From high school sweethearts to a shattered dream. For four years, Clara Conway was the perfect wife. She left her hometown, sacrificed her career, and devoted every waking moment to Dominic Hayes’s family. She thought her love could melt his icy heart. She was wrong. What did her devotion earn her? Cold shoulders, hidden affairs, and finally—a cold divorce agreement. The breaking point came on the day her own parents were hospitalized. While Clara was drowning in despair, her husband was playing hero to his “adopted sister.” Worse, her own daughter—the child she raised with her soul—looked her in the eye and said, “I want Auntie Scarlett to be my mommy, not you!” That was the moment Clara’s heart turned to stone. She signed the papers. She gave up custody. She walked away without looking back. The world thought she was just a pathetic housewife. They were dead wrong. When Clara reappears, she isn’t the woman begging for scraps of affection. She is the world-renowned Chief Architect, a billionaire titan of industry, and the most sought-after woman in the elite circles. Now, Dominic is the one on his knees. “I was wrong, Clara. Let’s go back to how we were. Give me one more chance!” Even the daughter who abandoned her cries, “Mommy, please come home!” But before Clara can utter a word, a powerful arm wraps around her waist. The nation’s most feared and legendary Military Commander—her childhood protector—steps forward with a cold, possessive smirk. “Too late, Mr. Hayes. She’s the mother of my children now.”

Chapter 1As summer vacation approached, Clara Conway, who had moved away for her marriage five years ago, received a call from her mother."Caleb's health is deteriorating, and I don't know if he'll make it through the year," Sarah said."Since summer break is almost here, do you and Dominic have time to bring Stella back for a visit? Your father wants to see you two.""But if Dominic is too busy, just forget it..."Even though Sarah told her to forget it, Clara could clearly hear the disappointment and hesitation in her mother's voice.Truth be told, in the five years since she joined the Hayes family, Clara had only visited her hometown during her first year of marriage, but not once in the subsequent four years.Dominic Hayes always used the same excuses: he was too busy with work, had no time, and it was too inconvenient.Fighting back tears, Clara agreed to the visit, immediately opened her travel app, and bought three flight tickets to Charleston.After purchasing the tickets, she hesitated for a moment before calling Dominic.The phone rang for quite a while before it connected."Hello," the man answered, his tone icy."Dominic, who is calling this early?"It was a woman's voice.Clara gripped her phone tightly.She distinctly remembered him telling her last night that he was staying at the office."Nobody," Dominic replied to the woman.Without waiting for Clara to speak, he hung up the phone.Clara froze, staring at the screen with a pale face.Actually, before they got married, Dominic treated her exceptionally well.They had a high school sweetheart romance that blossomed into marriage.He used to cherish her more than anything, and the word 'cheating' never would have been associated with him.It was only later, perhaps because her body changed after giving birth, or for some other reason, that he started acting cold toward her.The man sent a text message: [Need something?]He offered zero explanation about the woman.Clara forced a bitter smile, swallowing her pride because her father's critical condition left her with no energy to argue.[Caleb is seriously ill. Since Stella is about to be on summer break, can we go back to Charleston and stay for a while?]After she sent the message, there was no reply for a long time.She did not know if he had not seen it or simply did not care.Yet, he had just texted her a second ago...Clara stared at the screen, a lump forming in her throat.However, over the past two years, she had grown accustomed to his coldness and learned to endure it silently.Figuring she would ask him about it later,She suppressed the suffocating wave of despair in her chest and went upstairs to find her daughter.Pushing the door open to leave a small crack, she heard Stella Hayes's voice drifting out from inside.The little girl was hiding under her blankets, her voice muffled."Scarlett, Dad already found a doctor for Martha, so she is going to be fine. Don't worry, make sure to take care of yourself, and remember to eat your cereal..."Clara stopped dead in her tracks.She was absolutely certain that the 'Martha' Stella was talking about was not Sarah.Who was she talking about?And who was Scarlett?Scarlett Yates?Scarlett was the daughter of the woman Dominic's uncle had married as his second wife.Although they had no blood relation, she was technically Dominic's cousin by marriage.Stella should have addressed her differently.Why...Clara frowned in confusion."Mom? Is breakfast ready?"Hearing the movement outside the door, Stella emerged from her blankets and looked toward the entrance, blinking her pretty eyes.Clara snapped back to reality, pushing down her turbulent thoughts without overthinking the situation.Right now, going back to Charleston to visit her father was the priority.Clara walked into the room and gently patted her daughter's head."Breakfast is ready. You can eat after you wash up.""Once we finish eating and your dad gets home, we're taking a trip to Charleston. Caleb is sick, and since you're almost on summer break, we're going to stay there for a bit."Stella paused, the bright smile fading from her small face as she furrowed her delicate brows.She did not really want to go.Even though Sarah and Caleb treated her well and often sent her snacks,Charleston was too far away, and the long flight sounded absolutely miserable.Plus, they said Caleb was sick, but maybe it was just an excuse to trick her into visiting.So annoying.She had already promised to hang out with Scarlett later.Scarlett had been in a bad mood the past few days because her family member was sick, and Stella hated seeing her sad!But looking at Clara's uncompromising expression, the little girl pouted, knowing she could not refuse.She flopped back onto the bed in a sulky mood.Seeing her reaction, Clara bent down and coaxed her gently, "Come on, Stella, time to get up."Reluctantly, Stella rubbed her face against the mattress before muttering stubbornly."Go get my clothes, run the water, and put toothpaste on my brush..."Clara hummed in agreement and went to do it.For years, this was exactly how she had catered to both her and Dominic.Seeing Clara with her back turned as she searched the closet, Stella secretly grabbed her phone and texted Scarlett Yates:[Scarlett, I have something to do later and have to take a trip to Charleston. I won't be able to hang out with you, I'm so sorry! I'll come back as fast as I can and find you immediately. I'll make sure to text you over the next few days!]There was no immediate reply.Stella bit her lip anxiously, terrified that Scarlett would be disappointed..."Stella, how about this outfit?"Clara held up a dress for her to see.Stella furrowed her brow, put down her phone, and glared at Clara in annoyance."Mom, you're so nagging. Don't you know I hate wearing dresses now?"Ever since she saw Scarlett's chic, commanding outfits during business meetings, Stella had refused to wear dresses.She wanted to grow up to be as outstanding as Scarlett.She didn't want to end up like her mother, a stay-at-home mom who only knew how to cook, do laundry, and nag...Clara paused. "Then what do you like? I can buy you something new...""No thanks!"Their tastes were entirely different. She only wanted Scarlett to pick out her clothes."Mom, just get out!"Stella hopped out of bed, shoved Clara out with her bare feet, and slammed the door shut. She grabbed her phone again to text Scarlett:[Scarlett, I promise I'll be back tomorrow!]Scarlett: [Sorry Stella, I was just eating breakfast and didn't see your messages.][I'm not mad. Go spend time with Caleb, it's totally fine. I'll actually be heading to Charleston later too, so we can see each other then.]Stella paused: [Are you going to Charleston to visit Martha? Does Dad know?]Scarlett: [He knows.]Stella suddenly lit up with joy. Thinking of something, she typed out another message—Outside the door.Listening to the heavy slam of the door, Clara took a step back, a sudden, indescribable wave of sorrow washing over her...She had raised her daughter single-handedly, never imagining a day would come when she would be shut out with such impatience.Clara pressed her lips together tightly and knocked on the door to remind her."You have low blood sugar, so remember to come downstairs and eat your sandwich once you're dressed."No one answered...The phone in her pocket buzzed.Clara snapped out of her daze, took a deep breath, and checked the screen.Dominic had replied:[I was busy earlier. I got it. I'll be home a bit later.]Still no explanation, no offer to help arrange a doctor, and zero trace of concern...Clara's face paled as she suddenly recalled the phone conversation she had just overheard from Stella.He was finding top-tier doctors for Scarlett's family.Yet he completely ignored hers.She also realized that the female voice she had heard on the phone earlier was almost certainly Scarlett's!Were they...Clara tightened her grip on her phone, a desperate urge to confront him welling up inside her.In the past, she would have relentlessly demanded the truth.But now, she suddenly had no desire to do so.Maybe she was just tired, or perhaps she had grown completely numb.Clara put her phone away and walked mechanically into the master bedroom to pack.Most of the luggage consisted of Dominic's clothes. He was a neat freak with incredibly high standards for his apparel and bedding.Meanwhile, the items that actually belonged to her were pitifully few.She was used to making do, compromising—just like she compromised on this marriage, which had long been diluted by time, all for the sake of their daughter.She knew very well that the man had no love left for her; the fiery passion they once shared was long dead.After packing the clothes, she went to the study to grab his laptop, just in case he needed it.Aside from their first year of marriage, she rarely stepped foot in this room over the past few years. Dominic treated her like an outsider and forbade her from entering.His attitude had shifted from mild reminders at first to cold, harsh commands later on.She wondered if all men were like this—changing and getting bored after marriage, turning their past promises and love into nothing more than a cruel joke.Clara numbly slipped the laptop into the bag.Just as she was about to leave,She noticed out of the corner of her eye that a drawer was slightly ajar.The documents inside were stacked haphazardly, looking quite messy.She paused and instinctively pulled the drawer open to organize them.But when she saw the words printed on the topmost document,All the color drained from her face, and she stood frozen in place—Divorce Agreement!Clara's brain completely short-circuited. It took her a long moment to force her trembling fingers to flip the pages.There, on the final page of the divorce agreement, the man had already signed his name. Her signature was the only thing missing.It had clearly been prepared well in advance.He had allocated a significant portion of their assets to her, with his sole demand being full custody of their daughter.So, he had despised her all along, wanted a divorce, and then... planned to marry Scarlett?Did he even care that Scarlett was technically his cousin? Did he not know about the bitter history between Scarlett's family and hers?Did he have any idea how unspeakably cruel and humiliating this was to her as his wife!Looking at it now, he obviously knew.Perhaps by their second year of marriage, after he grew tired of her and fell for Scarlett, he had already made up his mind.Clara felt as though a bucket of ice water had been dumped over her head, chilling her body and freezing her heart.Honestly, if Rowan Reid hadn't abandoned her back then, leaving for the military without a word and moving on with someone else,Dominic had simply shown up at the right time, pursuing her with a fiery intensity, warming her heart, and pulling her out of the darkness. She hadn't been obligated to marry him.Suddenly, the phone in her pocket vibrated again.It was a text from Dominic:[Something came up. I'm not coming home.]His tone was utterly dismissive, proving he cared nothing for her or her parents.Then again, with the divorce papers already signed, why would he care about her?Curling her lips in a mocking smile and fighting back her tears, Clara clutched the divorce agreement and left the bedroom.She was Stella's biological mother, after all. If Stella wanted to be with her, she would fight Dominic for custody with everything she had.But as she stepped into the hallway, she noticed that only their housekeeper, Beatrice, was left in the dining room."Where's Stella? Did she not come down to eat?"Beatrice, who was clearing the plates, hesitated before replying, "The little miss didn't eat. She grabbed her backpack and went out..."Went out?Clara blinked, her face ashen. She didn't know if it was a woman's intuition or something else,But she felt certain that Stella had gone straight to Scarlett, and that Dominic was likely with Scarlett as well...A bone-deep chill seized her heart.This was the man she had loved so deeply, the man she had moved across the country for, leaving her parents behind.This was the daughter she had nearly died giving birth to, the child for whom she had sacrificed her entire career just to nurse through her premature frailty."Mrs. Hayes..."Seeing Clara's ghastly expression, Beatrice's heart ached with sympathy.Even as an outsider, she felt Stella was being far too cruel to Clara.It was bad enough to lack a husband's love, but having such an ungrateful daughter was simply tragic.Clara waved a dismissive hand and walked away.She knew exactly what Beatrice was thinking.She had raised Stella single-handedly. In her early years, their mother-daughter bond had been unbreakable. Stella had been incredibly dependent on her, a sweet and thoughtful little girl.It was only over the past year, when Dominic started taking her out more frequently, that she began to change. Her attachment morphed into dismissal and rejection...Thinking back on it now, everything had changed right under her nose while she remained entirely oblivious.She had been kept entirely in the dark, constantly reflecting on her own actions and wondering where she had gone wrong.Clara let out a shaky breath.Returning to the study, she picked up a pen and signed her name on the divorce agreement.It was just a simple signature, but her hands shook so violently that the letters came out crooked and jagged.When she finally finished,It felt as if all her strength had been instantly siphoned away, leaving her a hollow shell.She numbly closed the folder and slid it back into the drawer.When Dominic returned, it would be the first thing he saw.Consider it a parting surprise.Clara let out a bitter laugh, left the study, and headed to the bedroom to pack her own belongings. She would return to Charleston alone.Just as she finished packing,Her phone unexpectedly rang again.Clara glanced at the caller ID, a flicker of emotion flashing through her eyes.She answered, "Hello."The man's deep voice came through the speaker, "I've got one piece of bad news and one piece of good news. Which do you want first?""The good news.""The good news is that your first-class architect license was approved. Oh, and Southmount Architects sent you an invitation, asking you to draft the conceptual design for their new industrial park."A sliver of light finally pierced through the darkness in Clara's heart, and she nearly burst into tears of sheer relief.Years ago, she had abandoned a brilliant career to stay home and care for Stella. But she had never given up on her profession, spending all these years studying for her certifications.Chapter 2As summer vacation approached, Clara Conway, who had moved away for her marriage five years ago, received a call from her mother."Caleb's health is deteriorating, and I don't know if he'll make it through the year," Sarah said."Since summer break is almost here, do you and Dominic have time to bring Stella back for a visit? Your father wants to see you two.""But if Dominic is too busy, just forget it..."Even though Sarah told her to forget it, Clara could clearly hear the disappointment and hesitation in her mother's voice.Truth be told, in the five years since she joined the Hayes family, Clara had only visited her hometown during her first year of marriage, but not once in the subsequent four years.Dominic Hayes always used the same excuses: he was too busy with work, had no time, and it was too inconvenient.Fighting back tears, Clara agreed to the visit, immediately opened her travel app, and bought three flight tickets to Charleston.After purchasing the tickets, she hesitated for a moment before calling Dominic.The phone rang for quite a while before it connected."Hello," the man answered, his tone icy."Dominic, who is calling this early?"It was a woman's voice.Clara gripped her phone tightly.She distinctly remembered him telling her last night that he was staying at the office."Nobody," Dominic replied to the woman.Without waiting for Clara to speak, he hung up the phone.Clara froze, staring at the screen with a pale face.Actually, before they got married, Dominic treated her exceptionally well.They had a high school sweetheart romance that blossomed into marriage.He used to cherish her more than anything, and the word 'cheating' never would have been associated with him.It was only later, perhaps because her body changed after giving birth, or for some other reason, that he started acting cold toward her.The man sent a text message: [Need something?]He offered zero explanation about the woman.Clara forced a bitter smile, swallowing her pride because her father's critical condition left her with no energy to argue.[Caleb is seriously ill. Since Stella is about to be on summer break, can we go back to Charleston and stay for a while?]After she sent the message, there was no reply for a long time.She did not know if he had not seen it or simply did not care.Yet, he had just texted her a second ago...Clara stared at the screen, a lump forming in her throat.However, over the past two years, she had grown accustomed to his coldness and learned to endure it silently.Figuring she would ask him about it later,She suppressed the suffocating wave of despair in her chest and went upstairs to find her daughter.Pushing the door open to leave a small crack, she heard Stella Hayes's voice drifting out from inside.The little girl was hiding under her blankets, her voice muffled."Scarlett, Dad already found a doctor for Martha, so she is going to be fine. Don't worry, make sure to take care of yourself, and remember to eat your cereal..."Clara stopped dead in her tracks.She was absolutely certain that the 'Martha' Stella was talking about was not Sarah.Who was she talking about?And who was Scarlett?Scarlett Yates?Scarlett was the daughter of the woman Dominic's uncle had married as his second wife.Although they had no blood relation, she was technically Dominic's cousin by marriage.Stella should have addressed her differently.Why...Clara frowned in confusion."Mom? Is breakfast ready?"Hearing the movement outside the door, Stella emerged from her blankets and looked toward the entrance, blinking her pretty eyes.Clara snapped back to reality, pushing down her turbulent thoughts without overthinking the situation.Right now, going back to Charleston to visit her father was the priority.Clara walked into the room and gently patted her daughter's head."Breakfast is ready. You can eat after you wash up.""Once we finish eating and your dad gets home, we're taking a trip to Charleston. Caleb is sick, and since you're almost on summer break, we're going to stay there for a bit."Stella paused, the bright smile fading from her small face as she furrowed her delicate brows.She did not really want to go.Even though Sarah and Caleb treated her well and often sent her snacks,Charleston was too far away, and the long flight sounded absolutely miserable.Plus, they said Caleb was sick, but maybe it was just an excuse to trick her into visiting.So annoying.She had already promised to hang out with Scarlett later.Scarlett had been in a bad mood the past few days because her family member was sick, and Stella hated seeing her sad!But looking at Clara's uncompromising expression, the little girl pouted, knowing she could not refuse.She flopped back onto the bed in a sulky mood.Seeing her reaction, Clara bent down and coaxed her gently, "Come on, Stella, time to get up."Reluctantly, Stella rubbed her face against the mattress before muttering stubbornly."Go get my clothes, run the water, and put toothpaste on my brush..."Clara hummed in agreement and went to do it.For years, this was exactly how she had catered to both her and Dominic.Seeing Clara with her back turned as she searched the closet, Stella secretly grabbed her phone and texted Scarlett Yates:[Scarlett, I have something to do later and have to take a trip to Charleston. I won't be able to hang out with you, I'm so sorry! I'll come back as fast as I can and find you immediately. I'll make sure to text you over the next few days!]There was no immediate reply.Stella bit her lip anxiously, terrified that Scarlett would be disappointed..."Stella, how about this outfit?"Clara held up a dress for her to see.Stella furrowed her brow, put down her phone, and glared at Clara in annoyance."Mom, you're so nagging. Don't you know I hate wearing dresses now?"Ever since she saw Scarlett's chic, commanding outfits during business meetings, Stella had refused to wear dresses.She wanted to grow up to be as outstanding as Scarlett.She didn't want to end up like her mother, a stay-at-home mom who only knew how to cook, do laundry, and nag...Clara paused. "Then what do you like? I can buy you something new...""No thanks!"Their tastes were entirely different. She only wanted Scarlett to pick out her clothes."Mom, just get out!"Stella hopped out of bed, shoved Clara out with her bare feet, and slammed the door shut. She grabbed her phone again to text Scarlett:[Scarlett, I promise I'll be back tomorrow!]Scarlett: [Sorry Stella, I was just eating breakfast and didn't see your messages.][I'm not mad. Go spend time with Caleb, it's totally fine. I'll actually be heading to Charleston later too, so we can see each other then.]Stella paused: [Are you going to Charleston to visit Martha? Does Dad know?]Scarlett: [He knows.]Stella suddenly lit up with joy. Thinking of something, she typed out another message—Outside the door.Listening to the heavy slam of the door, Clara took a step back, a sudden, indescribable wave of sorrow washing over her...She had raised her daughter single-handedly, never imagining a day would come when she would be shut out with such impatience.Clara pressed her lips together tightly and knocked on the door to remind her."You have low blood sugar, so remember to come downstairs and eat your sandwich once you're dressed."No one answered...The phone in her pocket buzzed.Clara snapped out of her daze, took a deep breath, and checked the screen.Dominic had replied:[I was busy earlier. I got it. I'll be home a bit later.]Still no explanation, no offer to help arrange a doctor, and zero trace of concern...Clara's face paled as she suddenly recalled the phone conversation she had just overheard from Stella.He was finding top-tier doctors for Scarlett's family.Yet he completely ignored hers.She also realized that the female voice she had heard on the phone earlier was almost certainly Scarlett's!Were they...Clara tightened her grip on her phone, a desperate urge to confront him welling up inside her.In the past, she would have relentlessly demanded the truth.But now, she suddenly had no desire to do so.Maybe she was just tired, or perhaps she had grown completely numb.Clara put her phone away and walked mechanically into the master bedroom to pack.Most of the luggage consisted of Dominic's clothes. He was a neat freak with incredibly high standards for his apparel and bedding.Meanwhile, the items that actually belonged to her were pitifully few.She was used to making do, compromising—just like she compromised on this marriage, which had long been diluted by time, all for the sake of their daughter.She knew very well that the man had no love left for her; the fiery passion they once shared was long dead.After packing the clothes, she went to the study to grab his laptop, just in case he needed it.Aside from their first year of marriage, she rarely stepped foot in this room over the past few years. Dominic treated her like an outsider and forbade her from entering.His attitude had shifted from mild reminders at first to cold, harsh commands later on.She wondered if all men were like this—changing and getting bored after marriage, turning their past promises and love into nothing more than a cruel joke.Clara numbly slipped the laptop into the bag.Just as she was about to leave,She noticed out of the corner of her eye that a drawer was slightly ajar.The documents inside were stacked haphazardly, looking quite messy.She paused and instinctively pulled the drawer open to organize them.But when she saw the words printed on the topmost document,All the color drained from her face, and she stood frozen in place—Divorce Agreement!Clara's brain completely short-circuited. It took her a long moment to force her trembling fingers to flip the pages.There, on the final page of the divorce agreement, the man had already signed his name. Her signature was the only thing missing.It had clearly been prepared well in advance.He had allocated a significant portion of their assets to her, with his sole demand being full custody of their daughter.So, he had despised her all along, wanted a divorce, and then... planned to marry Scarlett?Did he even care that Scarlett was technically his cousin? Did he not know about the bitter history between Scarlett's family and hers?Did he have any idea how unspeakably cruel and humiliating this was to her as his wife!Looking at it now, he obviously knew.Perhaps by their second year of marriage, after he grew tired of her and fell for Scarlett, he had already made up his mind.Clara felt as though a bucket of ice water had been dumped over her head, chilling her body and freezing her heart.Honestly, if Rowan Reid hadn't abandoned her back then, leaving for the military without a word and moving on with someone else,Dominic had simply shown up at the right time, pursuing her with a fiery intensity, warming her heart, and pulling her out of the darkness. She hadn't been obligated to marry him.Suddenly, the phone in her pocket vibrated again.It was a text from Dominic:[Something came up. I'm not coming home.]His tone was utterly dismissive, proving he cared nothing for her or her parents.Then again, with the divorce papers already signed, why would he care about her?Curling her lips in a mocking smile and fighting back her tears, Clara clutched the divorce agreement and left the bedroom.She was Stella's biological mother, after all. If Stella wanted to be with her, she would fight Dominic for custody with everything she had.But as she stepped into the hallway, she noticed that only their housekeeper, Beatrice, was left in the dining room."Where's Stella? Did she not come down to eat?"Beatrice, who was clearing the plates, hesitated before replying, "The little miss didn't eat. She grabbed her backpack and went out..."Went out?Clara blinked, her face ashen. She didn't know if it was a woman's intuition or something else,But she felt certain that Stella had gone straight to Scarlett, and that Dominic was likely with Scarlett as well...A bone-deep chill seized her heart.This was the man she had loved so deeply, the man she had moved across the country for, leaving her parents behind.This was the daughter she had nearly died giving birth to, the child for whom she had sacrificed her entire career just to nurse through her premature frailty."Mrs. Hayes..."Seeing Clara's ghastly expression, Beatrice's heart ached with sympathy.Even as an outsider, she felt Stella was being far too cruel to Clara.It was bad enough to lack a husband's love, but having such an ungrateful daughter was simply tragic.Clara waved a dismissive hand and walked away.She knew exactly what Beatrice was thinking.She had raised Stella single-handedly. In her early years, their mother-daughter bond had been unbreakable. Stella had been incredibly dependent on her, a sweet and thoughtful little girl.It was only over the past year, when Dominic started taking her out more frequently, that she began to change. Her attachment morphed into dismissal and rejection...Thinking back on it now, everything had changed right under her nose while she remained entirely oblivious.She had been kept entirely in the dark, constantly reflecting on her own actions and wondering where she had gone wrong.Clara let out a shaky breath.Returning to the study, she picked up a pen and signed her name on the divorce agreement.It was just a simple signature, but her hands shook so violently that the letters came out crooked and jagged.When she finally finished,It felt as if all her strength had been instantly siphoned away, leaving her a hollow shell.She numbly closed the folder and slid it back into the drawer.When Dominic returned, it would be the first thing he saw.Consider it a parting surprise.Clara let out a bitter laugh, left the study, and headed to the bedroom to pack her own belongings. She would return to Charleston alone.Just as she finished packing,Her phone unexpectedly rang again.Clara glanced at the caller ID, a flicker of emotion flashing through her eyes.She answered, "Hello."The man's deep voice came through the speaker, "I've got one piece of bad news and one piece of good news. Which do you want first?""The good news.""The good news is that your first-class architect license was approved. Oh, and Southmount Architects sent you an invitation, asking you to draft the conceptual design for their new industrial park."A sliver of light finally pierced through the darkness in Clara's heart, and she nearly burst into tears of sheer relief.Years ago, she had abandoned a brilliant career to stay home and care for Stella. But she had never given up on her profession, spending all these years studying for her certifications.Chapter 3As summer vacation approached, Clara Conway, who had moved away for her marriage five years ago, received a call from her mother."Caleb's health is deteriorating, and I don't know if he'll make it through the year," Sarah said."Since summer break is almost here, do you and Dominic have time to bring Stella back for a visit? Your father wants to see you two.""But if Dominic is too busy, just forget it..."Even though Sarah told her to forget it, Clara could clearly hear the disappointment and hesitation in her mother's voice.Truth be told, in the five years since she joined the Hayes family, Clara had only visited her hometown during her first year of marriage, but not once in the subsequent four years.Dominic Hayes always used the same excuses: he was too busy with work, had no time, and it was too inconvenient.Fighting back tears, Clara agreed to the visit, immediately opened her travel app, and bought three flight tickets to Charleston.After purchasing the tickets, she hesitated for a moment before calling Dominic.The phone rang for quite a while before it connected."Hello," the man answered, his tone icy."Dominic, who is calling this early?"It was a woman's voice.Clara gripped her phone tightly.She distinctly remembered him telling her last night that he was staying at the office."Nobody," Dominic replied to the woman.Without waiting for Clara to speak, he hung up the phone.Clara froze, staring at the screen with a pale face.Actually, before they got married, Dominic treated her exceptionally well.They had a high school sweetheart romance that blossomed into marriage.He used to cherish her more than anything, and the word 'cheating' never would have been associated with him.It was only later, perhaps because her body changed after giving birth, or for some other reason, that he started acting cold toward her.The man sent a text message: [Need something?]He offered zero explanation about the woman.Clara forced a bitter smile, swallowing her pride because her father's critical condition left her with no energy to argue.[Caleb is seriously ill. Since Stella is about to be on summer break, can we go back to Charleston and stay for a while?]After she sent the message, there was no reply for a long time.She did not know if he had not seen it or simply did not care.Yet, he had just texted her a second ago...Clara stared at the screen, a lump forming in her throat.However, over the past two years, she had grown accustomed to his coldness and learned to endure it silently.Figuring she would ask him about it later,She suppressed the suffocating wave of despair in her chest and went upstairs to find her daughter.Pushing the door open to leave a small crack, she heard Stella Hayes's voice drifting out from inside.The little girl was hiding under her blankets, her voice muffled."Scarlett, Dad already found a doctor for Martha, so she is going to be fine. Don't worry, make sure to take care of yourself, and remember to eat your cereal..."Clara stopped dead in her tracks.She was absolutely certain that the 'Martha' Stella was talking about was not Sarah.Who was she talking about?And who was Scarlett?Scarlett Yates?Scarlett was the daughter of the woman Dominic's uncle had married as his second wife.Although they had no blood relation, she was technically Dominic's cousin by marriage.Stella should have addressed her differently.Why...Clara frowned in confusion."Mom? Is breakfast ready?"Hearing the movement outside the door, Stella emerged from her blankets and looked toward the entrance, blinking her pretty eyes.Clara snapped back to reality, pushing down her turbulent thoughts without overthinking the situation.Right now, going back to Charleston to visit her father was the priority.Clara walked into the room and gently patted her daughter's head."Breakfast is ready. You can eat after you wash up.""Once we finish eating and your dad gets home, we're taking a trip to Charleston. Caleb is sick, and since you're almost on summer break, we're going to stay there for a bit."Stella paused, the bright smile fading from her small face as she furrowed her delicate brows.She did not really want to go.Even though Sarah and Caleb treated her well and often sent her snacks,Charleston was too far away, and the long flight sounded absolutely miserable.Plus, they said Caleb was sick, but maybe it was just an excuse to trick her into visiting.So annoying.She had already promised to hang out with Scarlett later.Scarlett had been in a bad mood the past few days because her family member was sick, and Stella hated seeing her sad!But looking at Clara's uncompromising expression, the little girl pouted, knowing she could not refuse.She flopped back onto the bed in a sulky mood.Seeing her reaction, Clara bent down and coaxed her gently, "Come on, Stella, time to get up."Reluctantly, Stella rubbed her face against the mattress before muttering stubbornly."Go get my clothes, run the water, and put toothpaste on my brush..."Clara hummed in agreement and went to do it.For years, this was exactly how she had catered to both her and Dominic.Seeing Clara with her back turned as she searched the closet, Stella secretly grabbed her phone and texted Scarlett Yates:[Scarlett, I have something to do later and have to take a trip to Charleston. I won't be able to hang out with you, I'm so sorry! I'll come back as fast as I can and find you immediately. I'll make sure to text you over the next few days!]There was no immediate reply.Stella bit her lip anxiously, terrified that Scarlett would be disappointed..."Stella, how about this outfit?"Clara held up a dress for her to see.Stella furrowed her brow, put down her phone, and glared at Clara in annoyance."Mom, you're so nagging. Don't you know I hate wearing dresses now?"Ever since she saw Scarlett's chic, commanding outfits during business meetings, Stella had refused to wear dresses.She wanted to grow up to be as outstanding as Scarlett.She didn't want to end up like her mother, a stay-at-home mom who only knew how to cook, do laundry, and nag...Clara paused. "Then what do you like? I can buy you something new...""No thanks!"Their tastes were entirely different. She only wanted Scarlett to pick out her clothes."Mom, just get out!"Stella hopped out of bed, shoved Clara out with her bare feet, and slammed the door shut. She grabbed her phone again to text Scarlett:[Scarlett, I promise I'll be back tomorrow!]Scarlett: [Sorry Stella, I was just eating breakfast and didn't see your messages.][I'm not mad. Go spend time with Caleb, it's totally fine. I'll actually be heading to Charleston later too, so we can see each other then.]Stella paused: [Are you going to Charleston to visit Martha? Does Dad know?]Scarlett: [He knows.]Stella suddenly lit up with joy. Thinking of something, she typed out another message—Outside the door.Listening to the heavy slam of the door, Clara took a step back, a sudden, indescribable wave of sorrow washing over her...She had raised her daughter single-handedly, never imagining a day would come when she would be shut out with such impatience.Clara pressed her lips together tightly and knocked on the door to remind her."You have low blood sugar, so remember to come downstairs and eat your sandwich once you're dressed."No one answered...The phone in her pocket buzzed.Clara snapped out of her daze, took a deep breath, and checked the screen.Dominic had replied:[I was busy earlier. I got it. I'll be home a bit later.]Still no explanation, no offer to help arrange a doctor, and zero trace of concern...Clara's face paled as she suddenly recalled the phone conversation she had just overheard from Stella.He was finding top-tier doctors for Scarlett's family.Yet he completely ignored hers.She also realized that the female voice she had heard on the phone earlier was almost certainly Scarlett's!Were they...Clara tightened her grip on her phone, a desperate urge to confront him welling up inside her.In the past, she would have relentlessly demanded the truth.But now, she suddenly had no desire to do so.Maybe she was just tired, or perhaps she had grown completely numb.Clara put her phone away and walked mechanically into the master bedroom to pack.Most of the luggage consisted of Dominic's clothes. He was a neat freak with incredibly high standards for his apparel and bedding.Meanwhile, the items that actually belonged to her were pitifully few.She was used to making do, compromising—just like she compromised on this marriage, which had long been diluted by time, all for the sake of their daughter.She knew very well that the man had no love left for her; the fiery passion they once shared was long dead.After packing the clothes, she went to the study to grab his laptop, just in case he needed it.Aside from their first year of marriage, she rarely stepped foot in this room over the past few years. Dominic treated her like an outsider and forbade her from entering.His attitude had shifted from mild reminders at first to cold, harsh commands later on.She wondered if all men were like this—changing and getting bored after marriage, turning their past promises and love into nothing more than a cruel joke.Clara numbly slipped the laptop into the bag.Just as she was about to leave,She noticed out of the corner of her eye that a drawer was slightly ajar.The documents inside were stacked haphazardly, looking quite messy.She paused and instinctively pulled the drawer open to organize them.But when she saw the words printed on the topmost document,All the color drained from her face, and she stood frozen in place—Divorce Agreement!Clara's brain completely short-circuited. It took her a long moment to force her trembling fingers to flip the pages.There, on the final page of the divorce agreement, the man had already signed his name. Her signature was the only thing missing.It had clearly been prepared well in advance.He had allocated a significant portion of their assets to her, with his sole demand being full custody of their daughter.So, he had despised her all along, wanted a divorce, and then... planned to marry Scarlett?Did he even care that Scarlett was technically his cousin? Did he not know about the bitter history between Scarlett's family and hers?Did he have any idea how unspeakably cruel and humiliating this was to her as his wife!Looking at it now, he obviously knew.Perhaps by their second year of marriage, after he grew tired of her and fell for Scarlett, he had already made up his mind.Clara felt as though a bucket of ice water had been dumped over her head, chilling her body and freezing her heart.Honestly, if Rowan Reid hadn't abandoned her back then, leaving for the military without a word and moving on with someone else,Dominic had simply shown up at the right time, pursuing her with a fiery intensity, warming her heart, and pulling her out of the darkness. She hadn't been obligated to marry him.Suddenly, the phone in her pocket vibrated again.It was a text from Dominic:[Something came up. I'm not coming home.]His tone was utterly dismissive, proving he cared nothing for her or her parents.Then again, with the divorce papers already signed, why would he care about her?Curling her lips in a mocking smile and fighting back her tears, Clara clutched the divorce agreement and left the bedroom.She was Stella's biological mother, after all. If Stella wanted to be with her, she would fight Dominic for custody with everything she had.But as she stepped into the hallway, she noticed that only their housekeeper, Beatrice, was left in the dining room."Where's Stella? Did she not come down to eat?"Beatrice, who was clearing the plates, hesitated before replying, "The little miss didn't eat. She grabbed her backpack and went out..."Went out?Clara blinked, her face ashen. She didn't know if it was a woman's intuition or something else,But she felt certain that Stella had gone straight to Scarlett, and that Dominic was likely with Scarlett as well...A bone-deep chill seized her heart.This was the man she had loved so deeply, the man she had moved across the country for, leaving her parents behind.This was the daughter she had nearly died giving birth to, the child for whom she had sacrificed her entire career just to nurse through her premature frailty."Mrs. Hayes..."Seeing Clara's ghastly expression, Beatrice's heart ached with sympathy.Even as an outsider, she felt Stella was being far too cruel to Clara.It was bad enough to lack a husband's love, but having such an ungrateful daughter was simply tragic.Clara waved a dismissive hand and walked away.She knew exactly what Beatrice was thinking.She had raised Stella single-handedly. In her early years, their mother-daughter bond had been unbreakable. Stella had been incredibly dependent on her, a sweet and thoughtful little girl.It was only over the past year, when Dominic started taking her out more frequently, that she began to change. Her attachment morphed into dismissal and rejection...Thinking back on it now, everything had changed right under her nose while she remained entirely oblivious.She had been kept entirely in the dark, constantly reflecting on her own actions and wondering where she had gone wrong.Clara let out a shaky breath.Returning to the study, she picked up a pen and signed her name on the divorce agreement.It was just a simple signature, but her hands shook so violently that the letters came out crooked and jagged.When she finally finished,It felt as if all her strength had been instantly siphoned away, leaving her a hollow shell.She numbly closed the folder and slid it back into the drawer.When Dominic returned, it would be the first thing he saw.Consider it a parting surprise.Clara let out a bitter laugh, left the study, and headed to the bedroom to pack her own belongings. She would return to Charleston alone.Just as she finished packing,Her phone unexpectedly rang again.Clara glanced at the caller ID, a flicker of emotion flashing through her eyes.She answered, "Hello."The man's deep voice came through the speaker, "I've got one piece of bad news and one piece of good news. Which do you want first?""The good news.""The good news is that your first-class architect license was approved. Oh, and Southmount Architects sent you an invitation, asking you to draft the conceptual design for their new industrial park."A sliver of light finally pierced through the darkness in Clara's heart, and she nearly burst into tears of sheer relief.Years ago, she had abandoned a brilliant career to stay home and care for Stella. But she had never given up on her profession, spending all these years studying for her certifications.