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Peyton’s face went pale.
Her pupils shrank as she stared at the nails.
Maya screamed, trembling uncontrollably.
“No! It wasn’t me!” She shook her head wildly. “They’re lying! Mom, believe me!”
But her panic already betrayed her.
Peyton turned slowly to Maya, her eyes deadly.
“You… have some explaining to do.” She spoke through gritted teeth. “What… is this?”
I felt no satisfaction, only deep sorrow for Lily.
The truth was out.
But the cost was Lily’s broken body. Her future was already destroyed.
Peyton’s hands gripped Maya’s throat, veins bulging.
“Explain! Now!”
Maya’s face turned red, her eyes bulging. Fear of death broke her.
“I… was jealous! I hated Oliver! And I hated Lily!”
She spat out the truth. Each word stabbed my heart.
“I bribed those men… to use real nails… I thought you’d take my side…”
Peyton released her. Maya collapsed.
Peyton stood frozen, as if she was struck by lightning.
“Now you know the truth?” My voice was soft but heavy. “But it’s too late.”
Peyton’s expression was full of regret and pain.
I shook my head. “You can never make up for what Lily suffered.”
I called my lawyer.
When Peyton reached for Lily, I stopped her sharply.
“Don’t touch her with your dirty hands!”
Her hand hung mid-air, shaking uncontrollably.
Then the door opened. My best friend Emma, who had learned my tragedy, brought in a medical team.
Her calm professionalism warmed me. At least there was someone else who genuinely cared about Lily.
“Arrange a transfer. Use the best equipment,” Emma said steadily.
Peyton suddenly knelt.
“Oliver, I was wrong! This is all my fault!”
Her knees hit the floor hard.
I looked down at her coldly.
“I’ll never forgive you.”
“Now I just want Lily safe. Then I’m leaving you for good.”
Maya was dragged away, yet she kept cursing.
“Oliver, you bastard! You’ll pay for this! Lily will suffer!”
Peyton’s eyes went bloodshot as Maya’s voice faded.
“Everyone who hurt Lily will pay!”
She made frantic calls, mobilizing all resources.
But I knew. She was just making herself occupied to escape.
Emma comforted me softly, “It’ll be okay.”
As Lily was wheeled away, she looked at me, smiling faintly.
“Daddy… it doesn’t hurt anymore…”
I finally cried.
Not for Peyton’s regret, but for my daughter’s strength.
Peyton tried to follow, but security stopped her.
“Madam, you can’t go in.”
She struggled desperately and cried Lily’s name.
The once-elegant woman now looked like a lost dog.
“Peyton, this is the price of your choices.”
The elevator doors closed, separating past from future.
Outside surgery, Emma waited with me for eight hours.
At 3 a.m., the doctor finally emerged.
“Surgery was successful. But recovery will be long.”
I let out a sigh of relief.
Lily would live. That’s all that mattered.
Peyton reappeared, haggard.
“Oliver, let me see Lily. Just one look.”
I shook my head coldly.
“No. You have no right to see her.”
“You’re not her mother anymore.”
