Chapter 2

Emily's POV

Aiden and Chase stood in front of Xanthe, eyes full of hostility, like little knights protecting her.

My forehead hit hard against the corner of the wall. Blood instantly gushed out, but I didn't feel the pain. I just stared blankly at the two children in front of me:

"Sweethearts... I'm your real mother..."

"You are not! My mom is Xanthe! You're a bad person, a bad person who came to bully my mom!"

My voice shook even harder:

"Sweethearts, please believe me. You were just switched. We can do a DNA test. I really am..."

Aiden shouted, cutting me off:

"Even if you really gave birth to us, I only recognize Xanthe as our mother!"

Chase nodded and chimed in:

"Right! So what if you gave birth to us? You're the one who didn't want us! Mom has been with us all along, taking care of us. You never cared about us!"

"That's not true. I didn't know..."

I stepped forward, wanting to hold their little hands, but they quickly backed away several steps, hiding behind James:

"Daddy, this crazy woman is so scary. Hurry up and make her leave!"

James nodded in agreement. Ignoring my struggle, he forcibly dragged me out of the hospital room.

In a deserted corner, he trapped me in his arms, looked down, and gently touched my wound:

"Does it hurt?"

"Don't touch me!"

I forcefully pushed his hand away.

He let out a long sigh:

"Emily, you saw it just now. The two children already see Xanthe as their mother. If you force them away, you'll only hurt them."

"Xanthe just wants to experience what it's like to be a mother. You're both women—you should understand. Be good, stop making a scene... The next one, when the next child is born, I'll definitely let you raise it yourself, okay?"

I suddenly looked up at him, my eyes completely lifeless, unable to even shed tears anymore.

Everyone in Emerald City said I was lucky—born ordinary, yet cherished and spoiled by James.

Before marriage, the Smith family elders looked down on my humble background and refused to let me in. He knelt before them and endured 99 lashes.

After marriage, when I gave birth to a stillborn baby and everyone mocked and avoided me, he protected me and declared to everyone:

"Having Emily is enough for this lifetime. Anyone who dares insult her again is my enemy."

I couldn't bear him shouldering all the pressure alone, so I secretly went to the hospital for checkups. My arms were covered in bruises from needle marks.

I even knelt in the church for three days and nights, finally collapsing on the ground, nearly losing my life.

But it turned out, from beginning to end, it was all an elaborate scheme.

I became the fool kept in the dark, bearing five years of blame.

I looked up and curved my lips:

"No, James. Those are children I carried for ten months. I won't give them to anyone."

I kicked him hard and ran, but just as I reached the hospital room door, several uniformed police officers approached:

"Are you Emily? We received a report accusing you of causing trouble at the hospital and attempting to kidnap someone else's children. Please come with us for questioning."

I froze, still processing, when Aiden and Chase pointed at me and shouted:

"Officer, it's her! She not only hit our mom but also tried to take our little brother!"

My own children called the police on me?

My heart felt like it was being torn apart alive. The pain made even my breathing tremble.

Seeing the two officers approach with handcuffs, I frantically defended myself:

"I didn't! Those are my children. If you don't believe me, we can do a DNA test!"

Hesitation flashed across the officers' faces, but the next moment, James walked over:

"My wife has suffered too much trauma from multiple stillbirths. Her mental state hasn't been good. Officer, the hospital is a public place after all. Please take her away first."

The officers no longer hesitated and firmly gripped my arms.

I was forcibly dragged to the next room and strapped to a cold bed.

Waves of electric current suddenly shot through my brain. My whole body convulsed violently, my consciousness shattering repeatedly in the intense pain.

But just one door away, heaven and hell were clearly divided.

Waves of cheerful laughter slipped through the door crack, cutting into my already shattered heart piece by piece.

I heard Aiden's crisp voice, as if asking for praise:

"Daddy, I had the doctor take that crazy woman for treatment. I protected Mommy! Isn't Zhaozhao amazing?"

After a brief silence, James's gentle voice rang out:

"Of course. Aiden is Mommy's little warrior. What reward do you want?"

"I want Daddy to kiss Mommy!"

"Our family should be together forever!"

That was my husband, my children, and the happiness that should have been mine.

Yet now, while I endured electroshock therapy, they were smiling and building their happiness.

The intense pain finally broke the last nerve, and everything went completely dark.

Finally, I gave up completely.

If that's how it is, James—I don't want you anymore. The children—I don't want them either.