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Chapter 18

Author: Maureen Green
No matter what, Colin knew he would never allow Sophie to continue living with a woman like Aspen.

"Sophie is dead! She died while you were whispering sweet nothings to this woman and lit up the entire city with fireworks for her! Our Sophie—your daughter—died because there was no money for her surgery! She's gone! She's dead!"

Aspen struggled violently as tears streamed down her face. Every word was filled with accusation, despair, and the helpless rage of a mother.

With all her strength, she wrenched herself free from Colin's grip and dropped to her knees, desperately trying to pick up the photograph on the ground. Shards of glass pierced her palms, and blood dripped onto the floor, but she didn't care.

She wiped her bleeding hands on her clothes without a second thought and carefully cradled the crumpled photograph, brushing away the dirt with trembling fingers.

"You…" Colin's heart sank in an instant. A deep, unsettling feeling crept over him, as if something inside him had co
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    The struggle earlier had drained all of Aspen's strength. No matter how much resentment simmered in her heart, she couldn't fight back anymore.She could only let Riley haul her up from the ground and take her to the car.Aspen didn't resist throughout the entire process; she didn't even show the slightest movement of defiance. The only thing she did was clutch the crumpled photograph in her hands as if it were her last lifeline.Her Sophie, her poor child, had spent such a short time in this world without receiving even a shred of love from her father—not even a single hug.Now that she was gone, they still wouldn't let her rest in peace.Who exactly was unworthy of being called human here?…"Colin, I'm really fine. It's just a small cut. You should go home," Gwyneth urged Colin in the hospital. "I don't think Ms. Nicholls is in a stable state right now. I'm a little concerned about Sophie. A child shouldn't have to suffer for the mistakes of adults. She's your daughter too.

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    Yet now, seeing Aspen like this, a dull ache pressed against Colin's chest."Ms. Nicholls, don't say that. Colin and I… We're not what you think." Gwyneth's eyes reddened as she instinctively hid behind Colin. "We… we're not disgusting.""I love Gwen. We've always loved each other. You were the one who schemed to sleep with me and tried to use Sophie to tie me down. "Now, not only have you failed at being Mrs. Fuller, but you don't even know how to be a mother. Where's Sophie? Hand her over before I lose my patience."Colin's expression remained cold as he stepped slightly in front of Gwyneth, as if shielding her from any possible harm.That unconscious movement—positioning himself protectively in front of Gwyneth—wasn't an act.Aspen understood that Colin truly loved Gwyneth and that he truly didn't love her. Even Sophie had become an innocent casualty just because he didn't love her."She's dead." Aspen lowered her gaze and stated the truth, appearing chillingly calm.Sophie

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    "I'm Sophie's mother! No one in this world loved her more than I did! How could I ever curse my own daughter? I would have rather died in her place!" Aspen laughed in fury, her voice tinged with despair. Perhaps this was what true hopelessness looked like. But the raw desperation and madness in her eyes were too real, making Colin hesitate for the first time."That's… How could this be?""How could it not be? What do you even know? Did you ever love Sophie? Did you ever once let her into your heart? She had bone cancer!"Her only wish in her final days was to have her father by her side. But what did you do? You were busy indulging yourself with this woman!"Aspen's eyes burned with hatred as she looked at the two people in front of her. She could accept losing her husband. But why did Gwyneth have to take away Sophie's father in her last moments? Why did they have to strip away her final hope?Sophie had been the best, most well-behaved child in the world. Time and time again

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    Aspen tilted her head back, desperately trying to hold back her tears. She didn't want them to fall. Finally, she looked at Colin and said in a cold, firm tone, "You still don't believe me, do you? Then come with me. I'll take you there. I want you to see it with your own eyes. Maybe then you'll finally believe me.""Aspen, if you dare lie to me, I won't let you or Joseph off the hook!"Joseph was Aspen's last remaining relative in the world and her only weakness. Colin had always been calculating; he knew exactly how to strike where it hurt most.But he hadn't realized that Aspen had changed. He hadn't noticed that she no longer cared.She couldn't care less if Joseph died right now!Without sparing Colin another glance, Aspen led him to Sophie's preschool, then to Sophie's art studio. After that, they visited Sophie's favorite dessert shop, her favorite amusement park, and finally returned to the park in the mansion's neighborhood.But no matter where they went, there wasn't

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    "Aspen, don't be ungrateful!" Colin frowned, and the fleeting guilt he had felt moments ago vanished in an instant.He had always thought of her as a scheming woman, but at least she had been rational. Now, she had completely lost her mind."Who's the one refusing to let go here? We're divorced, yet you're still clinging to me. What exactly do you want?"Did you only realize after losing me that you were actually in love with me all along? And now you want to get back together? Then what about your precious Ms. Sanders? What will you do with her?"Aspen suddenly burst into laughter, and her gaze was filled with disdain. The sharp mockery in her eyes cut straight into Gwyneth's heart."Colin, if you really love her, I can step aside," Gwyneth said softly. "I… I only stayed with you because I love you, not for anything else. If you don't love me anymore, you can just say so."As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. She wiped them away quickly, as if s

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    Gwyneth's heart twisted with jealousy, but she didn't let it show. Instead, she sighed softly."Colin, I'm sorry. I really can't control my emotions. In the end, it's all my fault. If I had loved you a little less, maybe Ms. Nicholls wouldn't be acting this way.""Don't say such nonsense." Colin's gaze softened as he looked at the woman in his arms with concern.Yet even as he held her, he couldn't ignore the faint sense of impatience creeping into his chest. He didn't know where it came from or who it was directed at, so he could only suppress it for now.Taking out his phone, he called one of his assistants, Wyatt Davison."Find out where Sophie is.""Yes, sir."Gwyneth's expression darkened slightly. Sophie was already dead, but it was clear that Colin still refused to believe it. It seemed she needed to make him accept the truth as soon as possible.As long as that little nuisance was out of the picture, there would be no remaining ties between Colin and Aspen. And once tha

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    Now that Colin was gone and they had gotten divorced, Aspen had no reason to keep this useless thing anymore.She removed the ring without hesitation and handed it over to Joseph. Her voice was calm as she said, "This is worth more than the apartment. Sell it, and don't ever contact or bother me again.""Pen, I knew you were a sensible young lady! I'm your only family in this world; don't worry, I'll always protect you. You've lost so much weight lately. Let me take you out for a good meal, alright?"Joseph's attitude shifted the moment he saw the diamond ring. Seeing his sudden change in demeanor, Aspen was reminded of her childhood.Back then, she had been closest to Joseph. She had followed him around every day, playing with him without a care.Her eyes then flickered toward the family photo hanging on the wall. Taking a deep breath, she hesitated for a moment before finally nodding in agreement.Joseph's eyes lit up instantly, and before she could react, he grabbed her hand a

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    "Joseph owes me two million dollars. He said you'd be the payment," said Isaac.His eyes gleamed with greed, and his gaze was filled with aggression. He reached out, gripping Aspen's chin as he examined her face carefully.Shaking his head, he sneered. "A little too thin, but still not bad-looking. Two million seems like a bit of a loss.""No, no, please don't do this! I can give you the money! I'll pay the two million myself! Just don't do this!"Tears streamed down Aspen's face as her voice trembled with fear. She instinctively fumbled for her phone, pressing the buttons in desperation.Even though she had changed phones, the system settings remained the same—Colin was still listed as her emergency contact.The call went through as it dialed automatically. It went through five times, yet each time, the screen flashed the same response—no answer.Isaac easily noticed her attempt to call for help. But when he heard the endless ringing on the other end, he only chuckled."Little

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    Watching Aspen's childish behavior, Aren sighed helplessly before chuckling. "Who would be talking about you behind your back?""I suspect it's you!" Aspen tilted her head, eyeing him suspiciously. "Admit it—you're secretly cursing me in your heart, aren't you?""If I wanted to curse you, I wouldn't do it secretly. I'd say it right to your face and scold you until you're drowning in shame!" Aren rolled his eyes dramatically, then pressed harder on the accelerator.…Seeing Joseph again stirred complicated emotions in Aspen. But when Joseph laid eyes on her, his gaze held nothing but hatred."You little bitch! How dare you show your face here? Look what you've done to your own uncle! If your mother knew, she'd never forgive you!"Right from the start, Joseph started talking about Aspen's deceased mother, which was a typical move from him. No matter what unreasonable demand he made, he always used her mother's name to manipulate her.Aspen had backed down again and again because o

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    Aspen lowered her lashes as she murmured, "Getting angry over this would be a waste. I'm used to it after all these years."That very acceptance made Aren's heart ache even more. He reached out to gently brush her cheek without thinking. "You've suffered so much.""It's over now." Aspen dodged his touch with a small smile.Her pain had stemmed from loving Colin and from caring about Sophie in the past. But now Sophie was gone, and whatever feelings she had once harbored for Colin had long vanished. The suffering was over—next would come the reckoning for those ruthless people.Seeing Aspen's stubborn pride, Aren merely sighed. "Then rest well. I'll head back for now.""Wait. Can you come with me to see Joseph?" Aspen quickly finished her meal while blinking up at him expectantly.She had been meaning to visit Joseph earlier, but it had kept being delayed because of circumstances. Now was actually the perfect time since no one would pay them any attention.Aren immediately object

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    This was the first time Aspen felt Aren might as well have descended from heaven. Aren couldn't help but roll his eyes as he watched her childlike yet utterly practical reaction. "It's just food. Is it really that big a deal?""Right now, it's the best thing in the world!" Aspen grabbed the utensils and began devouring the meal without standing on ceremony.Admittedly, Aren's food—even when made to suit the hospital's requirements—surpassed the hospital cafeteria's offerings. Aspen's eyes curved into crescents as she beamed at him. "Aren, which restaurant is this from? It's amazing.""What takeout would be this bland? I made it myself." Aren chuckled as he sat across from her. His gaze softened with unmistakable tenderness as he watched her chipmunk-like stuffed cheeks. "Don't forget—I did study overseas. Good cooking was survival skills 101."Aspen nodded vigorously between enthusiastic bites. This marked her first time tasting Aren's cooking, and it absolutely delivered.She

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    "Thank you for your concern, but I know what I'm doing." Aspen smiled gently before continuing, "Marriage is never simple to begin with, let alone one like ours. But don't worry—I won't suffer for nothing."In the past, she would have taken the abuse without fighting back. But now? She had learned to return tooth for tooth, eye for eye. She would never let Colin get away with hurting her again.Zephyr could only sigh when he heard her response. He merely assumed she was putting on a brave face."Well, it's your marriage, so I shouldn't interfere too much. But please, take care of yourself. Don't get hurt again."He looked at her with deep worry. He had always thought a respectable man like Colin would never lay a hand on his wife. Yet here they were."Zephyr, thank you. But I'm really fine. I'll be discharged in a week."Aspen grabbed a flash drive from the bedside table and shoved it into Zephyr's hands. "When you get back, give those idiots a piece of my mind. What kind of garb

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    Faced with that gaze, Aren couldn't bring himself to refuse. All he could do was nod. "Alright, I promise you!"Aspen finally relaxed upon hearing his words of assurance—only to pass out immediately from the overwhelming pain.Aren's gentle expression vanished as he watched her lose consciousness, replaced by fury and barely contained rage. His fists clenched. He swore to himself he would never let Colin get away with this!He pulled out his phone and called Niall. "We need to accelerate our plan!""You're being too hasty." Niall remained perfectly calm. "Aren, we're both tech people. You know our greatest asset is staying level-headed."Aren leaned against the wall, his eyes fixed on Aspen's unconscious form through the glass. He wasn't usually impulsive—except when it came to her.Fortunately, Niall was the type to remain composed no matter the situation. His calmness gradually grounded Aren.Aren gritted his teeth after taking a deep breath. "I'm going to devour Fuller Grou

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    Aspen covered her ears and screamed, "Get out!"She truly couldn't accept Colin calling Sophie "defective". She couldn't accept that in his eyes, even Sophie, his own flesh and blood, was nothing more than a flawed product!Colin was about to say more when he noticed fresh blood seeping through the bandages on her back. His expression softened slightly, and he sighed in resignation.Reaching out, he brushed a hand over her hair and said, "You'll understand one day that none of this was my fault."With that, he turned and strode out."You bastard!" Aspen shrieked, hurling anything within reach across the room.The crashing sounds made Colin pause mid-step. His brows furrowed as a suffocating frustration tightened in his chest."What an unreasonable woman."In Colin's world, only he mattered. Everyone else was expendable—even his own daughter. It was especially the case for a child he had never wanted in the first place.When Aren returned with food, the chaos and destruction in

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    Aspen stared blankly at the conflicted Colin standing before her, utterly baffled by his awkward demeanor."I'll find you the best doctors to ensure there's no scarring." Colin finally managed to say.But Aspen found it utterly ridiculous. She sneered coldly. "If this is your idea of an apology, save it.""Aspen, what do you actually want?" Colin frowned at the woman before him.He couldn't understand where the obedient, accommodating woman from before had gone. Why was she covered in thorns now? What happened to her?As he looked at Aspen, Colin began to miss the woman who had once yielded to his every whim, the one who only had eyes for him. "I want to take the inheritance Mr. Fuller Senior left me, divorce you, and disappear forever. Is that so hard to understand?" Aspen laughed bitterly.Truthfully, she had made her demands clear from the start—Colin had simply refused to relinquish it when it wasn't even his to begin with.Colin replied bluntly upon hearing this, "You kno

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