Episode 13

Aline, the 47-year-old woman, was weeping as she looked at photographs of Nadine from childhood to adulthood, realizing she had often observed Nadine from a distance and captured those moments in photos.

"Nadine, my child!" Aline wiped away the tears that continuously wet her cheeks, dampening Nadine's pictures.

It was heartrending, a mother who had never once been able to embrace her daughter, let alone a hug, she couldn't even see Nadine up close. She wished she could see just how beautiful her beloved daughter was.

Aline had once been in a relationship with a wealthy man named Theo, but Theo's adoptive father disapproved of their relationship, instructing Aline to leave Theo. Therefore, she wanted to create a beautiful memory with Theo that night, giving him the most precious thing she could offer.

No wonder Theo resented her since Aline broke up with him so abruptly, under the pretense of not loving him anymore. In reality, she had only wanted to prevent Theo from having issues with his family, especially since Theo's adoptive father had threatened her with destroying her family if she did not leave Theo.

However, after a passionate night with Theo, Aline found out she was pregnant. This revelation led her to face scorn and abuse from her family. Then a man came to propose to Aline, and her parents accepted him without asking if she was willing.

Now Aline was married to a man named Markus, and she didn't know precisely what her husband's job was, only that Markus had a boss who was a gangster. Her life was unhappy, suffering at the hands of this man. Markus would often abuse her if she made mistakes.

When Aline was seven months pregnant, her parents died in an accident, which left her without any support, but her unborn baby gave her the strength to survive.

Unfortunately, her husband's boss forcibly took Nadine away immediately after she was born.

*Flashback On*...

"Honey, where is my child? I want to see her?" Aline asked her husband. At the time, her body was still weak from giving birth just two hours earlier.

"Your child has been taken by Boss Erza," replied Markus nonchalantly.

It turned out that Erza and Sonya had been watching her, knowing she would have a daughter from the ultrasound results.

Aline was shocked to hear Markus's reply, "You must be lying, right, Honey? Why would your boss take my child?" Aline got up, pulling out the IV from her arm.

She was dumbstruck when she saw Sonya entering the room with Erza, with baby Nadine in Sonya's arms.

Erza showed a document authenticated with a stamp, which had been signed by Markus as Nadine's father, "Your parents owed me 100 million before the accident, so I'll take the child and consider your parent's debt settled."

Aline couldn't accept this, her child being used as a bargaining chip. "Please don't take my child, I'll pay the debt," Aline pleaded between sobs.

"How will you pay? You can barely afford daily needs," Markus snapped at her.

"But Honey, Nadine is my child. I will never give her to anyone," Aline tried to snatch Nadine from Sonya's arms, but Sonya evaded, causing Aline to fall.

"The transfer of Nadine is already official; you can't take her back. Do you know who I am? I am Erza Brandon, and I can do anything to your child. So don’t ever think about taking her back, or even meeting her, as if you dare or report this to the police, I will make sure your child disappears from this world," Erza threatened.

Stunned by Erza's threats, Aline knew he was a gangster, and she was afraid he might actually harm Nadine. She cried inconsolably, uncertain of what to do next.

Sonya, holding Nadine, chuckled softly, "So you've named her Nadine? Okay, I'll use that name as a keepsake from you."

*Flashback Off*...

That's why Aline disguised herself as Miss A to be able to communicate with Nadine. Even if it just meant being chat buddies, she was overjoyed because Nadine often shared her daily life with her.

Aline quickly wiped her tears away as she realized her husband had returned home. She put Nadine's photos away in a drawer, as Markus must not see them.

She greeted her husband's return, "Markus, my husband!"

But the man suddenly slapped Aline's face.

Slap...

"Ah!" Aline clutched her cheek, grimacing in pain.

"Sonia told me she saw you on the CCTV, so last night you went to Nadine's engagement party?" Markus shouted, furious.

Aline was startled to hear this, unaware she had been caught. "I-I... I just wanted to see her once, Honey. Nadine is my child, after all, I wanted to see her at an important event for her."

"Damn you, Aline. I've told you never to meet that child!"

"I'm sorry, Honey."

Markus sighed heavily; he was too exhausted today to torment his wife. "I forgive you today, don't do it again."

Aline nodded, her cheek visibly red from the harsh blow. She once tried to escape, but Markus threatened to kill Nadine if Aline attempted to flee from him. So, she endured living with this cruel man for the safety of Nadine.

Aline's body bore numerous bruises from the continuous abuse inflicted by Markus.

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