Celia stared silently into her daughter's hostile eyes.

Watching Willow spread her arms, standing firm like a righteous guardian, Celia had never felt so defeated. She was a true failure as a person.

In the end, she said nothing and simply turned to leave.

When you're sad, you have to find a way to be happy.

Celia went straight to the bank and withdrew every last cent from her remaining accounts. Then she called Elysium and ordered up the seven newest, most handsome men.

"Your job today is to make me happy. Whatever it takes to make me smile, wherever you want to go, whatever you want, I'll give it to you!"

And so—

They rode in a limited-edition sports car, ate at the finest restaurants, raced on the most dangerous tracks, and bought gifts at the most expensive luxury stores…

They did everything the internet said was supposed to make a person happy.

Finally, exhausted from the fun, Celia parked the car on a beach and fell asleep inside.

The next morning, at ten o'clock, she was awakened by a call from her daughter's teacher.

"Hello, is this Willow Caldwell's mother? It's ten o'clock, why haven't you brought her to school yet? Is she taking another day off?"

Celia's reply was blunt. "Sorry, I've divorced Willow's father. From now on, if you need anything, please contact him directly."

She hung up.

From the day Willow was born, everything concerning her school life had been handled by Celia.

Before Evelyn appeared, Willow had been a well-behaved, high-achieving student.

But three months ago, after Evelyn returned, Willow got into her first fight at school, injuring another child. Celia had tried to discipline her.

But her daughter had retorted, "All you ever do is tell me to apologize and admit I'm wrong! Why should I?"

"Auntie Evelyn said kids need to express themselves. You have to be selfish and put your own happiness first. I didn't like him, so I hit him! So what?"

"A useless person like you doesn't deserve to be my mother!"

Her daughter, who she had taught to be polite and to know right from wrong.

Evelyn had only been back for three months, and she had turned into this, even spewing such venom at her.

Father and daughter were cut from the same cloth.

Well, she was leaving soon anyway. From now on, Flynn could clean up his own messes.

What kind of person her daughter grew up to be was no longer her concern.

But moments after she hung up, her phone rang again. It was Flynn.

"Celia, what kind of mother are you? Do you even know that your daughter is at home with a high fever? Even Evelyn is more concerned than you are! Her eyes are red from crying, and she's been at the hospital with Willow all this time."

"Even if we're divorced, you shouldn't take it out on the child."

Celia was being painted as completely worthless.

Three months ago, the first time Flynn had compared her to Evelyn, she had been so upset she couldn't sleep all night, yet the next morning, she still put on a smile and made breakfast for them.

But now, whether it was because the pain had numbed her or because she simply didn't care anymore, Celia's heart was a sea of calm.

She only said, "Weren't you and Evelyn with her yesterday? I wasn't home. What were you two doing?"

Flynn was momentarily speechless, then said in a low voice, "You know I'm busy with the company. Evelyn has been at the hospital with her all morning. This is your responsibility."

"I have other things to deal with. Get to the hospital now."

Before Celia could reply, Flynn hung up.

Celia didn't rush to the hospital in a panic like she used to. She had no intention of going.

Her head was splitting from the hangover. She planned to go back to her VIP suite at Elysium and rest.

But as she arrived at the entrance to Elysium, she was blocked by a swarm of reporters.

"Celia Thorne, you're living a degenerate life, and you've abandoned your daughter after the divorce, leading to her getting sick and hospitalized. Do you even deserve to be a mother?"

"We hear you used your resemblance to your sister to steal her husband. The Thorne family has never acknowledged you as their daughter. Did they know all along how venomous and manipulative you are?"

"Your sister is at the hospital taking care of your daughter for you. Don't you feel any shame?"

How annoying.

Celia looked straight into one of the cameras and, amidst the forest of microphones, managed a lazy smile. "Did Evelyn Thorne send you?"

The reporters fell silent, a flicker of guilt in their eyes.

She wasn't stupid. Their questions were all designed to tear her down while propping Evelyn up… If that was the game, then she'd give Evelyn something to do as well.

She threw out a bombshell.

"You're right, I can't compare to Evelyn. A woman who would flee the country to avoid a marriage, let her own sister take her place, and then come back to steal her sister's husband and child."

The words hit the pack of reporters like a grenade, and chaos erupted.

Celia ignored them, striding towards the elevator, heading for her VIP suite on the 99th floor.

But as she stepped out of the elevator, she came face to face with Flynn.

He marched towards her, grabbing her wrist. "Celia, who told you to spew that nonsense? Do you have any idea how much damage the online rumors are doing to Evelyn?"

Celia was about to say something, but a metallic taste filled her throat. The next second, she coughed up a mouthful of blood!