The scholarship kid who just transferred to my son’s elite private school looks exactly like my daughter—the baby my toxic ex-mother-in-law forcibly snatched from my arms years ago. My hands shook as I dug up her school records. To my horror, the parents listed under her name were my ex-husband, Brandon, and Chloe, the mistress he left me for! Back then, they humiliated me and kicked me out because they claimed I was useless and couldn't produce a male heir for their family empire. Who would have thought they had secretly kept and raised my daughter all this time? But looking at her dry, brittle hair and her pale, malnourished face, I realized she was living in absolute hell. At the parent-teacher conference, I whipped out her original birth certificate, determined to take her away from them. To my surprise, Chloe sneered and accused me of forging the documents! Right in front of my face, she raised her hand and slapped my little girl. "She’s my kid! I can do whatever the hell I want with her!" Fuming, I tried to call the police. But she ordered her bodyguards to pin me down, framing me as a child kidnapper. I begged the teacher and the other parents to call 911, but they were too terrified of Chloe's family influence to help me. Just as I fell into utter despair, my daughter suddenly burst into tears and threw herself into my arms. "Ma'am, I know you’re a good person. But please, just run! She’s my mom... you can't win against her!"
My daughter trembled in my arms. Her tiny body was as light as a feather. She looked up at me with tear-filled eyes, her voice cracking. "Ma'am, please, just run!" Those words pierced my heart like a dagger. I tightened my grip, pulling her frail body close, trying to pour all the years of lost maternal love into this single hug. I leaned down and looked her in the eyes, speaking with absolute clarity. "Lily, I'm not just some lady." "I'm your mommy." "I'm your real mommy!" Lily froze. She stared at me, trying to figure out if I was lying. A few seconds later, tears welled up in her big eyes and spilled over. "Mommy?" Her little hands gripped my coat tightly. "Then why did you abandon me? Where have you been all these years?" Her question felt like a knife twisting in my chest. I could only shake my head frantically. "No, Lily! Mommy never wanted to leave you! I've been looking for you every single day!" She didn't believe me. Crying, she suddenly pulled up her tattered sleeve. Her thin arm was covered in bruises—purples, blues, yellows. New wounds were layered over old scars. There wasn't a single inch of healthy skin. "Then look at this!" "Daddy beats me, and she beats me too!" "If you're really my mommy, why didn't you come save me?!" Her raw, agonizing scream shattered the silence of the room. The parents and teachers watching were visibly shaken. "Oh my god, that's horrific!" "Look at Chloe. She’s dripping in designer clothes, carrying a Chanel bag, but her daughter... she looks like she digs through trash." "Her clothes are faded and worn out, and look at those shoes—there's a hole in them! This is sick!" The whispering made Chloe’s face turn instantly pale. My tears flowed uncontrollably. "I'm so sorry, Lily. Mommy was useless." "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you." Four years ago, my toxic ex-mother-in-law, Evelyn, snatched three-year-old Lily from my arms. "You couldn't even give my son a male heir to inherit our estate, and now you want to keep our family's bloodline? In your dreams!" "Let me tell you, Clara, you will never see this child again!" I still remembered her cold grip, Lily’s terrifying screams, and how I knelt on the floor begging until the heavy oak door slammed in my face. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. "Lily, listen to me. Years ago, your grandmother—Brandon’s mother—forcibly dragged you away! She said I couldn't give them a son and didn't deserve to raise you!" "I've been looking for you for four years! I almost went crazy!" I pointed at Chloe’s bodyguards and screamed at the crowd. "Please! Someone call 911!" A young female teacher couldn't stand it anymore. Trembling, she pulled out her phone. "Hello, police—" Before she could finish, a dark figure lunged forward. *Smack!* Chloe’s bodyguard slapped the phone right out of her hand, sending it shattering across the floor. The bodyguard glared at her menacingly. "Mind your own business if you know what's good for you." The teacher turned pale and backed away in terror. Chloe crossed her arms, a cold smirk playing on her lips as she stepped forward. "Miss Avery, my husband was just about to donate half a million dollars to this school for a new gym." Her tone was dripping with arrogance. "If you make that call, you can kiss that donation goodbye." The principal's face instantly changed. She rushed over, squeezing out a fake smile for Chloe while pulling Miss Avery back. "Mrs. Vance, please don't be angry! Avery is young and foolish!" The principal turned and barked at the crowd, "What are you all staring at? This is a private family matter! Everyone, clear out!" My last shred of hope was crushed again. My heart sank to my stomach. I struggled with all my might, trying to reach into my pocket for my phone. The two bodyguards pinned my arms like iron clamps, but I managed to slip my fingers onto the edge of my device. Suddenly, Chloe darted forward and snatched the phone from my hand! A triumphant, nasty smirk spread across her face. "What's wrong, Clara? Trying to call Brandon to save you?" "Keep dreaming!" "He loves me now! He threw you out like trash years ago!" Looking at her twisted face, I spat at her feet. "Gross." "Do you think everyone likes recycling trash like you do?" "A scumbag like him? I wouldn't even touch him with a ten-foot pole!" My words caught her off guard. She clearly didn't expect me to fight back. Ignoring her, I turned my gaze back to my sweet daughter. "Lily, don't be afraid." "Mommy is taking you home today. No one can stop me!" My determination seemed to give her a spark of hope. She clutched my coat tighter and whispered, "Are you... are you really my mommy?" "Yes!" I answered without a second of hesitation. Seeing Lily's defenses crumble, Chloe completely lost her mind. Her face contorted in rage as she lunged forward, grabbing Lily by her collar. "Lily Vance! Snap out of it!" "I don't care who gave birth to you. Legally, you are my daughter!" She glared at Lily with venomous eyes. "And let me remind you of the only reason you even exist," "You live to keep your brother alive!"
"Live to keep her brother alive?" I repeated her words, my voice cold as ice. "Chloe, make yourself clear!" She crossed her arms, looking down her nose at me with ultimate arrogance. "Are you deaf? My son has a severe medical condition and needs blood transfusions." "Lily just happens to be a perfect match. She should be honored to save him!" My heart physically ached. I looked down at my trembling daughter. "Lily... is she telling the truth?" Lily’s tears flowed faster. She didn't say a word, but silently rolled up her other sleeve. On that equally thin arm, there were no bruises. Instead, her inner elbow was covered in a horrifying cluster of needle marks! The older ones had scabbed over into dark brown spots, while the fresh ones were still oozing tiny drops of blood. My daughter whimpered softly. "My brother is very sick. Every month, Daddy and Mommy take me to the hospital." "The doctor said taking a little blood won't hurt..." "But I always feel so dizzy and sick..." The last thread of my sanity snapped. "You monsters!" I roared at Chloe, my eyes burning with pure rage. "She's only six! She's a child!" "How dare you treat her like a walking blood bag!" My scream set off a bomb in the crowd. "Oh my god! That is sick!" "No wonder the poor girl looks so malnourished. They're literally draining her!" "This is evil! Torturing a little girl just to save their own son?" "Call the police! This is straight-up child abuse!" The outrage grew louder and louder. The parents' pity turned into absolute fury. Sensing the shift in the room, Chloe’s face turned pale, and she took a step back. She hadn't expected things to blow up like this. "Shut up, all of you!" "She is my daughter! I feed her, and she saves my son. It's only fair!" Realizing she couldn't control the crowd, she turned all her fury onto me. She stormed forward and swung her hand. *Slap!* The force of her slap whipped my head to the side. My ears rang. "Clara! Who do you think you are?!" "You're just a divorced loser kicked out by the Vance family! How dare you meddle in my life?" "Lily is my daughter. I can do whatever I want with her, and you can't do a damn thing about it!" Slowly, I turned my head back. I looked at her and laughed. "I can't do a damn thing?" "Everyone, listen to me. I am the wife of Ethan Sterling, CEO of the Sterling Group." "If you don't believe me, please help me call my husband. I will personally write a check for one million dollars to whoever helps me!" The room fell dead silent. Several parents literally gulped. One million dollars! Chloe froze for a second, but then burst into a mocking laugh. "Are you insane? The wife of Ethan Sterling? You?!" I ignored her, locking eyes with the hesitant, frightened, yet decent parents in the crowd. "Everyone." "I, Clara Sterling, swear on my name as the wife of the Sterling Group’s CEO." "You can record this as proof!" The crowd went wild. The Sterling Group! It was one of the top five conglomerates in the country—the pinnacle of wealth and power. A few parents secretly slipped out their phones. Even the principal, who had been trying to play peacemaker, stared at me with wide, trembling eyes. Panic finally set in for Chloe. She pointed at me and screamed at the crowd. "Don't listen to her lies!" "She's a fraud!" "She's just my husband's broke ex-wife! We kicked her out years ago!" "Her family is completely penniless. How could she possibly be married to Mr. Sterling? She's playing you all!" Her screeching words instantly threw cold water on the crowd's rising hopes. It was true. Why would the wife of a multi-billionaire attend a parent-teacher conference alone? Why would she let herself get pinned down by two bodyguards? Seeing the doubt in their eyes, Chloe smirked triumphantly again. She raised her chin. "I am the heiress of the Hayes Group!" "Are you going to believe a crazy, broke liar, or me?" While the Hayes Group couldn't compare to the Sterling Empire, they were still a prominent force in the city. In an instant, my words lost all weight. The parents whispered among themselves. "Yeah, I knew it was too good to be true..." "The kid is pitiful, but it's family drama." "Exactly. It's not worth crossing the Hayes family for a stranger." "This woman is crazy, lying about being married to Ethan Sterling just to get her kid back." Hope was crushed yet again. Was I really going to watch them take my daughter back to that living hell? No! I glared at the wavering principal with bloodshot eyes. "You don't believe me?" I rattled off a string of numbers. "This is Ethan Sterling’s personal number!" "Call it right now! Put it on speaker! Let him tell you exactly who I am!" My voice carried the raw, frantic energy of a woman with nothing left to lose. Everyone stared at the principal, waiting for her move. Right at that critical second... A sharp, anxious little voice echoed from the classroom. "Mommy!" My heart leaped. My son, Leo, ran out of the classroom on his little legs, his face filled with worry. Like a little rocket, he pushed through the crowd and threw his arms around my waist. "Mommy! What's wrong? Why are you crying?"
"Whose brat is this?" Chloe’s venomous glare shifted from me to Leo. My chest tightened. "Don't touch my son!" With a nasty smirk, Chloe actually reached her hand out toward Leo. "A broke loser raising another broke loser. Perfect." "Leo, run!" I screamed, trying with all my might to break free from the bodyguards holding me. But Leo didn't run. Instead, he remained incredibly calm. He raised his wrist and pressed a button on his smart watch. "Daddy! Someone is hurting Mommy! And an evil lady is trying to hit me!" Immediately, a deep, commanding voice filled with concern came through the speaker. "...Leo?" It was Ethan! Chloe’s face turned paper-white. Like a rabid dog, she lunged forward, snatched Leo's watch, and threw it hard against the floor! The brand-new smartwatch shattered into pieces. "Calling for backup?" She gritted her teeth, her voice dripping with malice. "Go ahead and call!" "Clara, neither you nor your little brat are leaving this room today!" "I'll make sure you learn what happens when you cross me!" "Mrs. Vance!" Miss Avery, who had been silent, finally stepped in front of Leo, shielding him with her arms. "Please show some respect! Leo is my student!" "I will not let you lay a single finger on him in my school!" Her bravery ignited the rest of the parents. "Yeah! Just because you have money doesn't mean you can assault a child!" "First she abuses her daughter, and now she wants to attack someone else's kid? She's insane!" "Call the police! Let's all call the police! Let's see how tough she is then!" The collective fury of the room completely stripped Chloe of her remaining sanity. "You ungrateful peasants!" She shrieked. Pushing Miss Avery aside, she raised her hand, her long red-painted nails aiming straight for Leo's face! My heart stopped. "No—!" I watched her hand descend, completely powerless to stop it. But just before she could make contact... A voice as cold as absolute zero echoed from the doorway. "Touch him, and I'll make sure you regret breathing." Everyone gasped and turned toward the door. The crowd parted like the Red Sea. Ethan Sterling, surrounded by a dozen elite, black-suited bodyguards, strode into the room. His cold gaze swept over Chloe before locking onto my swollen, red cheek. A terrifying storm erupted in his eyes. "Clara, who touched you?"
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