I did not want to argue about him and Fiona. I just needed him to donate blood for our children. I pleaded, "Lionel, the kids need a blood transfusion urgently. Please come quickly! I'm begging you."

"Blood transfusion?" Before he could continue, I heard Fiona let out a sharp scream in the background.

"Fiona, are you okay?" Lionel asked with concern.

Fiona's voice came through weakly. "Lionel, I'm feeling dizzy, but I'll be fine after some rest. You should check on Aster and the kids. I don't want her to misunderstand."

Lionel's irritated voice crackled through the phone. "What era are we living in? What hospital doesn't have blood in its blood bank? Aster, how have I never noticed how petty you are? You're just trying to drag me away from Fiona because you saw me bring her to the hospital. You're being completely unreasonable!"

He hung up, and when I tried calling back, an automated message informed me the number was disconnected—he had turned on his "Do Not Disturb" mode.

I laughed bitterly, thinking about this man I was married to for four years, the father my children adored so much. However, he had never bothered to learn or care about our children's blood type in all those years.

Rh-negative blood was rare, and the hospital was helpless without it. Eventually, due to their severe injuries and the lack of timely blood transfusion, both my children passed away.

When the nurse wheeled my children's bodies out of the ward, I broke down sobbing, feeling as if my heart had been ripped out. While I was crying like a madwoman in the hallway with everyone staring, just one wall away, Lionel was covering Eva's ears.

"What's all that noise outside?" Fiona asked.

Lionel replied casually, "It's a hospital, and people die here all the time. It's normal! Don't be scared. I'm here for you and Eva."

After passing out countless times from crying outside the morgue, I checked my phone. Fiona had posted a new photo on social media showing Lionel sitting by her hospital bed, embracing her and Eva Haywood like a happy family.

The caption read, [We survived. We're one loving family.]

I could not help but laugh out loud. It hit me that my four-year marriage was one big joke. I had always thought Lionel was just a careless man who was too busy with work to pay attention to details.

Yet, it turned out he was not incapable of caring—he just did not care about us.

The children's funeral was scheduled for the following week. For five days and nights, I sat silently in Nate and Cece's room, clutching their photos and refusing to cry or speak.

I could almost feel their warmth lingering in the room, and I swore I could still hear them sweetly calling me Mommy. The memories felt so fresh… so real.

My childhood friend, Luke Armstrong, rushed back from overseas, dropping a major business deal. The moment he walked in and saw my state, he embraced me tightly.

"Let it out, Aster… Keeping it all inside is only going to hurt you," he whispered.

I looked at him and asked, "Nate and Cece… are never coming back, are they? Do you think they regret having me as their mother? Why was I so useless?"

Before my parents passed away, I married Lionel. Back then, Lionel wanted to be my father's graduate student, and despite the college having their preferred candidate, Dad fought to give Lionel a spot because he saw him as a hardworking man from a struggling family.

After graduating, Lionel pursued me relentlessly. I married him because I thought he was honest and dependable. We married, and Dad paid for our house, car, and even for Nate and Cece's essentials—all so Lionel would be good to me for a lifetime.

When we got our marriage registered, Lionel set the wedding date for July 26 and I agreed. Only later did I find out that it was the day Fiona and her wealthy husband were leaving the country.

The spite was obvious, but I kept telling myself it was just a coincidence. On the day of my wedding, Luke asked if I was sure. I told him it was hard to find someone as honest as Lionel, so I settled for Lionel.

Yet, how did it end up like this?

Lost in thought, I headed out to buy funeral items for the kids. Suddenly, Fiona and Eva approached me, both carrying shopping bags. Fiona looked fresh and radiant, flaunting a new diamond necklace and ring.

"Aster? It's only been a few days, and you look… awful." Then, she noticed the white lilies in my hands, and her eyes lit up as she continued, "Funeral flowers? Did someone in your family die? Lionel hasn't mentioned anything."

Rage overtook me, and I slapped her across the face. Lionel, who had just parked the car, saw what happened and ran over to shove me away roughly. Due to my injured leg, I lost my balance and fell to the ground.

Lionel screamed at me, "Aster, are you crazy? How dare you hit someone! Don't you know Fiona just got out of the hospital?"

Fighting through the sharp pain in my leg, I slowly stood up and slapped Lionel hard across the face. "Let's get a divorce, Lionel."

Lionel was caught off guard. When he finally recovered, he growled, "Aster, have you lost your mind? Instead of caring for the kids at the hospital, you're here stalking Fiona and me? And now you want a divorce over something so trivial? I'm Nate and Cece's father!"

"Oh, so you remember you're Nate and Cece's father? Anyone watching would think you were Eva's dad!" I spat back.

Fiona cowered behind Lionel with tears in her eyes. "Lionel, this is all my fault. Stop arguing with Aster because of me. I was the reason you couldn't check on the kids. You should go back. I'll be fine on my own."

She turned to leave but stumbled dramatically. Lionel caught her immediately and said, "Fiona, I need to get you and Eva home safely first. I can't leave you like this."

He picked up Eva and supported Fiona, preparing to leave. "Tell Nate and Cece that I'll visit them at the hospital tomorrow."

"Don't bother."

"What do you mean?"

"You're not going to see them again."

"Aster, what are you saying?"

Before I could answer, Eva cupped Lionel's face affectionately. "Uncle Lionel, didn't you promise to take me to the arcade? The mall's going to close soon!"

Lionel's face lit up instantly. "You're right. Let's go get those plushies." Then, he glanced back at me and added, "I'll definitely visit the kids tomorrow."

I grabbed his sleeve desperately. "Lionel, either come with me now or don't come back at all!"

"Are you done with your drama, Aster? Look at yourself. You're not the woman I married. Go home and reflect on your behavior, or I might actually take you up on that divorce!"

He yanked his sleeve out from my grip, then left with Fiona and Eva without a hint of hesitation.

Lionel promised to return the next day, but an entire week passed without a single call. He never asked about our children's condition, not even through others.

It was ironic that we were in the same hospital, and he could have easily asked any nurse about our children's status, but he did not even bother. Today was their funeral, and I had hoped he would come to say goodbye.

After countless unanswered calls, I checked Fiona's social media and found my answer. That week, Lionel had been busy planning Eva's birthday party and helping them move into a luxury apartment.

Their photos showed lavish housewarming dinners and poolside celebrations. One picture showed the three of them in swimsuits, Lionel and Fiona holding Eva up in the water, all wearing brilliant smiles.

The caption read, [Life is beautiful because of your boundless love. Every warm moment exists because of you.]

Looking at Lionel's smile in those photos, any remaining warmth in my heart turned to ice. I turned to Luke and said, "Let's start the funeral. We're not waiting anymore."

I filled their tiny coffins with Nate's favorite superhero toys and Cece's beloved teddy bears. As I watched them enter the crematorium, I felt my tears finally run dry. Back home, I immediately called housekeeping services.

I had them throw out everything related to Lionel, leaving nothing behind. I also had my divorce lawyer draft papers that would leave him with nothing.

When Lionel received the letter from my lawyer, he seemed to finally realize I was serious and raced home. The moment he opened the door, he was confronted by Nate and Cece's portraits.

Lionel froze at the sight of their photos surrounded with white lilies, and the gifts he was carrying crashed to the floor.

"What's going on, Honey? W-What is this? Nate? Cece? I'm home!"