Right after giving birth, my husband sent me off to recover at his old flame’s postpartum wellness center.

What I didn't know was that it was a shady, unlicensed joint.

For a whole month, no visitors. The caregivers there either hit me or screamed at me, constantly mocking my post-baby body.

Meanwhile, my husband, Ethan, was busy throwing a huge one-month celebration party for my baby with his precious Sophia.

I saw it on TV. A luxurious ballroom, packed with guests. Ethan and Sophia stood center stage, looking like the perfect little family.

When a reporter asked a question, Ethan looked at Sophia with such tenderness and pity, "You've worked so hard, honey."

Everyone gushed about what a power couple the CEO of Sterling Corp and his "wife" were.

My mother-in-law, who always gave me the cold shoulder, beamed as she slipped the family heirloom bracelet onto Sophia's wrist.

Swallowing the blood and tears, I pulled out the cell phone I’d managed to hide under the mattress and called my brother, who was finally back in the country.

"I need to get my baby back, Chris. And I'm going to make every single one of them pay!"

...

I was finally home, sipping some hot chicken soup, when Ethan and Sophia burst through the door with some people.

Ethan was furious. "Maya, what the hell are you doing running around? Do you have any idea how worried Sophia was when she found out you disappeared from the center? She nearly lost her mind! And you're just sitting here calmly drinking soup?"

Sophia put on her best hurt expression. "Ethan, don't blame Maya. Maybe she just missed home and left without telling anyone."

That just made Ethan angrier. "Sophia was kind enough to let you stay at her high-end center, arranged the best caregivers, the best nutritional meals, and this is how you thank her? Maya, you're getting more and more ridiculous! Apologize to Sophia right now!"

I let out a cold laugh. This was the man I once loved. Sending me to an unlicensed hellhole just for his old flame.

The "best nutritional meals" he mentioned? Cold leftovers. Chicken soup with a thick layer of grease solidified on top, and a gnawed chicken bone sunk at the bottom!

His "best caregivers" gave me cold water, took my phone, kept me locked up, and dished out beatings and verbal abuse daily.

The more I remembered, the hotter the hatred burned inside me.

But it wasn't time to deal with them yet.

I finished my soup and set the bowl down gently.

"Where is my baby?"

Ethan paced irritably, then rounded on me again. "Who are you giving that attitude to?

"Didn't I explain this already? Sophia lost her baby; she just wanted to borrow ours for a little while. She's been through so much, what's the big deal letting her have the baby for a bit? We can always have another one!"

I sneered inwardly. Just like that, he casually talks about giving away the child I nearly died to bring into the world.

I remembered when Ethan was chasing me, promising he’d always treat me right.

My parents hadn't approved of him back then, didn't want us together. He actually knelt outside their door, swearing he wouldn't marry anyone else.

That’s what finally, reluctantly, convinced them.

But the moment his old flame, Sophia, came back to the city, everything changed.

I thought about the day I went into labor. I couldn’t reach him, no matter how many times I called.

Complications arose, needing family consent for procedures. He was nowhere to be found. Shaking, I signed the critical condition forms myself.

And where was he?

His excuse later: "Sophia's kid fell down the stairs and was in the ER! Can you stop being so dramatic?"

Before I could even respond, he'd hung up violently. When I tried calling back, his phone was off.

When I finally woke up, I found myself in some recovery center I’d never heard of, and the baby I’d endured a traumatic birth for was gone.

My phone was missing. I couldn't contact anyone. Panicked, I tried to run out to find my son, but the center's staff grabbed me, dragged me back to the room, and literally tied me down. They fed me scraps.

I was on the verge of a complete breakdown when I saw the news report about Ethan's party on the TV in the corner.

There he was, arm around Sophia, who was holding my baby.

My mother-in-law personally placed the family bracelet on Sophia's wrist, smiling and telling the cameras, "My daughter-in-law gave birth to a beautiful, healthy boy! She's the hero of the Sterling family!"

A happy family of four, perfect for the media.

While I was tied up like an animal in that dark, hopeless place.

2

My hands, resting on my lap, clenched into fists. I looked Ethan straight in the eye. "Give me back my son, or I'm calling the cops. Tell them how you illegally confined me in an unlicensed facility just to steal my child!"

Ethan’s face changed.

Sophia burst into tears. "I've been a mother; I know how hard it is. That's why I suggested Ethan let you stay at my recovery center. I never thought you'd see me this way, Maya.

"I didn't want to steal your baby, I just wanted to hold him... And since you couldn't attend the one-month party during your recovery, I just went in your place to watch over him. I didn't realize you'd misunderstand."

She sobbed pitifully, looking completely innocent.

Ethan's eyes filled with sympathy for her. He patted her back comfortingly. "You were just trying to help; it's not your fault."

Then he turned to me impatiently. "Maya, don't push your luck. Apologize to Sophia! And go back to the center quietly, or you'll never see the baby again!"

Without waiting for my reaction, he waved to the orderlies behind him, signaling them to take me away by force.

Just as their rough hands grabbed me, pulling me up—

My brother, Chris, walked in through the door. His gaze was ice-cold, his face stern. Behind him stood several tall, imposing bodyguards.

"What do you think you're doing to my sister?"

A couple of bodyguards stepped forward, grabbed the orderlies, and slapped them hard across the face, again and again, until their cheeks were swollen.

These were the same monsters who had abused me.

Back then, I didn’t know the center belonged to Sophia. Treated like that, I thought maybe I was in some kind of psych ward. I begged them to let me call Ethan.

They just laughed cruelly. "It was your husband and Ms. Sophia who put you in here. You think he's going to come get you out?"

My heart dropped. The C-section scar throbbed.

Guessing they were deliberately sent to torture me, I snapped, "You're assaulting a patient! That's illegal! Aren't you afraid of getting arrested?"

Their tone was pure contempt. "We've been open for ages, taken in countless new moms. Nobody's ever successfully reported us. Who the hell do you think you are?"

"Just behave yourself in here, and we'll take real good care of you!"

They didn't want to waste more words. Their faces turned menacing, their fingernails dirty black as they pressed down hard on my incision.

The pain was blinding; blood slowly seeped from the wound.

And at that exact moment, my husband was parading his love for his old flame in front of the media.

...

Ethan looked at my brother, visibly shaken. His expression flickered. Cautiously, he said, "Maya might have postpartum depression. I just wanted her to get some rest and treatment."

"Funny, I wasn't aware my sister had PPD," Chris scoffed. "You think the medical team at Lin Corp can't compare to your little wellness center?"

Ethan’s face finally drained of color. He whipped his head around to look at me, his voice dry. "Maya, the CEO of Lin Corp is your brother? Why didn't you tell me?"

I gave him a cold smile. "My brother was busy, he couldn't make our wedding. I was planning a nice family dinner after the baby was born, get everyone together. Who knew you'd ship me off to that hellhole instead?"

Back then, my parents had reluctantly agreed to let me be with Ethan, but they wanted to "observe" him longer.

They told me not to reveal our family's situation to him. So, he had no idea I was the sister of Chris Lin, CEO of Lin Corporation.

Coincidentally, my grandfather got sick this year, so my parents went abroad with him for treatment. Chris was tied up with overseas business.

That's why, when I had complications during labor, Ethan was the only one I could turn to.

3

Ethan looked like he was about to crumble.

I knew his company had been struggling recently. He'd been bending over backward, wining and dining one of my brother's VPs, desperate to land a partnership project with Lin Corp.

Chris casually draped a jacket over my shoulders, then turned to Ethan with a smirk. "You know, I was actually considering what my sister said the other day… giving your company the project, partnering up. Wasn't out of the question. But seeing how you treat her..."

Of course, Chris was bluffing. I wanted Ethan to taste hope, only to have it snatched away.

A flicker of desperate hope crossed Ethan's eyes, though he tried to maintain composure.

He grabbed my hand, his tone reproachful. "Why didn't you tell me something so important?

"Sending you to the recovery center was for your own good! But if you didn't like it, fine."

Every word was an excuse, shifting blame, completely ignoring the suffering I endured there.

Seeing this, my brother barely contained his anger. "My sister suffered in that place," he said contemptuously. "I won't make things difficult. We'll just follow the law. Report this center, get the person in charge and the abusers thrown in jail. Stop them from hurting anyone else."

Hearing this, Sophia finally panicked.

She tugged at Ethan's sleeve, crying, "Ethan, I didn't know they'd treat Maya like that! I just wanted her to have the best care, I swear I didn't know…

"Maya, if you have to blame someone, blame me. Ethan didn't know anything."

She cried so pitifully, looking every bit the innocent victim.

Sophia was Ethan's childhood neighbor, the girl he'd crushed on, the one that got away.

Back then, she'd flirted with him but refused to commit, marrying some rich guy instead. But the rich guy's family went bankrupt soon after.

She got divorced and came back with her kid.

From that moment on, Ethan started staying out all night.

All she had to do was put on a damsel-in-distress act, mention her kid was sick and she didn't know what to do.

Ethan would drop everything, leave my side instantly, and rush to her.

Meanwhile, I was heavily pregnant, going to prenatal checkups alone. When I had a fever, I had to call a ride-share myself.

I had insisted on marrying Ethan against my parents' wishes. Now I was reaping the bitter consequences, swallowing them alone. I didn't want my parents to worry, so I always told them everything was fine when they called.

I never imagined it would embolden them to escalate things this far.

I laughed coldly. "One 'I didn't know' and you wash your hands of it all? If apologies actually fixed anything, what would be the point of the police?"

The air grew thick with tension.

Chris helped me sit down at a table with some tea, watching Ethan and Sophia’s faces shift through various shades of panic.

"You two should leave," Chris said flatly. "You're not welcome here.

"And Ethan, forget about the business deal."

The next second, Ethan suddenly spun around and slapped Sophia hard across the face. "Who told you to treat my wife like that?" he roared.

Sophia clutched her reddening cheek, eyes wide with disbelief.

I almost laughed out loud. Wow, Ethan really was ruthless. Willing to strike his precious Sophia just to protect his interests.

I remembered how, not long ago, Sophia had falsely accused me of burning her finger. Ethan had shoved me away so violently I hit my head, then forced me to apologize. He stayed away for days, saying he’d only come back and forgive me when I truly admitted I was wrong.

I'd wanted to divorce him right then, but while getting my head wound treated at the hospital, I found out I was pregnant.

When Ethan learned I was pregnant, he was ecstatic. He instantly reverted to the attentive man he used to be.

I thought it was because of the baby, the responsibility of a new life, that he’d had a change of heart.

Only later did I learn the truth. Sophia had complications giving birth to her daughter and had a hysterectomy. She could never have children again.

And the baby I was carrying… tests had shown it was a boy.

Ethan stood with his back to me; I couldn't see his expression.

Sophia was sobbing, kneeling before me. "I'm so sorry, Maya."

Ethan put on a guilty face. "Maya, Sophia didn't mean it. We grew up together; I just look out for her a little more sometimes."

I remained unmoved. I knew exactly what Ethan felt, or didn't feel, for his old flame.

I just asked coldly, "Where is my son?"

Ethan quickly replied, "He's at our place, safe and sound."

4

My brother and I rushed over to my mother-in-law's place. As soon as she opened the door and saw me, her face soured, and she physically blocked the entrance.

"What do you want?"

Ever since I married Ethan, she'd disliked me.

She thought her precious son, with his looks and supposed wealth, deserved a rich heiress, not an "ordinary" woman like me. (Never mind that when Ethan and I got together, his company was just starting, he was broke, and the gifts he bought me cost less than one of my typical meals.)

Before, I put up with her attitude for the sake of family harmony.

Now, talking to her felt like a waste of breath. I simply nodded to the bodyguards behind me.

One guard took each of her arms and pulled her aside.

My mother-in-law struggled violently, screaming.

"Help! Someone's breaking in to steal the baby! Ethan? Didn't you say you wouldn't let her take the baby—"

"Mom! Maya and I are here to see the baby! Why are you blocking the door?" Ethan cut her off sharply.

I gave a cold smile, ignoring their little performance.

Pushing the door open, I saw my precious baby boy nestled in his bassinet, chewing on his little foot.

Maybe it was a mother's connection, but the moment he saw me, he broke into a wide, toothless grin.

I covered my mouth, tears welling up, and rushed over to hold him.

I’d only glimpsed him briefly after he was born before passing out from the pain and exhaustion.

It had been almost two months, and this was the first time I truly held him.

So soft, so small, this tiny being I carried for ten months.

"It's okay, little one," I whispered, holding him close. "Mommy won't let anyone take you away from me ever again."

I cuddled him gently, and he soon fell asleep in my arms.

I carefully placed him back in the bassinet and instructed the bodyguards to take him out first.

My mother-in-law panicked. "That's my Sterling grandson! Where are you taking him, you bitch?"

Ethan snapped impatiently, "Mom! Maya is his mother! What are you talking about? This isn't your business; go back to your room!"

My mother-in-law looked furious, her chest heaving, but she listened to him and left.

Ethan gently put an arm around me. "See, Maya? Now you believe me, right?"

I managed a smile. "Believe what? He's my son, of course he is. But right now, the whole world thinks he's Sophia's child, that you two are the happy family."

Ethan rushed to reassure me. "That was all Sophia's idea! She insisted on going. I only went along with it for the company's image.

"Come on, Maya, everything I do, all the hard work for the company, isn't it all to give you and the baby a better life?"

If I believed that load of crap, I really would be an idiot.

But simply sending Sophia to jail wasn't enough. I wanted her reputation utterly destroyed. And Ethan, the main culprit, had to face his own reckoning.

After a moment's thought, I said, "I want you to hold another party. A proper one. And in front of all the media, you will acknowledge me as your wife and the mother of our child. Everyone needs to know the truth."

Ethan readily promised.

Before he could relax, I turned, looking at Sophia's delicate, tear-streaked face, and added with a sweet smile:

"Of course, Ms. Sophia wronged me significantly. She publicly tried to steal my husband and my child. So naturally, she also needs to publicly kneel and apologize to me.

"Any objections, Ms. Sophia?"

Sophia’s face instantly turned deathly pale.