My daughter passed away the moment she was born.

I wanted to see her, but they gave me a hefty dose of sedatives, sending me into a deep sleep. In a foggy state of consciousness, I overheard the conversation between my husband and the doctor.

"Mr. Ryan, can you really bear to donate your daughter's kidney to Miss Wagner? The little one has just been born and hasn't even been held by her mother. If we cancel the procedure now, it's still possible."

Tobias's voice was cold, "Giving a kidney to Marleigh is a blessing for her."

"What if your wife finds out and causes trouble?"

Tobias sounded annoyed, "What's there to cause trouble over? It's just a child; we can have another one."

A tear slipped down my cheek. No wonder he was so eager for me to get pregnant after we married—I thought it was love. It turns out he wanted to save his beloved’s life with my baby's sacrifice. This marriage, which I believed was a dream come true, was nothing but a sham from the start.

Since that was the case, I'll let them have their way.

---

"No more discussions. Do as I say," Tobias ordered impatiently. "Marleigh's life is more important than anything."

"The reason I married Kinley was because she was obedient and easy to manage. She agreed to get pregnant to provide the baby’s kidney for Marleigh. Otherwise, could she marry into a family like ours?"

"Make sure everyone keeps their mouths shut. If my wife finds out, you're all finished."

The doctor dared not speak further and quickly went to prepare for surgery.

It felt like the desperate cries of a baby were echoing in my ears—my Emma! I wanted to sit up and shout at them to stop, but the heavy sedatives made even opening my eyes impossible, trapping my despair in silence.

A warm hand suddenly caressed my face, full of familiar tenderness. I used to love such affection from him, but now it terrified me to my core. No wonder, despite his elite background, he insisted on marrying a girl with a humble background like mine. The fairy tale romance was nothing but a meticulously planned deception.

Emma and I were just tools to prolong the lives of him and his lover.

"Kinley, you won't blame me, will you? Be good; I'll give you many more children in the future."

He kissed my forehead. The drugs took effect, and I drifted into a deep sleep filled with despair and reluctance.

When I woke up, I saw Tobias looking at me with a face full of sorrow, holding my cold hand.

"Kinley, the baby…," he sobbed, eyes red with grief, "Her lungs were underdeveloped. The doctors tried their best, but…"

He cried so heartbreakingly that even the nurse checking in was moved to tears.

So, a person's acting could be so convincing. And his love for Marleigh could go to such lengths. I must have seemed too calm, as he looked at me with concern, quickly pulling me into his arms, "Kinley, don't scare me. I've lost the baby; I can't lose you too. Promise me you'll stay strong, okay?"

His words were sincere, yet they carried no warmth for me. I gathered myself and slowly asked him, "Where is the baby? I want to…"

Before I could finish, his phone rang. I noticed a flicker of panic in his eyes, but he quickly composed himself and said, "Kinley, there's an urgent matter at the company I have to deal with. Call me if anything comes up."

He left in a hurry, not sparing even a moment to talk to me.

But I just wanted to ask where my Emma was. I wanted to see her, even if it was only her ashes.

Until the next afternoon, Tobias Ryan was nowhere to be found.

Aware of the chills that often accompany recovery after childbirth, I bundled myself up, feeling frail and devoid of strength, as I completed the discharge process. To my surprise, I encountered Tobias and Marleigh Wagner in the elevator.

"Tobias, I can walk to the exam room by myself. You don't need to carry me," Marleigh giggled, her tone playfully shy. "Put me down; it's too embarrassing."

"Stop fussing," he said, his voice tender and caring.

The elevator was spacious, yet I found myself huddled in a corner, leaning weakly against the railing. As I lifted my head, my eyes met Tobias's tall, broad figure, cradling the petite Marleigh in his arms. Once, just a glance at him would fill me with happiness and excitement; now, it felt like a dagger piercing my heart.

Nearby, a doctor quipped, "Your husband treats you really well, doesn't he?"

Marleigh playfully sighed, "Oh, really? He's so strict with me. He hasn't taken his eyes off me since yesterday. No phone, no takeout, and I'm not even allowed to take a single step out of bed."

Tobias looked down at her. "If you don’t take care of yourself, you'll feel worse later, and it would hurt me even more."

Their light-hearted banter brought smiles to everyone in the elevator—everyone except me. I felt like I was drowning, desperately looking at Tobias.

So, this is where he's been all this time, by Marleigh's side.

He is capable of caring, but it’s directed at someone who isn’t me.

He had forgotten he had a wife who had just given birth, a wife who was left weak and mourning the loss of their child, a wife who needed care too. As he said, Marleigh mattered more than anything else.

This façade of a marriage needed to end.

I took a cab home alone.

Just when I thought my heart was utterly broken, I saw the crib in the room and felt a wave of hopelessness that suffocated me. I curled up on the floor, trembling all over, and cried until my heart felt like it was tearing apart. My little Emma, it's all my fault. I couldn't protect you.

In my haze, I recalled how Tobias Ryan never wanted to accompany me to baby stores. At the time, I assumed it was just a man disliking shopping. Now I realized he never intended for Emma to have a future. A bitter smile crossed my face as I fought against the pain of despair and printed a copy of the divorce papers.

The social media account I hadn't logged out of pinged with Marleigh Wagner's latest update. She posted a picture of a table full of healthy meals, captioned: "Someone's really going overboard! It's just a minor procedure, but they seem to want to fatten me up like a pig!"

Having gone all day without food, I rubbed my stomach that was aching with hunger and hastily made some instant macaroni and cheese. In the evening, Tobias finally called, frustrated and demanding to know where I had gone. Upon learning I was home, he scolded me, "You're a grown woman and always making people worry. Take a cab to the family estate; Mom wants us to come over for dinner tonight."

"I'm exhausted, and I don't want to go..." I started to say.

"You have to come." He cut me off, "Kinley, don't upset Mom."

The call ended. Before it disconnected, I heard a sweet voice on the other end, "Toby, kisses and hugs."

I forced a bitter smile, grabbed the divorce papers, and took a cab to the estate. The driveway was filled with parked cars. Turns out the drivers were all home, but I wasn’t important enough for them to pick up.

As I pushed open the door, I saw Tobias and Marleigh sitting on either side of his mother, Julie Ortiz, laughing and chatting like a family. Marleigh was dressed in designer clothes, looking surprisingly well for someone who had just had surgery. In contrast, I was still wearing the oversized and wrinkled hospital clothes, my complexion pale as a ghost. Knowing she bore my baby's kidney, I glared at her with hatred.

Marleigh sprang to her feet, looking timid, "Kinley, don't be mad, come sit here."

"Marleigh, sit down, be careful with your stitches," Tobias shouted anxiously, glancing at me with disdain. "Kinley, why the long face? You're here to join Mom for dinner, and you drag your feet until now. Marleigh just had surgery and is still recovering, yet she's been keeping Mom company. You're ungrateful and throwing a tantrum at her. Apologize to Marleigh right now."

"Toby, it's okay." Marleigh quickly reddened her eyes, "Kinley's not doing it on purpose. She just dislikes seeing me close to you. You're the family; I'll just leave."

"No, if anyone leaves, it's her!" Julie Ortiz pulled me closer and slapped me, "What a curse, can't even give us a proper child. How did our family end up with someone like this?"

"Tobias, what's the point of keeping someone who only brings disgrace to our family? Divorce her and throw her out."

Tobias hesitated but quickly spoke up, "Mom, Kinley didn't mean to. She was careful with her diet during pregnancy; the baby just had congenital issues..."

"Enough! I don't want to hear it. Tell her to get lost!"

I was shoved out, tripping and landing on the ground.

Tobias chased after me, "Kinley, Mom's extremely upset over Emma, she's just angry. Don't blame her."

I shook my head; it didn't matter anymore. I was leaving anyway.

Tobias sighed in relief, smiling, "I knew it, my wife is the most understanding. I'll talk to Mom, don't be sad. Come on, I'll take you home."

He helped me up.

Suddenly, a piercing cry from Marleigh rang out from inside, "Toby, my stitches hurt!"

His hold on me loosened abruptly, shoving me hard into the doorframe. When I looked up again, all I saw was Tobias lifting Marleigh in his arms, his face fraught with worry, as he hurried upstairs, instructing the butler to call the doctor immediately.

I stood there like a fool at the doorstep, as a few servants bumped into me on purpose, loudly mocking me right to my face.

"Hmph, a crow trying to become a swan, doesn't even look at herself in a mirror to see if she measures up."

"She thinks she can become the lady of the house just because Miss Marleigh went abroad to study, and she managed to worm her way into the master's bed?"

"She's not even worthy of being the dirt under Miss Marleigh's nails."

No, it's not true, it's not like that.

I was also the one Tobias prepared 999 roses for, kneeling on one knee to propose. I was married officially, brought into the family with honor. Has everyone, even he, forgotten?