My husband was celebrating his first love's kid's birthday while our daughter lay gravely ill.

I begged my millionaire husband to find the best doctor for our daughter.

But he snapped at me and hung up.

"Don't interrupt us!"

"Grace Parrish, if you let your jealousy get out of hand again, I'll divorce you!"

I could only watch as Luna Kaufman took her last breath in my arms.

When I got home with my daughter's ashes, I saw Dorthy Barnett kiss Antonio Kaufman's cheek.

"Antonio, thank you for giving Allen a fabulous birthday. But would Grace... Is Luna OK?"

Antonio was always mindful of boundaries, but this time, instead of pushing her away, he placed a hand on her waist.

"Don't worry. Grace only said that to get me home. She's a bad influence on Luna. I regret having Luna because she's spoiled."

With tears in my eyes, I felt my heart was torn to pieces and finally had no more illusions about Antonio.

Since they wanted to be together, I'd let them.

When Antonio saw me, he withdrew his arm from Dorthy's waist, his face flashing across a hint of guilt.

"Why didn't you tell me when you were coming? I'm about to send someone to pick you up."

Antonio was visibly flustered.

He forgot the last time I came to the military area alone and asked him to pick me up. He said he was busy, so I asked if he could send a colleague over.

However, he responded in a disgusted tone, "Grace, my subordinates are not your servants. If you act like a princess again, I'll divorce you."

The train station was far from the military base. I nearly got abducted, but instead of showing concern, Antonio just called me stupid.

On the contrary, whenever Dorthy went downtown, Antonio would drive her over. Even if he was not available, he would send his subordinate to do that.

I said in a flat tone, "It's OK."

Antonio sensed that something was wrong with me and paused.

"Has Luna gotten well?"

At his words, I clutched the backpack tighter against my chest, as if shielding Luna.

I said, "Luna..."

Suddenly, a boy knocked me over.

I grazed my wrist on the ground. In the pain, I tried my best to protect my backpack.

He almost broke the box containing Luna's ashes, so I was angry.

"Watch it!"

Dorthy's son, Allen Kaufman, was standing behind me, looking bitter.

"You watch it! Why're you back?"

Antonio frowned and hissed, "Enough! Grace, he's just a kid. Don't be mean to him!"

Dorthy stroked Antonio's chest.

"Don't be angry. I'm sorry for the trouble Allen and I caused for you. We'll leave now..."

Hearing that, Antonio got angrier.

He glared at me. "You didn't do anything wrong. She did."

Antonio's words wrung my heart.

With bloodshot eyes, I thought, "They are family, while I'm just an outsider.

Then I'll leave.

Suddenly, Allen pulled out my backpack.

"Is there food in it? I want to eat it!"

The box was pulled out and fell to the ground.

Allen reached out with his dirty hand.

"What is it? I want to eat it!"

My head seems to have been smashed with that bang.

My eyes widened in shock as I shoved Allen away. "Don't touch it!"

Antonio looked furious.

"What are you doing? Allen is just a kid. How could you do that to him?

"Let me see what it is!"

Allen cried and pulled my hair. "I don't care! I want to eat it!"

Breathless, I felt pain in my scalp, tears rolling down my cheeks.

"It's Luna's..."

Dorthy hugged Antonio.

"All right, Antonio, since it's Luna's thing, Allen shouldn't have it."

Antonio scoffed.

"This is my house. I decide who gets what."

I held the box tightly and rushed into my bedroom in silence.

Antonio thought that I was taking out my anger, so he snorted, called me unbelievable, and took Dorthy and Allen out.

I prepared a divorce application and packed my things.

One week later, I'd take Luna away and never come back.

I dreamed about Luna again.

She told me she was in pain, crying.

I knelt and prayed that Luna could rest in peace.

If Luna had come to the military area or I had stayed in my hometown, she might not have died.

Antonio could take his family to the military area, but he gave the quotas to Dorthy.

He said that folk in our hometown would gossip about Dorthy's divorce, so he brought Dorthy and Allen over.

Afraid that others would look down on Allen, Antonio even let Allen have his last name.

Then, I insisted on going to the military area. Antonio agreed, but he didn't let Luna go, afraid that Allen would get jealous.

"Allen sees me as his birth dad. He can't accept Luna yet. Tell Luna to wait."

But Luna was Antonio's biological daughter. How could he do that?

When I left, Luna said with tears in her eyes, "Mom, take care of yourself and come get me as soon as possible."

When I woke up, my tears wet the pillow.

Some noise came from outside.

Antonio was drunk, leaning against Dorthy, who was supporting him.

"Antonio, are you going to Grace's room? It's late. You may wake her up..."

Antonio sneered, "Why would I go to her room? She was bad to Allen."

Dorthy got him into her room.

Soon, I heard Dorthy's moans.

I stayed up all night in my room with a blank look.

In the morning, I made hangover soup for Antonio.

He looked guilty.

"I got back late and was afraid of waking you up, so I shared the bed with Allen."

I responded in a flat tone, "OK."

Since I didn't pursue it, Antonio was relieved.

I took out the application. "Luna hasn't fully recovered. I'll go back to stay for a while. Sign this. I need a consent."

Without looking, Antonio signed it.

He felt a little happy.

"OK. Go. Take care of our kid."

I revealed a self-mocking smile.

He didn't even know what illness Luna had caught.

To let me leave early, he even used his power.

The next day, I went to Craig Griffith, Antonio's superior.

When I took out the divorce application, Craig wasn't surprised at all.

"Have you made up your mind?"

I nodded expressionlessly.

He sighed.

"Fine. Antonio is too nice to that woman. I warned him many times, but he just didn't listen.

"You're a great woman. It's his loss. Rest assured. I'll facilitate the divorce."

I bowed to Craig and thanked him.

"Mr. Griffith, I booked a ticket 5 days later. Would I get an approval then?

"Besides, please don't tell Antonio yet."

Craig had been in this job for a long time, so he figured it out immediately.

He put down his tea.

"Doesn't he know about the application? Then how did you let him sign it..."

Craig didn't say the rest of the words, with sympathy in his eyes.

"No worries. Come and get the result in 3 days."

Allen and I had dinner alone.

In the past, I would ask where Antonio was.

But now, I didn't care.

Allen said with hatred, "Bitch, do you know where my mom and Antonio went? They went to the cinema.

"You'd better divorce Antonio, or don't blame me..."

I interrupted with impatience, "I'll divorce him soon."

Allen revealed a smug look.

"Don't break your word. Antonio said he wanted another daughter. When you two divorce, I'll ask my mom to give me a sister."

I had never known that Antonio wanted another daughter.

It was killing me.

It turned out that he never wanted to bring Luna over. He didn't want Luna.

He wanted a daughter with Dorthy.

At about 9 pm, Antonio got back.

Dorthy was wearing a beautiful dress and holding a bunch of flowers.

That dress was expensive, while Luna's clothes were full of patches.

I had asked Antonio for some money to buy Luna a new outfit.

Antonio sneered, "Why bother? She's just a country girl."

The flowers upset me. I didn't know Antonio could be romantic.

He never took me to the movies. Instead, he often took me to a mountain in our hometown.

He said we should be grounded, not blow money on movies.

Dorthy noticed my stare at the flowers, a smug look flashing through her eyes.

"Grace, you never got this, did you? Why don't you have it?"

Antonio stopped her.

"He wants everything. It is yours. Don't give it to her."

I was amused, glancing at Antonio with cold eyes.

We'd been married for 5 years, and I didn't know until now what he would be like when he was in love with someone.

I went back to my bedroom, not having the strength to fight back.

Antonio sensed something was wrong with me and paused.

Half an hour later, he came in.

I felt the warmth when he pressed his body against my back.

"Gracie, what is it? Are you not feeling well?"

Hearing his gentle voice, I was helpless with tears.

Feeling the tears on my face, he panicked and hugged me.

"I'm sorry for being distant lately. But there's a reason. If you hadn't caused Allen's diarrhea, I wouldn't have shouted at you.

"One week later, we'll bring Luna over. Then, our family will be together again."

Excuse me? When Luna was ill, I sent him a message, but he didn't reply to me.

When I asked him back for Luna's funeral, he happened to be available. However, he said I was lying and took Dorthy and Allen to go shopping instead.

As for causing Allen's diarrhea, it was more ridiculous.

That was my birthday. Early in the morning, Dorthy said he wasn't feeling well, and Antonio carried her to the hospital with worry.

Allen hung out with other kids nearby and might have eaten something bad, which caused his diarrhea.

When Antonio asked him, he insisted that I had given him something bad to eat. Antonio went ballistic, pulling me to Dorthy and Allen and telling me to kneel and apologize.

In the hospital, many people passed by and laughed at me. On the ground, I cried and said it wasn't me.

Since then, I began pulling away from Antonio.

He didn't notice it, and he tried to make me happy.

Suddenly, he changed the subject. "Why don't you give your job at the market to Dorthy? Then you can rest at home and get pregnant easier."

I landed the job all by myself.

Antonio knew that I had gone to great lengths and beaten many other candidates to get it.

Seeing his strong hand on my waist, I felt irritated and shook it off.

"OK."

Maybe because he didn't expect me to agree so fast, he paused.

Under his searching gaze, I felt calm.

I was leaving, so I didn't care at all.

On the morning of the 4th day, Antonio was afraid that I would back out, so he asked me to hand the job over to Dorthy.

Dorthy was smiling the whole time, while Antonio was watching her with affection.

When Antonio saw my poker face, he felt guilty.

"Don't cook today. I'll take you out for dinner."

I shook my head. "No need. Don't waste money."

Dorthy's face paled.

"Grace, do you think I wasted too much money? Sorry... I..."

I could sense the arrogance in her voice.

That made sense. Antonio often took her out for meals but barely did that for me.

I looked at her and responded in a level voice, "I just don't want to go. Did I say anything else?"

Unexpectedly, Antonio took my side this time. "Grace didn't mean that. She's frugal. Don't get her wrong."

Dorthy looked down, with hatred filling her eyes.

On the 5th day, I got a divorce approval from Craig.

On the 6th day, I put Luna's ashes in my backpack to take her out for a walk.

She always wanted to come here but didn't make it even when she died.

Now, I was fulfilling her wish.

When I was on a river bank, Dorthy showed up.

She didn't hide her hostility towards me.

"Grace, you are just a rube. Why do you think you're good enough for Antonio?

"I'm telling you, I'm pregnant with Antonio's baby. You'd better leave him, or don't blame me!"

I glanced at her.

"Aren't you from the countryside too? We used to live in the same village. What makes you think you're better than me? I had the best grades in high school. When I'm here, I'm still No. 1 among all wives.

"On the contrary, you can't even get a job."

She turned emotional, glaring at me.

"Go to hell!"

She dragged me to the river.

Out of instinct, I pushed her.

With her face lighting up, she lay down and cried for help.

"Grace, I was wrong. I don't want the job anymore. Don't push me into the river!"

A snap came from behind me. "Grace, what are you doing?"

Dorthy ran to Antonio, who held her in his arms.

They looked very well matched.

Antonio scowled at me and said with scorn, "Grace, how dare you try to kill Dorthy!"

I was about to explain myself when Antonio kicked me in the chest. After the strong pain, I was engulfed in the river.

I held my backpack tightly.

"Antonio! No. Luna..."

Luna was in the backpack!

I felt frightened and furious. When I struggled to float and cried for help like crazy, I choked on the water.

On the river bank, Antonio looked at me with cold eyes and hissed, "Since you chose to hurt other people, you should accept the punishment."

A smug look flashed through Dorthy's eyes.

Antonio took her away.

My heart ached a lot.

Luna, I will try my best to keep you safe.

I opened the backpack and lifted the box containing her ashes over my head.

Losing control of my body, I managed to say in a shaky voice, "Help... Help..."

My body temperature was getting lower, and my lips were covered with frost. With the last of my strength gone, I sank.

A soldier passed by and saved me. He hesitated for a while and said, "Ma'am, do you need me to take you back?"

Like a dead person, I was sitting on the ground with a blank look.

"No. Can you take me to the train station?"

At dawn, I left for home.

Antonio, we would not see each other again.