Book 1: Chapter 1

After Our Daughter's Death, I Filed for Divorce

I spent the next day arranging Lily’s funeral. The hospital staff looked at me with pity.

Forty-eight hours. Not a single word from Gerry.

Ten years of love, over.

I printed the divorce papers, numb with grief. I waited for him, refusing to eat, refusing to sleep.

When he finally walked in, his first words were, "Where are those meds? Did you send them to heaven or something? Do you have any idea how much Sunny suffered? She was hospitalized for two days!"

I wanted to laugh.

They’d practically been sent to God.

He tossed his jacket onto the couch, a strange perfume – Sunny’s perfume – filling the air.

I frowned, popping an antihistamine. I was severely allergic to perfume.

He watched me, his eyes cold. “Don’t even try that. Sunny’s allergic to alcohol, not perfume. She’s the one who was hospitalized, not you.”

“Where’s Lily? Get her out here! She needs to apologize to Sunny! Sunny’s being generous, not blaming her, but I’m not letting this slide! Look at what you’ve done to our daughter! I’m going to teach her a lesson!”

I slammed the divorce papers on the table.

“Sign them, Gerry. You don’t get to discipline my daughter. You forfeited that right. I’m getting out of your way.”

He stomped on the papers, his face red with anger. “She messed up! And you’re throwing a tantrum? Sunny’s forgiveness doesn’t mean I’m letting her get away with this! I’m her father! You think you can divorce me and stop me from raising my own daughter? Are you crazy?”

“Discipline? What did Lily do wrong? Why was she out on the streets, alone, buying medicine for your ex? Do you even know what happened to her on the way…?”

“Enough!” he shouted. “What’s wrong with asking her to pick up some meds? It’s a busy street! Nothing was going to happen! She’s been complaining to you again, hasn’t she?” He tossed a gift box at me. “Here! Now leave me alone! I’ll talk to Lily myself! You stay out of it!”

Looking at him, I realized there was no point in telling him about Lily. He didn’t care.

He only cared about his precious Sunny.

I laughed, a bitter, humorless sound.

I opened the gift box. Perfume. The same scent as the one clinging to his clothes.

He’d bought two of the same gift – one for me, one for Sunny. A pathetic attempt at appeasement.

All perfumes contained alcohol.

I was severely allergic.

But Sunny, who always claimed to be allergic to alcohol, couldn't live without perfume.

He hadn't even bothered to remember, let alone care.

I used to love getting gifts from him. I’d treasured every single one.

Maybe that’s why he thought my love was so cheap.

So cheap that he’d thrown away our daughter’s life.

Tears stung my eyes.

“Just sign the papers, Gerry,” I said, my voice shaking. “Lily won’t be bothering you anymore. She doesn’t need your forgiveness. She didn’t do anything wrong.”

Her only mistake was being born his daughter.

“Are you kidding me? I got you a gift! And now you want a divorce? Lily’s not even ten years old! Let me tell you something, you’re not getting custody! You’re insane!”

He stormed off.

He thought I was throwing a tantrum, being jealous. He probably expected me to calm down, cook him dinner, and pretend nothing had happened.

But this time, I was done.

I left the signed divorce papers on the table, along with my keys, and walked out of our apartment.

Book 1: Chapter 2

I had a crush on Gerry for five years before we started dating and was married for another five years.

My mom had paid with her life for our relationship.

And now, our daughter had paid the price for its ending.

My mom had been Gerry’s mother’s housekeeper for decades. They’d loved her, treated her like family, giving her generous raises every year.

One day, she’d been out shopping with Gerry’s mother when a desperate man, driven to the edge by a business deal gone wrong, had tried to kidnap her.

Mom, without hesitation, had jumped in front of her.

The kidnapper, startled, had pulled out a knife.

Mom had fought, buying precious time until the police arrived.

Gerry’s mother was safe.

The kidnapper was arrested.

But Mom was dying.

She’d known she wouldn’t make it. Her last thought: me, her only daughter.

She’d asked Gerry’s mother to make sure I married him.

Gerry’s mother had been shocked. She knew Gerry was still in love with his ex-girlfriend.

But Mom’s hand had grown weaker, her breathing shallow. She couldn’t refuse.

With tears in her eyes, she’d promised.

Mom died peacefully.

Everyone offered condolences, praising her sacrifice, saying I was destined for a life of luxury.

But I would have traded everything for one more day with her.

I’d grown up with just her. Dad had died when I was young. She was my whole world.

On my wedding day, Gerry’s mother had taken my hand, her voice choked with emotion.

“Your mother can finally rest in peace…”

I’d stared at her, my face pale, my heart a hollow ache in my chest.

Remembering Mom’s last wish, I’d nodded.

Gerry had been charming, attentive, playing the part of the perfect groom. For a while, I’d convinced myself that maybe this could work.

But after the ceremony, when we were finally alone, he’d leaned in close, his voice cold.

“You got your fairytale wedding, all thanks to your mother’s death. Happy now, Candy?”

“You’re not the woman I love. But I’ll honor my mother’s promise. I’ll play the part. On stage, I’m your husband. Off stage… my heart belongs to someone else.”

He’d kept his word. In public, he was the perfect husband.

But our marriage was a sham.

And deep down, I hadn’t cared.

When our daughter was born, Gerry hadn't smiled. He’d just said, “We’re even now. You and your mother… we’re even.”

I’d hoped that with Lily in our lives, he’d eventually learn to love me.

But I was a fool.

Lily had been born, and I was the one who was trapped.

A life for a marriage, another life for its end.

Book 1: Chapter 3

I took Lily’s ashes and moved into the small house I’d shared with Mom. There was a three-day wait to purchase a burial plot.

On the day of the funeral, I opened the door, and someone kicked me hard, sending me sprawling.

I clung to the urn, my heart pounding.

Gerry stood over me, his eyes blazing with fury.

Sunny, surrounded by bodyguards, stood in the background, a mask covering her face.

He stormed past me, yelling Lily’s name. He searched every room, his anger growing with each empty cradle.

He grabbed my shirt, hauling me to my feet.

“Where is she?! Get her out here!”

I glared at him, clutching the urn. “I told you, you don’t get to mention her name! Get out of my house, Gerry! Now!”

His anger exploded.

“Watch your mouth, Candy! Or I’ll teach you some manners! You poisoned Sunny! You tried to disfigure her! And now you’re hiding Lily? Do you really think I’m going to let you get away with this? I'm her father! I need to teach her a lesson!”

Sunny approached, removing her mask. Her face was covered in an angry red rash.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at Gerry.

“It’s okay, honey. She’s just a kid. She probably didn’t know what she was doing… She didn’t mean to hurt me…”

“Sunny, stop making excuses for her!” Gerry roared. “She tried to ruin you! And you’re defending her? Don’t you see? She’s turning Lily against you!”

I stared at him, stunned.

“Gerry, that’s your daughter! What are you talking about? You’re defending this woman… after what she did… after what happened to Lily?!”

He slapped me hard across the face.

“I told you to watch your mouth! Did your mother never teach you any manners?!”

“You put alcohol in Sunny’s face cream! You know she’s allergic! How could you be so cruel? Using our five-year-old daughter as your weapon? You’re a disgrace!”

“Lily’s five years old, Gerry! She doesn’t even know what alcohol is! And the smell… it’s strong! Anybody with a nose would have noticed! And alcohol evaporates! She wouldn’t have put it on her face! Are you trying to avenge her by losing your mind?!”

I was screaming now, years of pent-up frustration pouring out.

But he was louder.

“Lily was the only one who went into Sunny’s room! We don’t even have a housekeeper! Who else could it have been?! The security footage proves it! You’re lying! I’m going to get to the bottom of this! I’m calling the cops! Where is she, Candy? Where’s my daughter?!”