My Husband and Daughter Betrayed Me, So l Faked My Death

Naya Steele waited at the kindergarten gate, arriving early to pick up her daughter, Abigail.

As soon as Abigail appeared, Naya rushed to embrace her, only to be shoved away.

"I don’t want you to pick me up! I want Zora to pick me up!" the girl snapped.

Her daughter's scornful tone and disgusted expression hit Naya like a knife to the heart.

"Zora?" she asked in disbelief. "You mean… Zora Lake?"

"That’s right! It’s your fault Dad left her. That’s why Zora can’t be my mom. I hate you!" Abigail shouted.

Naya stood frozen. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing, and even more, she couldn’t believe Zora was still alive.

“Come home with me,” she said quietly, swallowing the pain. She reached out and took Abigail’s hand, determined to go home and confront Cesar.

“Let me go! I’m not going with you!” Abigail screamed.

No matter how gently Naya tried to soothe her, Abigail kept lashing out; kicking, punching, sobbing. “You’re a bad person! I don’t want to go with you!”

A nearby parent, alarmed by the scene, assumed the worst and called the police.

Moments later, officers arrived, their expressions stern. “Ma’am, someone has reported you for suspected child trafficking. Please show us your identification.”

Naya’s hands trembled as she pulled out her ID and marriage certificate.

Just when she thought it was over and she could finally leave with her daughter, one of the officers stopped her.

“Ma’am, according to our system, you’re listed as unmarried. The registered parents of this child are Cesar Harmon and Zora Lake. You are now under suspicion of child abduction. Please come with us,” he said.

Naya felt as if she’d been struck by lightning. She froze, her mind going blank.

She couldn’t comprehend how the child she had survived countless lifeanddeath moments with could now belong to Zora.

Even more baffling was the fact that Cesar’s wife was now Zora.

Naya walked out of the police station with a slow, aimless step. Her heart felt skinned, like something tender and soft had been torn out and left to the wind.

She still couldn’t believe what she had just heard.

Dazed, she returned home. But before she even stepped inside, she heard voices from the living room.

“Cesar, I heard Zora isn’t actually dead. That she came back from abroad and is your legal wife. Is that true?” one of his friends asked.

“Of course,” Cesar replied, his voice laced with pride. “I faked her death back then just to calm my parents down. Made them think I was done with her.”

Naya’s mind buzzed. Her entire body went rigid, as if struck again by lightning.

“And what about Naya?” another friend asked. “Are you going to break up with her?”

The room fell silent. Tension hung in the air. Naya’s heart leapt into her throat.

“Break up?” Cesar chuckled, taking a slow sip of wine. “Why would I do that?

"Sure, I once thought I’d never fall for Naya. But over the years, she’s handled both Abigail and me so well… I’ve come to realize I can’t live without her.”

He leaned back, his tone light. “And Zora? She’s used to hardship. How could I let her go back to scrubbing floors and doing housework?”

There was a quiet satisfaction in his voice, like a man perfectly content with having it all. The friends looked on with envy, praising Cesar for how well he had "trained" his wife.

But from the corner of the room, where no one had been paying attention, a mocking voice rang out, “Really? If Naya knew that the daughter she raised through blood and tears wasn’t even her biological child... that her real baby was stillborn and tossed away like garbage... would she still be so willing to live like this?”

The air turned to ice once more.

Cesar shot a displeased glance at the man in the corner, his brows tightening. “If that’s the case,” he said coldly, “then I’ll make sure she never finds out.”

“Cesar always has a way…” someone murmured, and the room returned to its lively chatter.

But Naya could only hear the sound of her heart shattering.

Still gripping the doorknob, she slowly crouched down, her body weak and trembling as tears streamed down her cheeks.

So it was true. Her child had died long ago, discarded like trash. The daughter she had loved so deeply, so fiercely, was born of her husband’s affair.

And that husband... had married someone else behind her back, without even a shred of hesitation.

She was nothing more than a cruel joke.

Her lips parted, as if to speak, but nothing came out. Only more tears. She didn’t understand how things had come to this.

So she ran. When she finally came to her senses, she found several unread messages waiting on her phone.

[Naya, I postponed an important meeting and bought your favorite strawberry pudding, just so we could celebrate our anniversary. Are you happy?]

[Oh, and I have a secret gift too. You're going to love it. We both will. I’ll be waiting for you to come back.]

Naya stared at the messages, crying, then laughing.

All these years, Cesar had played the role of the perfect husband. He loved her, pampered her, showered her with everything she adored.

She once mentioned loving the aurora, so he flew her to Northern Europe and even bought an island with the best view, just so she could watch the lights dance across the sky.

She loved pink diamonds, so Cesar scoured every auction he could find, collecting pieces one by one until he built an entire exhibition hall filled with them just for her to enjoy.

When Naya became pregnant, he was there through every wave of morning sickness, every prenatal checkup, every ache and discomfort, never missing a moment.

He never avoided the topic of his past. In fact, he had told her openly that he once had a lover, someone he had loved deeply, someone now long gone.

Every year, without fail, Cesar would travel abroad around the same time. He said it was to pay his respects to her.

He had even made a trip abroad the night before their wedding. According to him, it was to visit her grave, to let everything go before starting a new chapter.

But now, Naya knew the truth. It hadn’t been closure. It was a secret reunion.

And she… she had been too blinded by love to see it. She had been played for years.

But now, finally, the veil had lifted. Naya had seen Cesar for who he truly was. It was time to let go. Time to leave him for good.

With that resolve, she pulled out her phone and made a call.

A familiar voice answered, bright with joy. “You’re finally calling me. How have you been all these years?”

Naya’s brows drew together slightly.

She hesitated for a moment before answering, her voice cold and steady. “I’m calling to ask for two favors. That doesn’t mean I’ve forgiven you.”

There was a beat of silence, then a sincere reply, “What are they? Tell me. If it’s within my power, I’ll do it.”

“First,” Naya said, “help me fake an accident. I want to disappear from Cesar’s life… forever.”

“What? Don’t you love Cesar more than anyone?” The voice on the other end spiked with disbelief.

Naya didn’t respond. Tears slid down her cheeks as she made her second request, voice trembling. “I want you to investigate my childbirth.”

It was already dark when Naya returned home. As soon as she stepped inside, Cesar came over with Abigail.

“Naya, where have you been? Why are you back so late?” he asked, sounding concerned.

Cesar took the backpack from her hand and gave her a onceover, noticing something off about her expression. Her eyes were red.

“Why are you crying? Who dared to bully Mrs. Harmon? I’ll make them pay!” he said playfully, coaxing her with sweet words as he reached for a tissue and gently wiped her eyes.

Watching Cesar fuss over her so thoughtfully, Naya’s memories came rushing back.

After they got married, when her business venture failed and she locked herself in the bathroom to cry, he had comforted her with the same tender voice.

He told her she could rest easy being his wife because he would protect her forever.

Later, when she became pregnant and her career still couldn’t take off, he insisted she quit and stay home full time, caring for him and Abigail.

Both of them were allergic to dust mites, so she bought a topoftheline mite remover and cleaned the house down to every corner, fearing they might suffer otherwise.

Abigail was a picky eater with multiple food allergies. Naya studied cooking obsessively, perfecting recipes over and over again until every dish was both beautiful and safe.

Back then, she had been so sure she was living a blissful marriage.

People teased her for looking more like a servant than a wealthy wife, but she didn’t mind. She truly believed she was the happiest woman in the world.

But now, looking at Abigail’s face—so much like her biological mother’s—Naya realized all those years had been a lie she told herself.

The thought brought a fresh wave of pain to her chest, and her eyes began to sting again.

Still, she forced it down, managing a small smile. “Of course not. I just went to the beach. The sandstorm was strong, it got in my eyes,” she said lightly.

As she spoke, her gaze drifted toward Abigail, who was halfhidden in the corner. Maybe she’d overheard what happened after school, her eyes looked uneasy, evasive.

But more than anything, they were full of jealousy.

Naya’s heart twisted. Abigail wasn’t her biological daughter, and her very existence had once been a source of shame.

Yet after raising her for so many years, Naya couldn’t deny the complicated feelings that had taken root.

She instinctively leaned forward, wanting to embrace her. But pain shot through her arm. Abigail had stabbed her with the small pocketknife she had been hiding.

Bright red blood welled up instantly, dripping onto the carpet.

A flicker of satisfaction crossed Abigail’s face. “It’s all your fault! Daddy said he’d take me with him today to see Zora, but you ruined everything!”

“You wicked stepmother! Why don’t you just die!” she shouted, eyes burning with hatred.

Naya stared at the wound on her palm, her heart cracking open.

She still remembered when Abigail was just two years old, barely able to speak. Back then, she had picked up the word “die” from somewhere.

She’d wrapped her tiny arms around Naya’s neck and asked, in a babysoft voice, what it meant.

And when she learned that one day her mother would grow old and die, she had broken down in tears.

She cried until she was hoarse, nearly on the verge of respiratory alkalosis.

But even then, she clung to Naya tightly, repeating through her sobs, “I don’t want Mommy to die… I don’t want Mommy to die…”

And now, just days after Zora’s return, Abigail had completely turned against her.

As grief swelled in Naya’s chest, Abigail suddenly collapsed to the floor, pointing at her and crying out, “Dad, Mom pushed me! My back hurts, take me to the hospital…”

Startled, Naya turned and saw Cesar approaching, unnoticed until now. The moment Abigail spotted him, she threw herself into his arms, sobbing hysterically.

There was blood on her cheek, Naya’s blood, whether by accident or design, it was hard to tell.

But against Abigail’s pale face, it looked especially terrifying.

Cesar’s face paled. “Abigail, why are you bleeding? Are you hurt?”

“Dad… my head hurts so bad. Mom said she was wronged because of me…” Abigail sniffled, her eyes closed, her nose red from crying. “I’m scared… Will Mom hit me again?”

Cesar’s expression darkened instantly.

“Naya, how could you push her? If you’ve been wronged, say so, but why lash out at a child?” His voice rose sharply.

Naya looked at him, her chest tight. That face, once so full of love, now only showed anger.

When they first married, he used to say she was his everything.

He worried if she so much as stubbed a toe. A mosquito bite would send him into a frenzy—he once ordered drones to spray their garden after she complained of itching.

Now, her palms were bloodied, and he didn’t even glance at them. Without another word, Cesar turned and carried Abigail away.

“Stay home for the next two days,” he said over his shoulder, cold and dismissive. “Think about what you’ve done.”

The door slammed and silence followed. Naya stared out the window, watching his figure disappear down the steps.

A faint, bitter smile crept across her lips.

Four days passed before she saw either of them again. Her luggage was packed by then, waiting for the right moment.

Abigail scowled the second she saw her. “Dad, I don’t want to see Mom. I want to stay with Zora.”

Naya’s lips twitched; half a smile, half something darker.

Of course. They had spent the last few days together and completely forgotten about her.

“Abigail,” Cesar said, waving the servants over. “Take her upstairs.”

The oncebustling living room fell into abrupt silence.

“Naya, I just found out Zora isn’t dead. She’s returned to Chirean. She ran into Abigail at the hospital and stayed with her for a few days. Don’t misunderstand, she and I are just friends. We’re family,” Cesar said, his voice steady.

Naya looked at his serious expression and nearly laughed. ‘Friends? Friends who appear on marriage certificates? Family? And who exactly counts as family?’

The thought made her lips curl into a cold sneer. Still, she didn’t expose him. She simply let him take her hand.

“Naya, what happened to your hand? When did you get this scar?” Cesar turned her palm over, revealing the faded pink mark.

He gently ran his fingers across her skin, his face full of concern, like it meant something. Naya’s stomach turned. The hypocrisy was nauseating.

He didn’t love her, never had. And yet here he was, playing the role of the perfect husband.

“I wasn’t fair the other day,” he murmured. “I shouldn’t have snapped at you over Abigail’s fall. Let me get you some more ointment.”

“No need. It’s already healed,” Naya said, calmly pulling her hand away. Her hand had healed. But the scar on her heart, she knew it would never fade.

Cesar seemed thrown off by her coldness. Without a word, he took her hand again and led her upstairs, saying he had an anniversary gift for her.

Naya opened the box gently. Inside was a set of sheer, flowing chiffon pajamas; lacy, silky, revealing.

The sight of it made her stomach twist.

Cesar had always had odd ideas about what marriage should be. Naya didn’t like them, but she couldn’t stand to see him upset. So she endured the discomfort and played along.

Back then, she was still lost in the illusion that he loved her with all his heart. She believed that the more she gave, the more he would love her in return.

But now, looking at the sheer, sultry sleepwear, all she felt was revulsion. She calmly folded the clothes and pushed them into the back of the closet.

When she looked up, Cesar was staring at her, clearly surprised. Naya just gave a small, knowing smile.

If it were back then, even if she disliked it, she would still pretend to be pleased.

“Abigail’s grown up now,” she said softly. “We should be more careful.”

Cesar sighed and turned to leave the room. But just as he reached the door, his phone rang.

Naya glanced up, and it was none other than Zora.

Cesar’s expression shifted slightly. “Naya, something urgent came up. You should get some rest, no need to wait for me.”

He grabbed his coat and quickly stood up.

Naya watched his flustered figure rush out the door, a dull ache blooming in her chest.

She didn’t listen. Instead of resting at home like he said, she quietly followed him, keeping a careful distance as she trailed him through the night.

The car came to a stop in front of a house, and Cesar hurried through the gate and into the garden.

Inside the glass greenhouse, Zora lay on the sofa, clad in the same sheer chiffon nightwear. She clutched her chest with a delicate expression; brows lightly furrowed, the image of a fragile beauty.

The moment Cesar saw her, he rushed forward and pulled her into his arms. “Zora, don’t wear this anymore. If someone sees us, I’ll lose my mind.”

As he spoke, he took off his coat and wrapped it around her. Zora smiled teasingly. “What about her? Didn’t you give her the same thing?”

“How could she ever compare to you?” Cesar’s voice was thick with desire. “You’re bold, confident. These things were made for you.”

As he spoke, he began to kiss her skin, inch by inch.

But Zora pushed him away, tears shimmering at the corners of her eyes. “Cesar, what do you take me for? Another girl like Naya, someone who sold herself just to climb higher? Tell me, what exactly are we?”

“Of course we’re husband and wife,” Cesar murmured against her lips, kissing her again.

But those words, sharp as ice, cut through both Zora’s and Naya’s hearts like blades.

Zora collapsed into Cesar’s arms, tears streaming down her cheeks. “You’re my husband, but you spend every day with that woman. Even Abigail calls her mom. When will I finally be able to live in the open? Do you love her?”

“Of course not,” Cesar said hurriedly. “If I did, would I have gone so far as to swap your child with hers and toss hers into the trash without even a tombstone?”

Naya’s breath hitched. She staggered back, stunned.

She had imagined the worst before, that the child was discarded, forgotten. But hearing it from Cesar himself shattered something inside her.

He used to pray for their baby. He’d lie next to her belly, listening to every tiny sound.

He stroked her skin, whispered to the life growing inside. He held her hand, told stories, shared dreams of a future.

He’d loved their baby, or so she thought. Yet he left her child to rot, without even a name.

Before she could recover, another noise broke through the glass. Cesar pressed Zora beneath him, their bodies close, their kisses loud and urgent.

Outside, Naya’s eyes reddened. Pain ripped through her chest like a knife.

She glanced up one last time at the scene inside, then turned and walked away without looking back.

Once in the car, she grabbed her phone and called.

“How much longer?” she asked coldly. “I’m done waiting.”

“Two weeks,” the voice answered. “I’ll stage the accident and get him out of your life.”

After hanging up the phone, Naya took a deep breath. In just two more weeks, she would be gone from this place, leaving Cesar behind for good.

When she got home, Abigail was already sound asleep. Her rosy cheeks were dotted with dimples, a picture of peace and innocence.

Looking at her, a flicker of sorrow passed through Naya’s heart. If her own child had lived, she would’ve been just as lovely.

Just then, a message came in from an unknown number. She opened it, it was a video. In it, Cesar and Zora were tangled together, kissing passionately.

Before Naya could react, a followup text arrived.

[Ms. Steele, I’m sure you’ve seen what just happened. You also know Abigail is my biological daughter, and Cesar is my lawful husband. I hope you’ll know your place and leave Cesar soon.]

Naya stared at the message, the smugness practically oozing from the screen. It wasn’t just a warning, it was Zora’s way of staking her claim.

But as she thought about the five years she’d wasted, a bitter wave of resentment rose in her chest.

She replied without hesitation, [If it’s so righteous and official, why are you still hiding like a coward?]

Then, without waiting for a response, Naya switched off her phone.

She had no interest in sparring with the selfproclaimed queen, let alone falling into her carefully laid trap.

It wasn’t until five days later that Cesar finally came home.

During that time, he had sent Naya multiple messages claiming to be away on business. Naya, suppressing her disgust, had replied from time to time.

It was for no other reason than to disappear before he noticed.

Cesar was known for being fiercely competitive. He could discard others without a second thought, but he would never tolerate being the one left behind.

That was why Naya had decided to fake her own death.

Perhaps sensing something off, Cesar returned bearing gifts: a delicate dress and a pair of pink diamond earrings.

“Naya, why don’t you try them on?” he said, crouching like a gentleman to help her put on the earrings.

His sincerity might have moved her, if she hadn’t known about the gifts. Just three minutes earlier, Zora had posted a video flaunting her luxury.

In it, she wore a full pink diamond necklace and a custommade designer gown. Tossed carelessly at her feet, clearly labeled as gifts, were the same earrings and dress Cesar had just brought home.

Naya watched him, amused by the performance.

Cesar seemed to pick up on her mood. He gently set the earrings down and reached out, preparing to pull her into a hug.

But before he could, Abigail ran into his arms. “Daddy! It’s been so long. I missed you so much.”

Snuggling into his neck, she took a deep breath. “Why do you smell like Zora? Ohhh, I get it. You’ve been with her these past few days, haven’t you?”

Her innocent remark landed like a blade. Cesar stiffened. The air turned cold with awkward silence.

But Abigail, oblivious, went on cheerfully, “Zora always smells so nice. I love her the most! Daddy, when are you going to marry her so she can be my mom?”

Whether it was out of rage or shame, Cesar simply set Abigail down.

Trying to offer both comfort and an explanation, he said, “Abigail, you’re Naya’s child. In this life, only Naya can be your mother. No one else.”

He glanced at Naya. “As for the perfume on me… Zora works as my assistant. I must’ve picked it up from her.”

Naya’s heart skipped a beat.

Just days ago, she had mocked Zora for being sneaky, and now, she had suddenly become Cesar’s assistant.

The truth was, Cesar had always kept work and personal matters strictly separate. Even back when Naya had been blindly in love and begged to be his assistant, he turned her down, citing conflict of interest.

And now… Naya let out a silent scoff. Clearly, every principle could be bent in the name of love.

“Oh, and Naya,” Cesar added as he loosened his tie, tone casual, “I need you to announce Zora’s new role at the company party.”

He didn’t stop there. “You know how my parents feel about her. But if you’re the one who introduces her, they’ll back off. They won’t make things hard for her.”

Watching Cesar go to such lengths for Zora; anticipating his parents’ reactions, thinking about her struggles, Naya felt a dull ache rise in her chest.

He considered everything... except the storm of gossip that would hit Naya if she made the announcement herself.

Soon enough, the day of the company party arrived.

And though Naya still held the title of Mrs. Harmon, she couldn’t compete with something far more intoxicating: The One That Got Away.

The moment Zora stepped into the room, she stole the spotlight.

She wore a silver fringed gown that shimmered under the lights, striking a pose with the confidence of someone who knew she'd already won.

Clutched in one arm was Abigail, dressed in a miniature version of Zora’s gown, chattering sweetly as if they had never been apart.

Whispers began to ripple through the crowd.

“Is Abigail Zora’s daughter? They look almost identical.”

“Wait… I thought she was Mrs. Harmon’s.”

“Zora is Mr. Harmon’s real love. Mrs. Harmon was always just a standin.”

“No wonder they look like a perfect little trio.”

“Poor Naya. She has to introduce Zora as Cesar’s assistant.”

“That’s why they say being in a wealthy family is never easy.”

Each word struck Naya like knives to the chest. She lifted her wine glass but didn’t drink. Her gaze drifted toward the stars beyond the window.

Across the room, Zora held Abigail’s hand, and Cesar stood beside them, his arm grazing Zora’s waist. They looked every bit the loving family.

And Naya just stood alone, a silent spectator at a show she was once the lead in.

“You still haven’t given up?” Zora’s voice broke the quiet.

She approached, champagne in hand, her tone honeyed with cruelty. “You see it, don’t you? Cesar, Abigail, and I, we belong together. A real family.”

Naya’s lips curved into a calm, unreadable smile. Yes, Zora had every reason to be proud. After all, she had claimed what Naya never truly possessed.

However, she couldn’t let it go. “So what if I’m Mrs. Harmon in name only? If you’re so bold, then make the Harmon family recognize you.”

With that, Naya set down her glass and turned to leave.

She knew her inlaws well, they were stubborn, oldfashioned, and not the type to change their minds easily.

If they had been, Zora and Cesar would’ve been married long ago, and Naya would never have been part of the picture.

She had barely taken two steps when Abigail’s cry pierced through the noise.

"Daddy, I'm so itchy!" Abigail cried, scratching at her arms. Her skin was covered in angry red welts; an alarming sight.

Naya froze.

Her mind flashed back to the jar of peanut butter that had mysteriously appeared on the breakfast table that morning.

Without another thought, she reached into her bag for the allergy meds she always carried, quickly preparing to give them to Abigail.

But just as she opened the bottle, Zora stopped her. “Wait.”

Zora’s eyes locked onto hers, a smug little smile tugging at her lips. Naya’s heart dropped.

Zora crouched beside Abigail, gently cupping her face. “Sweetie,” she coaxed softly, “can you tell us who made you eat something they knew would hurt you?”

Naya’s stomach twisted.

Everyone close to Abigail knew about her peanut allergy. Even the slightest contact could cause a fullbody rash, or worse, a lifethreatening reaction.

Abigail looked up with teary eyes, then turned to Naya. “No, don’t blame Mommy,” she whimpered. “I just wanted to eat it…”

A heavy silence fell over the room. All eyes turned toward Naya.

She instinctively took a step back, stunned, staring at the child—barely four—who had just delivered a flawless performance.

But more than that, she hadn’t expected Zora to risk Abigail’s health just to frame her.

Cesar’s eyes darkened as he looked at her. Suspicion turned into certainty, then hardened into fury.

Naya felt a sharp pang of sadness. He hadn’t even asked, just believed Zora without hesitation.

“It wasn’t me,” she said, her voice cracking as her eyes brimmed with tears.

“If not you, then who?” Zora pressed, her tone deceptively soft. “Who else but you and Cesar would know Abigail’s allergy?”

She wasn’t just accusing, she was making her move.

This gathering was her stage, and she intended to use it to destroy Naya’s reputation and fight for custody. That way, she could finally step into Naya’s place and become the real Mrs. Harmon.

The party hall buzzed with scandal.

“How heartless, she hurt her own child?”

“Must’ve snapped when she saw Zora come back.”

“A substitute is just that. True love always wins.”

Naya stood frozen, the voices slicing through her like glass. The bitterness crawled up her throat.

“I said it wasn’t me!” she cried, clutching the allergy meds tighter in her hand, eyes locked on Cesar. Her fingers dug into the plastic until it bit into her skin, drawing blood, but she didn’t notice.

“Enough! We’re going to the hospital,” Cesar snapped, his voice full of impatience and disappointment.

He scooped Abigail into his arms. Without looking back, he walked out with Zora right beside him, leaving Naya behind in a storm of whispers and laughter.

As his figure disappeared, something inside Naya shattered.

She turned and walked out of the party, numb, the weight of a hundred stares following her.

After walking aimlessly for what felt like hours, her phone rang. “Naya, everything’s ready. You can leave now.”

The call felt like a lifeline, yanking her out of the abyss. She nodded, resolute. Back at home, Naya quickly dismissed the servants and headed straight to the study.

She placed the signed divorce papers and her wedding ring into an envelope labeled, [For Cesar – Personal].

Then she made a call to the property management and instructed them to throw out everything that belonged to their marriage; his and hers pajamas, matching slippers, mugs, wedding photos, even her own clothes and makeup from the day they wed. All of it.

Once everything was cleared, she opened the suitcase she had packed long ago.

From a drawer, she pulled out a stack of pregnancy test results. She wanted to take the daughter no one had ever cared about.

Before stepping out, Naya paused for one last glance at the villa she had called home for years.

She had loved this place once. But now, she turned away without hesitation, leaving behind her ring and every trace of Cesar.