Chapter 5
The pain was unbearable, tears streaming down her face as she clutched her chest, trying to regain her composure.
Suddenly, her phone rang–the airline confirming her flight details.
‘Ms. Morgan, your one–way ticket to Seattle has been issued. Would you like to select your seat?”
“Window, please,” Cassidy hastily wiped away her tears, her voice barely audible.
Just as she hung up, the door opened.
Gabriel walked in with measured steps, his suit impeccable, cufflinks perfectly aligned.
‘Who were you talking to?” he asked flatly.
‘A friend,” Cassidy set her phone aside.
Gabriel didn’t pursue it further, just standing by the bed looking down at her. “About last time–there was a mistake. It was Natalie who gave them the mango juice.”
His tone was as casual as if discussing the weather. “But she didn’t know, so let’s just move past this.”
Cassidy felt as though an invisible hand was squeezing her heart, making it almost impossible to breathe.
When he thought it was her, he was ready to kill her; but when it was Natalie, it became a simple “she didn’t know.”
She opened her mouth, wanting to question, to scream, to release all the injustice and resentment built up inside her.
But when the words reached her lips, all that came out was a barely audible:
Hmm.”
t was as if all the energy had been drained from her body. She was so tired, too exhausted even to argue anymore.
All those sleepless nights of hurt, all those accumulated grievances, now transformed into a bitter smile at the corner of her lips.
so this was the difference between being loved and unloved. It was that simple.
Gabriel seemed surprised by her reaction, pausing before continuing: “The children are going to summer camp next week. Natalie and I will accompany them. You should head back on your own.”
He expected her to beg or cry as she once would have, but Cassidy just nodded calmly. “I see.”
Gabriel frowned, finding her response strange, but his phone rang opportunely. He glanced at the caller ID. “Work
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Screw You. Ex! My New Life’s Hotter Than Your Money?
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Chapter 5
emergency, I need to go.”
After the door closed, Cassidy finally released her tightly clenched fist, revealing four crescent–shaped bloody marks
on her palm.
Over the next few days, Cassidy’s phone buzzed repeatedly with messages from Natalie–a stream of photos and videos documenting the summer camp’s happy moments.
In one video, Ethan and Emma proudly introduced Natalie to their classmates: “This is our mom!”
Their friends exclaimed admiringly: “Wow! Your mom is gorgeous!”
“Cool dad, beautiful mom–you guys are so lucky!”
“Then who’s that lady who usually picks you up from school?” one child asked curiously.
On screen, Ethan and Emma’s expressions froze momentarily. “Oh, that’s… our nanny.”
Cassidy’s hand trembled, dropping her water glass to the floor.
She slowly crouched down, staring at the shattered pieces, and suddenly laughed.
So all these years, she had just been a free nanny.
No matter. After all, this unpaid nanny was about to hand in her resignation.
From now on, let their beloved “mommy” take care of them instead.
A week later, the butler brought Ethan and Emma back to the mansion.
The moment they entered, the children raced straight to the kitchen–where their mother could usually be found–their faces unable to hide their smugness.
‘Mom!” Emma called out shrilly. “Guess what? Auntie Natalie twisted her ankle at the parent–child sports day, and Daddy was so worried!”
Ethan eagerly added: “Dad booked an entire hospital for Auntie Natalie’s treatment, even canceled his company meetings to stay by her side!”
Cassidy stood silently by the oven, listening to the children’s boasting, her fingers steady as she put on oven mitts.
‘Mom, are you even listening?” Emma stomped her foot impatiently. “Daddy cares about Auntie Natalie so much,
more than he ever…”
Ding
The oven’s timer interrupted her chattering.
21:17
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Screw You, Ex! My New Life’s Hotter Than Your Money!
Chapter 5
The sweet aroma instantly filled the kitchen. Both children’s eyes lit up as they rushed over.
“Cake!” Ethan stood on tiptoes. “I want some!”
Cassidy removed the baking tray, noticing the edges were slightly burnt.
She frowned and promptly dumped it into the trash.
‘No!” Emma screamed. “Why did you throw it away?!”
‘It was burnt. Inedible,” Cassidy said calmly.
‘You’re lying!” Ethan angrily kicked the trash can. “You did it on purpose! You’re still mad about what happened, so you won’t let us eat it. You’re a terrible mother!”
Emma’s face flushed crimson. “We don’t want a mom like you!”
Cassidy removed the oven mitts, feeling as though an invisible hand was crushing her heart, squeezing until she could barely breathe.
Looking at these two children–the same ones she had literally risked her life to bring into this world–she suddenly felt like they were complete strangers.
“Works for me,” she said quietly. “I don’t want kids like you either.”
“From now on, go find Natalie.”
With that, she turned toward the stairs.
Behind her came the children’s hysterical screams: “We hate you! We’ll hate you forever!”
Cassidy paused on the third step but didn’t look back.
Just as she was about to continue upward, she felt a violent shove from behind.
“Go die!”
