Chapter 2

A black fountain pen was dropped onto the document with a soft clink. Linda stared at the pen absentmindedly before she picked it up. With trembling hands, she removed the cap and signed her name on the divorce papers. With all her remaining strength, she threw the document toward William. A single tear fell onto the diagnostic report in her hand, and it spread like smudged ink on paper. It wasn't just the end of this fruitless love affair that hurt her, but the loss of an innocent child. Linda forced a smile and sighed softly. "From now on, we have no further ties. Mr. Wilson, I'm truly sorry for wasting four years of your life. From now on, you're free." William remained silent. He bent down to pick up the divorce papers from the floor and walked out of the ward. As soon as he left, Linda broke down and wailed uncontrollably. Her pale hands that gripped the rough hospital blanket were now marked with red imprints. After a long time, she placed her hand on her flat abdomen. She still couldn't believe that this place had once held a tiny life that lasted only 61 days. Seeing the diagnostic report in front of her, the hatred in Linda's eyes boiled. Despite all her efforts and sacrifices, William never loved her. To him, she was merely a scheming woman who deserved her fate. Thinking back, her apparent weakness over the past two months wasn't due to illness but early pregnancy symptoms. Joanne, who had given birth before, was the one behind her fall into the lake. It dawned on Linda that Joanne and Ida were the ones who had killed her child. They were the true villains. But, no matter who the killers were, she vowed to make them pay. Even if she was at fault, they had no right to harm an innocent child. … Two weeks later, Linda was discharged from the hospital. She seemed like a completely different person and was no longer the gentle and mild-mannered woman she once was. She had become cold and distant. Her eyes were unsettling, radiating a glacier's chill. Anyone who came near felt as if they were being caught in a snowstorm. The bodyguards at the villa's entrance tried to stop her, but her fierce gaze made them hesitate. They were left powerless to prevent her entry. Linda made her way through the Wilson residence smoothly. Joanne was out, and Ida was sitting on the stairs with a cup of tea, casually enjoying the scenery. It was the perfect spot to view the small courtyard Linda had created. Seeing Ida sitting there with an air of superiority, Linda's hatred boiled once more. As she walked past the living room, she noticed a cup on the table with an extinguished cigarette butt inside. It was a cup she had specially made for William while studying in Jasper City. But now, it was repurposed as an ashtray. Linda picked up the cup and slowly approached Ida from behind. She smashed the cup against Ida's forehead, and the cup shattered into pieces on the floor. Ida winced in pain and turned around with blood streaming from her forehead. The blood soon stained her pale face like crimson roses against a blanket of snow. "Linda, how dare you?" Ida's hand moved to strike back, but Linda quickly restrained her wrist. Linda gripped Ida's throat. "How dare I? Did you ever think about that when you hurt my child?" "You're mad!" Ida struggled and screamed, "Help! Linda's gone mad! She's going to kill me!" She proceeded to cry louder, "Help! Someone!" The more Ida struggled, the tighter Linda's grip became. Having been kidnapped and returned to her parents, Linda had learned judo and close combat, giving her strength far beyond that of an average woman. "Ida, do you and Joanne hate me that much? You're the real imposter. I've been more than patient with you. "If it weren't for my desire not to upset Joanne and have her hate me more, do you think you'd still be living at the Wilson residence as William's sister? "I've been more than kind to you. Even though I knew you were impersonating me, I treated you with respect throughout my three years of marriage to William. "I've always dealt with you as I would with anyone else. I honestly can't think of any way I've offended you—how could you not see my forbearance? "I, Linda, have never been ordinary. I didn't want to hurt you, but you chose to harm my child. You shouldn't—and have no right at all—to lay a finger on my child!" Linda's rage was palpable, and Ida couldn't hide her fear. She never imagined that the once gentle and submissive Linda could turn into such a monster in just half a month. Ida feared Linda might actually kill her. Linda was truly out of her mind. Hearing Ida's cries, the housekeepers immediately dropped their work and rushed in. They froze at the sight of Linda—who had once been bullied and submissive since her marriage to the Wilson family. She was now a full-blown demon standing at the top of the stairs, gripping Ida's throat. The Linda they knew was gone. She seemed as if she had come straight from hell, ready to drag anyone who angered her down with her. The sheer terror made them freeze, and they could only watch Ida's face flush red. Just then, the sound of a car braking was heard. William had returned. Linda knew it was William as she knew him better than anyone. But it didn't matter even if he was back. It didn't change the fact that her child was gone. Ida, knowing William had returned, felt a glimmer of hope, as did the housekeepers. William wouldn't stand by and watch Linda kill someone in the villa, especially not his "savior". "Linda, William is back! Let go of me now! If you lay a hand on me, William will make you pay a hundredfold!" Ida, feeling bolstered by William's presence, dared to confront Linda. Half of Ida's body was suspended in the air as she glared at Linda. As Linda tightened her grip, her voice grew colder. "Oh, really? I'm curious to see whether William can be fast enough to stop me from throwing you down the stairs." As William got out of the car, the crying housekeepers rushed to him and knelt in front of him. "Mr. Wilson, please save Ms. Ida! Ms. Felix is trying to kill her!" William entered the house quickly to confront Linda. He grabbed her wrist and shoved her away. Instantly, Ida fell to the ground, and the housekeepers hurried to her side to apply the pre-prepared medication to her bleeding forehead. Linda, yanked off balance by William, nearly stumbled but was steadied by his firm grip on her wrist. Once she was steady, William looked at her with a scowl, his face reflecting clear disgust for her. He coldly warned, "Linda, what the hell are you doing? The Wilson residence is not a place for your tantrums!"