Chapter 2

• Seeing me take off the white dress stained with red wine, he frowned.
• “I heard from my mother about what Emma did. Don’t take it to heart, she’s just a child, she loves you,”
• David said, the explanation unchanged after nine years.
• I thought, even when Emma comes of age, she will still be a little child in David's eyes.
• I smiled and sarcastically remarked:
• “But in that child’s heart, I’m just a murderer.”
• David’s face showed displeasure:
• “Don’t say that, she could never think that way.”
• I took a few steps back, putting more distance between us, and started to zip the back of my dress in front of the mirror.
• “I’ll help you,” he said, without waiting, and took the zipper from my hands.
• His fingertip warmth touched my back, making me feel a slight itch.
• Had this been in the past, I would have blushed, my heart fluttering, even aroused.
• But now, it only made me gross.
• “Be patient with her,”
• he murmured, his breath brushing my neck.
• I pushed him away sharply:
• “I have something to say to you.”
• David furrowed his brow:
• “Can’t it wait? The family banquet has already started.”
• “No.” I said firmly, “Today marks the ninth year, and I’m leaving.”
• “You’re talking nonsense,” David shouted angrily.
• I looked at his face, tense with anger, the air freezing for a moment.
• But I didn’t back down and repeated:
• “It’s been nine years, David, I’m leaving.”
• David glared at me:
• “Have you had enough of making a scene? Emma is just a child, don’t take it to heart. Today’s an important family event, the elders are here. I’ll talk to her later.”
• He grabbed my wrist and tried to pull me out. I forcefully jerked my hand free.
• “Wasn’t it you who was persuaded by my father? That’s why you stepped back and gave me these nine years? Now that I want to leave, you’re unhappy?”
• I raised my voice, continuing to argue.
• Before he could respond, an angry voice came from behind:
• “Ashley, can you stop throwing tantrums at the wrong time?”
• Without turning around, I knew it was my father.
• Back then, Father and David had agreed that once Emma turned nine, I could leave.
• But now, why are they stopping me?
• “I’m not throwing a tantrum, Father, you said after nine years, I could leave.”
• I was tired, but I had no choice but to explain repeatedly.
• Father scoffed:
• “Did you have to bring this up today, of all days, during the family banquet?”
• “Alright, Ashley didn’t mean it.”
• David immediately stepped in to smooth things over.
• Had this been a few years ago, I might have blushed, my heart racing at his defense.
• But now, I clearly understood that this was just his dirty trick to make me stay.
• To continue playing the role of Lily’s replacement.
• “Let’s go, to the banquet.”
• David said to me.
• I silently let him pull me into the banquet that had already started.
• Emma was playing happily with her cousins.
• But when she saw me, her face immediately darkened.
• “Look, Emma, your mother is here!”
• The younger Smith family members all knew about my position, shamelessly teased.
• Emma sneered:
• “She’s not my mother!”
• I stood right beside her, and David sighed, pulling Emma closer:
• “Don’t speak like that, Ashley is your mother, and she’s always taken good care of you.”
• Emma’s face turned red with anger:
• “No! She’ll never be my mother! Listen, everyone, this woman killed my mother!”
• The elders, who were also core members of the family, turned their disdainful eyes toward me:
• “She’s not the child’s stepmother?”
• “Why doesn’t she like her so much?”
• “Looks like she didn’t treat the child well.”
• “Apologize to her right now.”
• David ordered Emma, but there was no sincerity in his voice.
• I stopped him:
• “Forget it, no need.”