Chapter 3

I ran into the room. Lily was collapsed on the freezing hardwood floor.

Hailey stood beside her, holding an inhaler, looking completely lost.

Like a wild animal, I threw myself over my daughter, cradling her. My fingers brushed against her ice-cold cheek as I screamed at Hailey, "What did you do to her?!"

Hailey quickly hid the medicine bottle behind her back, trying to look nervous.

"I—I was just trying to give her the medicine. I didn't know I grabbed the wrong one. It was an accident!"

Lily’s face was turning blue, her breathing so faint it could stop at any second.

I didn't have time to fight. I ripped the emergency inhaler from Hailey’s hands and pressed it to Lily’s mouth.

After a few deep puffs, Lily’s stiff body finally began to relax.

Her breathing gradually slowed, and the heavy rock in my chest lifted slightly.

With bloodshot eyes, I glared at Hailey. The rage inside me was begging to be let loose.

"If you don't know how to take care of a child, don't touch her medicine! If anything happens to Lily today, I swear I will ruin you."

Frightened by the raw hatred in my eyes, Hailey shrank back.

She immediately hid behind Ethan, her eyes red as she whimpered, "I've never taken care of kids before. It was just a mistake. I feel terrible about Lily too..."

Ethan wrapped a protective arm around her and turned to me, his face filled with irritation.

"If you hadn't thrown a fit in the bedroom, Hailey wouldn't have had to step in and watch Lily. This is entirely your fault."

I clenched my fists to shoot back, but the front door opened.

Ethan’s parents walked in, carrying expensive gift boxes.

The moment they saw Hailey, their faces lit up with joy.

They rushed over, grabbing her hands, asking how she was doing, chatting warmly as if she were the daughter-in-law.

I stood in the corner, holding my traumatized daughter.

Lily and I were like ghosts, completely invisible to their warm family circle.

Mrs. Reed spared me a brief, cold glance. Her voice was commanding. "What are you standing there for? I brought fresh seafood. Go to the kitchen and make dinner."

I didn't want to fight in front of my daughter.

I gently patted Lily’s back to soothe her, then walked into the kitchen alone.

When dinner was served, Hailey was the star of the table, pouring wine for my in-laws.

Then, she picked up a serving spoon, piled my bowl high with various crabs and shrimp, and smiled fake-sweetly. "Chloe works so hard taking care of Lily. You should eat more of this to recover."

I stared at the seafood in my bowl. Silently, I began to pick it out and push it to the side of my plate.

Hailey immediately frowned, looking deeply hurt.

"Your mother-in-law brought these fresh ingredients herself, Chloe. You won't even take a bite? That's so disrespectful."

Mrs. Reed’s face darkened instantly. She snorted in disgust. "What did you expect? She’s just a cursed orphan with no manners. No wonder her parents died early."

The cruel words stabbed deep into my chest.

Years ago, it was my parents who helped the Reed family survive their financial crisis, which led to my arranged marriage with Ethan.

But on my eighteenth birthday, my parents died in a horrific car crash.

Since then, I was branded a "cursed child" who brought misfortune to her own family.

Everyone avoided me like the plague. Only Ethan kept his promise, staying by my side and shielding me from the nasty rumors.

I thought Ethan would defend me this time, just like he used to.

Instead, he reached over, scooped the seafood I had set aside, and dumped it back into my bowl. His voice was firm. "My parents brought this. Hailey is just being a good guest. Eat it. Stop making a scene."

Looking at his cold profile, my memories rushed back.

During our first anniversary dinner, the chef had accidentally added shellfish to my dish.

I had broken out in hives and could barely breathe. Ethan had been so devastated and angry at himself that he slapped his own face, staying up all night by my hospital bed.

But in just a few years, everything had changed.

I swallowed the bitterness in my throat and whispered, "I'm allergic to seafood, Ethan. I can't eat this."

Ethan paused, a flicker of hesitation crossing his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by cold indifference. "It’s just a minor allergy. You can handle a few bites. Don't ruin everyone's mood."

Looking at his heartless face, my love for him died a little more.

I forced myself to take a few bites of the seafood.

Within minutes, my neck and arms broke out in angry, itching red hives.

The itching spread like wildfire across my skin, and my throat began to tighten.

Seeing the severe reaction, Ethan finally panicked.

Ignoring his parents and Hailey, he swept me up in his arms and rushed me to the hospital.