For the eighteenth time, Samson brought home his new lover and enjoyed their intimacy right in front of me.

Knowing he was doing this to get back at me, I just quietly picked up their scattered clothes.

Five years ago, Samson was nearly killed in a kidnapping. Ignoring all his desperate pleas, I broke up with him and left the country.

Five years later, he became the CEO of a major corporation and used his wealth to keep me at his side as his personal assistant. Every so often, he would bring home a different woman and flaunt their affection in front of me just to humiliate me.

Samson never knew that I had saved him from those kidnappers five years ago—and that I was the one who couldn't let go of him.

Things went on this way until he brought Judy back.

My cousin, someone I had financially supported for years.

When Judy proudly stroked her belly and told me she was pregnant with Samson’s baby, I just congratulated her calmly.

Then, I turned and made a phone call.

“Hello, about that Medical Support Project we discussed? I’ve decided—I’m ready to join.”

When Samson Leslie brought home his new lover for the eighteenth time and enjoyed their intimacy right in front of me, I just quietly picked up their clothes scattered across the floor.

I knew he was only doing this to get back at me.

After all this time, I had grown numb to it.

It wasn't until the moaning finally stopped that I realized the woman who walked out was actually my cousin, Judy.

The same cousin I had financially supported for years.

I couldn't believe it. My eyes went wide with shock.

Judy, meanwhile, nestled herself into Samson's arms like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Helen, I've actually liked Samson for a long time. But back then, he only had his eyes for you. He turned me down repeatedly. Luckily, you broke up with him five years ago and gave me this perfect chance. Thank you, my dear cousin."

For the first time, I teared up at the sight of one of the women Samson brought home.

Judy was the last family I had left in this world. She was also the only one who knew the whole truth about what had happened in the past.

Everyone thought that after Samson was kidnapped, I left him because I was scared I would get dragged into the mess. Nobody knew that in truth, I fought tooth and nail with the kidnappers that day and saved his life.

On that same day, my mom's kidney failure suddenly took a turn for the worse. The only matching donor was me, but I missed the hospital's call because I was busy saving Samson.

My mom never made it to surgery, and I lost her forever.

I couldn't escape that pain for a very long time after that. Every time I saw Samson, I would remember the pain on my mom's face.

So, I ran and left him behind, fleeing overseas.

After my mom died, Judy became my only family. We grew up together, and my mom had treated her like her own daughter.

I told Judy everything about what had happened all those years ago. I even paid her tuition all these years.

Never had I imagined she would use my pain as a stepping stone to climb higher.

Judy stroked her belly with a satisfied little smile. "Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, Helen. I'm already pregnant with Samson's baby."

I froze, staring at Samson in disbelief.

He said nothing, but when he saw the tears in my eyes, he hesitated for a moment.

"Are you jealous, Helen? Don't forget, you're the one who left me. But if you beg me now, maybe I'll consider taking you back."

I just closed my eyes and said calmly, "Congratulations."

What Samson didn't know was that just yesterday, I had finally heard back from the Medical Support Project for epidemic zones. My application was approved.

Helping people in remote epidemic areas was my mom's dream, one she never got to finish.

Now that Samson had found his happiness, and Judy no longer needed my support, I could finally let go of the past and fulfill my mom's last wish.

Seeing how calm I was, Samson looked even more annoyed.

He tossed the dirty laundry that they had just changed out of right at me.

"Judy's pregnant, and she can't touch cold water. Wash these for her and make sure you do it by hand."

I took the laundry and bit my lip. "But we have house staff at home."

"Oh, right. I almost forgot if you didn't mention it." Samson waved to the maid standing nearby. "You keep an eye on her. Don't let her slack off."

I knew he wasn't going to let me have it easy, so I quietly carried the clothes away.

When I fought off the kidnappers five years ago, my hand got cut, and it left an ugly scar that I always hid under my sleeve. Even now, that old wound would sting every time it touched any cold liquid.

I gritted my teeth and forced myself through the pain. I couldn't help but think back to when Samson actually loved me.

Back then, he was just a junior employee in a company. We didn't have maids to help us with the chores right now. No matter how tired he was, he would never let me do any of the chores.

After I finished washing the clothes, I came back inside and saw Judy sitting on Samson's lap, plopping some fruit into his mouth. It was obvious that Samson treated Judy differently from all his other women. He never let his lovers stay the night, let alone get pregnant.

Judy looked a lot like me, but her personality was softer, more adorable. Maybe that was exactly what Samson liked about her.

"From now on, Judy will stay in your room. You move to the guest room," Samson ordered.

I didn't argue. I just went quietly back to my room and began to pack my things.

But before I could finish, Judy came bouncing in, spinning happily around the room. "I love it here! You can even see the garden from the window!"

Her gaze landed suddenly on the old doll at my bedside. I froze and instinctively reached out to grab it, but Judy was faster.

"This doll is so cute! Can I have it?"

I reached over, gripping the doll tightly. "Judy, you know my mom made this for me. You can have anything else but not this."

Judy glanced over at Samson, who was standing at the side, and pouted. "But I really want it."

Samson turned toward me, his voice cold. "Helen, give it to her."

"No." I bit my lip and held on, refusing to let go.

Seeing that I wouldn't give in, Samson came over and tried to wrench it away from me. There was a loud rip as I was shoved to the floor, and the doll tore in half. My head hit the corner of the cabinet, a sharp pain shooting through my head as my vision became blurry.

"Oh no, honey! You were too rough! The doll's all ruined now," Judy whined.

Samson gently patted Judy. "It's just a doll. If you want, I'll buy you a hundred. I'll give you anything you want, and all you need is to ask."

Judy laughed, taking his hand and leading him back to the living room to eat more fruit.

I was left alone, staring at the doll that was torn in two, silent tears rolling down my face.

I packed up my things, moved into the cramped guest room, and took out my phone.

"Hello, about the Medical Support Project I applied for… I've made up my mind. I'd like to join."

"That's wonderful! Thank you for your support, Miss Williams. We really are short-staffed right now. The project will last a while, and it's in a remote area. Take your time to say goodbye to your family first. Someone will pick you up in two weeks."

After I hung up, I carefully put away the torn doll.

In just two weeks, I would be able to leave the Leslie residence for good and start a new life.

The next day, Samson said he wanted to make it up to Judy and decided to take her to a nearby auction. He insisted that I come along as his personal assistant.

At the auction, Samson mingled with wealthy elites, clinking glasses, with Judy holding his arm. She was dressed in a designer outfit. Samson introduced her to everyone as his girlfriend.

When people's eyes landed on me, Samson just gave me a cold glance. "She's just a maid. Nothing worth paying attention to."

The auction began.

All sorts of rare treasures and jewelry sparkled under the spotlights.

Samson would immediately raise his paddle if Judy looked at it for even a moment more. He was determined to win it for her, no matter how high the bidding went.

I thought back to my birthday seven years ago.

That night, as I closed my eyes to make a wish, Samson placed a pink diamond necklace around my neck.

It was the necklace I had been wanting for so long, but could never bring myself to buy because of the high price. Samson had saved up and reduced his spending for half a year just to give it to me for my birthday.

I could still remember the look in his eyes back then.

"Helen, I'll give you anything you want."

Now, he had all the money and power in the world. He could buy whatever he wanted.

But it was all for Judy, not for me.

After the auction ended, everyone was talking about what a big spender Samson was.

While he went backstage to check the items he won in the auction, Judy walked to me with a glass of wine.

"If you want some jewelry too, I'll give you one of the freebies from the kindness of my heart."

I looked into her eyes, searching for even a trace of the kind, considerate Judy I once knew. Yet, there was nothing left.

"No thanks," I replied calmly.

My indifference only seemed to make Judy angrier. Suddenly, she grabbed my face.

"You know, Helen. What I've hated most all these years is the way you act like you don't care about anything. I chased after Samson for years, but he never even looked my way. Did you know he never slept well during all those years you were gone? He drank to the point of having stomach ulcers! He thought you left because you were afraid of getting dragged into his mess.

"He trained himself mercilessly every day. Even when he was about to collapse, the only thing he could say was your name. He loved you so much and waited five whole years for you. How could you be so heartless and just walk away like that?"

I didn't say a word. I only shut my eyes in pain.

It wasn't that I didn't love Samson back then. But every time I thought about how my mother could have been saved, I just couldn't forgive myself.

Even after I left, the nightmares never stopped. I had to see a therapist almost every week.

The therapist tried to reassure me, telling me it wasn't my fault, that maybe I just needed time to heal.

With help, I was finally able to let go and see what really happened back then after five years.

But Samson and I could never go back.

Later, I lost my job in a round of company layoffs. All my savings had gone to Judy's schooling. When I couldn't pay rent, my landlord kicked me out.

It seemed Samson had been keeping an eye on the whole time. The moment he learned I was unemployed, he sent someone to offer me a high-paying job as his personal assistant.

I couldn't refuse, because wherever I tried to work, Samson would just buy the company and fire me again.

Judy simply sneered when she saw I didn't react. "I really want to see if you truly don't care about anything."

With that, she tossed her wine glass to the ground, the sharp sound of breaking glass echoing through the hall. Then, she deliberately threw herself backwards, crashing to the floor.

Red wine splattered everywhere, soaking her dress in crimson.

Samson, hearing the commotion, rushed out and saw the scene.

"Samson, it's not Helen's fault. I know she wanted the jewelry, too. If she takes it out on me, I deserve it..." Judy said pitifully.

I stared at her in disbelief. I was just about to defend myself when I saw Samson storm over.

Slap!

The sharp sound echoed through the auction hall. My cheek was burned with pain.

"When did you become so vicious?! Judy is pregnant! You must apologize to her right now!"

Before I could say anything, he grabbed my wrist and dragged me over to Judy. He forced me to kneel, and I could feel the shards of glass digging into my knees. The sharp pain shot through my legs.

Just then, he suddenly stopped. He grabbed my hand, and his gaze landed on the ghastly scar.

"How did you get this scar?"