I Waited in the Cold, But You Never Returned
Chapter 5
“Emily is jealous that I can give birth to a son, so she’s forcing my daughter and me to leave. Michael, don’t hit us—we’ll go. We can survive on the streets anyway.”
“Leave?! This family isn’t for Emily to decide!”
Michael was certain Lily was the one who did it. He forced her, “Kneel down! Apologize to your Aunt Reynolds!”
I couldn’t take it anymore. I rushed over and slapped Victoria hard.
“Bitch!”
“Enough!”
Michael shielded Victoria, pointing coldly at me and Lily.
“The mother is just as vicious as the daughter. She can’t even tolerate a widow.”
“Housekeeper, stop their living expenses for a month! From now on, they’ll eat only Victoria and Ethan’s leftovers!”
“If they don’t eat, let them starve! Report back when they die!”
That night, Lily and I were ordered by Victoria to stay in the nanny’s room in the garden.
In the freezing November winter, a sudden heavy snow fell.
My daughter had no thick coat, and after school, she caught a cold and developed a high fever.
Seeing her flushed face terrified me. I ran all the way to Michael’s company to ask for money for her treatment.
But I hadn’t been there in a long time, and as soon as I entered, the security guard stopped me.
“I’m Mr. Harrison’s wife. Let me in.”
“How could that be? Mr. Harrison’s wife is clearly his secretary. They’re quite close. Where did this shabby woman come from, making such shameless claims?”
Passing employees pointed and whispered at me, dressed in thin, outdated clothes.
I gritted my teeth and told the guard, “His wife? Then please, let me see her.”
“See her? She’s right there!”
I looked up and saw Victoria step out of the elevator in a tight skirt. Employees and guards greeted her respectfully, “Good morning, Madam.”
“Victoria, I need to see Michael!”
Feigning surprise, she shouted, “Where did this beggar come from? Security, throw her out! She’s probably a thief!”
“I don’t know her,” Michael said coldly as he passed by, pretending not to recognize me.
The guards dragged me out.
By nightfall, I saw him and Victoria come out together again.
Michael walked over, untying his scarf impatiently.
“Why did you cause trouble at the company today? I felt sorry for Victoria, so I arranged a job for her to support her son.”
“You’re dressed so poorly—what will people think if they find out you’re my wife?”
“Victoria only kicked you out to protect my image. Don’t hold it against her.”
At this point, I no longer cared about their affairs—only about my daughter.
“Lily has a cold and a persistent high fever. She needs to be hospitalized.”
Michael immediately panicked. “Where is Lily? I’ll contact the hospital.”
He had just taken out his phone when Victoria stopped him.
“Michael, kids catch colds all the time. Why waste money at a big hospital? Sister, you’re so heartless—don’t you know how hard Michael works?”
I stared at her, furious. “Victoria, who would joke about a child’s life?”
“Enough!” Michael snapped. “Victoria’s right.”
He pulled out 15 dollars and threw it at me.
“Buy some medicine from the roadside pharmacy. You and Lily are still being punished—don’t use this as an excuse to ask for more money!”
Michael drove off with Victoria.
But the 15 dollars wasn’t even enough for registration and medicine.
By evening, Lily’s condition worsened.
Her fever spiked, and she began losing consciousness.
The doctor said that without immediate hospitalization, her life would be in danger.
I held Lily and crouched by the hospital entrance, desperately calling Michael.
But every call was disconnected.
After trying a hundred times, I realized—
he had blocked me.
I collapsed on the street, holding my daughter tightly, begging her not to fall asleep.
Suddenly, a local entertainment news report flashed on the hospital TV:
[The president of the Harrison Group splurges, booking out Disneyland with a mysterious beauty and child.]
The crowd around murmured,
“That must be Mr. Harrison’s wife and kid. They look so happy.”
I stared blankly at the screen, feeling something inside me completely die.
In my despair, Ms. Harper saw my message and rushed back from out of town.
She went straight to the hospital and paid our bills.
That night, Lily’s condition stabilized.
I went home, packed our things, placed the signed divorce papers on the coffee table, and took everything that belonged to Lily and me.
Michael,
from this day on,
you will no longer exist in our world.
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