Chapter 1: The Family Of Three For seven years, Soraya poured her soul into her family. When her husband and daughter gave their love to the mistress, something inside her shattered. She walked away and never looked back.

Soraya

“No! I don’t want you! I want Aunt Rose!” Soraya’s daughter, Sage, screamed. “I want her to come to school with Daddy!”

Those words were like multiple knives that stabbed through Soraya’s heart. Her daughter preferred her husband’s mistress to accompany her to school.

“But, Sage, I’m your mom,” Soraya tried to reason, but her daughter only threw a tantrum, hurling the vase in the living room and screaming.

“But I like Aunt Rose. She is pretty and talented, and Dad likes her very much!” Sage retorted, further tightening the feeling in Soraya’s chest. “If I go with you, Dad won’t come!”

How could her daughter, the one she carried in her womb for nearly ten months and raised for six years, choose another woman over her?

Soraya had already accepted that her husband would never love her, but what about her daughter? Why had she become so distant from her?

Clenching her jaw, Soraya blamed it all on her husband, Calum Montclair. He was the one who introduced Sage to his “girlfriend.” He sent Soraya across the world under the guise of a business trip, allowing her daughter to bond with his mistress.

Back then, he said, “I need you to close a deal in Singapore.”

When she returned four months ago, Soraya learned about Rose and her growing relationship with her husband and daughter.

A tear rolled down Soraya’s face. She approached her daughter and knelt before her. She asked, “Sage, Baby… don’t you love Mommy anymore?”

Sage tried to open her mouth but instead snapped her head in the other direction, her arms folded against her chest. “I just want to spend more time with Aunt Rose.”

Soraya got up and gave Sage her back. She took deep breaths as she placed her hands on her hips. After gathering her composure, she said, “Okay. If that’s what makes you happy… but you must promise to spend time with me tomorrow.”

She wiped the tears that flooded her face and turned to her daughter. “It’s your special day, and we always spend it together, remember?”

Her daughter instantly looked guilty. She opened her mouth, about to say something, but instead gulped. “Okay, Mommy. I’m sorry.”

‘At least she still remembers,’ Soraya thought.

She checked the time, and seeing it was almost nine, she said, “Let’s go. You’re going to be late.”

While heading out, she called her husband, Calum. At first, he hung up the phone. He often did. To Calum, Soraya had never been an equal partner.

She had to text him the exact reason for her call: [Sage doesn’t want to come with me to the parent-teacher activity. She wants Rose.]

When Soraya and Sage reached the car, her husband replied: [Rose and I will be at school. Bring Sage over.]

The drive to Evermoor Academy was long and agonizing. It took everything in Soraya not to break down and cry. Now and then, she would glance at the rearview mirror, hoping to get a reaction from her daughter—anything.

But Sage avoided her gaze the entire time. It was as if the daughter she raised was now a stranger.

When they arrived at the school, Soraya waited. After half an hour, Calum’s Bentley finally pulled over in front of her. He stepped out of the car in his custom-made suit, his tall frame and chiseled features ever so defined. Then, he walked over to the other side and opened the passenger door.

He helped Rose out of the vehicle, his hand gently wrapped around hers.

Wearing a tailored red business dress, Rose carried herself with the quiet confidence of a seasoned professional. Her elegantly wavy blonde hair and expensive jewelry made her look exceptionally sophisticated.

Everyone outside the school gates turned to Calum and Rose with awe. Soraya could tell that they all thought they made a great couple.

‘Perhaps they do make a great couple,’ Soraya thought. After all, Calum, the CEO of the Montclair Group and the wealthiest man in Cedar Heights, was the one who had transformed their family business into a thriving empire. Rose Becket was said to be a gifted entrepreneur, having started a fashion line immediately after her doctoral degree.

“Aunt Rose!” Sage excitedly got out of the car.

Soraya had to rush out and chase after her daughter to ensure Sage’s safety. She thought she had prepared herself for whatever heartbreak she would witness, but she was dead wrong.

She saw Sage leap into Rose’s arms. The two were happy to be together as if they were truly mother and daughter. And as for Calum, he had that gentle smile on his face, an affection he never once gave Soraya.

Soraya’s knees nearly gave way. Her heart was aching so much that she felt like she could die at any minute.

In their “happy family,” Soraya was the outsider. She was the villain in their eyes, especially Calum.

After standing there like a fool for almost a minute, she finally caught Calum’s cold stare. He said indifferently, “You can go now.”

Soraya hesitated. She directed her gaze to Sage, asking, “Sage, tomorrow. You promised.”

Sage did not say anything. She just nodded.

Meanwhile, Soraya caught the triumphant look on Rose’s face. It angered her to the core. The confidence in this woman, who dared get involved with a married man, was just too much!

The trio did not stay any longer. They entered the school grounds with smiles on their faces.

Just as she was about to turn to her car, Sage’s teacher, Miss Gale, bumped into her.

“Mrs. Montclair! I’m sorry,” Miss Gale said with a smile. “I’m glad to see you. Are you attending today’s activity?”

The teacher frowned and shared, “Lately, another woman and Mr. Montclair have been picking up Sage from school. I—I wonder if—”

“I know,” Soraya responded bitterly. “It’s fine. It is what it is.”

“I’m—I’m sorry.” Miss Gale caught up quickly. She grieved for Soraya, on the verge of tears. If anyone, this teacher had witnessed all of Soraya’s sacrifices for Sage in school.

When Sage got hurt or sick while in school, Soraya always came to her daughter’s aid. Soraya attended most school activities without Calum.

“Don’t take it to heart, Mrs. Montclair. Sage... she—she doesn’t understand yet,” Miss Gale tried to comfort her, but honestly, it did not help.

The heaviness in Soraya’s chest continued to weigh down on her even as she prepared for Sage’s birthday celebration at home. She baked a cake and prepared special dishes that Sage would love to eat. After prepping for tomorrow, she went to the bedroom to rest.

Soraya had taken a week off from work, hoping to spend time with her daughter.

She deserved it.

Four years ago, under the pressure of Cedric and Amanda Montclair, Calum’s parents, Soraya quit her high-paying job to work for her husband as part of his support staff. The Montclair couple wanted her to work harder and win their son’s love. But the love Soraya longed for never came. Instead, Calum’s hate for her grew stronger.

Soraya had come to terms with the fact that Calum would never love her. The only reason she remained in their marriage was because of Sage, but even now, her daughter was slipping away.

“No,” Soraya muttered as she lay herself on the bed. “Sage will come back to me. I’m her mom. She loves me.”

She was emotionally exhausted and soon drifted to sleep.

When Soraya woke up, it was already late at night. She frowned, turning to the other side of the bed, finding it empty. She walked out of the master bedroom, calling the maid, “Belinda? Have Calum and Sage arrived?”

“Belinda?” she called again.

It took a while for the maid to come upstairs and address Soraya. The latter said, “Mrs. Montclair, Mr. Montclair, and the young miss have not arrived yet.”

A sense of panic washed over her. Soraya called her husband, but Calum dropped the call. She texted him, but he didn’t answer.

Knowing that her daughter brought her tablet, Soraya texted Sage through a messaging app. It was always how they communicated when they were apart. She waited until two check marks appeared, suggesting her daughter had seen the message.

Soraya sent another text: [Hi, Baby. Where are you? Don’t forget, we will spend time together on your birthday.]

Again, two check marks appeared.

Soraya’s fingers trembled as she stared at the screen.

The message had been seen, but the silence that followed cut deeper than betrayal.

Her daughter was slipping away, and she couldn’t stop it.

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The screen glows in the dark room, two gray check marks burning into my retinas. I sent the message hours ago: "Hi, Baby. Where are you? Don't forget, we will spend time together on your birthday."

She saw it. She didn't reply.

My fingers tremble, not from sadness anymore—from rage. I built this house, raised that child, supported his empire, and for what? To be erased by a man who never loved me and a daughter who forgot me?

I stand, walking to the closet where I've kept the box no one knew existed. Inside: stock certificates from my father's forgotten tech startup, a passport under a different name, and a burner phone with one contact: Julian.

They think I'm broken. They think I'll beg.

But I won't crawl. I'll rise.

And when they finally look for me, I'll be too far ahead to hear them call.