The night before the design competition, my husband took my design draft, promising to secure a patent to protect my work.

In the intense competition, my work stood out and won first place.

During the award ceremony, I walked on stage wearing the necklace that my daughter and I had made together.

Suddenly, my seven-year-old daughter rushed up to the stage, screaming, "Mom, how could you steal Veronica's necklace? That's horrible and embarrassing. Just come down and go home with me."

My mind went blank in an instant.

I stared at Gina Hall, the daughter I'd poured my heart into. Cameras flashed, capturing my humiliation.

Finally, I found my voice. "Do you have to ruin me like this?"

Plagiarism was the greatest stain on any designer's career. Now I was accused of it, and the one making the accusation was my daughter.

This was something we had made together. She had watched me painstakingly work on it.

She'd only spoken to Veronica Kelley briefly before the ceremony. That was all it took for her to slander me before the whole design world.

Julia Russo, my mentor and the award presenter, eyed me with scrutiny. The trophy I'd dreamed of was within reach.

I forced a smile, reaching out my hand. "Thank you, Julia."

Her expression froze, and she stepped back, leaving my hand hanging in mid-air.

A chill spread through me, and my lips started to tremble.

"You're a thief!" Gina screamed. "I don't have a mother like you."

She pushed me and collapsed, sobbing. "My teacher said lying is wrong. You're a liar!"

Her words broke me. My legs gave out, and I sank to the stage.

A tear slid down my cheek as I realized my career was ruined.

Cameras clicked, immortalizing my shame. "We made this together, Gina. Don't you remember?"

Her shoulders shook, and she cried out, "Stop lying! I can't let you hurt Veronica."

She lay on the ground crying pitifully. The princess dress I'd carefully chosen for her this morning still adorned her. "You're lying!"

I grabbed her shoulders, desperate. "Why are you doing this? Why?"

Julia, alarmed, smashed the trophy on my head. Pain erupted, my vision blurred, and my ears rang.

"She's bleeding," someone shouted.

I reached up and felt blood on my forehead.

Frightened by the scene, Gina hid in Julia's embrace.

The elderly woman, who had always been kind, glared at me. "Ingrid, take responsibility. Even a child knows that."

All this time, I had tried so hard. All I wanted was the approval of Julia, who was like a mother to me, but in the end, my daughter undid it all.

Before passing out, I saw Jeff Hall marching up the stage with an angry face, followed by his first love, Veronica.

I didn't get it.

Jeff was my husband, but he wouldn't believe me. Gina was my daughter, yet she lied to help Veronica.

Their accusations continued, but I couldn't hear them anymore.

My heart was dead, and I was done with them.

I woke up alone in the hospital.

The doctor frowned. "Mrs. Hall, you're pregnant, but it's unstable. We couldn't reach your husband. Someone needs to sign the papers now."

I placed my hand on my abdomen. Tears of pain rolled down my cheeks.

The child had come at the wrong time.

I started, "Doctor, the baby..."

Just then, Jeff entered with Gina.

Jeff's stern expression suggested his bad mood, but he softened slightly at my pallor.

"This is your fault, Ingrid," he sighed. "Apologize to Veronica, and I'll convince her not to sue."

The doctor sensed the tension and quietly left.

I remained silent, distraught over the baby's fate. When I didn't respond, Jeff's voice rose. "Ingrid! Even kids know to own their mistakes. Why don't you?"

He adjusted his glasses, his gaze cold as he pinched the corner of his eyes. "Coming from a small mountain village, you really are petty."

"What did you say?" I was stunned. "You jerk!"

I was so angry that my abdomen ached, and cold sweat dripped down my temples.

It was true that I came from a small mountain village. But if it weren't for me, Jeff would have died there.

Back then, a gliding accident and the strong wind dropped him in the deep mountains. One of his legs was broken, and the situation was dire.

It was I who found him, carried him home, and trekked miles for medicine.

"Do you remember your promise?" I demanded. "You said you'd always trust me and stand by me."

"Enough!" he snapped, running out of patience.

He shook off Gina, walked to the bedside, and gripped my chin. The force made me grunt in pain.

Then his hand pulled away abruptly, causing me to fall back onto the bed. The pain in my abdomen intensified, making me curl up.

"Drop the act!" he snorted, convinced that I was pretending. "You're not that fragile."

I bit my lip, saying nothing.

I was tough, but that didn't mean they could treat me like this.

Jeff ran a hand through his hair. "You're not Veronica. Stop trying to imitate her. It's pathetic!"

He paused, realizing he had revealed his true thoughts. He tried to correct himself. "I didn't mean it like that."

He rested one knee on the bed, his broad chest pressed against my back. His chin rested on my neck.

He murmured, "Stop this, okay? Veronica has the patent. I want to help, but I need evidence."

He sounded as if I were being reasonable.

"What?" I broke free from his hold, incredulous.

This was my design, the one I made myself. There was no way Veronica had the patent.

"It's impossible!" I said firmly. "I never showed it to anyone. All the work was done in the studio. No one could have gotten it unless..."

A wave of panic struck me. I paused, turning to look at Gina, who was nervously twisting her skirt at the door.

My heart sank as I figured out the traitor.

"Was it you?" I asked, knowing the answer.

Pain gripped my abdomen, and I felt the baby slipping away.

"Dad, I'm scared," Gina cried, wrinkling her nose. "Mom is so mean. I don't like her. Veronica is waiting. Let's go."

Jeff went over to comfort her. Then he shot me a disapproving look. "Why take it out on her? If it were yours, how could Veronica have the patent?"

At the awards ceremony, I had planned to wear this necklace and praise Gina's creativity, but she had betrayed me and ruined it.

Now I was desperate to know what had driven her to help Veronica frame me.

"What did I teach you?" I got out of bed, the discomfort in my abdomen making me gasp, but I forced myself to squat in front of Gina.

Her tearful face softened me. I tried to persuade myself that maybe Veronica had deceived her. She was just too young to understand the adult world.

"Tell your dad that we made this necklace together," I pleaded, staring at her. "Okay?"

She pushed me away, screaming, and threw herself into Jeff's arms. "She is not my mother!"

I hit the ground, pain shooting through me from my tailbone. I needed surgery right away.

Grabbing Jeff's arm, I begged, "I'm miscarrying. Call the doctor!"

But my urgency didn't move him. Instead, he frowned. "You've gotten addicted to acting. Why don't you just switch careers and become an actress?"

He picked up Gina with one arm and gently patted her back. "Don't be afraid. I'm here with you."

Turning back to me, he spat, "You're a disappointment. Veronica is letting this go for Gina's sake. Don't push it."

Blood had already started to seep from me. The red gown I was wearing was stained. "I'm bleeding, Jeff. I'm not lying."

He kicked me away. "How am I supposed to believe you? Can't you even be a good example for Gina?"

Ignoring my pleas, he walked out with Gina.

I put my hand down and felt a pool of blood beneath me. I still didn't know when Gina gave the necklace to Veronica, but finding a doctor was more urgent.

Struggling to stand, I leaned on the doorframe and looked out.

Jeff was walking away without hesitation, while Gina, the daughter I had pampered for seven years, was sticking her tongue out and making faces at me.

Caught by me, she didn't flinch. Instead, she hugged Jeff's neck and smirked triumphantly.

In her game, I lost completely.

I wiped away my tears, but the sourness in my nose reminded me that Gina didn't love me.

I swallowed the bitterness and tried to find the doctor.

This was a high-end ward of a private hospital, so I presumed the doctor was in the office.

I staggered forward, sweat dripping down my face. Even though my husband and daughter were just ahead, I had no choice but to look for the doctor myself.