My Wife, My Daughter's Killer

My daughter accidentally drank a whole glass of liquor at her second birthday party, leading to alcohol poisoning.

Vivian Morrow completely lost it, grabbing her and rushing to the hospital like a madwoman.

She knelt sobbing outside the ER doors, begging the doctors to save our little girl.

But my daughter still ended up with severe brain damage.

While rushing to the hospital, I got into a terrible car accident, barely surviving.

Six months later, I overheard Vivian talking to her assistant outside the study.

"Boss, you're ruthless," the assistant whispered, "Even your own daughter... When you told me to make her drink that liquor, I almost couldn't do it."

"And Asher, he was already poor, but you still staged that accident to swap his heart for Caleb's."

"Artificial hearts only last five years! How could you doom him to a lifetime of surgeries?"

Vivian's voice was hoarse but chillingly firm.

"I had no choice. Caleb had heart disease, yet he helped me care for my kid. I couldn't give him my name, so his child will be the sole Morrow heir."

"As for Asher and the baby... I'll provide for them forever. In that way, they can't threaten Caleb or his daughter later."

So my child was disposable.

And I was just another casualty in her pursuit of love.

Fine. I'd vanish, just like she wanted.

When the assistant spoke again, a touch of pity tinged her voice.

"Asher's body is already failing. Why are you still coaxing him to donate blood for Caleb?"

Vivian sighed after a long pause.

"I hate it too. But Caleb isn't improving after the transplant. His doctors say his heart isn't getting enough blood... they think Asher's blood might help."

Tears flooded my eyes, remembering how she'd recently asked me to donate blood at the hospital.

Since the heart swap, I'd been passing out, coughing up blood C donating seemed reckless.

But she looked at me with those deep, loving eyes, saying it was to pray for a miracle for our daughter.

She knew my weakness and knew exactly how to fool me.

Now I knew.

There were no pray or miracle for my daughter.

She just saw me as her lover's personal blood bag.

I clamped a hand over my mouth, stifling the sob clawing its way up my throat.

How could it hurt this much when I didn't even have a real heart anymore?

The bowl of chicken soup I prepared for her crashed to the floor.

Shards of glass sliced into my foot, sharp and painful, but nothing compared to the ache in my heart.

Footsteps sounded from the study.

Clutching my chest, I stumbled back to my room.

Seeing my daughter sleeping peacefully shattered my emotions.

She'd just learned to say "Daddy" before Vivian destroyed her mind.

The thought of her living out her days trapped like this broke me. I wept openly.

After the accident, I blamed myself endlessly for failing to protect her.

I never imagined the woman I loved more than life deliberately hurt her to pave the way for another man.

How could she be so cruel to a baby?

My precious love story was nothing but a sick joke.

I looked up, meeting Vivian's startled gaze.

She smiled gently as usual, but her voice trembled slightly.

"Asher... was that you outside the study just now?"

I didn't hide my bleeding foot, just smiled calmly.

"You've been working so hard caring for our girl. I made you some soup."

"But I was so clumpsy that I dropped it. I didn't want to worry you."

She visibly relaxed, pulling me into a hug.

"Oh, sweetheart! How did you hurt yourself? You scared me half to death!"

She tenderly cradled my injured foot; the concern in her eyes looked real.

But I knew it was all an act.

Her heart belonged to someone else. My child and I were just obstacles.

I stayed silent as she fetched the first-aid kit and carefully dressed the wound.

When she finished, she took my hand and said softly,

"Asher, it's time for us to go donate blood."

I desperately backed away, and a note of resistance crept into my tone.

"Viv, I've been coughing up blood all week. Please, don't make me do this."

Vivian hesitated, but her phone rang.

She turned away to answer.

I heard Caleb's voice, weak and whiny through the receiver.

"Viv, my chest hurts so bad... the doctor says I need that transfusion soon. When are you coming?"

Hanging up, her eyes held unmasked panic.

She yanked me up without a word.

"Asher, if you're scared, I'll hold your hand the whole time."

Her words were meant to comfort, but her tone was ice cold.

I stopped struggling, closing my eyes in despair.

I let her shove me into the car and speed towards the hospital.

At the hospital, she dragged me frantically towards the blood draw room.

The jostling was too much for my wrecked body.

Before we even entered, I vomited blood.

Vivian gently wiped the bloodstains from the corner of my mouth.

Then she pushed me down onto the chair, signaling the nurse to hurry.

The cold steel bit into my skin.

I instinctively grabbed Vivian's sleeve.

The sharp pain in my chest made it impossible for me to make a sound.

As darkness crept in, I heard the nurse's worried voice.

"Ms. Morrow, he can't lose this much blood! He'll die!"

Vivian stared down at me coldly.

"Just do it. Take whatever Caleb needs!"

"If it's not enough, bring the child! I don't care what it costs, Caleb must be okay!"

My blood ran cold.

To her, Caleb's life was worth more than mine and my daughter's combined.

I managed a bitter, twisted smile before sinking into oblivion.

I woke in a regular hospital room.

Vivian sat by my bed with her eyes red-rimmed. She looked worried about me.

Seeing me awake, her tears spilled over.

"Asher! The doctor said you lost too much blood, that's why you passed out."

"Thank God you're okay! I thought... I thought you were gone!"

She pulled me into a crushing hug, crying as if she meant it.

I just felt sick.

She nearly killed me, and now she played the grieving lover?

I pushed her away gently, forcing a weak smile.

"I'm fine. Don't worry about me. I'm anxious about our girl being home alone. Go take care of her."

A trace of sorrow flickered across her expression.

I thought it was guilt about our daughter.

But then she said, "Asher... given her condition... the doctors say recovery is unlikely. They aren't even sure she'll live to adulthood."

"Maybe... maybe we should think about adopting a healthy child?"

I stared at her, disbelief freezing me.

Unaware of my feelings, Vivian brought my hand to her lips and kissed it.

"Asher, you've been so heartbroken since the accident. It kills me to see it. Maybe... maybe a normal child would help us heal?"

The questions burned my tongue, but I swallowed them.

After a long silence, I tested the waters.

"Viv... I don't want someone else's child. Couldn't we... have another baby?"

Her face hardened instantly.

She shoved me away.

"Don't be ridiculous!"

Realizing her words, she softened her voice, though her eyes couldn't help but drift away.

"Asher, your only job is to get better. I couldn't bear putting you through another pregnancy."

"And with our girl... she'll need lifelong care. Actually, today... the doctor mentioned the man who received your blood... he's looking for adoptive parents for his child. That's why I..."

"Please, only our daughter is my own kid. Everything I do is for her future."

My heart felt like it was being crushed. The pain was physical.

She stole everything from our daughter, and wouldn't even leave her a scrap of love.

And she dared say it was for her?

She'd pretended for so long, even fooled herself.

When I spoke again, my voice was unnervingly calm.

"Okay, I understand. Do whatever you think is best."

Vivian burst into tears of relief, leaning down to kiss my forehead.

I choked back the blood rising in my throat, smiling serenely.

Inside, my heart shattered into a million pieces.

Barely containing her excitement, she excused herself to

"discuss my treatment"

with the doctor, leaving without a backward glance.

I pretended not to see Caleb standing outside my door, smirking at me.

Then, trembling, I picked up the phone Vivian had left on my bedside table.

Eight years of marriage, I'd never once checked her phone.

Her passcode was still my birthday.

But the wallpaper...

it wasn't our wedding photo anymore.

It was Vivian, Caleb, and their daughter, Riley.

A happy family portrait.

Heart aching, I read her messages.

Thousands of photos filled the chat history.

All of Vivian and Riley.

I remembered when our daughter was born, I'd asked for a family picture.

She'd brushed me off,

"She's too little for photos. We'll do it when she's older!"

Naively, I thought she disliked taking photos.

I'd only dared sneak one picture while she slept, placing our baby beside her.

Now I knew.

The thing she didn't like was not photos but our daughter.

My finger trembled as I scrolled through the images.

Then I stumbled on a video sent the night before the birthday party.

My daughter was pinned down, being bullied by Riley.

Caleb's voice, dripping with fake distress, came through,

"Viv, Asher's kid faught back! Imagine what she'll do to Riley when she's older!"

"What are we going to do? I'm terrified!"

My whole body shook.

I could barely hold the phone.

My baby did nothing wrong!

Yet because of Caleb's lie, her life was destroyed.

I bit my lip hard, swallowing the wave of hate.

This woman was vicious.

I wanted nothing more to do with her.

I was totally disappointed. I threw the phone down and called my old friend Sarah, overseas.

I asked her to find a rehab hospital that could help us.

Vivian returned just as I booked flights for myself and my daughter, leaving in three days.

She didn't notice my red, swollen eyes, just grabbed my hand excitedly.

"Asher! I want to hold our girl another birthday party tomorrow! I'll announce the adoption then too, okay?"

I froze, then remembered the note in her phone's calendar.

Tomorrow was Riley's birthday.

I said nothing, just nodded grimly.

Since we were leaving soon, maybe it was time for a final goodbye.

The next day, almost at noon, Vivian sent someone to pick me up from the hospital.

Stepping into the hotel ballroom, the sight stabbed me.

Caleb, in an expensive tux, stood beside Vivian, holding Riley's hand as they greeted guests.

My little girl was dumped on the floor, covered in dirt.

Vivian didn't spare her a glance.

She didn't see my baby picking up someone's discarded half-eaten muffin, stuffing it into her mouth.

In that instant, my eyes welled up, and I rushed over to scoop the child into my arms.

Before I could speak, Vivian grabbed my arm, pulling me into a side room.

"Asher, there are important people here. Our girl... in her state... she might get scared. Maybe you two should just wait here?"

Even as she tried to hide it, I saw the disgust in her eyes.

I glanced towards the door.

On the big screens in the ballroom, slideshows of Vivian and Riley played.

Piles of expensive gifts surrounded the stage.

None for my daughter.

Even the giant cake spelled out

"Riley."

Vivian followed my gaze, realizing her cruelty.

She hugged me in a flustered manner.

"Asher, please don't misunderstand! Caleb is struggling to let Riley go. I'm doing this to reassure him, so he'll agree to the adoption!"

I tried to smile, but couldn't.

Before she could say more, Riley burst in, clinging to her leg.

"Mommy! You promised presents! Show me now!"

Vivian didn't look back at me or my daughter anymore. She scooped Riley up and walked out.

I collapsed onto a sofa, heartbroken, holding my baby tight.

Vivian never came back.

Realizing we were forgotten, I picked up my daughter to leave.

As I stood, Caleb and Riley appeared.

He smiled sweetly, and his eyes were full of malice.

"Asher, how does it feel to be tossed aside?"

"Look at your pathetic daughter. She's nothing compared to my Riley!"

"Poor thing screamed so loud when we poured that liquor down her throat. Viv's assistant chickened out. Vivian had to do it herself!"

"Even if you married to Vivian, your kid became a moron because of me!"

He laughed harshly with pure malice.

I shook with rage, biting my lip until I tasted blood, managing to restrain my hatred.

Then, suddenly, he grabbed Riley and slapped her hard across the face. Twice.

Her cheek bloomed red. Her screams filled the room.

Before I could react, Vivian stormed in.

She snatched Riley up, cradling her, then turned blazing eyes on me.

"Asher! What the hell is wrong with you? You slapped a child!"