My very first birthday took place in the mountains. Quiana had planned it for me.

My mom never once celebrated my birthday before. She treated me like a tool to win Dad over, yet she hated the fact that he had married her because of me.

It was the first real birthday I had ever had.

As fireworks filled the night sky, I saw my dad and Quiana lock eyes.

True love really did not need schemes. Just by being there, my dad was already drawn closer to Quiana.

But as he tried to move nearer, Quiana stepped back.

“Mindy is still your wife.”

I knew that as long as my dad did not divorce my mom, she would always be their biggest obstacle. That was true before, and it was true again.

I purposely stepped into a mud puddle and asked Quiana to give me a bath.

My mom never let the nanny bathe me. She always did it herself.

No one knew about all the bruises and needle marks covering my body.

When Quiana saw me, her gasps brought my dad running from outside.

Quiana wrapped a towel around me and left only the marks on my arms visible.

“There are more marks on other parts of her body.”

My dad grabbed my arm and coldly asked, “Who did this?”

I pointed to the faint scars on my arms.

“One time, you didn’t come home for dinner. Mom was very angry.”

I pointed to the cluster of needle marks.

“These are from the days you didn’t eat the breakfast Mom made for you.”

I rubbed my stomach through the towel.

“And the marks on my belly… those are because you forgot Mom’s birthday.”

…

My dad stiffened up at every word I said.

A cold edge flashed in his eyes. He gritted his teeth and said, “A fake death, huh? Then, I’ll do as she wants.”

My dad immediately told his assistant to arrange for my mom’s death certificate. He also canceled all her extra cards.

I hugged Quiana’s neck tightly. “I want Ms. Sullivan to sleep with me.”

As my dad turned to leave, I grabbed his hand.

“I also want you to tell me a story, Dad.”

Dad told the story. He could barely keep his eyes open. Outside, the night was filled with the sound of insects.

Quiana gently stroked my hair. I saw myself reflected in her eyes.

“Ms. Sullivan, will you be my mom?”

A faint blush appeared on her face.

I stole a glance at Dad, who was pretending to sleep. A faint smile appeared on his face.

When we got home, my mom’s things had already been thrown out.

Quiana stayed for a while, but then got up to leave.

I grabbed her hand and whispered, “Ms. Sullivan, I’ll help you be my mom.”

She froze for a moment. I pouted at Dad, acting like a spoiled princess.

“Dad, if Ms. Sullivan isn’t with me, I’ll have nightmares at night. I always dream that Mom pinches me and hits me.”

Quiana stayed.

“Dad, Ms. Sullivan’s cooking is really good. She’s nothing like Mom. Mom never lets me eat.

“Dad, Ms. Sullivan’s fresh juice tastes amazing. She’s nothing like Mom. Mom only gives me chili water.

“Dad, Ms. Sullivan calls me ‘baby.’ She’s nothing like Mom. Mom always called me a brat.”

After hearing me compare them every day, my dad started showing disgust whenever I talked about my mom.

His relationship with Quiana grew stronger by the day.

One morning, he took out a ring and got down on one knee. “Quiana, I should have said this seven years ago, but I was too foolish and missed my chance.

“Will you marry me now?”

Quiana covered her mouth. Tears ran down her face.

She nodded. News of their wedding spread across the media.

…

The news about my dad and Quiana spread everywhere.

I was trying on a flower girl dress at the bridal shop when my mom called.

My mom shouted, “What’s going on?! Why is your dad marrying Quiana? And why did he cancel my card?”

I held the phone away from me. “I heard Dad say you would come back if you got angry.”

There was a pause. “Your dad is doing this on purpose to make me mad?”

I smiled and nodded. “Dad even had me try on a flower girl dress. He said the wedding was to make up for some past regret.”

I deliberately kept my words vague.

My mom had held a grudge all these years over the wedding that never happened.

My mom’s voice became calmer, and I could vividly picture her smiling.

When she spoke again, I could hear a hint of satisfaction in her tone through the phone.

“I knew it. Hayden would never marry another woman.

“Quiana probably has no idea. She’s just a tool for Hayden to make me jealous. I’ll be there on the wedding day. I’ll make Hayden leave her in front of everyone. I’ll show her what it feels like to be the other woman.”

She kept talking to herself. She said she would hire reporters and show up in a wedding dress to crash the ceremony.

Her voice was full of hope. She was intent on delivering a crushing blow to Quiana at the wedding.

When my mom walked into the church in a wedding dress, her face still held a smug smile.

“Hayden, I’m back.”

She had brought a group of reporters who followed her closely.

She looked at Quiana with clear contempt. “This is the woman who seduced my husband while I was away. But she is just a tool Hayden is using to make me jealous.”

My mom lifted her dress and walked toward my dad step by step.

“Hayden, I know your feelings. I’m willing to marry you.

“But you must promise that you’ll never contact her again.

“No, that’s not enough. You should get rid of her. You should get rid of the Sullivan family, too. They treated me badly. You should destroy them and drive them into bankruptcy. That will be your engagement gift to me. Otherwise, I’ll never forgive you.”

My dad laughed.

“I did prepare a gift for you.”

He waved his hand, and his assistant handed her a document.

My mom took it without understanding what it was. In bold letters were the words: Notice of Annulment of Marriage.