Chapter 3

Arlene's POV

"Arlene!" Caspian steadied Serafina, glaring at me like I'd lost my mind. "What the hell's wrong with you? She just wanted to hold the baby! Was that really necessary?"

"That bitch isn't laying a finger on my child!" I shot back, staring her down hard.

Serafina hung her head, her voice shaky. "Arlene, I'm so sorry... I just thought the baby was adorable and couldn't resist. I didn't mean anything by it..."

She looked up, tears streaming down her cheeks, the picture of wounded innocence.

"Look what you've done—you've scared Serafina half to death!" Rowena clutched the baby and stepped back, eyeing me with disgust. "Postpartum mood swings are one thing, but this is straight-up crazy!"

"She's your husband's friend, not some criminal!"

She's the monster who killed my daughter.

Images from my past life flooded my mind—

Serafina came back, and I got kicked out of the Valcour family home.

My daughter stayed behind.

I begged to see her, but they wouldn't let me.

Later, I found out what Serafina had done to her.

She smashed my girl's favorite toy right in front of her.

She terrorized her on purpose, making her cry until she could barely breathe.

When no one was looking, she pinched her little arms, leaving bruises all over.

And Caspian? He didn't know a thing.

Or maybe he just didn't want to.

On her third birthday, I wasn't invited—as her own mother. I snuck into the estate just to catch a glimpse.

My daughter saw my scarred face and screamed in terror. That night, she died.

"Respiratory failure," they said.

"Her own mother scared her to death," they said.

It wasn't until later that I uncovered the truth: Serafina had seized the moment to murder her, and everyone pinned it on me, the "killer mom."

In this life, I'd die before letting Serafina touch a hair on my daughter's head.

"Caspian." Serafina tugged gently at his sleeve, wiping her tears. "It's okay, really. It's my fault... I shouldn't have tried to hold the baby without asking. Arlene just had a kid—she's probably exhausted and on edge..."

"Don't blame her..."

"Serafina, you're way too nice," Rowena said, looking at her with pity. "You don't have to put up with people like that."

"Mom's right." Caspian pulled Serafina close, his eyes like ice as he turned to me. "Arlene, you better remember this."

"Once you're recovered, we're finalizing the divorce. And forget about custody—you're not getting the kid."

With that, he wrapped his arm around Serafina and stormed out.

Rowena shoved the baby back into my arms and snorted. "Take good care of her. I'll send a maid over later to help."

Aldrich gave me a quick glance but said nothing, trailing after his wife.

The hospital room door slammed shut with a bang.

The next day, I cradled my daughter and slipped out of the hospital without a word.

I didn't head back to the Valcour estate. Instead, I holed up in a cheap apartment I'd rented on the fly.

I'd already made up my mind—if they wanted me to walk away penniless and leave the baby behind, fine. I'd sign the divorce papers myself and take her with me.

At the same time, I had my lawyer deliver the agreement to the Valcour house.

It stated: The wife voluntarily forfeits all assets and only requests full custody of the child.

Two days later, my phone rang. It was Caspian. "Arlene, where the hell have you taken my kid? Don't forget, I'm her father too. My parents have a right to see their granddaughter."

"Caspian, all I want is the baby—nothing else," I said firmly. "You think I'm in the way, right? You all blame me for ruining your perfect love story with Serafina. Well, now I'm out of the picture, kid and all. You're welcome!"

He let out a cold laugh. "In your dreams! You're probably just using the baby to pull some stunt. Come back now, admit to my grandma all the dirty tricks you pulled to break me and Serafina up, and apologize to her. Then maybe you can stay at the estate with the kid."

"I don't give a damn!" I snapped and hung up.