Chapter 3

"You're... you're a ghost!"

The chubby boy fainted from fright. Lily ran up the stairs step by step and threw herself into my arms. "Mommy, you're finally awake!"

Tears streamed down my face as I stroked my daughter's cheek. "From now on, Mommy's here. No one will dare bully you again!"

Lily said obediently, "Mommy, let me help you back to your room!"

Knowing this wasn't a safe place to stay, I quickly moved back to my room with Lily's help.

After lying down, I looked at Lily seriously. "Lily, remember what Mommy says. Don't trust anyone in this house. Wait for Mommy to rescue you."

Lily nodded obediently. "Mommy, I know. Everyone here is bad. Even Daddy doesn't feed me!"

My daughter's casual remark broke my heart, and I clenched my fists tightly!

During the five years I was in a coma, my Lily must have suffered so much.

Derek, that beast, didn't even take care of his own daughter. He was worse than an animal!

I stroked my daughter's hair, comforting her before sending her back. I instructed her to pretend she didn't know I had woken up.

"Mommy, Lily is a little scared!"

I looked into her eyes and said, "Lily, after Mommy avenges your grandparents, we'll never be separated again!"

Lily hugged me before reluctantly returning to her room.

I picked up the phone on the bedside table and dialed a familiar number from memory.

A very lazy voice came from the other end of the line. "Hello, who is this?"

I tried to control my emotions as I called out, "Ethan, it's me!"

Ethan Brooks was my childhood friend who grew up with me in the city. We were so close that we used to share candy apples.

Perhaps because we were too familiar with each other, having grown up together, I only felt a sibling or close friend relationship with him, not romantic love.

When I first fell for Derek, Ethan warned me that Derek wasn't a good man and urged me to reconsider carefully.

Even then, he had seen through Derek's character, but I wouldn't listen. Even when my parents objected to him, I didn't care. I was determined to marry Derek!

So I, the heiress of Shaw Enterprises, married Derek Grant, who was just a low-level employee at the time.

After we married, Derek was devoted to me. But I never imagined that he was secretly conspiring with the household manager to harm my parents, intending to seize Shaw Enterprises and even kill me!

Now that I think about it, I was truly blind. I didn't cherish the good man in front of me and instead chose a complete wolf in sheep's clothing.

Ethan's voice immediately became excited. "Olivia, you've finally contacted me!"

I took a deep breath. "Ethan, the ones who killed my parents are likely Derek and Rachel. Can you help me investigate and gather evidence against them... I want them to pay for their crimes in blood!"

Before Ethan could respond, I heard footsteps outside. My heart sank—someone was coming!

I quickly hid the phone under my pillow.

My legs still hadn't regained feeling. If Rachel and the others found out, I would surely die.

Rachel pushed the door open, followed by Mr. Cole and the chubby boy who had seen me earlier.

Mrs. Wilson came in from outside carrying a basin of cold water. Rachel gave her a look, and she slowly approached me.

Rachel pretended to be gentle and asked, "Sister Olivia, are you awake?"

I closed my eyes and remained motionless. Rachel waved her hand, and Mrs. Wilson lifted the basin of water and poured it over me...