Ulysses playfully punched Grace in the chest.

He saw that the villa had been tidied up, then beckoned me over.

A thick wad of cash was stuffed into my hand, without him even glancing at me.

Holding a few thousand dollars worth of tips, I felt my blood freeze.

The money he casually tossed could have been earned with a month of hard labor for me.

He casually mentioned booking a cruise, which would be enough to pay for Wendy's lifesaving heart surgery!

Seeing me stand there dumbfounded, Grace contemptuously eyed my old, pilled clothes.

"Hillbilly, took the money, why aren't you leaving? Do you think the tip is too small?"

Grace's mocking words stabbed into my heart like needles, making my nose tingle instantly.

Ulysses unexpectedly looked at me, "Is something wrong..."

My heart skipped a beat, fearing he would call out my name the next second.

"You have blood on your clothes, it's really disgusting, don't scare the children."

Ulysses turned his face away in disgust, pulling Grace and Rosa upstairs.

I could only smile bitterly, the wound from selling my kidney had reopened, staining my white clothes red.

Grace stood tall and beautiful beside him, dressed in a refined suit.

And me, like a pathetic clown, clutching the tips he given as a reward.

I thought we were partners, facing hardships together, yet Ulysses turned into a lavish-spending tycoon.

My years of sacrifice probably seemed like a big joke to him!

A colleague handed me an envelope with a puzzled expression.

"Do you know that female owner from earlier? She asked me to give this to you."

I frowned, took it, and pursed my lips.

I found a familiar small shop nearby and used their computer to insert the USB from the envelope.

Dozens of videos immediately popped up on the screen.

There were Grace and Ulysses on either side, Rosa in the middle, celebrating a birthday.

In front of them was a towering cake, surrounded by the expensive toys Wendy could only dream of.

Ulysses accompanied them to a parent-child sports event at the kindergarten, a radiant smile on his face, as if the whole world was glowing around them.

Their laughter mingling with the little girl's giggles, the warm, happy scene pierced my heart.

The three of them wore matching outfits, resembling a happy family.

I stared at the screen with empty eyes, until the last video popped up.

Ulysses lay naked in Grace's arms.

"What about that daughter of yours? When do you plan to bring her back to the Crowe's family?"

"Testing them for seven years has been exhausting, all because you insisted on making that bet back then."

"Isn’t that hillbilly's daughter still waiting for a heart transplant? Now that we bring her back, seeing the Crowe's family wealth, won't she die of jealousy?"

From Ulysses's mouth, Wendy didn't seem like his own child.

He repeatedly referred to her as the "hillbilly's child" with words that pierced my heart.

He knew Wendy was awaiting treatment, capable of finding the best doctor, easily affording the surgery, even locating a suitable heart, yet he chose to remain indifferent.

But he was deliberately cruel, watching me risk my life to earn money, watching Wendy suffer from her illness.

Ulysses and I met at the welfare institution.

I've been an orphan who often visited the director and the children after I grew up.

There, I encountered Ulysses, who was volunteering.

He said he was also parentless and wanted to help the children live a better life.

We went from acquaintances to lovers, and eventually got married.

I offended a big boss by refusing to accept unspoken rules, ending up blacklisted in the industry, forced to take odd jobs, struggling to survive.

Ulysses stayed with me through hardships, never complained.

Until Wendy was born, Ulysses said he failed an investment, went bankrupt, and fell into massive debt.

I sold the house I'd saved for to pay off his debt, we moved to a drafty, broken shed in the suburbs.

At that time, Ulysses held me, crying, swearing he would treat Wendy and me well for a lifetime.

But he didn't keep his promise.

Just because of that malicious joke played by Ulysses and Grace, Wendy and I became their playthings.

A scream was trapped in my throat, filling my mouth with the metallic taste of blood. I wiped away my tears, forcing a smile as I pushed open Wendy's hospital room door.

"Wendy, Mommy brought you some chicken soup. Are you still feeling unwell?"

Wendy's face was ashen, her expression far too mature for her years. "Mom, my surgery is tomorrow, so I have to fast today."

I was dumbfounded, my mind still chaotic from Ulysses' provocation earlier. Cursing my poor memory, I tapped my forehead and picked up a cotton swab, moistening Wendy's chapped lips with water.

Her small hand gripped mine tightly, offering a comforting warmth. "Mom, is Dad still busy looking for a job? I miss him so much."

Seeing her like this, I swallowed the truth that was on the tip of my tongue. Gently patting Wendy's head, I murmured, "You'll definitely see Dad before your surgery tomorrow."

Even if I had to beg on my knees, I would make Ulysses come and accompany Wendy.

For seven years, I had been the clown in their rich people's game. Now, my pride and dignity seemed worthless.

After Wendy fell asleep, I went to confirm the surgery time with the doctor. I sat on the cold floor of the hallway, my back against the icy wall, finally starting to clear my mind.

Taking out my phone, I dialed Ulysses' number. This time, he answered quickly.

"Yasmine, what's up?" he said. "I'm entertaining investors right now. If this project goes through, we'll finally be rid of these hard days!"

For seven years, he had been placating me with these same empty promises, and each time, I had foolishly believed him.

In the beginning, Ulysses pretended to work at a construction site. Seeing his hands red and swollen, I told him to focus on finding investments while I took care of making ends meet. But instead, he spent his days fooling around, leaving Wendy and me to suffer.

The music blared on the other end of the line. He was probably on a yacht with Grace's niece.

Suppressing my anger and bitterness, I took a deep breath before speaking. "Ulysses, Wendy's surgery is tomorrow... Could you please come and be with her? You know how much she clings to you..."

He interrupted me coldly, "Yasmine, what's wrong with you lately? You know how busy I am, yet you keep bothering me! I'm working my ass off to get investments so we can have a better life!"

His self-righteous yelling left me feeling bitter. After a few moments, my voice hoarse, I said, "Ulysses, you may think I'm stupid and uncultured, but Wendy is your flesh and blood. Don't you care about her at all?"

Ulysses paused, sounding a bit flustered. "Yasmine, what nonsense are you talking? I'll finish up here as soon as I can and come to the hospital."

I glanced at Wendy through the glass-paneled door, my body trembling. Wrapped in thick blankets, she looked so frail.

I remembered her as a newborn, her eyes struggling to open, her tiny fingers grasping mine. Wendy had never been healthy, never even attended a single day of kindergarten. Ulysses and I were her entire world. But the father she depended on so completely had never truly cared about her.

Unable to hold back my sorrow, tears began to fall soundlessly.

To my surprise, Ulysses actually showed up. Maybe Wendy did matter to him, even if just a little.

His neck still bore suggestive red marks. He rushed into the hospital room in his patched-up old clothes, sweat dripping from his forehead.

A flood of mixed emotions washed over me. For a moment, I almost believed we were still that family who clung to each other through tough times. Back then, not having food didn't matter, as long as our hearts were united, we could get through anything.

Until I caught a glimpse of the gleaming gold on his wrist. That expensive watch snapped me back to harsh reality.