Rejected Fat Wife Becomes Ballet Queen, Ex Begs for Mercy

“Demi, I’m going to Germany for liposuction. And I’m not coming back.”

Demi’s brows furrowed. “What will happen to your husband Cameron if you leave? After all, he loves you so much. And your daughter Reese? I heard that kind of surgery is dangerous. Are you really sure about this?”

Julia turned her head and stared through the glass at her bloated reflection. The slender silhouette she once carried across the ballet stage was nothing but a distant memory.

She let out a bitter, selfdeprecating laugh. “I’m divorced. I just want to live differently now.”

——

Julia Gosling returned home and noticed the master bedroom door upstairs hadn’t been fully closed. She held her breath, leaning in as she peeked through the narrow gap.

Cameron Cruise stood with his back to the door, his expensive suit crumpled carelessly on the floor. The room pulsed with heavy breaths and muffled moans. The bed rocked in a steady rhythm as his voice, low and full of desire, filled the air.

“That waist… so damn slender…. If only I could… grab it while doing it once…”

Without a word, Julia turned and walked back downstairs.

Ever since giving birth to Reese, her onceslim figure had changed beyond recognition. Cameron hadn’t touched her in ages. He’d rather take care of it himself than come close to her.

Hearing footsteps, Reese came bouncing over with a small cake in her hands. The moment she saw Julia, she flung it at her.I smashed the cake on her skirt.

“You fat woman! Why are you back? You’re so fat and ugly, it ruins my mood for practicing piano! Where’s Teacher Anne? I want Teacher Anne!”

Julia felt a bitterness rise in her chest. This was the daughter she had nearly died giving birth to. If not for her, Julia wouldn’t have developed hormonal imbalance syndrome, wouldn’t have gained over 150 pounds in just two months, and wouldn’t have been forced to abandon her beloved career in dance.

Now, even her daughter looked at her with disgust.

Julia kept her facial expressionless. "This is my house. If you don’t want to see me, you can leave."

Cameron came down the stairs, frowning at the clutter near the steps. "Reese, what’s going on?"

"The fat woman came back and interrupted Teacher Anne’s piano lesson!"

Cameron’s displeasure was written all over his face. "Didn’t we agree you wouldn’t come back until Reese finished her lesson?"

Julia stood frozen. This house had been bought with the money she earned through years of dancing. The child had lived in her womb for ten months, born after a lifethreatening labor. Every meal, every day, she had made with her own hands.

And now, she needed permission from both father and daughter just to step into her own home. How laughable.

"Since you’re back, go make dinner. Don’t just stand there being an eyesore. Look at yourself."

"Anne Lawrence worked hard teaching Reese. She deserves a good meal. It’s not like you’re useful for anything else, stay in the kitchen where you belong."

Julia let out a bitter laugh. This was the man who, seven years ago, had sworn he loved her, who begged her to give up her career for him.

Back then, when she stood on the stage accepting the International Ballet Gold Award, it was Cameron who knelt with a glittering purple diamond ring and asked her to marry him.

Once, just because she mentioned wanting a pineapple bun from the south side of the city, he drove there overnight to get it for her.

Who would have imagined that seven years later, neither the daughter she nearly died bringing into this world, nor the husband who once claimed to love her more than life itself, cared if she lived or vanished. Now, all their affection was poured into the new piano teacher.

Ever since the teacher began giving lessons, Reese had been utterly enchanted, insisting every single day that her father divorce Julia.

And just to satisfy their fiveyearold daughter’s whim, Cameron and Julia ended their marriage.

He told her it was only to calm the child down, that he would withdraw the divorce during the coolingoff period.

The door opened again, and Anne walked in with a key.

Reese instantly ran into her arms. "Teacher Anne smells so nice! I love Teacher Anne the most! Daddy likes you, too. Can you be my mommy?"

Anne gave Cameron a soft glance before crouching down to hold Reese’s hand. "Reese, don’t say that. Let’s go practice piano."

Julia silently studied the woman before her, dressed in white, the neckline of her dress dipping just enough. With every breath, the soft rise and fall of her chest shimmered beneath the light, subtly seductive.

As she bent down, her cleavage deepened.

Julia turned her head, only to catch Cameron swallowing hard, his gaze fixed on Anne.

After her daughter was taken away, Cameron used the excuse of checking in to follow them, but Julia stepped in to block him.

"What is it?"

Julia hesitated. "Are you free on the 10th?"

Cameron’s gaze lingered on Anne’s curvy figure. His voice was dismissive.

"Don’t know. I’ve been swamped lately. Why?"

Julia slowly pulled her hand back. "It’s nothing."

She no longer held any expectations. The 10th marked the final day of the divorce coolingoff period. If neither of them withdrew the application, the divorce would become official.

After that day, Julia would be gone.

After he left, Julia picked up her phone and dialed a number she hadn’t called in years.

"Hello, it’s me, Julia Gosling. I’m ready to come back."

A joyful cheer came through the line. "Julia, you’re finally returning to Paris? You should’ve done this long ago! A star like you deserves the spotlight! When are you leaving?"

Julia answered gently, "In seven days. I’ll stop by Germany first, then return to the troupe."

"Wonderful! Let us know, anytime, we’ll be ready to welcome you!"

After ending the call, Julia quietly turned and walked back to her room.

Turns out, what she had endured for seven years only needed seven days to end.

Just after hanging up the phone, Reese tiptoed in holding a glass of milk.

"It was your fault for interrupting my piano lesson today. Drink this, and I’ll forgive you."

Reese turned and handed the glass to Julia.

Julia hesitated, puzzled. She hadn’t planned to drink it, but in the end, this was the child she had carried for ten months. Her heart softened. She drank it.

That night, in a hazy, halfconscious daze, Julia seemed to hear Cameron again, his breathing thick with desire, accompanied by familiar, rhythmic sounds.

"This waist… so damn slender… Teacher Anne, you’re beautiful..."

The next day, she opened her eyes to a pounding headache and a wave of dizziness.

She reached for her phone. It was already afternoon.

All these years of marriage and raising a child, she had hardly ever slept in. And now, she had slept so long it felt unreal.

Just then, her phone rang. She tapped the answer button.

"You’re awake?" came Cameron’s voice. "You were tired last night, so I let you sleep in. Didn’t want to wake you."

"Help prep a few dishes for dinner tonight. Reese and I will eat at home. Teacher Anne is coming too."

Julia rubbed her temples. "I thought there wasn’t a piano lesson today. Why is she coming?"

There was background noise on his end, followed by Anne’s cheerful voice, "President Cruise, Reese wants to play hideandseek with us."

Cameron sounded impatient. "Just do as you’re told. Reese wants her to come and play. We’ll talk when I get home."

Before Julia could respond, the call ended. She slowly got up, walked to the mirror, and stared at her swollen, unfamiliar reflection.

She couldn’t pull herself out of the fog.

Let’s just treat it as one last memory before leaving. Julia let out a soft sigh.

The front door opened. Cameron and Anne stepped in, holding Reese’s hand.

The three of them walked in, chatting and laughing.

That scene looked exactly like a real family of three.

The table was already set, the dishes still steaming with fragrant heat.

“Wow! Smells amazing!” Reese exclaimed, exaggeratedly sniffing the air before eagerly digging in.

Anne sat quietly, her eyes brimming with tears, her utensils untouched.

Cameron glanced up and frowned. “Julia, Teacher Anne needs to maintain her figure. She can’t eat greasy or spicy food. Didn’t I tell you to make something lighter? Why did you put so much chili? Are you trying to kill her?”

Both Cameron and Reese loved spicy food, which was precisely why Julia had prepared the meal that way.

The moment Reese heard that Anne couldn’t eat spicy food, her face fell. She turned and screamed at Julia.

“Teacher Anne doesn’t eat spicy food! Why did you make everything spicy, you bad woman!”

She banged her utensils on the table and ordered, “Teacher Anne loves seafood! Go make seafood for her now!”

Julia let out a bitter laugh. The daughter, who had nearly died giving birth to her, remembered what her teacher couldn’t eat, yet forgot that her mother was allergic to seafood.

The corners of Anne’s mouth lifted ever so slightly, a faint trace of false apology flickering across her face.

“I’m really sorry for the trouble, Mrs. Cruise...”

But before she could finish, Reese shouted, “Teacher Anne, I won’t let that fat witch bully you! She stays home all day doing nothing, and now she can’t even cook properly. What else is she good for?”

Julia had once been a dancer who avoided spicy food to stay fit. But over the years, she forced herself to eat it, just to please that fatherdaughter pair. Even when the spice caused her stomach to burn, she kept smiling. And yet, they never once remembered that she couldn’t handle it.

Her hands trembled with rage. She slammed her utensils down.

“Why should I remake it? I’m done with this kind of life!”

The words had barely left her mouth when Cameron cut in sharply.

“Julia, be reasonable. How can you act more childish than a kid?”

Backed by her father, Reese shrieked and swept her little hands across the table, sending all the dishes crashing to the floor.

Hot chili oil splashed onto Julia’s body, searing her skin with a sharp burn.

“Your food is disgusting! You won’t even let Teacher Anne eat, bad woman!”

“Just seeing you makes me sick, fat witch! That’s why I put sleeping pills in your milk, so Teacher Anne could go to school and pretend to be my mom. All my classmates said she’s pretty and gentle. She looks like my real mom, not you! You’re just a fat, ugly maid who should stay home!”

Reese’s shrill voice pierced the room, her little face twisted with open disgust.

Julia stood there, frozen as if struck by lightning.

What?

No wonder she’d slept half the day with a splitting headache.

She turned to Cameron, eyes wide in disbelief. “What did Reese just say?”

A flicker of surprise crossed his face before he quickly composed himself.

“There was a parentchild event at the kindergarten today. If you’d shown up looking like this... the other kids would've laughed at her. She has her pride, too. You’re her mother, you should understand.”

He paused, then added flatly, “But yeah, giving you sleeping pills was wrong. I’ve already scolded her for it.”

Julia felt suffocated. Cameron was actually condoning their daughter’s behavior.

She let out a cold laugh. “This is how you raise her? What’s wrong with how I look? I only became like this because I gave birth to her!”

All reason snapped. She grabbed the remaining bowls and dishes and hurled them to the floor.

The sharp shatter of porcelain echoed through the dining room.

Cameron’s expression turned cold. “Julia, what the hell are you doing? Reese is just a child. Can’t you be more tolerant? And there’s a guest here. Stop making a scene!”

“Making a scene?” Julia laughed, her voice trembling with rage. “Fine, I'm leaving!”

She couldn’t bear one more minute in that suffocating room. Stumbling out of the dining area, she kept walking.

Even after reaching the garden behind the estate, the pain in her chest wouldn’t ease. The nausea lingered like a knot that refused to loosen.

She collapsed onto the pavilion bench, gasping for air, trying to calm herself.

Footsteps sounded behind her.

“Mrs. Cruise?”

It was Anne’s voice. She had followed Julia out and quietly walked up beside her.

“Are you alright? Children speak without thinking. Julia, don’t take it to heart. Reese just likes me a little too much; that’s why she said those harsh things. You’re her mother, of course, you wouldn’t blame her.”

Julia didn’t reply. She didn’t even want to look at that face pretending to be innocent.

Anne’s gaze drifted to the necklace around Julia’s neck, a delicate diamond pendant shaped like a ballet slipper, intricately set and gleaming under the light.

Anne spoke with open admiration. “Julia, your necklace is beautiful.”

She reached out to touch it.

Julia instinctively raised her hand and said coldly, “Don’t touch it.”

At that moment, Reese’s voice echoed from a distance. “Teacher Anne, where are you? I want to eat cake with you!”

Anne, having been blocked, suddenly staggered as if losing balance. With a sharp cry, she fell toward Julia.

Caught off guard, Julia tried to dodge, but Anne grabbed at her, and both of them went crashing backward!

Julia’s back and legs slammed hard against the sharp edge of a statue. Warm blood soaked through her clothes almost instantly, and the searing pain made her body tremble uncontrollably.

“Teacher Anne!” Reese rushed over to Anne and looked up at her, eyes full of worry. “Does it hurt? Daddy, hurry, help Teacher Anne up!”

Anne had only landed on the grass, suffering a small scrape, yet her eyes shimmered with tears. “Thank you, Reese. It doesn’t hurt.”

She turned to Cameron with a pitiful look. “I just… thought Julia’s necklace was beautiful and wanted to admire it. That’s all.”

Cameron frowned but stayed silent. He stepped forward and helped Anne up. As he did, she leaned gently into him, her hand resting on his shoulder, making him visibly stiffen.

Reese’s face twisted with anger. She screamed at Julia, who was still on the ground, “You nasty, fat witch! How dare you push Teacher Anne!”

She lunged at Julia, her little fists pounding. “Bullying Teacher Anne! See if you dare do it again!” Then her tiny hand gripped the necklace at Julia’s throat and yanked it with all her strength.

With a sharp snap, the chain broke.

Reese clutched the broken necklace like it was treasure and held it up to Anne.

“Teacher Anne, here! This pretty necklace, fat witch doesn’t deserve it!”

Anne made a show of modest refusal, her tone gentle. “Reese, you shouldn’t. That belongs to your mommy.”

But Cameron’s voice followed coldly. “It’s a kind gesture from the child. Just take it as an apology from her mother.”

Julia, still enduring the burning pain in her back, forced out a hoarse whisper.

“I didn’t push her…”

Cameron’s gaze turned cold. “Julia, apologize to Teacher Anne.”

Julia stared at him in disbelief.

“I didn’t do anything wrong. She lost her balance and dragged me down!”

Reese pointed a finger, her face twisted with contempt.

“You’re fat like a pig! Teacher Anne is skinny. How could she push you? You’re just jealous! You did it on purpose!”

All trace of warmth vanished from Cameron’s eyes, replaced by nothing but disgust.

“Julia, you’ve truly let me down, so petty, so pathetic.”

He scooped Anne into his arms.

“Teacher Anne’s hands are meant for the piano; they’re too precious. I apologize on her behalf.”

Then, his tone softened as he turned to her. “Come on. I’ll take you to the hospital and have that wound looked at.”

Reese trailed after them like a loyal shadow, not once glancing back at Julia.

The pain in Julia’s back seared through her skin, but she still let out a laugh, low, bitter, and soaked in tears.

This was the child she had nearly died giving birth to. This was the man who once swore he’d love her forever.

And now, without a shred of hesitation, they protected an outsider, leaving her behind like she meant nothing.

In that moment, Julia made a quiet vow to herself: She would never again cling to this man. And as for that heartless child, she was done.

Julia called her private doctor to treat her wounds.

But on the other end came a hesitant voice. “Madam, Mr. Cruise just called and asked me to head to the hospital. The piano teacher was injured... so...”

Julia let out a cold laugh.

“There are plenty of doctors at the hospital. I’m the mistress of this house, too. I’ll pay double for today’s visit.”

After the ordeal and a fresh wave of pain, she finally drifted into a groggy sleep. Her injuries throbbed, every muscle aching.

But not long after, noise from the house jolted her awake. Squinting in confusion, she walked out, only to see Cameron practically turning the living room into a medical ward.

When he saw her, he explained, “As an apology, Teacher Anne will be staying here to recover.”

Julia gave a bitter chuckle. “She only scraped some skin. Does it really warrant all this drama?”

Cameron frowned.

“What if it affected her tendons? I’m doing this as an apology from you.”

On the side, Anne looked torn. “President Cruise, perhaps I should still return to the hospital.”

But Reese sprang up, defiant.

“Teacher Anne, just stay here! Don’t mind that fat woman, just treat her like the maid!”

Cameron quickly stopped her.

“Reese, stop giving Mommy nicknames.”

Julia couldn’t be bothered to argue with him. She rolled her eyes at Reese and turned away, letting them do whatever they pleased.

The next morning, she saw Cameron lounging on the sofa, seriously browsing something on his iPad.

When he noticed her, he called out, “Julia, come here.”

She walked over, only to see him scrolling through listings of luxury villas.

In the blink of an eye, he transferred a $10 million deposit.

Cameron pointed to a stack of documents on the coffee table.

“Julia, I want to discuss something. I’m thinking of buying a villa for our daughter to practice piano in, so Teacher Anne can live there and tutor her conveniently.”

He tapped the page.

“This is a spousal gift agreement. As a token of appreciation, the villa will be registered under Teacher Anne’s name.”

Julia let out a cold laugh. "You already paid the deposit, what’s the point of asking me now?"

"No need to go through the trouble of signing a spousal gift agreement. Have you forgotten we’re already divorced?"

Cameron froze for a moment, clearly stunned. "Julia, sorry, I forgot."

Then he asked again, carefully, "What day does the coolingoff period end?"

Julia replied flatly, "The twentieth."

Cameron let out a breath of relief and reached out to hold her hand, but she quietly stepped back.

"Julia, Teacher Anne is a guest after all. I didn’t mean to neglect you, I just didn’t want to be rude to her."

Seeing Julia remain silent, he continued, "Reese is still young. It’s natural for her to be a bit willful, but she’s still our daughter."

Julia frowned. "You don’t need to say all this."

Because I’m leaving soon anyway, the second half stayed locked in her throat, unsaid.

Cameron gently closed the iPad and said softly, "Alright then, make a few light dishes for dinner tonight. Reese and I will stay home and keep you company, okay?"

Julia sneered inwardly. Was it really to keep her company or just another excuse to spend more time with Anne?

"My leg is injured. I’m still recovering. I won’t be cooking these days. Just let the maid handle it."

Cameron’s lips curved into a cruel smile. "But you can walk, can’t you? What, still dreaming of dancing ballet with those legs?"

"What kind of ballet dancer weighs 150 pounds?"

Julia’s fists clenched tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms. Every word he spoke was laced with contempt and mockery.

Seeing her expression, Cameron gave a halfhearted apology. "Sorry, I was just joking."

"If your leg’s inconvenient, just stay home. I’ll take Reese and Teacher Anne out for dinner."

After Cameron left, Julia didn’t care in the slightest.

She lay on the sofa, browsing through everything she could find about liposuction surgery.

When they returned, full and content, Julia didn’t even lift her eyelids.

The moment Reese stepped in, she noticed her slippers were scattered on the floor, and the maid hadn’t brought her new pajamas. She exploded on the spot.

"Fat witch! Why didn’t you clean up or get shoes for me, Daddy, and Teacher Anne?"

Before, aside from the maid’s cleaning, Julia had handled everything in the house herself. She had cared for the father and daughter with meticulous effort.

But now, she didn’t want to lift a finger.

She stared coldly at her daughter.

"Why should I? Do I owe you anything? From now on, take care of your things."

Cameron frowned slightly but said nothing.

Reese grew even more furious. She pointed straight at Julia and shouted, "You eat my daddy’s food, drink my daddy’s water, so you should do the work at home! You owe us!"

Julia let out a cold laugh. "Who said I eat and drink from him? I hired the maids. They answer me. If you want someone to serve you, go hire your own."

Cameron quickly stepped in, patting Reese’s head. "Mommy’s just upset. Don’t take it seriously."

But Reese cried out, "I don’t want a fat and ugly woman to be my mommy! I want Teacher Anne to be my mommy. She’s so gentle and pretty. I wish I had been born from her instead!"

Hearing those words from her daughter, the heart Julia had already given up on still twisted in pain, like a breath caught in her chest, refusing to release.

Anne stood off to the side, feigning surprise, then quickly spoke with a soft, apologetic tone.

"Mrs. Cruise, please don’t blame Reese. This is all my fault. I only meant to be kind to her, I didn’t expect it to turn out like this… I must’ve been too patient, and she ended up seeing me more like a mom."

Julia clenched her fists. "Anne, stop pretending to be the good person!"

"Julia, don’t be rude." Cameron frowned, then lowered his gaze to his daughter and asked gently,

"Reese, do you really want Teacher Anne to be your mommy?"

The little girl gave a firm nod. "I do."

Cameron stayed silent, his expression unreadable.

Seeing this, Anne put on a look of gentle surprise, lightly patted Reese’s head, and smiled softly, "Reese likes Teacher, and Teacher likes Reese too. But you only have one mommy, okay? You shouldn’t say things like that."

But Reese shook her head stubbornly. "I don’t want to! I just like Teacher Anne! I want her to be my mommy!"

Anne cast a sidelong glance at Julia, her eyes filled with contempt and disdain.

Julia let out a bitter laugh, turned around, and walked away without another word.

She was leaving soon anyway. Just a little longer. She didn’t want anything to mess up her plan.

Julia forced herself to clear her mind and soon drifted off to sleep.

But in the middle of the night, a noise stirred her awake. She caught a glimpse of her daughter’s small figure slipping past the doorway.

She didn’t think much of it. Feeling thirsty, she reached for the calming tea on her nightstand and drank it in one gulp.

The taste seemed off, but she didn’t dwell on it.

Moments later, heat rushed through her body, and her breathing grew shallow, labored, and tight.

Julia switched on the light and gasped. Her reflection in the mirror was covered in horrifying red rashes.

She was having an allergic reaction.

Without hesitation, she rushed to the room where the medical supplies were kept. That door had never been locked, but tonight, no matter how hard she tried, it wouldn’t budge.

She tried to call for help, but no sound came out. Her throat burned, her head throbbed, and the rashes spread like fire beneath her skin.

Desperate, she pounded on Cameron’s bedroom door.

No answer.

Not a sound.

In a panic, she staggered down the stairs, clutched the car keys, and drove herself to the hospital.

The doctors rushed to perform emergency treatment. Her stomach had to be pumped. The violent vomiting tore through every nerve in her body.

The attending doctor frowned, his tone laced with irritation. "Miss, you know you’re severely allergic to walnuts. Even a trace can be fatal. Why did you eat them?"

Julia froze. Her whole body trembled.

She hadn’t eaten anything with walnuts that night.

How could this have happened?

Then it hit her, that brief moment, that fleeting glimpse of her daughter’s figure at the door.

By the time Cameron arrived with Reese, Julia was already hooked up to an IV.

Cameron frowned, his voice edged with impatience. “What are you making a fuss about in the middle of the night? What now?”

Julia clenched her fists, struggling to stay calm. “What happened? Ask your precious daughter.”

“Why did she put walnut powder in my drink? You both know I’m allergic.”

She couldn’t hold back anymore; tears of bitter disappointment streamed silently down her face.

Cameron froze for a beat, a flicker of shock passing through his eyes. He looked down at Reese.

“Reese, is that true?”

The girl pouted, her cheeks turning red. She said nothing.

Cameron’s face darkened. “Why would you do something like that?”

Suddenly, Reese burst into tears.

“Waaah, because then Mommy would leave, and Daddy could be with Teacher Anne more!”

Cameron’s expression shifted, softening with a mix of surprise and guilt.

He let out a sigh, part indulgent, part helpless. “Reese, you can’t ever do that again.”

Julia watched the scene unfold, father and daughter in their own world, and felt a cold chill rise from deep within her bones.

Julia’s body trembled uncontrollably. “Cameron! Didn’t you hear me? Your daughter drugged me again! Just to make space for another woman!”

“I could’ve died from that walnut allergy! Do you not understand? If you don’t correct her now, what kind of person will she grow up to be?!”

“Enough!”

Cameron’s face tensed with irritation. “She’s just a child. What could she possibly know? It was a harmless prank. Why are you overreacting? She’s your daughter, too. Stop scaring her.”

Julia almost laughed in disbelief, her anger boiling over. “I’m scaring her? She almost killed me!”

Just then, Cameron’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen, and his expression softened. Answering the call, his tone instantly shifted.

“Teacher Anne? What’s wrong?”

Anne’s voice floated gently through the speaker, soft and unsure.

“Mr. Cruise, I’m so sorry to bother you… I can’t figure out the water heater at your place. I’ve tried everything, but there’s only cold water. I just wanted to take a shower…”

Her voice faded, trailing into silence.

But before she could finish, Cameron cut in, his voice warm and reassuring. “Don’t worry, I’ll come back and fix it for you.”

The daughter who had just been crying suddenly stopped. She grabbed Cameron’s arm excitedly.

"Daddy, was that Teacher Anne? Is she asking us to go back? Let’s go! I want to be with Teacher Anne!"

Julia stared at Cameron in disbelief.

"There are maids at home. Why didn’t she call them? She had to call you?"

Cameron’s voice turned cold. "Don’t speak ill of others behind their backs. Teacher Anne has a kind heart. She didn’t want to trouble the maids this late."

He picked up Reese, casting a glance at Julia.

"Just focus on finishing your IV. When it’s done, press the nurse call button. I’ll come back for you later."

He left the hospital room without a word, not even bothering to close the door behind him.

From the hallway, her daughter’s cheerful voice rang out, full of joy.

Julia stared at the IV drip, watching each drop fall, time slipping by, second by second.

When the last bottle was emptied, she climbed out of bed again to press the nurse call button.

A nurse came in quietly and removed the needle.

Late into the night, Julia lay alone in the sterile quiet of the hospital room.

A bitter smile tugged at her lips.

Mustering what little strength she had left, she stood up, peeled the tape off the back of her hand, and called a car to take her home.

When Julia opened the door, the house was a complete mess. The lights in the living room were on, yet not a soul was in sight.

She headed upstairs, about to push open her bedroom door, when she noticed it was already ajar.

Inside, Cameron and Anne were tightly wrapped in each other’s arms.

Anne lay beneath him, her eyes hazy with desire. In the next second, Cameron lowered his head and kissed her deeply.

A deafening roar filled Julia’s ears. Her stomach twisted violently.

They were doing this on her bed.

On her bed.

Julia turned and bolted, heart pounding, wanting nothing more than to escape that room.

She had just reached the living room when her daughter came barreling at her on a child’s tricycle.

Before she could move, the front wheel slammed into her. She crashed to the floor, pain shooting through her body.

Her daughter stopped on the pedals, face twisted with malice. "You stupid fat woman! Who told you to come back and ruin Daddy and Teacher Anne’s date?"

Julia struggled to get up, only to see her daughter spin the tricycle around and ram into her again, the wheels rolling straight over her calf.

"Ahhh—!"

A sharp, searing pain shot through her leg, soaking her in cold sweat. Her scream echoed in agony.

"You deserved it! That’s what you get for ruining the date! You shameless fat witch! Homewrecker! Get out of our house!"

The shrill, venomous voice cut deep. Julia’s heart sank. She was only five, where had she learned to speak like that?

But the pain was unbearable. She had no time to think.

Upstairs, the noise had clearly reached the bedroom. After a brief pause, Cameron finally came down.

He took one look at her sprawled on the floor and frowned in irritation. "What now? You just got back, and you're already making a scene. Can’t you stay quiet for one second?"

His daughter immediately switched to a pitiful tone, pointing at Julia with wide, accusing eyes. "Daddy, she ran into my bike on purpose! She tried to scare me! She’s bad!"

Cameron’s gaze darkened, but seeing Julia writhing in pain, he reluctantly walked over and extended a hand. "You okay?"

Julia shook her head and spoke weakly, "Reese is lying. Take me to the hospital… my leg… I can’t stand."

Cameron withdrew his hand, then knelt to support her. "Don’t talk right now. I’ll take you to the hospital."

At that moment, Anne stepped out, still wrapped in Cameron’s bathrobe.

She held her forehead and leaned against the doorframe, her voice soft and fragile. "Mr. Cruise… my head feels dizzy… I can’t stand…"

Her body swayed as if she would collapse at any second.

Without hesitation, Cameron rushed to her and swept her into his arms.

"Dizzy? Don’t worry. I’ll take you to the hospital right now."

As soon as the words left his mouth, he stepped over Julia, trembling in pain on the floor, and headed straight for the door.

"Reese, open the door for Daddy. Then go back to your room and sleep."

The girl looked anxiously at Anne, cradled in his arms. "What happened to Teacher Anne? I want to go too!"

Cameron shook his head.

"It’s too late. Go to sleep. You’ve got kindergarten tomorrow."

Though reluctant, Reese still did as Cameron said. As she passed by Julia, she snorted and kicked her hard in the stomach.

The once lively living room now held only Julia, curled on the floor in silence.

Beside her sat her daughter’s tiny tricycle. As her eyes drifted across the cold, empty space, every memory she’d clung to shattered quietly inside her.

With trembling fingers, she reached into her pocket, pulled out her phone, and called the housekeeper.

Her voice was barely audible.

“Hello… send someone to the living room… take me to the hospital…”

Julia spent three long hours at the hospital, completely alone.

“Severe soft tissue contusion, possible bone fracture. Surgery is necessary. You’ll need a family member to handle the payments and sign the consent forms,” the masked doctor said, handing her a slip.

Julia took the form with steady hands and gave a faint shake of her head. “Doctor, I came alone. I’ll take care of everything myself.”

The doctor frowned. “You came here alone with injuries like that? No family? There’s a whole list of procedures…”

Julia forced a tired smile. The people who had hurt her most were the ones who should’ve stood by her side.

She managed every step on her own, paperwork, payments, everything. By the time the surgery ended, dawn had already begun to break.

Still groggy, she wheeled herself slowly toward the bathroom, only to stop short.

Anne, dressed in a hospital gown, was strolling casually down the hallway. Her complexion glowed, and Cameron’s tailored jacket hung elegantly over her shoulders.

When Anne spotted her, she offered a slow, deliberate smile. “What a coincidence, Mrs. Cruise,” she said, drawing out the last three words with syrupy sweetness.

“Mr. Cruise is arranging a private doctor for my followup. He can’t leave just yet.”

Julia frowned and tried to wheel past, but Anne stepped in front of her, leaning down with a smirk.

"How did it feel… watching your husband carry me away?"

She lowered her voice, lips curling with triumph. "Julia, I’ll be the new Mrs. Cruise soon enough."

With that, she pulled out her phone and held it in front of Julia’s face.

Onscreen, inside Julia’s own bedroom, Cameron leaned in and kissed Anne, his hands roaming slowly over her body.

Then came his voice, gentle and intimate. "Reese really likes you, Miss Lawrence. Would you be willing… to become her other mother?"

Julia’s eyes widened. Humiliation crashed over her like a tidal wave.

She smacked the phone aside and let out a cold laugh.

"An unfaithful man who can’t keep it in his pants, and a backstabbing child who drugged her own mother…"

"Take them. I tossed them away. If picking up trash makes you feel powerful, be my guest."

"You—!"

Anne’s expression twisted with fury. She raised her hand.

Julia’s head snapped to the side. Her cheek burned from the force of the slap.

Still unsatisfied, Anne raised her hand again. But this time, Julia instinctively caught her wrist.

Anne struggled to pull free until, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Cameron approaching from the far end of the hallway. Her expression shifted. With a sudden smile, she grabbed the heavy metal base of the nearby blood pressure stand and slammed it hard against her own wrist, right where Julia’s hand held her.

“Ah—my hand!” Anne cried out, staggering backward before collapsing to the floor.

Cameron rushed over, immediately crouching beside her. “Miss Lawrence, are you alright?”

Tears welled in Anne’s eyes as she clutched her wrist. “It hurts so badly… Why does Mrs. Cruise always target me?”

“I only came to check on her, but she suddenly grabbed my hand and smashed it with the machine. She told me I wasn’t fit to teach Reese piano anymore… and ordered me to leave.”

Cameron froze, stunned by her words. Then his face twisted with fury as he turned to Julia and shouted, “Julia, what the hell are you trying to do?!”

Julia stared at them coldly, too drained to explain anything.

Cameron’s gaze turned sharp. "Apologize. Apologize to Miss Lawrence right now."

Julia finally spoke, her voice steady. "Apologize? To her?"

Cameron’s expression darkened. He let out a cold laugh.

"Fine. Won’t apologize? Then I’ll punish you until you do."

He pulled out his phone, and within moments, two bodyguards arrived.

"Take my wife to the third floor," he ordered flatly.

Julia’s eyes widened. She tried to wheel herself away, but the guards grabbed her on the spot.

"Cameron! What are you doing?!"

They lifted her out of the chair, dragging her up the stairs as she struggled.

"Let go of me! Let go!"

Behind her, Cameron’s voice was cruel and venomous. "You love hurting people… especially where it counts."

"Your precious ballet? You’ll never dance again. Those legs they’re useless now. This is your punishment."

"Throw her off the third floor. Let her remember this lesson for the rest of her life."

Julia’s mind went blank.

She couldn’t believe what she’d just heard.

Rage exploded from her throat. "Cameron, you can’t do this! Don’t you dare!"

He frowned. “Why wouldn’t I? I’m teaching you a lesson. You hurt someone—this is your consequence, Julia.”

The bodyguards dragged her up to the third floor. Before she could even react, Cameron’s voice echoed from below.

“Do it!”

They didn’t hesitate.

“Ah—!”

Her scream barely lasted a second. The wind roared in her ears as the ground rushed up to meet her. That split second of weightlessness turned into horror.