Chapter 2

Lily replied:

【Huh? Lynn, what are you talking about】

【Sebastian and I don't have that kind of relationship. You must be misunderstanding.】

【My ex-husband's name is similar to your husband's. We just got remarried not long ago】

Looking at her flurry of explanations, I smiled.

Just then, our daughter pestered Sebastian to go downstairs and play in the snow, but Sebastian said:

"Maya, Daddy just got back from a business trip. I'm really tired."

I took our daughter in my arms:

"Come on, let's go play in the snow."

Sebastian paused while putting on his shoes.

"But you hate the cold. Let me go instead. You stay home and watch your shows. Maya and I will be back soon."

Our daughter chimed in,

"Yeah, Mommy, we'll be back soon."

"Okay."

I forced a smile and took out a jacket to help Sebastian put it on.

My gaze lingered a few extra seconds on the pocket of his inner layer.

After they left, I sat on the couch,

staring at the constantly moving location marker on my phone screen.

I called a car and followed.

Luxe Haven Apartments.

Very expensive per square foot, marketed as smart-connected living.

I had mentioned it to Sebastian, who said he didn't have enough liquid capital and to wait a bit longer.

Based on what I knew about Lily,

she absolutely couldn't afford a place here.

Through the fence,

I watched Lily and Sebastian meet.

Our daughter ran toward Lily.

The earpiece glowed blue in the dim taxi.

Their conversation came through.

"Mommy, you look so beautiful today."

Our daughter's sweet, soft voice was like a blade stabbing into my heart.

She called Lily "Mommy."

So she knew.

Through the car window, I stared in disbelief at our daughter's back.

This was the daughter I had carefully raised for nine years.

She said again,

"When Dad said we'd play in the snow, I knew it would be with Mommy."

Lily put a bracelet on our daughter.

"Maya, Happy New Year."

Sebastian quickly intervened.

"You don't make much money. I've prepared Maya's gift."

Lily took the opportunity to link her arm with his.

"Maya is my daughter. This is what I should do."

"When will you spend a complete New Year's Eve with me?"

Sebastian's face showed pain.

"Next year I'll spend it with you and our son..."

"Let me fix your water pipe first."

Lily naturally leaned her head on his shoulder.

"I just want to be with you like this for a while."

My heart turned ice cold.

Every word from Sebastian was like a blade twisting in my heart.

I called Sebastian.

He answered.

"When are you coming back?"

Sebastian checked the time.

"On my way back now."

He hung up.

Our daughter's voice rang out at just the right moment.

"I wish she really was my mom."

Sebastian's eyes darkened.

He sent the child away and kissed Lily, unable to tear themselves apart.

My stomach churned and I nearly threw up.

With trembling hands, I sent the video I'd recorded to my lawyer.

"I don't want custody either."

A knot of pressure in my chest, I heard Sebastian say,

"I'll take our daughter back first, then come keep you company tonight."

Perhaps out of guilt, Sebastian was particularly enthusiastic that night.

He held me, but I pushed him away.

After a while, he took a phone call and whispered in my ear,

"Honey, there are some specially stored packages at the company that weren't entered into inventory. I need to go check on them."

"With this heavy snow, I'm worried the roads will be blocked tomorrow."

I kept my eyes tightly shut.

Forcing down the tremor in my throat,

"Go ahead."

A sleepless night.

Through the earpiece, I constantly heard the sounds of their intense entanglement.