On her father’s birthday, Mina Long waited on pins and needles for a call from Hunter Perry and Vincenzo. When it never came, she dialed—only for the call to be declined before it could ring twice. She stared at her phone until the screen blurred, then finally grabbed the gift and flagged down a cab to her parents’ house.

The moment she stepped inside, her mother’s voice sliced through the air, dripping with sarcasm. “Oh, look who finally decided to join us! We invite you, but you’re too busy to come—like we’re nobody?”

Her mother’s gaze snagged on the injuries on Mina’s hand and legs, and for a split second, something in her face softened.

“Malani says you’re practically healed. Who exactly are you trying to fool?” Her tone was dismissive, and the words landed like a slap. Mina’s heart ached.

Her mother had once been kind to her. Then Malani Castillo came back, and everything changed. Her parents were bitter over the life their biological daughter had missed, but they couldn’t simply cast Mina out—not without bruising the family’s reputation.

So Mina had spent years tiptoeing around that house, until Hunter Perry’s arrival felt like salvation. But the rescue she’d prayed for only dragged her deeper into despair.

“The truth is, I can’t hold a scalpel anymore. I can’t dance either. Those are the consequences.” Mina’s voice trembled as she watched her mother’s face.

Her mother’s discomfort flickered, but she pressed on. “You were never as good a dancer as Malani, anyway. One accomplished dancer in the family is plenty.”

Something in Mina went colder. How much did her parents know about the crime she’d been blamed for? How deeply were they involved?

She stood there quietly, pale and fragile.

“Cat got your tongue?” her mother snapped, temper rising. “We raised you all these years, and this is the thanks we get?”

“Enough!” Her father’s voice cut through the room as he came down the stairs, brow furrowed. “What is this? Bickering like children?”

He lowered himself onto the sofa. When he saw Mina alone, his expression turned to stone. “Hunter and Vincenzo aren’t here?”

The shift in him was impossible to miss. Mina’s smile went stiff.

“Something came up. They couldn’t make it.”

Her father’s face soured as he looked her up and down. “Then what good are you? Married all these years and you’ve brought this family nothing.”

“We raised an ungrateful daughter,” her mother added, voice dripping acid.

Their words sliced through Mina, leaving her hollow. She sat still, hands clenched tight in her lap, letting every criticism land. Once, she’d been foolish enough to ache for their affection. Now she understood: to them, she was just a tool.

“Mom! Dad! I’m here!” Malani’s bright voice rang through the room. Mina turned just in time to see her throw herself into their mother’s arms.

Their mother’s face lit up. She ran a hand affectionately over Malani’s hair. “My sweet girl. Did you miss me? Why are you late today?”

Watching them, something bitter surged up Mina’s throat. Once, her mother had looked at her like that. Then Malani returned, and that version of her mother disappeared.

For reasons Mina still didn’t understand, she had once fought tooth and nail for their affection. She’d sold nearly every piece of jewelry she owned to buy her mother an emerald set. Her mother had looked at it with disdain. “No matter how expensive, it still isn’t what Malani gives me.” Then she’d broken the emeralds, piece by piece.

Now, Mina felt nothing at all.

Malani giggled and pointed toward the door. “I brought someone with me!”

Vincenzo and Hunter walked in. Vincenzo bounded straight to his grandfather, beaming. “Happy birthday, Grandpa!”

“Good, good.” Her father’s sour mood vanished. His face lit up as he fussed over Vincenzo, practically glowing with pride.

From the sofa, Mina watched them fall into easy laughter. Her son. Her husband. And yet she sat there like an outsider looking in.

Something twisted inside her. She’d thought Hunter wasn’t coming today. The truth was simpler: he just hadn’t wanted to arrive with her.

Vincenzo handed his grandfather a gift, grinning. “This is for you. Malani and I picked it out together.”

Her father’s sternness melted. He patted Vincenzo’s head with a smile. “Our Vincenzo is quite the charmer. Thank goodness he didn’t take after your mother.”

Vincenzo tilted his head, thinking it over. “Mom’s so clumsy. I don’t want to inherit that. I got my smarts from Dad.”

He paused, then added, “Malani’s taught me a lot too.”

Malani stuck out her tongue and glanced at Mina. “Kids say whatever comes to mind. Don’t take it to heart, Mina, okay?”

Mina smiled, all sarcasm. “None taken. I am indeed foolish.”

Foolish enough to believe the lies of that father-son duo. Foolish enough to trust their deceit.

Her mother’s irritation bubbled over. “All right, let’s go to the dining room.”

She turned to Malani, warmth flooding back into her face, and playfully tapped her nose. “Your favorite pulled pork is waiting.”

Then, with a dismissive glance at Mina, she added in a condescending tone, “You might as well come too.”

Mina kept her face blank. At first, she’d tried to keep the peace—surface-level, at least. But if this was how they wanted to play it, she was done enduring. Before she left, she would cut ties with them for good.

Hunter Perry took in the family’s coldness, then glanced at Mina. His frown deepened. She stood there, untouched by their indifference, her eyes meeting his without a flicker.

Her cold stare hit him like a wall. Something hollow opened in his chest, and his brow knit. Why was she being so stubborn? Didn’t she understand she needed to make amends?

“If you weren’t so headstrong…” Hunter began, his voice low and distant, reaching for her hand. “This is why they’re upset.”

Mina met his eyes, irony glinting in hers. “Is that what you think?”

All these years, he’d watched her family treat her like a stranger. He knew every grievance she carried, and still he urged her to tolerate it. To endure. Maybe her pain had never mattered to him. Maybe he just liked bringing her home so he could see Malani.

She brushed his hand away and limped toward the dining room. “Save your concern for Malani.”

The family gathered around the table, every eye on Malani. Then a voice cut in from behind them. “What? No one waited for me?”

Mina Long looked up just as John, the eldest Castillo son, walked in and locked eyes with her. Dressed head to toe in sleek black, his sharp features matched the smile on his face as he casually dropped into a chair at the table. Then he shot her a dismissive look, his brows knitting. “Why is she here?”

Mina pressed her lips into a thin line and said nothing. She knew exactly how John felt about her.

Malani Castillo, on the other hand, practically bounced over to him and looped her arm through his. “It’s Dad’s birthday, so of course she’s here. I was starving and couldn’t wait, so I already started eating. You’re not mad, are you?”

Despite his usual stern demeanor, John let out a low chuckle and tapped her nose playfully. The easy familiarity between them made Mina’s chest ache. There’d been a time when she’d admired her brother more than anyone.

John was young and accomplished—the driving force behind the family’s business. Yet he had always kept Mina at a distance. She used to think that was just his nature, until Malani came along and revealed the warmth he reserved only for his biological sister.

Mina let out a bitter laugh. Blood really was thicker than water.

Across the table, their mother, Grace, offered Malani a dinner roll, her tone gentle. “Malani, how’s the prep for the dance competition coming along? Feeling confident?”

Dance. The word pricked at Mina’s heart like a tiny thorn.

She knew Malani was entering a dance competition—the same one that had once been Mina’s childhood dream. But that dream was no longer within reach.

Malani laughed, sliding Mina a sideways glance, and answered casually, “I’ve prepared pretty well, but there are still a few tricky parts.”

She placed a piece of steak onto Mina’s plate with a smile. “Mina, could you give me some pointers? Even if you can’t dance anymore, you still know the technique, right?”

Mina looked down at the steak on her plate, face blank, and scraped it into the trash. “I’m allergic to beef,” she said coolly. “I can’t eat it.”

They all knew that. But no one seemed to care.

As a child, she’d once gotten violently ill after eating beef—hives, a raging fever, an emergency trip to the hospital. Her mother had cried and held her through the night. Yet at the next meal, beef was served again. Her mother insisted Mina just needed to build up a resistance.

When Malani returned to the family, her love for beef took over every meal, and Mina hadn’t had a proper dinner since.

John’s face darkened. He slammed a palm against the table, scowling. “Did all those years of raising you go to waste? If you can’t eat it, just leave it on your plate. Who exactly are you giving attitude to?”

Mina opened her mouth to defend herself, but the words wouldn’t come. They ignored her out of habit, treated her like she was invisible. And now, the moment she pushed back, they were furious.

Enough is enough, Mina thought. She had less than three months left before she could return to her real home with the Gibson family. At least they were her biological family.

“I’m sure Mina didn’t mean it,” Malani chimed in, pouring Mina a cup of coffee. “She might be upset about the competition since she can’t participate anymore.”

The challenge in her bright smile was unmistakable. “You wouldn’t be mad at me, right?”

Coffee was another thing Mina couldn’t have. Her mind reeled at the absurdity of it. “Why would I be mad? I won an award in that competition when I first started dancing,” she retorted, sarcasm lacing every word.

If not for her sacrifices for this family—if not for her ruined legs—would Malani even stand a chance on that stage?

Grace scoffed dismissively. “Don’t mind her. How could she ever compare to you?”

“Yeah, Malani’s the best dancer,” Vincenzo chimed in, smiling. “My mom’s just a housewife. I’ve never even seen her dance.”

His eyes turned to his grandfather, full of curiosity. “Grandpa, was she really good?”

“It was just luck and youth back then,” their grandfather replied, patting the boy’s head. “Nothing compared to Malani now.”

Mina’s fingers clenched tightly, her nails digging into her palms hard enough to nearly draw blood. The sacrifices she’d made—the countless ruined dance shoes, the bloodied toes—none of it mattered. Her achievements had been dismissed as mere luck.

Her gaze grew cold as it swept through her family. “If I were so lucky, I wouldn’t have lost the use of my legs,” she said lightly, turning to Hunter Perry. “Wouldn’t you agree, Hunter?”

A flicker of discomfort flashed in Hunter’s eyes. His lips tightened, his expression hardening. He frowned, dissatisfied. “Mina, you’re being too sensitive. Malani just wants your guidance. We couldn’t have predicted what happened.”

Mina almost laughed at his hypocrisy. The Castillo family was like a devouring beast, and every moment in their presence made her sick.

She pushed herself up from the table. “I’ve lost my appetite.”

Grace’s face twisted in anger. “Have you grown bold? Daring to show us attitude after all we’ve done for you?”

Malani added, “Mina, I didn’t mean anything by it. Wouldn’t it be nice if we all just got along? You’re still the same as before! Even before you went to jail, when you pushed me into the lake, I didn’t tell Mom. I thought you’d change after three months inside.”

Mina frowned. They had hardly ever interacted alone before her imprisonment.

“When did I ever push you?” she asked icily, only to be cut off by Hunter.

“Enough!”

Hunter’s stern gaze was unreadable as he set down his fork with a sharp clang. “Mina, apologize to Mother and Malani.”

Mina felt suffocated. She pressed her lips into a thin line and refused to speak.

“It’s your fault,” Vincenzo chimed in. “You’re just a wicked witch. You’re not fit to be my mom.”

Silence fell over the dining room.

Mina surveyed them, her anger dissolving into a cold laugh. “Why should I?”

She shoved her chair back, tossed her utensils onto the floor, and stormed out. Her mother began yelling behind her as chaos erupted, but Mina felt a rush of satisfaction.

Years in the Castillo household, treading on eggshells to please them, had led her here. And her husband and son—the ones she shared a life and a home with—wouldn’t even take her side.

This was a family she should have left long ago.

She flung open the front door and stepped into the cold breeze, feeling unburdened. From behind, hurried footsteps approached, and a hand grasped her wrist firmly—

Hunter Perry stepped into the cold night air, his grip locked tight around Mina Long's wrist until her fresh wounds stung. She kept her expression carefully blank, her voice low and even. “Let go.”

Hunter’s expression wavered for a second, then he draped his coat over her shoulders. “I just didn’t want your mom nagging me about the whole Malani thing.”

His voice was cold, laced with condescension. “They’re your mom and sister. You need to be sensible.”

Mina’s stubborn streak had always pushed his buttons. Reluctant as he was, he followed her outside to smooth things over. Fragile as she looked, he felt a flicker of pity. Still—was coddling her really the right move?

Mina laughed, the sound cutting clean through the tension. “My sister?” she scoffed, the idea absurd. Since when did sisters flirt with their brother-in-law? Since when did they scheme for their own gain and send family to jail?

Malani Castillo had everything to gain, and Mina refused to believe she was that oblivious.

“Mina, what are you playing at?” Hunter’s patience frayed, his voice hardening. “Malani went through hell before she found her family. Can you really not let go of some old grudge?”

He didn’t get it. He’d come all this way to placate her, and she was still digging in her heels. When would this drama ever end?

Hunter’s irritation spiked, his gaze going icy. Seeing his kindness saved for another woman stung Mina. His tenderness for Malani only mirrored the cruelty he showed his own wife. But soon, none of it would matter—they were on the brink of divorce. She was leaving.

A faint, soft smile touched Mina’s lips. “I’m not mad. Go back inside.”

“Good girl.” Hunter’s tense expression eased a fraction, a faint smile forming as he reached to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. His fingers closed on empty air.

His face went hard, tension etched into every line. “Mina Long, what’s going on?”

Mina stepped back, cool and aloof. “There’s no need. I’m not coming back. When I said I wanted a divorce, I meant it.”

Her words cut through the quiet like a blade.

After a beat, Hunter let out a humorless chuckle, fury flickering in his eyes. “Even a tantrum has its limits, you know.”

He grabbed her wrist again, fingers digging in deep, as if he meant to break her.

Mina winced. He was truly furious now.

“Dad, what are you doing?” A child’s voice piped up, and Hunter let go at once.

Vincenzo Perry had made his entrance, shattering the tension.

The little boy trotted over and tugged at Hunter’s hand. “Come on, Malani’s waiting inside. She said no pie until you come in!”

He deliberately avoided Mina’s eyes, hoping she’d give in. If she’d just ask, maybe he’d put in a good word with his grandparents for her. After all, at the Castillo household, they liked him more than they liked her.

Yet Mina stayed silent, eyes down, spine straight, and started to walk away.

Before she was out of earshot, she heard that innocent voice ask Hunter, “Dad, are you really going to get divorced?”

“If you do, does that mean Malani can be my new mom? That’d be awesome! I don’t want that old witch.”

Mina’s lips twisted into a smile that held no joy. It all felt pointless. She couldn’t even muster the energy to be hurt.

Halfway to the door, Hunter stopped and glanced back at her retreating figure. She was resolute, unbending, her small frame like a reed refusing to break in the storm.

A deep frown creased his brow. A sharp emptiness gripped him, almost urging him to call her back. But before he could move, his phone rang.

Hunter’s expression darkened as he answered, but when he saw his assistant’s number, his mood lifted a little.

“Did you confirm it?” he asked. “Is the Gibson family attending the banquet in three days?”

“Yes, Mr. Perry,” the assistant confirmed. “According to our sources, the Gibsons will be there.”

A smile flashed across Hunter’s face, the weight on his mind lifting. “Great. If we can get the Gibsons on our side, Perry Corporation will finally get its break.”

...

Back at her apartment, Mina sank onto the couch, lost in thought. She called her lawyer to draft the divorce papers, and for the first time, felt a sense of relief.

The next morning, she showed up at the Perry house with the agreement, only to find Hunter gone. Malani and Vincenzo were there instead, laughing together.

When Vincenzo saw her, he jumped off the couch. “Why are you here? Didn’t you say you didn’t want me? Then just leave!”

His frustration was plain as day. How could his own mother just turn a blind eye to him?

Mina had no interest in a fight. She lowered her gaze, voice calm. “Even if I don’t want you, my blood still runs through your veins.”

Vincenzo’s cheeks flushed red with anger. “Who needs your blood! I’d rather have nothing to do with you!”

“Where’s Hunter?” Mina asked, taking a seat in the living room.

Her injuries had mostly healed. Apart from some discomfort when she walked, she felt fine.

Still comforting Vincenzo, Malani spoke up. “Mina, what do you need him for? Are you here to make amends? Hunter told me you’re just throwing a fit—and that it’s all my fault.”

“He said that to you?” Mina frowned, quickly grasping just how deep Malani’s interference in their marriage ran.

Seeing Mina’s reaction, Malani added quickly, “Don’t take it the wrong way, Mina. Hunter and I are like siblings. Sharing tips on how to win your wife over is only natural, isn’t it?”

She laughed. “Besides, I’m practically one of the guys. Except for my late husband, I’m not interested in men.”

At the mention of her late husband, Vincenzo—worried she might get upset—clung tightly to her arm. His dad had told him her husband died in their second year of marriage, leaving her heartbroken for a long time.

“Oh, you!” Malani pretended to scold, waving a hand. “What silly things are you saying? Don’t go messing up our friendship!”

Ignoring their little performance, Mina tossed the divorce agreement onto the table.

“Make sure he signs these when he gets back.”

Her voice was cool, cutting through the living room and leaving Vincenzo and Malani speechless.

Vincenzo reacted first, rushing to the coffee table to scrutinize the divorce papers, panic rising in his chest. Was his mom serious this time?

It couldn’t be true. His mom loved his dad and him more than anything, didn’t she? Was she mad because he hadn’t taken her side last night?

Yes, that had to be it—Mina was using the divorce papers as a ploy.

At the thought, Vincenzo wrinkled his nose. “You’re just upset I didn’t back you up last night. This is an overreaction!”