Lost in Memories Beneath the Fading Sunset

The day after his beloved falsely accused Yvonne of hitting her with a car, her husband and two sons hung Yvonne’s younger brother above a massive vat of bubbling oil, threatening to deep-fry him alive. Yvonne rushed forward like she had gone mad, but the bodyguards held her back tightly. “Have you learned your lesson?” Justin stood nearby in a crisp suit. His sharp features were cold, and his voice was edged with ice. “Will you dare hurt Sophia again?” “I never hit her!” Yvonne cried, struggling desperately. “Justin, let my brother go! He’s only 18. He just got accepted into MOT University!” Chapter 1 Five-year-old Milton Quinn crossed his arms. The look on his little face was cold. “The evidence is clear. Are you still going to deny it?” Four-year-old Travis Quinn nodded along. His voice was innocent yet cruel. “Mom, if you're afraid Uncle Henry might die, you shouldn’t have hit Ms. Shaw with your car. She’s our treasure.” Yvonne Johansson’s heart clenched painfully. Sophia Shaw was their treasure. Then what about her? What was she? She looked at Justin Quinn, hoping he would spare Henry Johansson for the sake of their years of marriage. However, the man only stared at her coldly as if she were a stranger. Suddenly, she laughed, yet tears streamed down her face. After all these years, he still only loved Sophia. Memories stabbed into her heart like knives. Yvonne, Justin, and Sophia had grown up together as childhood friends. Yvonne had been in love with Justin for years, but Justin had eyes only for Sophia. Yvonne could only silently wish them happiness. She even helped him plan his confession. On the eve of that confession, the plane Sophia was on crashed. No body was ever found. After that, Justin drank himself into oblivion every day, sinking into despair. Yvonne stayed by his side, watching over him. When he was drunk out of his mind, she made him hangover tonic. When he suffered stomach bleeding from all the drinking, she stayed awake all night to take care of him. One night, Justin was especially drunk. He grabbed her wrist, murmured Sophia’s name, and pressed her beneath him. She could have pushed him away. However, she loved him so much that she was willing to live as someone else’s shadow. The next morning, he stared at the bloodstains on the sheets for a long time. He eventually said only one thing, “I’ll take responsibility. We’ll get married.” They did. After their marriage, Yvonne devoted herself to him completely. His stomach was weak, so she woke early every day to prepare breakfast. When he was busy with work, she learned to help handle his documents. When he had nightmares at night, she stayed awake beside him. Slowly, the way Justin looked at her began to change. He seemed to grow fond of her too. He remembered her favorite foods. When she was on her period, he personally made ginger tea for her. Sometimes, when she fell asleep, he would gently kiss her forehead. Later, they had two sons—Milton and Travis. The boys clung to her constantly, and Justin would often hold her with a smile on his face and say, “Honey, you’ve worked hard.” Those five years were the happiest time of her life. That was until… Sophia suddenly returned from the dead and reappeared in front of Justin. At that moment, Yvonne clearly saw the light ignite in his eyes again. What crushed her even more was that her two sons quickly sided with Sophia as well. “Ms. Shaw is much gentler than Mom!” “Ms. Shaw plays games with us. Mom only knows how to control us!” “Dad, can Ms. Shaw become our mother?” Each time, Justin would simply glance at Yvonne and pat his sons’ heads. “Don’t talk nonsense.” Still, he never refuted them. Yvonne was like an outsider, watching helplessly as the five years of happiness she had stolen were shattered the moment Sophia returned. Now, they were even using such a cruel method to force her to confess to a crime she never committed. “It wasn’t me!” Yvonne snapped out of her memories. Her voice trembled. “Justin, let him go!” Justin’s gaze was icy. “Since you refuse to admit your mistake, you can experience the pain of losing the one you love.” He lifted a hand. Immediately, a bodyguard cut the rope. “No!” Yvonne watched in horror as the rope snapped and her brother’s body fell straight toward the bubbling oil. She lunged forward like a madwoman, but the bodyguards pinned her down. She screamed in despair, “Justin! You killed him! You killed him!” Pain tore through her chest. She suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood. Milton clicked his tongue impatiently when he saw that. “Relax. That wasn’t Uncle Henry up there. It was just a dummy. Mom, why are you so dramatic?” Travis snorted. “Yeah. We were just scaring you. Who told you to hurt Ms. Shaw?” All the strength drained from Yvonne’s body. She collapsed to the ground, feeling like her heart had nearly stopped. Justin looked down at her from above. “Remember this feeling. Sophia has already died once and come back to life. I can’t lose her again.” He paused for a moment, then his tone slightly softened. “I know what you’re worried about. I’ve already married you. I’ll fulfill my responsibilities as a husband and father. I won’t divorce you, so stop trying to drive Sophia away.” Yvonne lifted her head as she trembled. She was already preparing for a divorce… She did not want a husband and sons who favored Sophia anymore. Just as she was about to speak, Justin’s phone rang. “Sophia?” His voice instantly softened. “Does it hurt again? Okay, I’ll come right away.” Without even sparing Yvonne another glance, he left with Milton and Travis. The factory fell silent, with Yvonne left kneeling on the ground. Her tears fell into the dust. She wiped her face and was about to stand when her phone suddenly vibrated. A message from Sophia popped up. [Yvonne, I had someone switch out the dummy. The one frying in the oil now is your brother.] Yvonne’s blood froze instantly. She staggered toward the vat of oil. The scorching heat blasted her face. Inside the pot, Henry’s body had already been fried beyond recognition. His flesh was blackened, his limbs twisting unnaturally. Only his eyes were still open, staring at her. “Henry… Henry!” She reached toward him like a madwoman, but splattering oil landed on her hand, instantly raising blisters. Her body trembled with pain, yet she desperately tried to grab her brother’s hand. He could not even speak anymore. His lips trembled slightly, as though he was trying to call her one last time. She had to save him! Even if there was only the slightest chance! Yvonne shakily dialed 911, then carried Henry and ran out of the Quinns' residence like a madwoman. Her whole body trembled. Tears blurred her vision as she staggered into the street and flagged down a cab. “The hospital! Hurry! Please!” Her voice was hoarse, nearly breaking under the strain. The driver was terrified by the blood covering her and slammed on the gas. Yvonne dashed through the hospital corridor into the emergency room, cradling the barely breathing Henry. However, the nurse looked at her helplessly. “Ms. Johansson, Mr. Quinn just gave an order. All the doctors are attending to Ms. Shaw right now. No doctor is available to perform surgery on your brother now.…” Yvonne trembled violently and immediately called Justin. “Justin! Please… Please have a doctor save Henry! He fell into a hot vat of oil! He’s dying!” On the other end of the line, Justin’s voice was colder than ice. “Yvonne, that was just a dummy. How long are you going to keep making a scene?” From the background, the voices of Milton and Travis complaining could still be heard. “Why is Mom always so unreasonable?” “Dad, ignore her. Ms. Shaw is still waiting for you.” Justin hung up the phone. Yvonne fell to her knees, begging desperately for help, yet everyone avoided her. By the time she finally found a doctor willing to help, Henry’s body had already grown cold. “Henry… Henry!” She held her brother’s charred body tightly, screaming in grief. Yet the boy in her arms would never answer her again. He was dead, killed by the man she loved the most. … Three days later, Yvonne stood before her brother’s grave. Her face was as pale as death. For three days, she had moved like a walking corpse—handling the death certificate, sending her brother for cremation, and burying him with her own hands. Justin and the two boys never appeared once. She opened Sophia’s social media feed. The latest post was a photo of Justin feeding her, captioned: [He insists on taking care of me personally. I just can’t deal with him.] Below were comments from Milton and Travis. [Ms. Shaw, get better soon! We’d like to go to the amusement park with you!] [Ms. Shaw, you're way gentler than our mom. We like you the most!] Yvonne turned off the screen. Her gaze turned completely cold. After leaving the cemetery, she did only two things. First, she went to a law firm and drafted a divorce agreement. Second, she went to the police station and said to the officer on duty, “Hello, I’d like to file a report. I’m accusing Sophia Shaw of intentional murder.” Chapter 2 Yvonne returned to the villa to pack her things after filing the police report. All of a sudden, the door was violently kicked open. Justin stood in the doorway with a gloomy expression, with Milton and Travis trailing behind him. The two boys’ eyes were full of anger, as though she had committed some unforgivable crime. “You called the police, accusing Sophia of murder?” Justin’s voice was icy. “Who did she kill? Are you never going to stop?” Before Yvonne could respond, Milton rushed forward and shoved her. “Bad Mom! Would you only be happy if Ms. Shaw dies?” Travis followed, pounding her legs with tiny fists. “You’re so cruel! Ms. Shaw is kind. Why would you accuse her?!” Yvonne staggered backward, crashing against the wardrobe. She winced as a sharp pain shot through her back. She looked at them with reddened eyes. Her voice was trembling. “She swapped the dummy for my brother… Henry was fried alive! I called the police to stop her. Did I do something wrong?” The father and sons froze for a moment. Justin sneered, “What nonsense are you talking about? Sophia could never do something like that!” Yvonne laughed through tears. “Then call my brother now. See if he answers.” Justin frowned, pulled out his phone and dialed Henry’s number. After a long wait, the call went straight to voicemail. No one answered. Justin’s expression flickered, but just as he was about to speak, the door was gently opened. Sophia stepped in, looking pale and fragile. She leaned against the doorframe. “I heard… Henry went on a graduation trip. Maybe the signal is bad and that’s why you can't reach him.” Milton and Travis ran to her immediately, one on each side. “Ms. Shaw! You’re out of the hospital? Didn’t the doctor say you needed to rest?” Sophia smiled helplessly. “I heard Yvonne called the police and accused me of murder. How could I not come to clear things up?” Her gaze softened as she looked at Yvonne. “Yvonne, I know what you’re worried about. Although Justin and I loved each other back then, we’ve already missed our chance. Now that you’re married to him, I will only wish you happiness. I will never try to break up your family. "There’s no need for such extreme accusations… Murder is too serious a crime.” Milton immediately lifted his little face, full of admiration. “Look at Ms. Shaw's poise… and then Mom. The difference couldn’t be clearer!” Travis curled his lips. “Milton’s right. Mom only lies and hurts people!” Yvonne trembled as her nails dug into her palms. “Once the police investigate, you’ll see who’s right and who’s wrong.” “Investigate?” Justin let out a cold sneer. “You falsely accused Sophia. That's the truth! What investigation do you need?” He looked down at her and spoke in a tone that brooked no argument. “I’ve already dropped the case and made the arrangements. No one in the city dares take this case.” Yvonne stared at him in disbelief, about to speak, when her phone rang the next second. It was the police station. “Ms. Johansson, the case has been dropped… Mr. Quinn intervened, and there’s nothing we can do. Please… take care. No one in the city dares to take this case.” The call ended, and Yvonne stood frozen. She felt a chill run through her entire body. Pain, despair, anger… Every emotion pressed down on her. Her heart felt like someone had ripped a piece out, and the sharp pain made her vision darken. Yet, she laughed. She looked at her husband and sons, her most loved ones, and laughed through tears. For some reason, Justin felt a sudden tightening in his chest. He softened his voice. “Enough. This ends here. I admit I went too far this time and scared you. I apologize.” He paused for a moment and continued, “I can give you whatever you want to make this right.” Yvonne’s tears continued to fall, but her gaze gradually hardened. She wiped her eyes and slowly turned to the drawer. Each movement was deliberate, as though she was saying goodbye to her past self. Her hand trembled slightly as she pulled out the divorce papers, but it was not from anger or sorrow. It was from a calmness close to relief. Chapter 3 “Sign here.” Yvonne flipped the papers to the last page, hiding the content on the first few pages as she handed them to Justin. Her voice was so soft that it was almost inaudible. Justin glanced at it, assuming it was just another request for jewelry or property. He wanted to end the farce as quickly as possible, so he signed without a second thought. Once it was done, he looked up. “Sophia’s not in good health, and no one is at her place to take care of her. She’ll need to stay here for a few days.” Yvonne nodded numbly. “As you wish.” She took the papers and left without looking back. … At the law firm, the lawyer carefully checked the divorce agreement and nodded. “The signature is valid, Ms. Johansson. After about a month, your marriage with Mr. Quinn will be legally dissolved.” Yvonne gripped the papers so tightly her fingertips turned white. Finally… it was about to end. … That evening, when Yvonne returned to the villa, the living room was filled with laughter. Sophia sat on the couch with Milton and Travis on either side, leaning against her as she told them a story. “And in the end, the prince kissed the princess awake, and they lived happily ever after.” Sophia gently stroked the two children’s heads. Milton looked up. “Ms. Shaw, you’re so much gentler than our mom.” Travis nodded. “I wish you could be our mom…” Yvonne stood frozen at the doorway. Her chest felt as though it had been stabbed. She kept her face blank and headed upstairs to take a shower in the guest bathroom. The warm water washed over her body but could not chase away the chill in her heart. She closed her eyes and told herself that she did not have to worry. That wish of theirs would soon come true. She had barely settled into bed when the mattress dipped on the other side. Justin had finished his shower and climbed in beside her. Yvonne faced away from him, completely still. Suddenly, he leaned over, wrapping an arm around her waist. His lips brushed the back of her neck. She froze for a moment, then shoved him away sharply! Justin frowned.“You’ve gotten your compensation. Your brother didn’t suffer any serious harm. How long are you planning to make a scene?” When Yvonne was about to speak, there was a knock on the door. Milton’s little head peeked in. “Dad! The weather forecast said there’s going to be a thunderstorm tonight! Didn’t you say Ms. Shaw is scared of thunder?” Travis squeezed in behind him. “Dad, come keep Ms. Shaw company! She’s scared!” Justin glanced at the darkening sky outside and got up without hesitation. Before he left, he tossed a single sentence over his shoulder, “You’ll be sleeping alone tonight.” The door was not fully closed, and from the next room came the faint sound of laughter. “Justin, you’re here?” Sophia’s voice was gentle. “Dad! The story Ms. Shaw told us was so good!” Milton exclaimed. Travis whined, “Dad, can Ms. Shaw stay here forever?” Justin gave a soft laugh. “Alright.” Yvonne lay in bed, listening to their laughter. She slowly closed her eyes. … The next morning, when Yvonne went downstairs, the kitchen was filled with cheerful chatter. Justin stood at the counter with an apron on, his long fingers gripping a spatula. Sophia was beside him, leaning in to catch the aroma from time to time. Her eyes curved into crescents. Milton and Travis gathered around their legs, looking up and chattering nonstop. “Justin, I didn’t expect you to still remember the food I like after all these years.” Sophia’s voice was gentle, carrying a hint of emotion in her voice. Justin glanced at her. He had never shown Yvonne such gentleness. “Not a single moment forgotten.” He plated the sunny-side-up eggs and pushed them toward her. “Try it. See if it tastes different.” Sophia took a bite. Her brows and eyes relaxed. “Even better than before.” Milton immediately raised his hand. “Ms. Shaw, I’ll cook for you when Dad’s busy!” Travis bounced along, “Me too! I’ll make it even better than Dad!” Sophia laughed and ruffled the boys’ hair. Even Justin’s normally stern features softened with a smile as he watched them. Yvonne stood at the top of the stairs. She gave a wry, self-mocking smile. Justin was born with a silver spoon and had been living in luxury, while their two sons were pampered and fussy. All these years, they had kept her diligently running the household. Yet… Even someone like Justin, whose hands had never touched kitchen equipment before, could cook for the one he loved. Even children as spoiled and demanding as Milton and Travis could behave with such consideration. Yvonne had always been humble and servile in front of them, while they willingly bent for Sophia. The one who loved more was always left utterly defeated. Chapter 4 Justin turned around with breakfast in hand and finally saw Yvonne. “You're awake?” His voice was calm. “We’re heading out soon. I had no time to make you anything, so you’ll have to cook for yourself.” Yvonne did not say a word. She knew it was not that he did not have time. He had just wanted to focus on cooking for Sophia. The aroma wafting from the kitchen twisted her stomach, but she said nothing. Quietly, she walked over and made herself a simple bowl of oats. After breakfast, Justin and Sophia were taking the two kids to the amusement park. Milton suddenly shouted and grabbed them. “Wait! We have something for you!” Milton and Travis raced upstairs and came down a moment later, each holding a matching T-shirt. Anyone could tell at a glance that they were wearing matching family outfits. Sophia hesitated for a moment. “Uh… is this really appropriate?” Milton looked up at her with a stubborn expression. “But to us, you’re our mom.” Justin ruffled his son’s hair and said to Sophia, “The kids are being silly. Just go along with them this once.” Sophia nodded as her cheeks tinged pink. The four of them changed into matching outfits and stood together. Justin and Sophia wore navy T-shirts, while Milton and Travis had the miniature versions. All of their shirts had a cartoon design on the chest that read: [Mom & Dad love their little ones.] Sophia suddenly glanced at Yvonne. “Yvonne, why don’t you come too?” Yvonne shook her head. “No, thanks.” “But you are their mother… It wouldn’t be right if you didn’t come.” Sophia stepped closer and, without waiting for an answer, grabbed her hand. “Come on. A family should stick together.” Yvonne was pulled into the car against her will. The amusement park was crowded and noisy. The four of them in matching outfits made a striking enough scene to draw constant attention. A young girl blushed and approached, asking for a photo. For once, Justin did not refuse. “Your wife is gorgeous!” The girl looked at Sophia with admiration. “And the kids are so adorable!” Justin did not deny it. Sophia lowered her gaze shyly, and Milton and Travis puffed up proudly. Yvonne followed behind them like an invisible ghost, watching them being surrounded and praised. She watched Justin’s hand naturally rest on Sophia’s waist and heard the two kids call Sophia ‘Mom’ over and over again. Her heart ached until it went numb. By evening, they arrived at the Ferris wheel. A staff member smiled at Justin and Sophia. “You two are perfect together! They say if couples kiss at the top of the Ferris wheel, they’ll never part.” Milton and Travis exchanged a sly glance and grinned mischievously. As the cabin rose slowly, the city lights flowed like a river beneath them. As it neared the top, the two kids suddenly darted behind Justin and Sophia and shoved them hard. “Ah!” Sophia yelped. She tumbled into Justin’s arms. Their lips met amidst their surprise, and both froze for a moment. Sophia tried to pull away in a panic, but Justin, almost instinctively, cupped the back of her head and deepened the kiss. Milton and Travis stifled their laughter behind their hands while secretly flashing a victorious sign. Chapter 5 Yvonne watched the scene unfold, and it felt as if her heart had been ripped from her chest. The two sons she had brought into the world, the very children she had raised with all her love, were pushing Justin toward another woman right before her eyes. Justin’s kiss was long and deliberate before he finally let Sophia go. A thread of intimate tension lingered between them like a silver wire. Sophia’s cheeks burned crimson, and she lowered her gaze in embarrassment. “Sorry.” Justin’s voice was husky, almost tender. “I lost my balance just now.” Then, he looked at Milton and Travis. “What are you two doing?” Even though his tone was stern, Yvonne knew him too well. Beneath that voice and that look, he enjoyed the kiss more than anyone could ever know. Justin turned to Yvonne and offered an explanation. “It was an accident. The kids were just being playful. Don’t read too much into it.” Yvonne shook her head slowly. “I’m not reading into it.” She really was not. Be it the father or the sons, she did not want any of them anymore. After the Ferris wheel ride, they went to watch the parade of floats. The night was alive with dazzling lights and laughter, and the floats moved slowly through the crowd. Then, chaos struck. One of the horses pulling a float got spooked, rearing and charging into the crowd! “Watch out!” In the chaos, Yvonne saw Justin and the two kids rush to Sophia, shielding her tightly under their arms. She was left alone, shoved down by the panicked crowd. Agonizing pain exploded through her body. A horse’s hoof crushed her ribs, and a wheel rolled over her legs. She heard the sickening snap of bone. Her vision went black. She lost consciousness. … When Yvonne woke, the hospital room was silent. She forced herself upright. Every movement sent jagged waves of pain through her ribs and legs. Cold sweat dripped down her temples. Her hand reached for the phone on the bedside table. Right then, the screen lit up. It was a social media notification from Sophia. The photo showed Justin and the two kids at her hospital bed. One held a cup of warm water while the other held medicine. Justin was gently tucking her in. The caption read: [It feels so good to be loved.] Yvonne tugged bitterly at the corners of her mouth and set the phone down. The doctor entered, flipping through her reports. “Ms. Johansson, you’ve fractured three ribs and have a hairline fracture in your left tibia. You’ll need to stay a few days for observation.” He looked around. “Where's your family? Someone needs to sign for you.” Yvonne answered calmly, “I have no family.” The next few days, the room remained empty. The nurses looked at her with pity, occasionally slipping her an extra box of painkillers. It was not until her discharge day that Justin finally arrived. He was late, as always. “Sophia got a fright and couldn’t be left alone these past few days.” Justin’s voice was indifferent. “How’s your recovery? Do you need to stay a few more days? I can bring the kids over to help take care of you.” Yvonne shook her head. “No, thank you. Don’t let me get in the way.” Justin frowned slightly. He had always been so busy with work, yet even an hour with him could brighten her for days. Now, she was rejecting him? He did not dwell on it. Instead, he instructed the driver to head to a high-end designer boutique downtown. Inside, lights glittered across the showroom. Justin held up dress after dress against her. Yvonne murmured, thinking that he was trying to make up to her, “No, I don’t need this. I don’t like any of these—” “Don’t like them?” interrupted Justin, “Sophia’s birthday is approaching. I’d like to commission the perfect dress for her.” He studied her figure. “You’re roughly the same size as her. I brought you to try them on.” Yvonne let out a bitter laugh. She was laughing at her own foolish hope, laughing at how he knew exactly where to hurt her to cause the most pain. For three hours, she was a puppet, trying on one dress after another under his scrutinizing eye. Finally, he chose a diamond-studded mermaid gown. “This one.” Back home, he tossed her a paper bag. “Picked this up for you while I was at it.” Yvonne glanced inside. It was a freebie from the boutique—a plain black dress with a tag that read 'Gift with Purchase'. She took it and let out a faint, emotionless hum. Once she was in her room, she tossed it straight into the trash. Chapter 6 Over the next few days, Yvonne barely left her room except to eat. All she wanted was for the divorce to be finalized as quickly as possible. She ignored Justin and the boys’ endless attempts to please Sophia as though she could not see them at all. Soon, Sophia’s birthday arrived. Justin had originally planned to throw a lavish party, but Sophia gently refused. “Let’s just celebrate at home. I don’t like big crowds.” Milton immediately chimed in, “Perfect. I don’t like outsiders trying to suck up to us anyway. It’s better when it’s just our family.” … On the day of Sophia's birthday, the villa was decorated in a warm, extravagant style. The maids bustled about, and Justin personally placed a birthday hat on Sophia’s head. “Make a wish.” Justin’s gaze was full of tenderness. Sophia clasped her hands and closed her eyes in the candlelight. After she blew out the candles, Justin and the two boys presented their gifts. Justin gave her a set of antique jewelry. Milton handed her the key to a limited-edition sports car. Travis proudly presented the deed to a private island. Sophia’s eyes turned red with emotion. “Thank you… all of you.” She suddenly looked toward Yvonne, who had remained silent until now. She put on a sweet smile. “Yvonne, what gift did you prepare for me?” Every pair of eyes turned toward her. Yvonne met Sophia’s expectant gaze and answered calmly, “I didn’t prepare one.” She had no desire to and no intention of doing so. Milton’s expression instantly darkened. “Mom! How could you do that? You knew today was Ms. Shaw’s birthday!” Travis pouted. “You don’t even have basic manners!” The two boys exchanged a glance. Suddenly, Milton’s eyes lit up. “Wait! Mom has tons of nice things Dad bought her. Let’s pick one from her room and give it to Ms. Shaw!” Travis nodded immediately. “Good idea!” Before Yvonne could react, the boys had already dashed upstairs toward her bedroom. “Wait!” Yvonne’s expression changed drastically. Ignoring the fact that her leg had not fully healed, she staggered after them. When she pushed the door open, the boys were already rummaging through her room. Jewelry boxes had been overturned and drawers pulled open, their contents scattered everywhere. “Found it!” Milton suddenly shouted, holding up a silver necklace with a small crescent moon pendant. “This one’s pretty!” Yvonne’s pupils shrank. It was the last gift Henry had given her before he died. “No!” She rushed forward to grab it back. “You can’t take that! Your Uncle Henry gave it to me!” Milton nimbly dodged aside. “It’s just a necklace. You can ask Uncle Henry to buy you another one later.” Her voice trembled. “He’s already dead!” Travis rolled his eyes impatiently. “You’re lying again. It was just a dummy last time! Uncle Henry’s obviously traveling. He even said he’d bring me back a gift!” Then, he leaned over the railing and shouted downstairs, “Ms. Shaw! We found Mom’s gift for you! You’re going to love it!” Yvonne reached out desperately for the necklace, but Milton shoved her hard. “Why are you being so stingy?!” Yvonne's foot slipped, and she tumbled down the stairs. The back of her head slammed against the steps. Blood instantly spilled from her temple. She lay in a pool of blood. Her vision blurred as a loud ringing filled her ears. “Mom!” Milton and Travis panicked and ran downstairs. Milton’s voice trembled. “I-I didn’t mean to… It’s your fault for trying to grab it…” Travis burst into tears. “Mom, you’re bleeding…” Justin strode over when he heard the noises. His expression changed instantly when he saw the scene. “What happened?” Chapter 7 Milton sniffled as he tried to explain, “We just wanted to find a necklace to give to Ms. Shaw… Mom wouldn’t let us and tried to take it back… I-I accidentally…” Justin crouched down beside Yvonne, reaching out to help her up. “Where are you hurt? I’ll take you to the hospital.” The two boys also hurried over, fumbling as they tried to help. Just then… A scream came from the dining room. A maid rushed over in a panic. “Sir! Ms. Shaw was scalded by hot soup!” Justin froze for a moment. “Is it serious?” he asked urgently. “A large patch of skin turned red…” Before the maid could finish, Justin had already stood up. “Yvonne, call an ambulance yourself. We’ll take Sophia to the hospital first.” The two boys immediately let go of Yvonne’s hands. “Mom, you should go to the hospital yourself!” “Justin… Milton… Travis…” Yvonne weakly reached out. However, the three of them were already rushing toward the dining room without looking back, carefully supporting Sophia as they escorted her away. Blood blurred her vision. She trembled as she fumbled for her phone, using the last bit of her strength she had to dial 911. “H-Help me…” The moment the call connected, darkness swallowed her whole. … When Yvonne woke up again, her hospital room was still empty. A nurse came in to change her bandages. She let out a sigh when she saw that Yvonne was awake. “Your husband and children are in the VIP room next door, taking care of Ms. Shaw.” She hesitated for a moment before continuing. There was a hint of indignation in her voice. “Ms. Shaw only has a small burn on the back of her hand, but they’re acting like it’s a huge emergency. Mr. Quinn personally applied ointment for her, the older kid was blowing on the burn, and the younger one even ran out to buy ice cream to cheer her up… Meanwhile, you’re injured badly, yet…” Yvonne listened quietly. Her heart was already hurting past the point of feeling. Her phone suddenly vibrated. The screen lit up with a notification from the courthouse: [Your divorce has been processed. You may collect your divorce certificate in three days.] She stared at the message for a long time, then she smiled. It would soon all be over. … After leaving the hospital, Yvonne began preparing to leave. On the first day, she went to the cemetery. A little stone marker now stood beside her parents’ tomb, marking Henry’s resting place. She knelt before the grave and gently wiped the dust from the photo of her brother’s young, smiling face. “Mom, Dad, Henry…” Her voice was soft. “I loved the wrong person. I shouldn’t have fallen in love with Justin. I shouldn’t have given birth to those two children…” She gave a small smile as silent tears slid down her face. “I’m leaving… This time, I’ll let them go completely. I’ll make the rest of my life count. You guys, be well and don’t worry about me. Someday, years from now, we’ll meet again.” The mountain wind lifted her long hair, and the white flowers at the grave trembled slightly, as though they were responding to her. The next day, she went to Lovers’ Bridge. Years ago, she and Justin had hung a lock there. It had been engraved with their names, meant to symbolize their lasting love. She found the lock, gripped a pair of pliers, and snapped it off before tossing it into the river. As the lock fell into the water, she seemed to hear the laughter of her younger self. How ridiculous. Those vows of 'forever' only lasted five years. After that, she visited every place that held memories of her time with Justin—the restaurants they frequented, the park where they had their first date, the church where they were married… Bit by bit, she erased every trace of their love. Back at home, she gathered all the gifts Justin had given her over the years and threw them into the trash. Finally, she packed her bags. Once she collected the divorce certificate tomorrow, she would leave for good. Chapter 8 On the evening of the third day, Justin returned with the two children. The moment he stepped through the door, he offered an explanation, which was rare for him. “Sophia has never dealt well with pain. That’s why we took her to the hospital first.” Milton muttered quietly, “Yeah… Mom, you’re stronger than Ms. Shaw. You don’t need us…” Travis nodded solemnly. “Ms. Shaw is too weak. She needs our protection.” “Enough,” Yvonne cut them off, her voice calm. “No need to explain.” She understood perfectly. All their justifications ultimately boiled down to one thing—they loved Sophia, not her. Once, that truth would have shattered her, but not anymore. She no longer loved them. Justin felt a flicker of unease when he noticed how calm Yvonne was. It was as though the chance to make amends was slipping through his fingers. He added, “There’s a meteor shower tonight. I’ll take you up the mountain to watch it.” “No.” “Don’t be stubborn.” Justin glanced at the kids. “Go help your mom change first.” Milton and Travis immediately grabbed her arms from both sides. “Come on, Mom!” Yvonne was forced into the car, and only then did she notice that Sophia was there too. Sophia said in a gentle voice, “Yvonne, please don’t mind it. I’ve always been afraid of the dark. Justin didn’t want me alone—” Justin quickly chimed in, “Sophia has night blindness and gets scared at night.” The kids joined in with chatter, “Poor Ms. Shaw!” Yvonne felt exhausted and closed her eyes. She did not want to hear another word. When they were up the mountain, Justin and the children fussed over Sophia—adjusting her seat, handing her blankets, and feeding her fruit. They were afraid she would feel even the slightest discomfort. Sophia glanced at Yvonne from time to time, hoping to see a flicker of jealousy or anger, but all she saw was calm detachment—as though none of it concerned her at all. Halfway up the slope, they got out to walk. Suddenly, Sophia slipped and let out a startled scream. Sophia grabbed Yvonne’s wrist, and together, they tumbled down the hillside. “Yvonne! Sophia!” Justin and the kids scrambled down in panic. Sophia had only scraped her palm, but tears brimmed in her eyes. She looked pitiful even though she was unharmed. Yvonne, however, hit a rock. A long gash ran down her lower leg, and blood soaked her pants. Her face was pale as paper. “I’ll take Sophia back first.” Justin decided immediately. “Yvonne, hang in here. I’ll call the rescue team.” After he said that, he scooped Sophia into his arms and left without looking back. Milton and Travis hesitated for a moment. They glanced at their mother’s bloodied leg, then at Sophia in their father’s arms. They reluctantly followed the two. Yvonne lay on the cold slope, watching their backs disappear into the night. She waited all night, but no one returned. At dawn, Yvonne clenched her teeth and dragged her injured leg inch by inch as she painfully climbed onto the road. She flagged down a passing car, went to the hospital herself to tend to her wound, and then went straight to the courthouse. When the divorce certificate was placed in her hands, the letters seemed to glow with liberation. When she returned to the villa, the house was silent and empty. Justin and the kids were still at the hospital, nagging at Sophia to get a full check-up. Yvonne set the divorce certificate on the coffee table. Beside it lay a single note: [I’m gone. Don’t look for me. I don’t want this family anymore.] She picked up her long-packed suitcase and walked out without so much as a backward glance, finally stepping free from the cage that had held her for five long, suffocating years. Behind her, the sun rose slowly, spilling light over the world she was leaving. Ahead of her lay a life entirely of her own—without Justin, Milton, and Travis.