After Daisy broke her leg in a skiing accident, I ordered someone to break Reign's legs and lock her away in the villa's basement.

I believed she was the cause of Daisy's accident, though she wasn't even there.

Before she died, my five-year-old son pleaded with me three times.

The first time, Benjamin said Reign had a high fever and needed some medicine. I coldly replied, “Isn't a fever normal? I want her to experience the suffering Daisy went through.”

The second time, Benjamin said her wounds were festering and begged me to take her to the hospital. I cruelly remarked, “She's not dying yet. Let me know when she does.”

The third time, Benjamin clung to my suit pants, crying that she had stopped breathing and was fading fast. Impatiently, I pushed him aside. “It's just broken legs. The doctor said she won't die.”

I didn't know that she was already dead.

==============================

My son lay curled on the ground, clutching his stomach and breathless with pain. Yet he endured, dragging himself toward the basement.

The basement reeked of decay and was suffocating, but to him, it was the only place to see his mom.

He stopped at the basement door and raised his dirty little hand to wipe away the tears on his face.

His hand trembled, yet he managed a forced smile, even though it looked more like a grimace than a smile.

“Can't let Mom see Benjamin crying. I don't want Mom to be sad.”

Seeing me, my son's emotions overflowed. He rushed over but dared not touch me too firmly, fearing he might hurt my wounds. His small hand gently stroked my forehead, trying to feel my temperature.

“It's great, Mom, your fever's gone down.”

His voice was filled with excitement, but I remained silent. I was already dead; my soul had left my body.

Benjamin grew anxious, pushing me, his voice choking with tears, “Mom, wake up! I brought you some food. Teacher said eating meat would make you better.”

I watched as he tried to feed me some pulled pork, which he had stolen from Daisy's little dog.

Though Fluffy had plenty of food and didn’t eat pulled pork, Benjamin had nearly gotten bitten by the dog.

Since I was ruthlessly locked in this dark basement, Shane ordered that I should only receive water and dinner rolls every day.

Benjamin felt sorry for me and secretly saved food for me daily.

But Shane found out, flew into a rage, and ordered the cook to keep an eye on Benjamin, making sure he couldn’t hide food away.

My son soaked the pulled pork, tore it into tiny shreds, and fed it to me bit by bit.

However hard he tried, my tightly shut lips remained unmoving.

Benjamin cried, “Mom, please eat something. If you don't, you'll die.”

Suddenly, he lifted the worn blanket, revealing my broken legs, where maggots multiplied in the wounds.

Even as a spirit, I shivered uncontrollably, but Benjamin showed no hesitation, his small hands picking the maggots from my wounds one by one.

“Mom, it'll be okay. Benjamin's getting rid of the bugs.”

“Mom, don't be scared. I'm going to sneak some medicine to save you.”

I screamed silently in Benjamin's ear; I'm okay, don't steal medicine, Benjamin, be good.

But he couldn't hear me.

Benjamin wiped away his tears and headed for the villa.

He saw Daisy's room door open, knowing there were medicines inside.

He glanced around, seeing no one, and quietly slipped into her room.

The room was warm and inviting, a stark contrast to the cold dampness of the basement.

Even I, having no physical form, felt a long-lost comfort.

Without indulging in the warmth, Benjamin began rummaging through drawers for medicine.

Finally, he found a box in the nightstand, hope flashing in his eyes.

Just as he was about to leave, Daisy returned unexpectedly, and they collided, medicine spilling everywhere.

Daisy glared at Benjamin, her eyes darting to the pills scattered across the floor. "You little brat, stealing medicine now? You're not getting away with this."

Benjamin anxiously gathered the medicine bottles, his neck tense with defiance. "I didn't steal anything. Dad bought these meds for us; why can't I use them?"

Daisy sneered, gripping his chin tightly, her fingernails digging cruelly into his skin. Blood trickled from the scratches, pooling on the floor.

I tried to intercede, desperate to pull Daisy away to protect my son, but my hands passed right through her, powerless and frustrated.

Benjamin struggled and managed to push Daisy, causing her to stagger back and fall onto the ground.

"It's all because of you. If it weren't for you, Mom wouldn't have gotten hurt."

Daisy shot Benjamin a look filled with venom before turning her attention to the nearby Pomeranian. The dog lunged at Benjamin.

In an instant, Buddy, Benjamin's golden retriever, barked fiercely and leapt to defend him. Buddy seized the Pomeranian with his jaws, and after a few sharp yelps, the small dog lay silent.

Daisy's face paled at the scene. "Where are the bodyguards? What are they doing? Get over here and handle this animal!"

Just then, Shane entered the fray.

Benjamin saw his father arrive, and hope flashed in his tear-filled eyes, spilling over in a flood of relief.

He sprinted towards Shane, crying out, "Dad, help Mom!"

Seeing my son’s blood-stained hands made my heart clench painfully.

I approached with a stern expression, asking, "What's going on here?"

Benjamin opened his mouth to explain, but Daisy rushed up to Shane, cradling the lifeless Pomeranian and sobbing.

"Shane, it's not Benjamin's fault. He only wanted the medicine; Fluffy thought we had a thief and tried to protect us, and Benjamin's retriever got the better of it."

Benjamin shouted out, "That's not true, Dad. I only wanted the medicine to help Mom."

Shane's expression turned stern, his voice cold. "Benjamin Wallace, Ronin told me this morning that Reign is fine. Who's been teaching you to lie? Is your mother stirring up trouble again?"

Benjamin felt a sharp pang of betrayal, staring at Shane despondently.

Shane felt the sting of Benjamin's gaze, his words harsh as he spoke, "Your retriever killed Daisy's Pomeranian. There has to be a consequence. Take Buddy away and put him down."

The security guards moved to take Buddy, and Benjamin's face turned ghostly pale.

Benjamin clung to Shane's trousers desperately, his hands sticky with blood.

"Dad, I'm begging you. I'll take the punishment, lock me up if you have to. Just don't kill Buddy. He's my friend, Mom left him for me. Please, I'm begging you."

Benjamin turned to Daisy, bowing and pleading, asking for mercy for Buddy.

Shane hesitated but upon seeing Daisy's tearful and pitiful expression, he steeled his resolve once more.

He gestured to the security guards to take Buddy away.

As Buddy was dragged off without resistance, Benjamin cried out in anguish, his heart breaking.

Shane walked over to Benjamin and snatched the box of medicine.

Benjamin, frantic, reached out to retrieve it, but his strength failed him, his voice raw with emotion as he shouted,

"Dad, I hate you. I'll hate you forever."

Shane paused, struck by the words, then carefully led Daisy back to her room.

He turned to Ronin, directing him, "Take Benjamin down to treat his wounds and confine him to reflect."

I screamed at Shane, pleading with him not to leave Benjamin with Ronin, knowing the man would harm him.

But Shane remained oblivious, his attention entirely on Daisy.

I looked at Shane Wallace, who was gentle yet cruel, and felt completely devastated. Shane, how can you be so heartless? Don’t you have any love left for me and our son?

Once upon a time, Shane and I were seen as the ideal couple. Even though our marriage was driven by business interests, our days together were as sweet as honey. On my birthday, he would light countless candles just for me and always cared for me in life’s little moments. After Benjamin was born, he bought an island in the Bahamas and dreamed aloud, "Every year, we'll vacation there, just you, me, and Ben."

But everything changed when Daisy Fisher returned. She constantly slandered me, claiming that I was jealous and trying to ruin her. Although Shane didn't believe her, he urged us to step back and show more tolerance to Daisy—all because she was struggling with depression.

Then one day, Daisy falsely accused Benjamin of pushing her down the stairs and claimed I had poisoned her food, causing her to miss a performance due to a swollen face. Shane's trust in me and Benjamin shattered completely; he refused to believe our side of the story.

Later, when Shane and Daisy were skiing in the Alps, she fractured a bone. Without asking questions, he assumed it was my doing, had my legs broken, and locked me away in this cold basement.

My thoughts drifted back; sure enough, Ronin Austin didn't even call a doctor to treat Benjamin's wounds. He just tossed Ben into the basement. Omar Stephens, the bodyguard, asked, "Mr. Austin, shouldn't we get a doctor to give the young master a rabies shot? Miss Fisher's Pomeranian seemed a bit off, and he is Mr. Wallace's only son."

Ronin shot him a cold glare, "Why worry? It would be better if he were gone. Remember, Miss Fisher will be the real lady of this house soon."

The bodyguard, not fully understanding, nodded and harshly locked the basement door.

Benjamin lay beside my lifeless body, his hands bloody as they clutched mine, sobbing uncontrollably. "Mom, it's Ben's fault. Not only did I fail to bring back the medicine, but I also caused Buddy's death."

Benjamin was left in the basement for three days, and my body had started to rot and smell. Yet, Ben seemed unaware, holding me close every night. No food was brought to us, and Ben, hungry, caught bugs to eat, quenching his thirst by collecting snow from the small window.

My heart was in turmoil, but I was powerless to act. I silently prayed to the heavens to save my son, willing even to sacrifice my own soul for his salvation.