“Diana, don't be like this. Don't worry, the police will handle the case impartially. With our Howell Family here, they will definitely not have a good ending.”

Those men were probably frightened by my madness and huddled in a corner with their lips curled.

“It’s your failure as a mother for not raising your child properly.

“This is how we discipline students here—no punishment, no success. Who would have thought your daughters would be so fragile? Truly unfortunate.”

I pointed at them with trembling fingers, the anger in my heart seemed to be about to explode, until I wished I could tear them into pieces.

A fishy smell rose from my throat, I suddenly spat out a large mouthful of blood, closed my eyes and lost consciousness.

When I woke up again, I was in the Howell Family’s old house. My sister-in-law was standing by my bed with red eyes.

“Diana, are you awake? Don't worry, we have already dealt with the police. We will definitely not let those beasts go this time.”

I stared at the ceiling with empty eyes as I pleaded, “Please, let me go, I have nothing left..."

In fact, I knew in my heart that those beasts in the education school were guilty, but in the final analysis, it was Jordon who sent his two daughters to that hell.

The culprit was not those beasts, but the child’s biological father, Jordon.

My sister-in-law's shoulders froze and then she spoke softly as if she had made up her mind, “Okay, I'll go tell Grandpa.”

Watching my sister-in-law leaving, I finally could not hold back my tears anymore, as if I wanted to cry out all the grievances I had suffered over the years.

I came to the Howell Family when I was eight years old. That year, Jordon was the same age as me.

Mr. Howell and my grandfather were comrades-in-arms, bound by a lifelong friendship after my grandfather saved his life on the battlefield.

After my parents passed away in separate accidents, my grandfather raised me. But when I was eight, he, too, passed away. 

Left alone, I was taken in by Mr. Howell and brought into the Howell Family.

I had to say that over the years, Mr. Howell and my sister-in-law have treated me very well. They truly treated me as a family member and a member of the Howell Family.

So, in the seven years since we got married, no matter how much of a jerk Jordon was, I stayed at home peacefully, gave birth to children for him and took care of the housework for him.

I originally thought that even if I was not loved, my life would be meaningful as long as I was taking care of my two precious daughters.

But then, I had nothing.

I did not know how long it was before my sister-in-law walked into my room again.

“Grandpa asked you to pass.”

When I walked into the old man's room, he was sitting on a wooden chair beside the bed, looking at me with eyes full of heartache.

“Diana, you are a good girl. I heard from your sister that you have been wronged over the years.

“The child will be cremated tomorrow. You can leave if you want after that. That brat is not worthy of you. You should not let him keep you from doing this any longer.”

I said nothing and bowed deeply to the old man.

I bent over and watched my tears fall on the wooden floor. I was grateful, grateful to the Howell Family for raising me for more than 20 years.

But there was no way I could forgive Jordon, the executioner who killed my child.

As I returned to the room, Jordon was already waiting in the room. When he saw me, he looked sarcastic.

“What? Are you so impatient to come back and complain to Grandpa? Diana, do you really think that if you appease my grandfather and sister, I will take care of you and live a good life?”

The moment I saw Jordon, the hatred in my heart engulfed me like a tide. I wanted to kill him immediately and send him to hell!

But at the same time, the soft and tender voices of two children rang in my ears again.

“Mom, I like Dad so much. He is the most handsome father in our kindergarten.”

“Mom, we miss Dad so much. Will he come back to accompany us today?”

“We love our mother first in the world and our father second.” 

“Mom, please don’t quarrel with Dad because of us. It's because we are naughty and disobedient," were the last words they said to me before they lost consciousness when I rushed into the school to rescue the children.

I took a deep breath, ignored Jordon, walked straight to the bed and sat down.

Seeing that I did not speak for a long time, Jordon looked a little angry. He threw me on the bed and locked my hands tightly above my head.

“What are you talking about now? Didn't you ask your sister to call me back?”

As he spoke, he leaned over to kiss me. I was unable to struggle free and could only bite his lips hard.

Jordon felt pain and suddenly let go of me and sat up.

“Diana! Are you out of your mind?

“Just looking at you makes me sick. You fool Grandpa with that innocent act, don’t you? You dragged me back here just to play hard to get—how ridiculous.

“It’s your hypocrisy that’s rubbed off on my daughters. They’ve been raised under your influence and look where that’s gotten them.”

I bit my lower lip tightly until I tasted blood, then I spoke softly to interrupt Jordon, “The children are dead.”

Jordon's expression suddenly froze, but after a moment he sneered, “Diana, you really dare to say anything nonsense. Didn't you just find out today that Annette is pregnant? Do you really have to make up such nonsense?”

After saying this, Jordon stood up and walked towards the door.

Before reaching the door, Jordon halted and added coldly, “Since you’ve rejected me, don’t even think about running to Grandpa to complain that I’m ignoring you. That would only make me despise you more.”

After Jordon left, the room became quiet again. I rushed into the bathroom and brushed my teeth vigorously, trying to brush away the scent of Jordon that remained on my lips.

Jordon and I were once in love.

On the day of my coming-of-age ceremony, eighteen-year-old Jordon stood in front of me, his ears red with shyness.

“Diana, I want to be good to you. I don't want to be just your brother."

The boy's cheeks flushed, but the determination in his eyes was intoxicating and my heart instantly softened into an ocean.

In the following years, Jordon almost held me in his hands and I did my best to treat him well.

It was not until we were twenty-two that the old man called us over.

“You are both of marriageable age, Diana. Your grandfather saved my life and I am worried about you marrying into another family. What do you think of Jordon?”

From then on, Jordon's attitude towards me took a sharp turn for the worse and all that lingering love seemed to have disappeared overnight.

I did not know what happened and Jordon would not tell me the reason.

I got pregnant successfully one year after getting married. Since then, Jordon has been partying every night and almost never stays home, openly showing off his first love in public.

I had argued with him before, but Jordon just looked at me coldly, as if he was looking at a mentally ill lunatic.

"You got what you wanted—you became the Howell Family's daughter-in-law and even bore them a child. So why are you still making a scene?

"Spare me the act of being wronged. It’s nauseating."

From then on, I no longer asked for the reason and just focused on taking care of my two children.

I accepted the fact that Jordon did not love me or my two children.

Fortunately, the children were well-behaved and sensible. I always thought that I would be happy as long as I could accompany my children as they grew up.

But nowthen, I had lost my child.

Early the next morning, the child was successfully cremated and buried. I stood in front of the funeral home holding two small urns.

They were two tiny babies when they were born, lying quietly in my arms. How come five years later, they had become even smaller and lighter?

My eyes felt sore, but I bit my lower lip tightly to prevent the tears from falling.

My sister- in-law looked at me with worry in her eyes.

“If you feel uncomfortable, just cry, don't hold it in.”

I did not answer my sister-in-law, but just looked at the old man who was getting ready to get in the car to go to the cemetery.

“Grandpa, the children will not be buried in the Howell Family tomb. I want to change the surnames of the two children. They are not the children of the Howell Family, but my children, Diana Jospeh.”

The old man looked at me deeply, then spoke angrily, “Where is that rebellious son? Where on a day like today could he be?”

My sister-in-law shrank back, looked at me and spoke in a low voice, “His phone is turned off and I can’t get in touch with him.”

The old man closed his eyes tightly and when he opened them and looked at me again, his eyes had become clear.

“They are the ones you gave birth to after risking your life, so just do as you say.”

I knelt before the old man, bowing three times in solemn respect.

The weight of a parent's grace was immeasurable, but it was not a burden my children should bear. I would not let them endure any grievances, even in death.

After grandpa left in the car, my sister-in-law gently helped me up from the ground.

“Diana, I’m sorry."

I looked at her with a smile, then took the two urns and went straight home in a taxi.

I want to take the children's things with me. That house was not a home and I did not want them to stay in that cold house.

But as soon as I opened the door, the obscene sounds of lovemaking came into my ears.

“Oh, I'm newly pregnant and the doctor said I can’t do this.”

The man's voice was hoarse with lust as he spoke, “Sweetheart, I'll be gentle, don’t worry. After all, how could I hurt our baby?”

After a while, the sounds of the man and woman making love filled the whole house.

They were making love in the bedroom and I could not go in to pack my things. I could only stand at the door in a daze, listening to those unbearable sounds in self-torture.

I did not know how long it took, but the two finally walked out of the bedroom.

The moment Annette saw me, her eyes gleamed with pride as she said, “Oh, Diana, you’re back? Why didn’t you say anything? We had no idea!

“It’s all Jordon’s fault. I told him I didn’t want to come, but he insisted. What could I do?”

Jordon stood beside Annette and grabbed Annette's waist as he sneered, “Why bother explaining to her? Who the hell is she?

“Let's go, sweetheart. We have an appointment with the doctor for a prenatal checkup today. Our baby must be healthy and safe.”

From beginning to end, Jordon never looked at me, his eyes were only on Annette.

I moved aside and calmly made way for them.

As he passed by me, Jordon finally saw the two urns in my arms.

“What kind of garbage did you pick up? It's so dirty, throw it out as soon as possible.”

After saying this, Jordon hugged Annette and left home.

I stared down at the urn in my arms and said, “Dad is not talking about you, don't be sad, you are mom's babies, you are not garbage.”