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.

"Why did you ruin the painting?" Belen's eyes widened, her face full of disbelief.

"It wasn't good enough." Ellen calmly took a new sheet of paper.

"You destroyed it just because Belen wanted it. You're so cruel," Nathan said, glaring at Ellen fiercely. "I'm telling Dad so he can punish you."

Belen shoved Ellen hard. "You don't deserve to be our mom!"

Faced with their snarling, ferocious expressions, Ellen remained oddly calm. "I don't think you deserve to be my kids either. If you want Rosalyn as your mom, go to her. You're not welcome here!"

Ellen turned back to her work, resuming her painting.

Belen's scream echoed behind her. "You're a terrible mom! I hate you!"

Ellen sensed something wrong and turned around.

Belen raised a vase and smashed it toward her.

Warm blood poured down Ellen's forehead, blurring her vision.

The searing pain made her vision darken, her fingers digging into the easel to keep herself upright.

She turned her head, seeing only Belen's vicious expression through the haze of blood. "You should be honored I even noticed your painting, and you dared to refuse!"

Nathan kicked a sharp piece of porcelain, the fragment grazing Ellen's ankle and drawing blood. "That's your lesson! Hurry up and repaint it for Belen!"

The faces of the two children suddenly seemed foreign and terrifying.

Were these really the children she had risked her life to bring into the world?

"What are you all fighting about now?" Samuel's irritated voice rang out, but he froze when he saw the blood on the floor.

Belen's tears spilled over. "Dad, Mom saw I liked her painting and destroyed it. She even said we don't deserve to be her kids!"

Samuel glanced at the ruined canvas, his fleeting sympathy replaced by displeasure. "Ellen, do you have to make everything a mess? You're their mother. You should guide them properly, not treat them like this."

Ellen endured the pain, looking at him and laughing. "Guide them? Am I, a mere housekeeper, qualified to guide the young master and miss? You think too highly of me. In Mr. Howard's eyes, even my breathing is unnecessary!"

Samuel stiffened. "The Mrs. Howard you want, the mother the kids want, is Rosalyn, not me, the housekeeper."

Ellen's gaze grew colder, but her tone lightened. "Isn't it better if I let you have what you want?"

The room fell silent.

After a long pause, Samuel broke the quiet, his teeth clenched. "What are you playing at? You didn't think about today when you climbed into my bed back then, did you? I've given you more than enough. What else do you want? Besides doing a housekeeper's work, what are you even capable of?"

Ellen laughed, anger surging in her chest.

For years after their marriage, no matter how she explained, he believed she had schemed to seduce him.

He was convinced she was useless.

Rosalyn took Samuel's arm, soothing him. "Mrs. Howard's upset right now. Let's take the kids and leave her alone."

Samuel glanced at Ellen reluctantly, then left with the children.

Watching their backs, Ellen's mocking smile widened.

She never should have stepped into that hotel, never should have drunkenly stumbled into Samuel's room.

That mistake led to this disastrous marriage and these misguided children.

But it wasn't too late to regret it now.

Samuel would pay for his bias and coldness.

...

The next day marked Samuel's father's eightieth birthday.

He had never mistreated Ellen, so after some thought, she attended gladly.

From the second floor, Ellen looked down at the scene below.

Rosalyn clung affectionately to Samuel's arm, with Nathan and Belen bouncing around them, looking every bit like a family of four.

They noticed Ellen's gaze but only smirked, unfazed, crowding around Rosalyn with provocative looks.

Samuel's approving gaze rested on Rosalyn.

"Rosalyn has been by Mr. Howard's side for a decade now, hasn't she? Truly the woman who's stayed with him the longest," a guest remarked.

"Even the young master and miss only acknowledge Rosalyn, completely ignoring their real mother."

Ellen swirled her wine glass, quietly listening to the guests' chatter.

"Rosalyn is Mr. Howard's favorite. She's called his secretary, but she's really his true love."

"If someone hadn't shamelessly schemed back then, who knows who'd be Mrs. Howard now." The speaker glanced at Ellen nearby, sneering.

"All these years, it's always been Rosalyn at his side at every event. It's clear who Mr. Howard truly cares about."

"Some people got pregnant to climb the ranks, but they only ended up raising kids for Miss Rosalyn."

"She dared to scheme against Mr. Howard. She got what she deserved!"

Such scenes were nothing new to Ellen. She listened calmly and turned to leave.

But a few steps later, Rosalyn blocked her path. "The divorce process is almost done. You're not having second thoughts, are you?"

Ellen chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Not a chance. All I want now is the divorce."

Rosalyn studied Ellen, finding no trace of deceit, and smiled with satisfaction. "I'll take over the Howard family from now on. I'll take good care of Mr. Howard and the kids, but I won't be just a housekeeper like you…"

Her words were cut off.

Bang!

A bullet grazed Ellen's face, striking the wall beside her.