Chapter 1

The company had just allocated us a brand-new apartment, but Carter gave the keys to someone else.

"Chloe, the chemical fumes from the new renovation aren’t good for Lily. I let Mia move in first to open the windows and air it out for us. “

“It’s only temporary. I need you and Lily to squeeze into the old apartment for a little longer."

I was about to grab a spare blanket for Mia when strange, floating black text suddenly appeared right in front of my eyes:

[Cousin, my ass! That’s his first love! She’s already pregnant with the baby boy Carter has been begging for!]

[Poor female lead. In the end, this despicable duo kicked her out of the house, leaving her and her daughter to freeze to death on the streets!]

My blood ran cold. Before I could even process this, my daughter, Lily, ran up to Mia and stared curiously at her stomach.

"Daddy, is the bed in the new apartment really that soft? Yesterday, when you and Mia were wrestling on it, Mia didn't cry at all. “

“She kept screaming, 'Harder, faster!' Was the baby brother in her tummy trying to crawl out early?"

The black text floated again: [Wait...]

I stared at my daughter.

She looked up, her big, innocent eyes blinking as she waited for Carter's answer.

Carter’s face flushed a deep, angry red. The veins on his forehead bulged.

Mia gasped, taking a sharp step back and bumping hard against the doorframe.

An eerie silence fell over the old apartment.

The semi-transparent black text floated past again.

[Hold on! In the original plot, this kid became mute after a severe high fever. How is she talking now? And she just dropped a total truth bomb?!]

My mind raced. How did these mysterious words know about Lily's sickness?

Six months ago, Lily did have a terrible fever.

After she recovered, she stopped talking.

Carter constantly verbally abused her, calling her a useless mute, and refused to spend a single penny on her doctor visits.

But just now, Lily not only spoke, she exposed Carter and Mia’s dirty laundry perfectly.

Following Lily's lead, I turned a freezing gaze to Carter.

"Is what Lily said true? You two slept in the new apartment's bed?"

Everyone in the room was an adult. We all knew exactly what Lily meant by "wrestling."

Carter swallowed hard, forcing a tight, awkward smile.

"Chloe, don't listen to her nonsense. Mia just moved in yesterday. One of the bed frame joints was loose, so I was just helping her fix it."

"Mia was just worried I’d pinch my fingers, so she was telling me to pull harder."

Mia quickly stepped forward, her eyes pooling with tears.

"Chloe, Carter was really just fixing the bed."

"I know my staying here is causing trouble for you. If you're unhappy, I'll leave right now. I don't want you and Carter to fight because of me."

She turned to leave, her shoulders trembling like a fragile, victimized flower.

Carter immediately grabbed her arm, his voice dripping with protectiveness.

"Where do you think you’re going? You're a young girl new to this city. You don't even know the roads!"

He turned around, glaring at me with deep irritation.

"Chloe, you're a mother too. Where is your compassion?"

"Mia is only staying at the new place for a few days. Did you really have to brainwash Lily to say such disgusting things just to drive her out?"

Lily tilted her head, continuing her innocent interrogation. "Daddy, why do you have to take your pants off to fix a bed? And Mia was riding on your back. Was she helping you pull the springs too?"

Carter snapped. He raised his hand, aiming a savage slap right at Lily’s face.

"You little brat! Stop lying! I’m going to teach you a lesson!"

I stepped forward instantly, shielding Lily behind my back.

Grabbing a heavy ceramic mug from the table, I slammed it hard onto the floor right at Carter's feet.

The mug shattered, hot water splashing everywhere. Carter flinched, pulling his hand back in shock.

"Touch her, and see what happens," I hissed.

Knowing he was in the wrong, Carter avoided my eyes.

He quickly tried to change the subject. "Fine! I don't have time for your drama. Just get that new comforter from the closet. Mia gets cold easily. She needs extra padding tonight."

I let out a cold laugh. Walking over to the wardrobe, I locked it, pulled the key out, and slipped it into my pocket.

"This blanket is for Lily. No matter how fragile Mia is, surely she isn't going to steal from a six-year-old child?"

Mia clenched her jaw, squeezing out a fake, painful smile.

"Chloe is right. I'm not picky. I'm just grateful to have a place to sleep."

Seeing my stubborn attitude, Carter knew he wouldn't win today. He dragged Mia out of the room, looking thoroughly defeated.