During Elijah's Thanksgiving party, my husband who had been missing for ten years made a grand entrance with his beloved Ayah and their two sons. His brothers were quick to joke:

"Lachlan, your fake death act deserves an Oscar. The Academy owes you an award for this performance."

"Remember when Hazel was running around pregnant, searching the world for you? People mocked her for being so desperate. It was amusing."

With a sneer, Lachlan retorted, "If she hadn't been so determined to marry me, Ayah wouldn't have been devastated enough to try to end her life. I wanted her to feel what it's like to be abandoned."

"Unless she kneels and apologizes to Ayah at tonight's party, she and her unborn child should forget about being recognized," he said, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes, anticipating my humiliation.

Unbeknownst to him, the truth of his fake death at sea had long been uncovered. His reckless actions led to the company's stock plummeting, nearly bankrupting it within days. His father, Warren, had a heart attack in a fit of rage over Lachlan's behavior and passed away before reaching the hospital.

Laurel, blaming me for it all, attacked me with a knife while I was eight months pregnant. The blade pierced my abdomen, and blood flowed, leading to the loss of my unborn child. Just before the police arrived, she jumped to her death, ending it all in tragedy.

After the emergency saved my life, I remarried his creditor, Elijah, and now our child is old enough to run errands.

...

"Lachlan, you should've seen how Hazel looked back then, in the streets crying and making a scene like a madwoman. She was the epitome of a desperate fool," another of his brothers chimed in.

Lachlan scoffed, "Thinking a pregnancy could tie me down? She should know better than to compare herself to Ayah."

I locked eyes with him as he finished speaking, and he froze for a moment before striding towards me.

"Hazel, what are you doing here? I've been avoiding you for ten years, and you're still showing up like a bad penny. Leave now; this isn’t a place for your antics!"

The crowd murmured:

"Who is she? After being insulted like that, why doesn’t she leave? I heard Mr. Gonzalez plans to introduce his wife at the party, and if this woman disrupts it, she'll be in deep trouble."

"This woman is really bold, kicking up a fuss at Mr. Gonzalez’s party. No wonder she was abandoned."

I looked at Lachlan and spoke coldly, "When you faked your death and vanished, I legally dissolved our marriage. You have no right to order me around."

"Everyone knows you're obsessed with me, hoping to cling to me forever. You think I'd believe a word about a divorce?" Lachlan scoffed.

The crowd began to murmur again:

"This woman has some nerve, hanging around despite such humiliation."

"Mr. Gonzalez is famous for doting on his wife. If his wife is upset at the party, he certainly won't let this woman off lightly."

Lachlan's expression changed at the sound of the murmurs. He grabbed my arm sharply, "Get out, don’t embarrass me here!"

He had gone to great lengths to get an invitation to this party, terrified my presence would ruin his chance to cozy up to Mr. Gonzalez.

As he shoved me toward the exit, Ayah, who walked over with their children, looked at me and said in a seemingly innocent tone, "Sister, it’s been ten years. Why all this drama upon meeting?"

"I know it hasn’t been easy for you raising a child alone. Blame me if you must, but spare Lachlan."

"Whatever anger you have, direct it at me, not here where everyone’s watching."

Her words, although appearing to defuse the situation, only fueled Lachlan's anger. He glared at me, accusing me of causing a scene on purpose.

Watching the pair in front of me, memories of an unbearable wedding night rushed back.

That night, I waited eagerly to celebrate with Lachlan. But when Ayah called, claiming she would end her life, he left without a word, taking his coat and not returning until the next day. By then, the whole community knew, and I was the laughingstock, the woman who threw herself at him.

I broke free from Lachlan's hold, my gaze piercing Ayah. "Aren’t you tired of pretending? Because I’m certainly tired of watching."

"Sister, I know you dislike me, but I never intended to hurt you..." Ayah began, but Lachlan interrupted, shielding her, glaring at me.

"Enough. I won’t allow you to bully Ayah. I left back then to teach you a lesson, but you still don’t learn. Today, I’ll make it clear: Ayah’s cared for me all these years and gave me two sons. I'm bringing her home."

"You better behave, or I’ll throw you out immediately."

I couldn't help but find it laughable. "Lachlan, I’ve remarried. Who you bring home has nothing to do with me."

Lachlan's face showed surprise, but he quickly regained his usual arrogant demeanor.

“Remarried? Don’t make things up just because I’m bringing Ayah home. You really think I’d fall for that?”

Laughter erupted from the people nearby:

“This lady sure knows how to spin a story. Remarried? Who’d want her anyway?”

“Must be out of her mind, talking like this.”

Just then, my daughter Oakleigh came running over.

Seeing that I was being harassed, her little face showed concern, and she asked in her sweet, innocent voice, “Mommy, who are these people?”

Before I could answer, Ayah’s two sons approached us. Declan, the older one, reached out and shoved Oakleigh, causing her to fall to the ground. Her knee scraped along the pavement, drawing blood, and she cried out in pain.

Reed, the younger one, lifted his chin and sneered, “Hmph, you think you can compete with us for Dad?”

I rushed over and pushed the two boys away.

As I turned to Oakleigh, I was struck with a sharp kick to my lower back, sending me sprawling forward. My hands scraped along the ground, leaving long bloodstains.

Before I could gather my senses, Lachlan strode over to me, looking down at me with disdain.

“Hazel, what’s gotten into you? How dare you lay a hand on the children!”

With that, he kicked me hard on the shoulder. The hard sole of his shoe connected with my bones, the pain sharp enough to make me gasp.

I braced myself against the ground, struggling to rise, as memories of the pain he caused me flooded my mind. Old grievances surged up, and I slapped him hard across the face.

“You’re not even human, Lachlan!”

Lachlan held his cheek in disbelief.

Ayah stepped forward, looped her arm through his, and said softly, “Lachlan, I'm sure Hazel didn’t mean to hit you. Don’t be mad; it’s my fault for not keeping an eye on the kids.”

Her words rekindled the anger in Lachlan's eyes.

“Hazel, you’re not even worth a strand of Ayah's hair!”

Looking at this unfamiliar man, I couldn’t help but scoff internally.

Once, my classmates had torn up my notebook and stolen my lunch money. Lachlan had not only avenged me by confronting them but had also declared throughout the school: “Hazel is with me. Anyone who bullies her is challenging me!”

After that, no one dared to bully me, the girl under the school bully's protection.

Under the cherry blossoms lining the park, Lachlan touched my head, promising, “When we grow up, I’ll marry you and protect you for life.”

I blushed and nodded, completely believing in his promise.

So when our families arranged a marriage, I thought it was a love story come true.

Only on our wedding night did I realize he had someone else in his heart all along.

Lachlan seemed ready to explode in anger, but seeing my silence, a flicker of guilt crossed his eyes.

Ayah's eyes brimmed with tears, her voice trembling, “Lachlan, Hazel must love you so much that she acted out of confusion. You should forgive her this once.”

Any guilt in Lachlan’s eyes vanished with Ayah’s words.

He suddenly grabbed a cocktail glass from a waiter and splashed its contents at me.

The drink soaked through my clothes, leaving me utterly disheveled.

The crowd erupted in shock.

“You’ve lost it!”

I didn’t want to deal with this madness anymore, so I picked up my crying daughter and turned to leave.

Lachlan, even angrier now, blocked my way and ground his teeth, saying:

“Hazel, apologize to Ayah and the kids right now, and then get out of here. The Gonzalez family party is no place for someone like you.”

I held my daughter close and shot him a cold glance.

“I’m not apologizing. And let me make it clear one last time, I’m remarried. My life is none of your business. Stay away from me.”

With that, I turned and walked away.

Lachlan stood dumbfounded behind me. Then, consumed by rage and embarrassment, he shouted after me:

“Hazel, don’t think you can use this excuse to dodge the apology. This isn’t over!”

My parents were killed in a car accident. Because of the close ties and marriage agreement between our families, Mr. Owens treated me like his own daughter, and Mrs. Salazar was compassionate toward me. But everything was upended because of Lachlan.

His faked death turned me from a cherished daughter-in-law into a despised debtor. If it weren't for Elijah, I might not have made it to this day.

As I was lost in thought, Elijah texted me saying he'd arrive in about 15 minutes. Today is his birthday, and I didn’t want to spoil the mood, so I chose to hide what had just transpired.

I replied, "I'll bring our daughter to meet you at the entrance." I then pulled myself together, treated my daughter's wounds, and headed to the entrance of the party with her.

There, I unexpectedly encountered Lachlan, who had his arm around Ayah's waist, kissing her cheek. Upon seeing me, he curled his lips into a mocking smile.

"Has reality finally kicked in?" he sneered. "Well, if you realize your mistake, you can kneel and apologize to Ayah now, and maybe I’ll cut you some slack."

The people around us chimed in:

"Yeah, hurry up and kneel. Let's get a show before Mr. Gonzalez and Mrs. Gonzalez arrive."

Ayah feigned innocence:

"Lachlan, let’s not do this. It's only going to make Hazel dislike me more. I can handle a little bit of hardship..."

As she spoke, her gaze fell on the locket around my neck, and she gasped, covering her mouth in disbelief:

"Sister, this locket... Isn't it the one Mr. Gonzalez bought at the charity auction for his wife? How is it with you?"

The crowd was visibly stunned.

"Impossible. Did she really have the nerve to swipe something from Mrs. Gonzalez?"

"Besides the locket’s huge value, Mr. Gonzalez is absolutely smitten with his wife; he wouldn't let this pass."

Upon hearing this, Lachlan's face twisted with rage as he shouted at me:

"Hazel Gonzalez, how dare you steal Mrs. Gonzalez’s locket? Have you lost it?"

Lachlan rushed over and violently grabbed my throat:

"Don't think you can do whatever you want here. You can't afford to cross someone like Mr. Gonzalez!"

I fought free from his grip, gasped for air, and glared fiercely at him:

"I am Mrs. Gonzalez. How dare you question me wearing my own locket?"

The entire room erupted in disbelief.

Lachlan laughed hysterically:

"If you're Mrs. Gonzalez, then I’m the host of this party. Seriously, stop dreaming; we’re dying of laughter here!"

The crowd joined in the laughter:

"She has no shame. Imagine trying to climb the social ladder with such wild claims."

"She's really lost it, spewing these crazy lies."

My daughter bravely shoved Lachlan:

"You can't bully my mom!"

Ayah's two sons immediately reacted; one bit my arm fiercely while the other pushed my daughter down. She fell, further injuring her knees, and cried out:

"Just wait till my dad arrives; he won't let you get away with this!"

Right then, the entrance stirred, catching everyone's attention. Elijah appeared, dressed sharply in a suit, radiating authority.

My daughter shouted: "Dad, you've finally arrived! They were bullying me and Mom!"