chapter 1

By my daughter's hospital bed, I suddenly received a photo of my husband Victor Granger and the intern he was supervising in an intimate pose.

I called him right away, but he paid no attention at all to my daughter's miserable moans in the hospital bed. "You just need to take good care of Belle," he said.

Later, when our daughter's condition became critical, he only sent a message: "I have to take the intern to work on a project, so I don't have time to come see her. After all, she came to work under me right after graduating—I have to take responsibility for her. Anyway, I'm not a doctor; going to see Belle won't make her get better."

I clutched Belle's hand tightly, and a tear fell onto her cheek.

"Victor, we're getting a divorce. Belle is mine."

But he snorted coldly. "Belle is still sick—stop throwing a tantrum here."

I hung up the phone immediately and walked toward the man who had been waiting at the end of the corridor. "You said you'd wait for me for a lifetime—does that still hold true?"

Sean Weston was holding Belle's medical charts.

Shock flashed across his face, quickly replaced by a surge of joy, which he just as quickly reined in, composing his features into a look of solemn sincerity.

He nodded firmly and said, "Absolutely."

Hesitating, I glanced back towards my daughter's room.

Sean, perhaps fearing I would change my mind, pressed the medical charts to his chest like a vow.

He swore firmly, "Don't worry, Ivy. I'll always treat Belle as my own. I'll immediately transfer all my assets into her name."

I stopped him before he could rush off. Belle's inheritance could be dealt with later.

Right then, she was fighting for her life, and she needed us here.

In the days that followed, I kept a constant vigil by Belle's bedside.

Sean crisscrossed the country, chasing down every lead for a renowned specialist.

Meanwhile, the company group chat was buzzing nonstop.

Every time I opened it, I saw Victor, who couldn't be bothered to ask about his daughter, heaping lavish praise on that intern, Luna Pierce.

The employees, sensing the wind, followed his lead with fawning admiration.

Belle's condition showed no improvement. Sean decided to fly overseas to personally bring back an expert for consultation.

The next moment, my phone rang. It was Victor.

For a fleeting second, I thought he had finally remembered his daughter.

But his voice was thick with suppressed excitement, "Order a huge bouquet sent to the office. Luna just closed her first big deal! I promised her a proper celebration!"

I let out a bitter laugh at my own foolish hope.

I snapped, "An intern gets a party? Do you even remember you have a daughter in the hospital?"

There was a brief pause.

Then, he said dismissively with the same old excuse, "I'm not a doctor, Ivy. My being there won't change anything. I'm more useful here, closing deals."

Hearing the expected words, I stared blankly at Belle's sickly pale face.

She stirred, her eyes fluttering open to meet mine.

She breathed out, "Mommy… is that Daddy? Is he coming to see me?"

I covered my mouth, stifling a sob, not wanting her to see my tears. I gently adjusted her blankets and stepped out into the hall.

I called him, "Victor, I want a divorce. I mean it."

He roared through the phone, "What’s wrong with you now?! You're divorcing me because I'm busy working?"

Victor's voice rose sharply.

He huffed, "Stop this nonsense! I'm swamped. I'll come see you when things calm down, okay?" He hung up impatiently.

Simultaneously, he bombarded the chat with several digital gift cards. One could almost feel his glee through the screen.

Then he sent,

"Everyone! To celebrate Luna's amazing success, I'm throwing a party in The Regent Palace! Be there!"

The VP, Leo Sherman, chimed in with sycophantic zeal,

"Our Luna is a star! To land such a deal in her first month, I'd better watch my back, or she'll have my job soon!"

Other employees, eager to curry favor, started the chorus,

"Luna's so talented and gorgeous! Maybe she'll be our next First Lady of the company!"

"Wow! Can't wait for the big day!"