Revenge for My Late Daughter

1

I am an orphan and grew up in an orphanage.

Because I had to be sensitive to others' moods since I was a kid, I became very attuned to others' emotions.

The kids at the orphanage were all overly deferential. And naturally, they didn't treat older kids like me, who couldn't be adopted, very well.

To receive my education, I often worked part-time. Fortunately, my perseverance and hard work paid off.

I was successfully admitted to a local college. After I left the orphanage, I enjoyed the days at college, where I rarely led a carefree life in my life.

I thought my life would be different and my childhood wounds would be healed after I met Kevin Harrett. But I never expected that he would be the beginning of my tragedy.

Kevin and I dated for five years. Both of us came from humble backgrounds and we earned our way through hard work. So our values and outlook on life were quite aligned.

He was very down-to-earth, diligent, and always serious at work. I was satisfied with almost everything about him, except for his mother who was difficult.

I remembered the first time I met Kevin's mother. She pointed at my nose and said I was poor and not good enough for Kevin.

That day, I barely dared to speak. Kevin argued with his mother, but it ended unresolved.

After leaving Kevin's family, he held my face and promised he would marry me. He cried, saying, "I'm sorry for the way she treated you, Samantha."

His mother strongly opposed our marriage, but Kevin took the risk of being beaten and got married to me.

After that, we had dinner in a fancy restaurant. I remembered the steam rising from the dishes and the warm lights in the restaurant.

Kevin smiled and told me that we would move out, away from his mother. Then we would have a baby. Whether it was a boy or a girl, he would love it.

I always thought Kevin disliked his mother too and wanted to live independently from her. Looking back, I was utterly mistaken.

It was a trap. Kevin and his mother had woven a web, and I was like an insect caught in a spider's web. I couldn't escape once trapped.

Kevin and I got married and then went on a honeymoon. We enjoyed the scenery and used our savings to take out a loan for a small apartment.

We bought a crib, and I lay in Kevin's arms and listened to him talk about our future. We would have a baby and a big dog. And the two of us would enjoy sunny strolls.

The warmth of family was something I could only dream of because I was an orphan. I was eager to have a happy family.

So, I joyfully began preparing for pregnancy. Everything seemed to be going perfectly.

I thought I would have a happy ending like a princess marrying a prince in a fairy tale. But reality gave me a good lesson.

I gave birth to a girl. I loved it, whether it was a boy or a girl. How could I not love my baby?

But Kevin's mother repeatedly took out her anger on me because I gave birth to a girl. Maybe she just had a preference for boys.

I patted Sacha's back as she drank milk in my arms. I believed that after she grew up, her grandmother would love her.

I underestimated the malice of human nature and was blinded by happiness.

Sacha died before she even grew to one year old. She was so light and soft in my arms. She was so adorable. I hadn't even heard her say, "Mom, I love you," before she was gone.

The doctor told me it was an accident. I didn't believe it. I found the truth in the deleted home surveillance footage.

Kevin's mother stuffed large pieces of mango into Sacha's mouth. But Sacha was allergic to mangoes.

2.

On the day I gave birth, Kevin and his mother were both waiting for me outside the delivery room.

The labor was so painful that I lost track of time. The doctor and the nurses kept urging me to push, and at the last moment of exhaustion, a baby's cry burst from the delivery room.

I knew Sacha was born. She was tiny and frail. Her skin was covered in my blood. She wasn't pretty, but I loved her.

After I knew Sacha was born safely, I closed my eyes in exhaustion. In a daze, I seemed to hear someone shouting in the ward.

Someone complained loudly about having a girl. "What's the point of getting married without paying anything? A girl is useless." It seemed to be Kevin's mother's voice.

It was too noisy. I opened my eyes to see Kevin's gloomy face and Kevin's mother leaving the ward.

My lips were cracked. I hadn't had any water since giving birth. No one had taken care of me. Kevin, who was usually so considerate, must have forgotten.

I struggled to sit up and softly called Kevin over. He was holding a baby.

It was Sacha, the name Kevin and I had chosen together. I couldn't wait to see her. But when Kevin saw I was awake, his expression didn't brighten. Instead, it darkened even more.

He shoved Sacha into my arms and rushed out. Only his voice was heard in the ward. He told me that his mother had called him out for something.

I was eager to see Sacha and didn't notice the disdain in Kevin's eyes. Things started to go wrong from then on.

When I was discharged from the hospital, Kevin said he had to work overtime and told me to take a taxi by myself.

Later, he didn't come home for days. He explained that his boss was giving him more tasks and he was too busy.

At that time, I was in confinement, fully focused on Sacha, and didn't pay much attention to Kevin's mother and husband's odd behavior.

But sometimes, the things you ignored would catch your attention soon.

Kevin didn't come home for dinner anymore. He worked late at midnight and often was drunk when he got home, smelling of alcohol and women's perfume.

At the same time, his temper grew worse.

For instance, if it wasn't clean enough in our apartment, he would only blame me. He said I hadn't tidied up since I didn't need to earn money.

But he didn't know how many times Sacha woke me up during the night. I worked around with dark shadows under my eyes. I even fainted more than once.

He wasn't home, and his mother wouldn't come to help. Sometimes, he would be interested in playing with Sacha. But as soon as I asked him to take care of her, Kevin's face would change, and he would start yelling at me.

Afterward, he would hold me in his arms and say it was his fault for not giving me a good life and making me work so hard in a pained voice.

Such things repeated. My days became exhausting, endless, and terrifying. I thought I would quickly tire of his blaming and comforting routine.

But I found myself getting used to it, which was indeed terrifying.

I started doing more chores, and he cared less about the family. He transferred to our account each month just a small amount.

That day, I washed his clothes at two in the morning as usual, when I saw a bright red lipstick stain on his white shirt.

For a moment, the lipstick stain seemed to mock me like a cruel joke.

3.

When Sacha died, I wasn't home. I was at the market buying groceries.

Kevin told me that his mother would stay with us for a few days and help take care of Sacha and that she wanted to make up for not being there when Sacha was born.

I was surprised. His mother previously disliked us. For the first few days, she behaved normally, helping with whatever she could for Sacha.

She didn't talk to me as harshly as usual. Even Kevin came home early those days to have dinner with us.

Sometimes, Kevin and his mother would talk late into the night on the sofa. When I brought them some fruit, I overheard them talking about relatives and something like that. I didn't pay much attention and went to bed early.

The incident happened on the third day. That morning, Kevin said he wanted to eat ribs and told me to go buy them immediately. He told me to leave Sacha at home with his mother as she would take care of Sacha.

As I hurried back home, I received a call from Kevin. He told me Sacha was dead in a weak yet angry voice.

The bag of ribs scattered on the ground. I ran home frantically, desperately questioning on the phone why Sacha had died.

He didn't answer my question. And he only gave me the hospital address and told me to hurry over.

In the pale hospital corridor, the doctor looked at me with a sympathetic gaze. He told me the result that Sacha died of an allergic reaction.

How could that happen? I had only been away from home for half an hour. How could Sacha die from an allergy in such a short time?

My eyes were filled with rage. Kevin stood beside me and gently patted my shoulder. His eyes were fixed on his shoes, and I couldn't see his expression.

I turned my head to look at Kevin's mother. She was evasive and didn't meet my gaze. As I mentioned before, I was an orphan and was particularly sensitive to others' emotions.

So when Kevin's mother anxiously grabbed the doctor's white coat, asked for compensation, and accused the hospital of causing her granddaughter's death, I could see through her facade of concern.

On the way home, Kevin and his mother talked to each other. She apologized to me with a guilty expression, saying that she hadn't taken good care of Sacha. She even wiped away her tears.

They probably didn't notice my suspicious gaze. I even had the malicious thought of why Sacha died, but they didn't. They failed to take good care of Sacha.

How could Sacha have accidentally eaten something she was allergic to? I had clearly told Kevin's mother about Sacha's allergies, and even my absent-minded husband had heard it.

The car soon arrived home. Perhaps due to guilt over Sacha's death, Kevin's mother cooked dinner.

After dinner, Kevin took my hand and led me to the room for a talk. "We can have another baby. You just need to do a bit more for our family. My mother is very concerned about you, right?"

His words chilled my heart. I had given so much to the family, but in the end, my only beloved daughter was gone.

Seeing my stubborn refusal to accept the fact, Kevin grew impatient and simply told me to go to bed early. Then he headed to the living room. I had no idea what he talked about with his mother.

I buried my head in the pillow, and tears silently soaked through it as I sobbed quietly.

After a while, Kevin came back. Perhaps he thought I was asleep as I hadn't moved. He turned on the computer and started operating the home surveillance system.

I glared at him and wished I could tear some flesh from him. He must be up to something I didn't know about, and I was determined to uncover the hidden truth.

4

The next day, when I woke up, no one was home. Kevin's mother seemed to have left, and Kevin no longer wanted to go on pretending in front of me.

I had long noticed he did not care about our family. But for Sacha's sake, I was willing to endure anything, even if it meant forcing myself to comply.

The computer screen gradually lit up. I opened the page Kevin had accessed yesterday. It was the surveillance footage.

What exactly had they done? My fingers seemed to weigh down by a ton. It was so difficult for me to click on yesterday's surveillance footage.

I pressed the mouse with force, only to see that there was no surveillance record displayed on the computer.

Kevin had deleted the footage. I wasn't an idiot. So I was sure that something terrible must have happened yesterday.

I immediately called a friend who specialized in recovering surveillance footage.

In over two hours, yesterday's footage was restored on the computer.

It was ten in the morning. The footage showed me leaving the apartment. Then Sacha started to cry.

Kevin's mother appeared on the screen. She grabbed Sacha, completely ignoring her cries, and shook her violently.

A baby should be treated gently. But Kevin's mother did it so roughly. I clenched my teeth in anger.

But that wasn't the worst part. Kevin stretched lazily as he walked out of the bedroom. Fortunately, he had bought a recording system that captured audio.

Otherwise, I wouldn't have heard such shocking words. "She's so noisy. Why doesn't she just die?"

His mother heard his words and threw Sacha back into the crib and then turned to the kitchen.

Sacha continued to cry, and Kevin's mother returned with a plate of mangoes, which hadn't been carefully prepared. She stuffed large chunks into Sacha's mouth.

Sacha couldn't possibly eat so much. As soon as the mango was stuffed in her mouth, her face turned purple, and she was breathless.

Kevin's mother grabbed Sacha by the collar and tossed her into the room.

The surveillance didn't capture any sound from Sacha. My dear husband and my considerate mother-in-law calmly finished the remaining mangoes in the living room.

Kevin's mother even cleaned up the mango peels.

Sacha was left in the room, and the surveillance didn't record any sound from her. In those ten minutes, Sacha had slowly died.

And those two heartless monsters leisurely packed Sacha's body into a plastic bag and took it to the hospital for "rescue."

Kevin's mother did it on purpose. I had clearly told her that Sacha couldn't eat mangoes.

They killed Sacha. They killed Sacha. The hatred in my mind was almost tangible, and I was overwhelmed.

I was filled with rage and wished that I could kill them right now.

But it couldn't solve anything. I was just an ordinary woman. How could I possibly fight against a strong man and a shrewd old woman? The police might arrest me before I could even tell Sacha that I had avenged her death.

The surveillance footage was evidence against Kevin's mother, but it couldn't serve as direct proof of murder in the court.

The footage only showed her "accidentally" feeding Sacha mangoes and leaving her in the room. Then Sacha died.

I wouldn't let Kevin's mother get away with just going to jail. I wanted Kevin's family to experience something worse than death.

5

Sacha's death became an unbearable pain in my heart.

After her death, I could have a reason to find a job and not be confined to the small apartment by Kevin.

I had done so much for the family, but in return, I lost Sacha.

I knew Kevin was a chauvinist. He believed a woman's place was in the home, caring for her family.

We graduated from the same prestigious university, both from humble backgrounds. We had dated mostly in the library at college.

My work and academic abilities were no less than his, perhaps even better. But I liked him, and he told me that women should prioritize family.

So I gave up my career and became the virtuous housewife he expected. But he never became the husband I had expected.

In the past, if I wanted to find a job, Kevin would have thrown a fit.

Those two beasts killed my daughter. No matter what I did, they wouldn't dare show their anger, fearing I might notice something.

With such an excuse, I started interviewing for jobs. With my business degree and high qualifications, I was in demand at many companies.

Soon I joined a large company. I began leaving home early and returning home late. And I even frequently worked overtime.

Ironically, when I did the same thing he had done, he got angry.

Especially when I returned home from overtime at one in the morning, he threw a glass on the floor, shattered it with a crisp sound, and then gave me the cold shoulder.

I knew I couldn't fight against him directly, so I played along. I crouched on the floor and cried, calling out Sacha's name.

I covered my face with my hands and pretended to be heartbroken. But I secretly observed him.

Kevin's face was grim. Perhaps he always thought Sacha was a burden. After I mentioned Sacha, he stopped being angry.

It turned out that once someone's weakness was spotted, he could be controlled easily.

I slowly got up from the floor and wiped away the tears from my face expressionlessly.

"Mommy will avenge you, Sacha," I repeated to myself every day. It was the only thing that supported me.

I worked hard to have the financial means to fight against Kevin and his mother. I calculated that it would cost a lot to hire a lawyer for a lawsuit.

It was even a significant expense to buy sleeping pills for my dear husband. After all, each pill that could put him to sleep instantly wasn't cheap.

Since the day they killed Sacha, I began investigating Kevin. The computer he left at home was a treasure trove.

I looked through his discussion with others and gradually found evidence of his embezzlement.

It wasn't easy. But fortunately, we lived together, so I just needed to use one sleeping pill each night.

Then Kevin would sleep soundly. I had access to his phone and computer records, as well as his daily activities.

It didn't mean that he trusted me. He simply never saw me as an enemy. In his eyes, I was just a foolish woman who had given birth to a daughter.

I would make him regret ever underestimating me.

6

I was gradually familiar with the people and the affairs at the company, especially my supervisor, Kayla Robertson.

She always valued my abilities and once secretly asked why I chose to be a mere employee there when I had better opportunities.

She was kind, but I didn't want to reveal my scars to anyone else at that time.

About a month passed, and my supervisor insisted on having lunch and dinner with me every day.

Her gentle demeanor made me open up. I broke down and told her about Kevin and the death of my daughter, Sacha.

Kayla was capable and full of energy. She was a great partner to work with. I hugged her tightly and hid my shrewdness.

I had said before that I was willing to do anything for Sacha, even using others and exposing my weaknesses.

As long as the result was good, the process didn't matter.

Kayla used her connections to help me obtain many sleeping pills and technology to monitor Kevin's phone.

Naturally, Kayla became my best friend. With her support, Kevin wouldn't suspect me as much.

I had more time and energy to set up my plans in secret. Now, whenever I saw Kevin, I felt disgusted. I had to endure this revulsion daily to talk to her and sleep in the same bed with him.

I had to pretend to be a good wife, managing household chores. At the same time, I lowered his guard so that I could find evidence easily.

The company's annual party was lively, and the CEO attended it. Kayla specially chose a backless dress for me. She jokingly suggested that it would help me attract another guy and ditch Kevin, that scumbag, sooner.

I was actually not quite confident in wearing a backless dress because of a red birthmark on my back. I'd had it since I was born. It looked like a small cluster of red berries.

When I wore that dress and stepped into the spotlight, I seemed to have shed my old self and become a new one. I was no longer the timid woman at home.

I held my head high, and the exquisite makeup made my face shine even brighter under the lights. The birthmark didn't make me ugly. Instead, it glowed under the backless dress Kayla had chosen.

I swirled my wine glass as I walked through every part of the banquet. I seemed to have a force within me that made me feel reborn.

Kayla stayed with me, and I followed her lead and toasted to everyone in the room.

The men at the event praised us. They were all in good manners and considerate. Kayla joked that I should quickly dump Kevin and find someone new.

She said I was beautiful and quite capable. So why did I hang on to him?

I knew she was joking. Besides, my revenge was not yet complete.

How could I enjoy my life now? I couldn't help thinking how happy Sacha would be if she could be there with me.

The repetitive toasting was dull. When I thought it was over after toasting the CEO, he made me drink two or three more glasses.

I leaned dizzily on Kayla's shoulder, and the world swayed in my eyes.

The CEO watched me intently. In my drunken haze, I couldn't tell where I was and wanted to leave with Kayla.

As I leaned on Kayla's shoulder, I could still feel the CEO's gaze fixed on my back.

But I was too drunk. I just wanted a good sleep.

7.

When I woke up from the hangover, I was at Kayla's place. I rubbed my aching forehead and turned on my phone to find countless unread messages.

I checked them, and they were all friendly notifications on a popular messaging app.

Kayla was right. Why did I have to waste my previous life on Kevin?

I had so many choices and I was young. Why did I choose to marry Kevin? Was it because he looked honest and diligent?

It was the feeling of a home. But he pushed me into hell later. He and his mother caused Sacha's death.

I must make them experience despair.

After a while, I received a call from Kevin. "Why didn't you come home last night? Did you hang out for the whole night there? Why haven't you come back to clean the dishes and clothes? I give you $2000 a month. But are you taking care of our family like this?"

I scoffed inwardly at the meager amount. But I said weakly, "I'll be back soon. Don't be angry."

Kevin gave me such little money but let me do all the housework. He truly didn't see me as a person. He had been nervous in front of me previously. But now he resorted to hitting and scolding me.

I had bruises from his blows, but I wouldn't call the police. I would gather evidence bit by bit, although I had already had some previously.

I went to work as usual. My stunning appearance at the party had clearly changed how the female employees at the company viewed me.

I received many gifts and dinner invitations. I never mentioned having a husband or child to others. I gleefully brought the gifts home to disgust Kevin.

But I was slapped hard by him. I didn't shed a tear. Instead, I laughed loudly in front of him. Kevin panicked and stormed out.

He might think I've gone insane. But I wasn't at all.

That evening, I received a message from the CEO.

I tried to remember what had happened at the party. But I only vaguely remember the CEO's eager gaze.

Could he be interested in me? I accepted his friend request, and sometimes he would chat with me and ask me strange questions about my age, my parents, and the birthmark on my back.

His words invaded my privacy and caused deep discomfort in me. I discussed the matter with Kayla.

Kayla guessed that the CEO had unspoken expectations of me and that I couldn't work at the company anymore. So we decided to start our own company soon.

We had planned it for a long time. We would earn more money by starting a small company together than by working at the company.

Kayla had saved up a considerable amount over the years, and I had worked hard to aim at opening a company of my own, buying an apartment, and escaping from Kevin.

I toasted so many people at the party, not just out of courtesy but as a strategic move to extend our influence. My phone's contact list included not only customers and employees but also some business partners.

Kayla and I were ambitious. We both believed that women shouldn't be confined to families. Instead, women must have their careers and strength to explore the world.

I shouldn't have abandoned my career for marriage, and I only realized my mistake after losing Sacha.

While preparing to start our company, I thought about Sacha again.

I thought about her with her braids and imagined she called me "Mommy." It pierced my heart with pain, and resentment surged within me.

8.

My career was flourishing, but Kevin wasn't as fortunate.

He was no longer the hardworking and honest man he had been once. He had become restless at work.

From the moment he started embezzling funds, I knew he had become a slave to money.

Thanks to the chairman's favor, my position rose again and again, and I handled more clients.

Kevin heard about my career and began to say something cynical. Whenever I returned home, he often ordered me around.

He asked me to give him my salary. He explained that he wanted to invest it to provide me with a better life.

His male chauvinism couldn't tolerate me being more assertive, more successful, and even surpassing him in my career.

He feared being overshadowed and criticized by neighbors that he was not as capable as me.

Kevin began to belittle me intentionally.

"What's the point of making so much money? The family matters most. Look at me and my mother. Are we happy? Look at Lexie Burgess next door. She stays home every day and cooks for her husband on time. And then look at you. You don't come home at night. You don't know the neighbors' gossiping."

I ignored him and focused on my business. I understood that sometimes it would be better to take a step back to see the bigger picture.

Seeing my indifference, he changed tactics. He showered me with concern, calling me several times a day to check on me.

Even Kevin's mother made a special trip from the countryside to bring me some food materials and cook for me.

I savored the soup she cooked but remained silent about quitting my job.

Kevin's mother and Kevin discussed loudly how career-driven women neglect their homes and how such behavior would inevitably lead to divorce when we had dinner.

They spoke loudly and intended for me to hear them. But I pretended not to.

I was unaffected by any attempts to sway me. Kevin was frustrated and smashed things at home repeatedly.

Kevin resorted to petty tricks to make me submit.

He deleted files from my computer while I slept. So I found blank documents the next day when I had to submit them.

He even poured water on my computer while I was asleep, rendering it useless.

Watching him rack his brain to deal with me, I was amused.

Did he really think I wasn't prepared for his cheap antics?

At family gatherings, he secretly slandered me, claiming I often stayed out late and reeked of alcohol when I returned home.

He said I was starting a business with some shady friends and even neglecting his mother and that I even refused the soup his mother cooked.

He insinuated to several relatives that I had intentions of infidelity because I frequently traveled with the boss for business, sometimes for weeks.

Initially, people just laughed it off. But as rumors spread, his relatives began saying he had married a bad woman.

"She has bad luck, which caused her daughter's death and now she is accused of infidelity, tsk tsk..."

Whenever I was out, Kevin's relatives pointed fingers at me, and their children avoided me.

When they praised Kevin for tolerating such a bad wife and not divorcing her, he was hailed as a good husband.

How ironic it was! He caused his daughter's death, but others thought he was a good husband.

9.

With money, I could do everything easier. I bought many expensive cosmetics.

Kevin and I were married for several years, and all he brought me was pain.

The years had etched lines on my face. I worked hard every day, and I looked older than my peers.

So, after I made money, the first thing I did was to pamper myself. I tried to reclaim my time lost when I was Kevin.

I kept working out. I went to the gym every week and worked out for four hours. So I regained my physical strength again.

My face gradually rejuvenated, and it naturally caught Kevin's attention.

We used to divide the bed evenly, each sleeping on each side. After Sacha's death, we never had sex again.

Recently, his hand would cross the invisible line between us. He touched my waist and my face, though he couldn't see the lack of desire on my face in the darkness.

He whispered in my ear, "Samantha, let's have another child, okay? Give birth to a boy. My mom likes a big, healthy boy."