Ellen picked up her paintbrush again after years, locking herself in her room to create every day.

On the first day, she handed all responsibilities for Samuel and the twins to the staff, no longer preparing elaborate meals or enforcing the children's schedules.

She let the three of them turn their lives into chaos.

The Howard household quietly fell apart.

On the second day, Nathan stayed up all night gaming and missed enrollment for a prestigious school. Belen ate junk food and had an allergic reaction. Samuel's contract ended up in the trash, costing him a billion-dollar deal.

The Howard family became the laughingstock of everyone.

On the third day, Samuel, nursing a headache, pushed open Ellen's door for the first time.

The morning light framed her profile, and his breath caught for a moment.

His face quickly hardened, irritation flashing in his eyes. "What are you trying to do?"

Ellen didn't spare him a glance, continuing to wield her paintbrush. "I just want some peace."

"Are you still hung up on what happened last time?" Her indifference infuriated Samuel, and he slammed his hand on the wooden easel. "Even if you want to paint in peace, you still have to handle things at home. Don't forget, you're Mrs. Howard!"

Ellen shook her head, her voice light. "The staff can handle those meaningless tasks."

In her past life, she poured all her energy into Samuel and the twins.

She earned a nutritionist certification because they had allergies.

She prepared three meals a day and worked tirelessly to blend calming scents for Samuel's insomnia.

But in the end, she got their dismissive sneers as she lay dying.

In their eyes, her death was no different from an ant crushed on the roadside.

"Ellen," Samuel said, his displeasure growing sharper. "Don't try to provoke me. You can't afford the consequences."

Ellen's wrist moved fluidly, not sparing him a glance. "I'm just not interested in stealing the staff's work."

Suddenly, Belen and Nathan burst in, glaring at her angrily. "You won't even do basic housework. I don't want you as my mom anymore," Nathan said, looking down at Ellen, expecting her to grovel and apologize like she used to. "You're not even worth one of Rosalyn's hairs. I don't want a useless mom like you."

To his surprise, Ellen nodded in agreement. "I think Rosalyn would be a better mom for you. Let her take care of you."

The room fell silent.

Samuel's face darkened, and he grabbed Ellen's wrist tightly. "Are you playing hard to get with me?"

Ellen let out a cold laugh and shook off his hand. "You're overthinking it."

Belen's face lit up as she hugged Samuel's leg. "Dad, let's bring Rosalyn to live with us! I miss Rosalyn. She can teach me shooting and martial arts and take care of me and Nathan."

Nathan shot Ellen a provocative glare. "This house will be for the four of us. You're not welcome here. If you're smart, you'll leave."

Samuel's complex gaze landed on Ellen, noting her calm expression.

For some reason, irritation surged in his chest, and he let out a cold huff before leaving with the kids.

Soon, Rosalyn moved in.

She found fault with everything and called in a construction team to renovate the house from top to bottom.

"The smell in here is awful," Rosalyn said, covering her nose in disgust. "Samuel, doesn't it give you a headache?"

Samuel nodded in agreement. "It does feel that way after a while. Change it."

The calming incense in the house, blended by Ellen for Samuel, was quickly replaced with a cloying floral scent.

Belen and Nathan breathed it in eagerly, bouncing with excitement. "Rosalyn's taste is so much better. I love this smell!"

Rosalyn glanced casually at Ellen in the corner. "As long as you like it, I'll get you new floral scents every day."

Ellen watched Rosalyn's antics without a word.

The house's original scent was Ellen's special blend to soothe Samuel's insomnia and calm his moods.

The new floral fragrance would worsen his sleeplessness and aggravate the twins' rhinitis.

But seeing the three of them breathe it in contentedly, Ellen gave a cold smile.

On the fourth day, every trace of Ellen's presence in the house was unknowingly erased.

Even her place at the dining table was gone.

When she reached the living room, she saw Rosalyn sitting in her spot, holding Belen in her lap, coaxing her while serving food.

Samuel occasionally teased, telling her not to spoil the kids too much.

They looked every bit like a family of four.

That night on the living room couch, Rosalyn leaned into Samuel's arms without a care.

When Ellen approached, Rosalyn didn't even glance at her, treating her like a stranger.

Ellen took it all in. In the past, the house echoed with complaints about her.

The bathwater's temperature, the food's seasoning, the air freshener's scent— everything was an excuse for the three of them to criticize her.

Now, the house was filled with warm laughter.

The three of them ate Rosalyn's food, swallowing allergy pills without a single frown.

After dinner, Rosalyn made a half-hearted attempt to sweep the floor. Nathan, full of concern, stopped her. "Rosalyn, your hands aren't meant for rough work like this."

He snatched the broom and threw it at Ellen's feet, ordering her imperiously. "You, sweep the floor."

Belen nodded in agreement. "Rosalyn's not like you. She's here to enjoy herself."

"The staff aren't here for nothing. Rosalyn doesn't need to steal their jobs, especially when she can't even do them well," Ellen said, her tone flat, throwing their own words back at them.

The butler hurried forward, his attitude deferential. "Miss Morris, just let us know what you need."

Suddenly, everyone in the house seemed to know their place, eager to serve Rosalyn.

The staff's gazes toward her were filled with envy.

"I've said it before—Miss Morris and Mr. Howard are the perfect match. They're made for each other, and he only has eyes for her."

"The kids already see her as their mother. It won't be long before she's Mrs. Howard."

Their unfiltered gossip reached Ellen's ears.

She didn't care, focusing on packing her things.

Just then, the school called. "Mrs. Howard, your children have been rushed to the hospital with food poisoning."

Ellen arrived at the hospital immediately.

At the entrance to the emergency room, Samuel glared at her, his eyes blazing with anger. "Ellen, what kind of mother are you? How could you let this happen to the kids?"

Ellen stood dumbfounded. "What does this have to do with me?"

"They ate the lunch you prepared and started vomiting and having diarrhea. You're saying it's not your fault?" Samuel raged, veins bulging on his forehead. "Even if you're upset about them being close to Rosalyn, you can't play with their lives. That's just vicious."

Ellen shook her head in denial. "I didn't make the lunch."

After Rosalyn moved into the old house, Ellen stopped preparing lunches for the kids.

Every lunch she had made before was crafted with carefully chosen ingredients, impossible to cause food poisoning.

"Who else could it be?" Samuel scoffed coldly.

Ellen frowned, about to retort, when the emergency room door opened.

"The kids are fine now. Parents, be more careful. They can only have liquids for a while. How could you be so irresponsible?"

The two children opened their eyes weakly. Before Ellen could question them, they eagerly pointed fingers. "Mom made the lunch and forced us to eat every bit of it," they said in unison.

Ellen's body went cold, her voice trembling.

She closed her eyes tightly, and when she opened them, only clarity remained.

With a cold laugh, she stepped forward, grabbing both children's arms and questioning them sharply. "Who told you to frame me?"

Belen burst into tears, struggling to cling to Samuel's arm. "We're not lying! Mom gave us the lunch. I thought she was trying to apologize, but she wanted to hurt us! Dad, I'm so scared!"

Nathan sniffled, looking aggrieved. "Dad, how could Mom be so cruel to us?"

Ellen laughed in exasperation, clenching her fists and demanding through gritted teeth. "Belen, Nathan, who gave you that lunch? Who taught you to lie? This is slander, and I…"

Samuel's hand swung down hard, slapping her.

He glared at her viciously. "I don't care if you're losing it, but the kids are my line in the sand. Hurt them, and I won't hold back."

"I told you it wasn't me," Ellen said, biting her jaw tightly, meeting Samuel's gaze fearlessly.

With a cold laugh, she raised her hand and slapped him back just as hard.

"You dare hit me?" Samuel clutched his face, disbelief etched across it.

His voice roared with fury. "They're only five! Would they lie to frame their own mother? You're so petty you nearly killed your own flesh and blood, and now you hit me? You're asking for it!"

Murderous intent flashed in his eyes as he grabbed Ellen's neck, squeezing slightly.

The children's cries grew louder, their faces pale.

Belen wiped her tears, whimpering. "Dad, does your face hurt? How could Mom do this to us? It's too much!"

Nathan sobbed loudly. "I don't want this awful mom! I hate her!"

Samuel threw Ellen to the ground, pulling the kids into his arms and comforting them softly. "You'll be okay."

Nathan wiped his tears, turning to Ellen with accusations. "Mom, we're your own kids. If you knew how awful food poisoning feels, you wouldn't treat us so cruelly."

Ellen's heart sank at his words.

She snapped her head up to look at Samuel, the pain of her nails digging into her palms grounding her.

Samuel let out a cold huff, a cruel smirk curling his lips. "Since you don't know how wrong you are, maybe you need to experience food poisoning yourself."

He waved his hand, signaling the bodyguards to pin Ellen to the ground. "Force the rest of the food into her."

The bodyguards roughly shoved the remaining food into Ellen's mouth.

She struggled and fought, the greasy food smearing everywhere in the chaos.

When it was over, she collapsed on the floor, utterly disheveled.

A wave of intense humiliation washed over Ellen as she glared at Samuel. "Do you even know who I am? You'll regret what you've done today."

Before she could finish, her face twisted, and she clutched her stomach in pain.

She grabbed a trash can, retching violently until she was nearly vomiting bile, unable to stop.

Ellen shivered, her back drenched in cold sweat, anger burning in her chest.

The children squealed with glee. "She looks so pathetic! She deserves it!"

Fury overwhelmed Ellen, and she fainted.

She didn't know how much time passed before the clamor around her stirred her awake. She struggled to open her eyes.

"I'm so sorry. It's my poor cooking that hurt the kids. It's all my fault!" Rosalyn said.

Samuel sighed helplessly, his tone indulgent. "How could I blame you? You're not good at cooking. It must be those kids' silly idea. Don't take it to heart."

"But I caused you to misunderstand Mrs. Howard, and now she's in the hospital," Rosalyn replied, glancing at the children with mild reproach. "You shouldn't have lied for my sake. She's still your mother."

Belen clung to Rosalyn's leg, whining. "I didn't want Dad to blame you over something so small. I'm waiting for you to be our mom!"

Nathan huffed indignantly. "Besides, it's her fault for not making our lunches in the first place."

Under the blanket, Ellen's hands clenched into fists, a bitter smile curling her lips.

These were the children she nearly died giving birth to?

During her difficult labor, she endured it without anesthesia to save them.

For years, she never slacked in caring for their frail health.

If Samuel's neglect was a slap, her children were a knife plunged into her heart.

Ellen's eyes reddened, tears pooling but refusing to fall.

Her grievances, resentment, and bitterness morphed into a mocking smile.

So this was the difference between love and indifference.

Her phone pinged with a message. "Three days from now, my people will arrive in Arton to pick you up. Be ready."

Ellen set the phone down.

The next moment, Samuel pushed the door open, frowning as he studied her.

After a long pause, he sighed and softened. "I've cleared things up. Rosalyn made the lunch. I misjudged you."

His tone was light. "But you can't blame Rosalyn. She was just trying to help the kids. Let it go."

He added, "This is still your fault for not doing your duties as Mrs. Howard. Rosalyn only stepped in to cover for you."

Ellen let out a cold laugh, her eyes brimming with mockery. "So I should thank her?"

Even though she was used to his double standards, she felt suffocated.

When no reply came, Ellen's expression grew colder.

She asked, "So that's it? We're done?"

Samuel nodded.

Ellen gave a faint hum, lying back on the hospital bed, turning away from him.

Confusion flickered in Samuel's eyes. He expected her to make a scene.

He took a deep breath. "In a couple of days, the four of us are going abroad for a gala. Take care of yourself."

He waited for Ellen to beg to come along.

Maybe he'd be generous and take her.

But she didn't react at all.

Unease stirred in Samuel's chest. He was about to press further when Rosalyn's voice called from outside, and he left.

Ellen watched his retreating figure with cold eyes, a mocking smile tugging at her lips.

She wouldn't let this injustice slide.

She picked up her phone and sent a message. "When you arrive in Arton, I have something for you to do."

While recovering, Ellen's phone buzzed constantly.

Rosalyn eagerly shared details of their overseas trip.

From family outings to public events, the media and the kids treated Rosalyn like Mrs. Howard.

Belen nestled in Rosalyn's arms, beaming with pride. "My mom is the best in the world!"

Nothing like the way she dodged Ellen at school meetings.

Someone in the crowd raised a question. "Who was that woman always looking after the kids at past events?"

Belen answered without hesitation. "Just our housekeeper."

Her tone dripped with disdain.

Ellen glanced at the message, powered off her phone, and tossed it aside.

Two days later, the kids returned to the house.

They rushed to Ellen to brag. "Mom, Rosalyn took us to a shooting competition, and we won first place! Everyone says she should be Mrs. Howard!" Belen said excitedly.

"Dad gave Rosalyn the handgun that's always been with him," Nathan added. "I heard it saved his life countless times. It's more important than his own life."

Ellen, immersed in her painting, gave a half-hearted hum.

Ignored, Belen's face twisted with dissatisfaction. "If you keep ignoring me, I'll…"

Spotting the paints, she reached to knock them over without thinking.

But her eyes caught the canvas, vibrant and dreamlike, stirring something beautiful within her.

"It's so pretty!" Belen exclaimed. "If I show this at school, everyone will be so jealous. Mom, give me this painting!" she demanded as if it were her right.

Ellen ignored her, frowning at the canvas before suddenly slashing it with a utility knife.