"You want to split the property? Go talk to Mr. Chapman, your trusted lawyer," I said.

Jeffrey's face turned to stone. "Is this about that bracelet? I'll get you ten more," he said.

Suddenly, I felt so drained. That bracelet was a family treasure, supposed to bring luck. It worked for him when he was sick, but then, to him, those bracelets might as well be paperweights.

I swallowed the rising tide of emotion. "Ms. Kane is high society, a perfect fit for Mrs. Shaw.

"I know she's got a place in your heart, and Yoana adores her.

"The Shaw family's got more than enough people to wait on them—"

He gave a mocking snort and looked at me like he had me all figured out. "You might not have the best manners, but you sure know how to play dirty.

"Elaine's just my sister. No need to go after her."

I frowned and unclasped the pendant necklace. "Your grandma gave me this family jewel. Now, I'm giving it back."

His eyes narrowed.

"Rebecca, I can let this slide because you're Yoana's mom.

"You better clarify things at the press conference tomorrow and publicly apologize to Elaine.

"If you don't, you can kiss your life as Mrs. Shaw goodbye."

The door slammed shut, and the decoration I had hung there crashed to the floor.

It was the dreamcatcher he had made, the one he gave me for my 20th birthday.

I could not help but smirk bitterly.

A decade had passed, long enough for the decoration to crumble and our love to scatter like dust in the wind.

With my parents gone, I thought he was my lifeline, but he turned out to be just another pitfall.

"I knew you wouldn't have the guts to leave Dad, you pathetic woman."

Yoana's voice drifted down from upstairs. How long had she been listening?

I scowled, struggling to accept my daughter's harsh words, even as I resolved to walk away.

I climbed the stairs, my gaze locked on her.

"Who taught you to talk like that?"

She looked back at me with a sneer, a mirror image of Jeffrey's own contempt.

"Ouch, did that sting?"

I inhaled deeply, trying to find my words.

"When I married your dad, I had no idea he—"

"Daddy, save me!"

She acted as if she saw something terrifying and collapsed on the floor with tears streaming down her face.

"Mommy's mad because I helped Ms. Elaine. She's going to hit me.

"I'm so scared. I won't do it again, I promise."

Jeffrey, for reasons unknown, came back just in time to witness the scene, his expression stormy.

"Rebecca, Yoana is your flesh and blood.

"I thought you were only petty. Now, you seem downright cruel."

Yoana ran into Jeffrey's arms, a smug smile hidden on her face.

The cut on my forehead was a dull ache, but it was nothing compared to the shattering pain in my heart.

She was the child I had carried for nine long months, the one I had nearly died bringing into the world.

For years, I poured my heart and soul into everything for her.

Yet, when it all came crashing down, she hated me so much that she probably wished I would just disappear.

Jeffrey shot me a nasty look.

"Looks like it's time for a little lesson."

The bodyguard—who was only doing his job—chucked me into the storage room. Yet, I said nothing.

The room was a dusty, broken-down mess, and I could not help but let out a wry laugh.

When we first moved in, Jeffrey had cameras everywhere in the villa.

He said it was because I was too sweet and innocent, and he did not want anyone taking advantage of me.

Little Yoana could barely talk, but even she would stand in front of me, fists up, ready to defend me.

However, that was then, and it was like they had all wiped it from their memories.

At dawn, I was hauled out of the storage room, a complete mess.

The sneering maid wiped my face like I was something stuck to her shoe.

"Mr. Shaw wants you at the press conference.

"Such bad luck, so early in the morning."

I brushed the comment off and climbed into the car on my own.

I knew those people were all about which way the wind was blowing, and I knew Jeffrey was the puppet master behind it all.

As he stepped out of the car, Jeffrey's face twisted like he smelled something foul.

"Look at you, all filthy. What a sight."

"Jeffrey, Rebecca and I will go and get changed," Elaine said, her voice smooth as silk, a smile playing on her lips.

Jeffrey nodded, clearly impressed.

"Always thinking ahead, aren't you?"

In the changing room, Elaine gave me a look like she was queen of the world.

"Dress up all you want, but a country girl's still nothing but trash."

I would have gone toe-to-toe with her in the past.

However, at that moment, I only wanted to wrap up that nightmare and head back to where I belonged.

So I ignored her and stood up to leave.

She yanked me like I was a challenge that she would have to face.

"Your husband and daughter have turned their backs on you, and here you are, still clinging to your titles as Mrs. Shaw. What's the point?"

I shrugged her off, my face as calm as still water.

"Not much longer now."

The flash of cameras was blinding, and a forest of microphones sprouted up before me.

"Mrs. Shaw, are you accusing Ms. Kane of stealing your work out of jealousy?"

"Is it true that you and Mr. Shaw are splitting?"

"Rumor has it you're a big spender, and that's why Mr. Shaw's given you the cold shoulder. Any truth to that?"

I took a deep breath.

"Everything you've heard, it's all true."

The crowd gasped, buzzing with shock. Nobody saw it coming—that I owned up to every charge—Jeffrey included.

He cut the press conference short and whisked me away to the back.

"Are you out of your mind?" he hissed.

I faced him, a stranger in my own skin.

"I've done what you've asked and cleared Ms. Kane's name.

"Just sign the divorce papers, and we can both move on."

His eyes, once stormy, went still. "You planned this."

I nodded, just once.

I knew how those elite types worshipped their reputations.

He could deal with a nobody but a scandalous wife? Never.

He let out a bitter chuckle.

"Divorce? And crawl back to your backwater hometown?

"Rebecca, after years of high life, you think you can survive that again?

"I'll be waiting for you to crawl back to me."

I could not help but laugh, though it was more bitter than sweet.

He thought I had it all, but I was suffocating, living a life of quiet desperation.

Like a goldfish in a bowl—pretty to look at but nowhere to go. I was stuck with people I loathed, doing things I detested.

After a decade, I had paid my dues.

"Ms. Elaine, I've missed you so much!" Yoana's bright, youthful voice cut through the tension.

She dashed over and wrapped her arms around Elaine, her eyes brimming with worry.

"Ms. Elaine, are you okay? No one's been mean to you, right?"

Elaine softly patted her hair, a gentle smile on her face. "How is that possible? Jeffrey's here."

Yoana shot me a smug look.

"Absolutely! Dad and I will always have your back."

I stared at her, my gaze intense. "Who's been filling your head with the idea that I'd pick on Ms. Kane?"

Yoana scoffed.

"Please, as if I needed to be told. You're so cunning. You don't have an ounce of Ms. Elaine's goodness in you.

"Dad says women from the wrong side of the tracks are nothing but trouble."

I was taken aback, turning to Jeffrey in disbelief.

Even with my heart turned to stone, I could not fathom him saying such things.

He rarely looked away, but this time, he did, quickly masking his expression.

"You've been over the top these days. I'm just calling it like I see it."

I gave a bitter laugh.

So much for calling it like it is. My once young love had long since decayed.

I lifted my eyes to see them—cozy and close—looking like the perfect family.

Well, good for them. Everyone was back on their original path.

At home, I had the lawyer draft the divorce papers, and then I headed out.

Before I left Sutton for good, there was one last place I wanted to see.

The fringes at Brixton Bay were in full bloom, vast swaths like snow on the branches.

We had fringes back home when I was little. My mom used to say, "Fringes stand for standing strong and independent, Becca. Never lose yourself."

My vision blurred all of a sudden.

I had not shed a tear when they smeared my name, laughed at me, when my love doubted me, or when my daughter turned against me.

However, at the thought of my mom's words, the tears would not stop.

The world was too big, and then it was just me.

The breeze rustled through the fringes, carrying a scent that reminded me of my mom's gentle touch.

I wiped the last tear and steeled myself.

'It's okay, there's still time,' I thought.

"A kid's fallen into the water!" A shout yanked me from my grief.

The shore was in an uproar. I saw the tiny figure in the lake, and without a second thought, I dove in.

I paddled like crazy, doing everything I could to hoist the kid onto dry land. As I glanced at the shore, I recognized them. Was it really Yoana?

Jeffrey caught sight of me, but there was no time for shock. He rushed Yoana into the waiting ambulance.

He did not ask me to go with them, but I was too worried to walk away.

At the hospital, I watched Jeffrey and Elaine stand vigil by the bedside. Yoana's eyes fluttered open. She was so pale. Her voice was barely a whisper as she said, "Ms. Elaine, did you save me?"

Elaine paused, then gave a slight nod.