kristen smiled at Alison, but her next words were cruel.

"He's my baby's dad. He'll only love my baby and lift it. You are a bastard. You never compare with my baby."

Her voice wasn't loud, but everyone could hear it.

I ran to Alison and carried her up, snarling, "Antonio, who's a bastard? You tell me!"

Alison was a child born in wedlock!

Antonio looked away to avoid eye contact.

"Stop it. Kristen is my future wife."

At that moment, my heart was broken to smithereens.

Kristen sighed and continued to twist the truth.

"Antonio has given you a lot of money. Why are you so greedy?

"You're just a rube. Do you really think you can sleep your way to the Kaufman's villa?"

The crowd believed her.

Those wives laughed at me, saying I was a mistress.

And those men looked at me like I was a whore.

I shook with fury and kicked the champagne tower.

"This is my house. All of you, get out!"

With a clatter, the champagne tower was broken to pieces.

The guests all gave out a cry and shifted away.

Antonio protected Kristen's belly and looked at me with disappointment.

Meanwhile, Alison burst into tears and wrapped her arms around my neck.

Only in my arms, she could take it all out.

I patted Alison on the back and looked at Antonio with indifference.

"This is my private residence. You damaged it without my permission. I'll call the police and let them handle it!"

However, Antonio slapped my phone away and warned me in a low voice, "Don't. Grace, it is a big day for me. I have to do this."

He grabbed my wrist to pull me into the room.

Right then, Kristen stood in front of me and looked at me with hostility.

"Antonio, she ruined our big day. I want him to kneel and apologize."

Antonio didn't dare to do that, but other Kaufmans beside us grabbed me and pressed me against the ground.

I was afraid that Alison would get hurt, so I covered her in my arms.

My hands, face, and body bled from the cuts by the glass fragments and were painful.

Alison hugged my neck, trying to protect me with his small body.

"Don't hit my mom! Please don't hit her!"

Hearing Alison's shaky voice, I was helpless with tears.

I had been wrong.

Love blinded me, so I thought that I could try to let the Kaufman family accept me.

Antonio looked at me through the crowd. When our eyes met, he looked away.

My heart ached much more than my body did.

I had to remember the feeling. From now on, Antonio and I would be totally over!

Alison broke my grip, ran to the Kaufman family to hug their thighs, and begged, "It's my fault! I wanted to come here! Don't hit my mom! If you have to hit someone, hit me!"

But they kicked Alison away.

"Alison!" Antonio and I shouted in unison.

Alison bumped against the wall.

Antonio got to Alison before me and lifted her.

"Antonio hit...hit me. Don't hit mom..."

I clasped the glass fragments like crazy, knocked everyone out of the way, and snatched Alison over.

"Alison, I'm sorry! I'll take you to the doctor! Alison!"

Antonio watched me stumble away, wanting to run after me, but Kristen grabbed his hand.

I didn't turn around.

I would not let those who hurt Alison off, including his dad.

Luckily, Alison only had flesh wounds.

The day she was discharged from the hospital happened to be the day before we left.

Antonio never came. He only sent someone to give me my phone back.

"Grace, I really have my reasons. Just wait. I'll give you and Alison an answer."

The so-called answer turned out to be the news about the Kaufman family and the Holman family becoming an alliance by marriage.

Although I didn't pay attention, the news still got to my ears from various channels.

On the day we left, I asked someone to clean up the house we'd been living in and sell it as fast as possible.

When Alison and I were in the departure lounge, Antonio called me, which he hadn't done for days.

I declined his calls, but he just didn't give up. When I was about to turn off my phone, I answered his call by accident.

"Grace, you finally answered..."

Before he could finish his sentence, he heard the airport's broadcast.

"Grace, where are you and Alison going? Listen, I can explain. I..."

I interrupted, "Antonio, we're over. From now on, you mean nothing to me."

Then, I turned off my phone.

Hearing that, Antonio rushed out of the party hall and drove to the airport.