After my parents died unexpectedly, I was adopted by Gary Hall, my father's friend.

Gary was ten years older than me and insisted I call him Uncle Gary.

Later, when I drunkenly confessed my feelings to him, he recoiled in disgust and forced me into marriage.

As my husband beat me near death, I still dialed Gary's number.

"Uncle Gary, I'm dying. Could you take in my three-year-old daughter like you once took me in?"

...

Knowing death approached, I didn't call emergency services but rang Uncle Gary instead.

The ringtone echoed around the basement several times before his voice finally came through.

"What is it?"

Gary's tone remained icy, his dislike for me unchanged.

Clutching my bleeding abdomen, I fought to stay conscious.

"Uncle Gary, I'm dying. Please... take my daughter Sweetie under your wing?"

Sweetie was only three, while her father Victor Walker was a paranoid madman who relished violence.

I couldn't bear imagining how my poor child would survive after I was gone.

Desperation choked my plea.

"Uncle Gary, I was wrong."

"I'll never love you again. Just save my daughter—please?"

"Sweetie's running a fever. Victor locked us in the basement. He doesn't care if we live or die. I hid my phone just to call you—"

"Finished?"

Gary still didn't believe me.

"Jessica Taylor, you've threatened suicide dozens of times in five years of marriage. Still acting?"

"Gary, ready yet?

Help me with the wedding dress!"

Another woman's cheerful voice cut through the line—familiar.

Ashley Martinez. My college roommate. My former best friend.

They got together the day after I confessed to Gary.

Gary's warning came sharp.

"Jessica, Ashley and I are marrying tomorrow. Stay with Victor."

"Stop calling."

Ashley chimed in, dripping with concern.

"Kimberly Taylor, five years married to Victor, yet you only call his brother to complain about divorce or beatings."

"All Helena knows Victor's loved you since high school."

"When you caught fever, he had every doctor in town treat you at home."

"When pregnancy cravings hit, he bought a plum orchard so you'd have plums in winter."

"No one loves you more. These lies will break his heart."

But I wasn't lying.

I want to beg Gary one last time.

But I can't speak anymore—my blood seems to have run dry.

The call ends abruptly, severing my final thread of hope.

I regret it so deeply.

If only I had never fallen for Gary.

Adopted by him at fourteen, he treated me well—granted my every wish.

But after I confessed my feelings on my twentieth birthday, he refused to see me and married me off to Victor.

Victor was a monster, hitting me when he was happy, hitting me when he was unhappy.

At first, I begged Gary for help and called the police.

But Victor was cunning. The police believed his loving act, deciding I’d faked my injuries to frame him.

Later, when I had my baby, Victor threatened her life.

I stopped calling the police. I stopped begging Gary.

With every beating, pain seized me—every inch of my skin twitching.

Severe depression consumed me; only my baby’s smile kept me alive, teetering on the edge of a cliff, staring into the abyss.

Wanting to jump, yet afraid to.

Finally, drunk Victor stabbed my heart with a bottle. I was dying.

But if I died… what would happen to my baby?

She’s only three. So small.

"Mommy…" My baby’s voice called!

Summoning my last strength, I crawled toward her.

Her tiny body curled in the corner, cheeks burning crimson.

"Baby!"

I reached to hold her, but my hand passed right through hers.

Under the dim basement light, I cast no shadow.

So… I was already dead.

“What should I do, my baby? How can mommy save you?”

I wanted to cry so badly, but a soul has no tears.

Listening to my baby, in a deep sleep, calling out for mommy again and again.

My heart was breaking with sorrow.

At that moment, I heard the sound of a car horn outside.

I rushed out of the basement. No matter what, I had to save my baby.

My soul passed through the basement's heavy door, and I dashed to the front gate of the country estate.

Right then, I saw a Maybach parked at the gate, and someone was getting out of the car.

"Help!

Please, someone kind, come quickly and help!"

I wanted to rush out the door, but just then, my eyes met the car owner's.

The person coming was Gary.

I haven't seen Gary in five years.

He just stood there staring at me without expression.

"Uncle, are you here to pick up sweetie?"

I looked at him with hopeful eyes.

Gary didn't answer.

Ashley also got out of the car and walked over, following his gaze toward me but looking puzzled.

"Gary?

What are you looking at? The entrance is empty."

My heart ached as I realized I was dead—how could Gary see me?

Gary withdrew his gaze, his eyes indifferent.

"Last time I heard Victor say he was moving away with his wife and child."

Ashley took his hand, looking at him with a gentle smile.

"I know you were strict with Jessica, but you still care about her."

"Didn't we send our wedding invitation to Victor?

Jessica will come to the wedding the day after tomorrow."

Gary looked back at Ashley gently: "Let's go, we're going home."

In those five years of suffering Victor's abuse, I'd craved hearing Gary say "going home" countless times.

My eyes welled up with tears.

Watching them leave hand in hand, I frantically tried to chase after them.

But for some reason, I couldn't leave the country estate.

I could only stand at the entrance and shout in despair, hoping Gary could hear my soul's plea.

"Gary!

I'm here, I'm right here!"

Gary stood frozen at the entrance, his knuckles whitening on the doorframe.

"Can't you come in and see!

Save my poor daughter!"

"She's burning up! Without treatment, she'll die too..."

The two figures in the distance halted.

Before relief could surface, I watched Gary stride into the neighboring Country Estate.

All these years, he'd been living right next door.

So close, yet he never once visited.

No tears left, I drifted back to the basement like a ghost.

Only Sweetie's feverish whimpers echoed in the damp air.

"Mommy... hurts... so much..."

I pressed myself against her tiny frame, desperate to steal some heat away.

"Hang on, Sweetie. Mommy will find a way. I'll get you out."

Maybe Hades spared my spirit out of pity, leaving me here to save her.

Suddenly, the estate's gate creaked open.

Footsteps approached—Victor was home, phone at his ear.

"We're fine, Uncle. Jessica even enjoyed cake with the kids today—bragged about me being a good husband."

Liar. The bastard excelled at performances.

He knew my strawberry allergy, yet forced that cake down my throat.

When I choked, he smashed a bottle and stabbed me.

I died in agony, my heart pierced by broken glass.

"Victor, I got home late today because I was busy setting up the new place."

"You know how Jessica is—she gets upset at the slightest inconvenience."

"That's why I've been working until now to come pick them up."

"We'll attend your wedding the day after tomorrow. Don't worry, I'll take good care of Jessica."

Take good care?

He clearly wanted to beat me senseless again.

Sure enough, the basement door swung open the next second.

Victor stood at the entrance, staring at my body with a malicious grin twisting his face.

"Jessica?

We've moved. Our new home is far away from Gary."

His voice dripped with icy madness.

"Gary's getting married the day after tomorrow. He'll never bother with you again."

Chuckling darkly, he strode forward and tried to drag me up.

But my lifeless body was dead weight.

Instead, he stumbled and crashed to his knees.

Enraged, Victor slapped me hard across the face.

"Jessica!

Quit playing dead!"

His hand came away covered in blood.

He finally panicked, pressing trembling fingers beneath my nose.

Moments later, he jerked his hand back.

"...Dead. You're actually dead."

I watched Victor's expression darken as he stormed out of the basement with heavy footsteps.

Unease coiled in my chest.

Soon, Victor returned.

He carried a chainsaw and various cleaning supplies.

I was horrified: "Madman!

Victor's gone completely insane!"

Victor was eerily calm, aiming the chainsaw at my body.

"Jessica, you won't escape me."

His voice rasped like a demon whispering.

I watched helplessly as it happened, powerless to stop it.

Finally, everything was gathered into several black bags.

Victor carried the bags and turned toward the door.

Suddenly, a trembling child's voice came from the corner.

"Dad... Daddy?

Is that you?"

Victor paused mid-step, slowly turning around.

Backlit, he fixed his gaze on the small figure curled in the corner.

"Victor!

Stay away from my daughter!"

I lunged at him, but my body passed right through his.

Sweetie trembled, shrinking away from his stare.

"Sweetie, tell Daddy what you see?"

Victor approached step by step, still holding the bag.

His shadow stretched longer and longer until both my spirit and my daughter were swallowed by it.

"Don't come closer!"

"Don't hurt Sweetie!"

I shoved at him, screaming with all my might.

It was useless.

I watched Victor crouch before Sweetie, frightening the newly awakened child into tears.

"...Wuwu, I want Mommy, not Daddy.

I'm going to find Mommy..."

Sweetie shook her head tearfully, feverish flush still burning on her cheeks.

Victor tossed a black bag onto the floor. It rolled several times before stopping in the corner.

"Your mommy's right here. She'll stay with you."

He dropped the words in a flat tone before ignoring us completely.

After hastily arranging everything, he grabbed his belongings and sped away from the Country Estate.

The screech of tires peeling out drew attention from the neighboring estate.

Gary stepped out the main gate into the courtyard, staring blankly at the distant taillights.

Ashley followed him outside: "Looks like Victor took Jessica and the others."

But Gary frowned, visibly displeased.

"Why's Victor driving so fast?

Jessica will get carsick again."

Ashley's smile faded.

She remarked, "People change. Maybe Jessica doesn't get carsick anymore after marriage."

"You personally chose Victor as her husband because he adored her. Wasn't that why you approved their marriage?"

"He'd hate seeing her carsick even more than you do."

Gary's brows remained furrowed, unease stirring deep down.

After some deliberation, he decided to call Jessica.

The phone's ringtone blared through the basement.

"Sweetie!

Wake up!

It's Gary!

We're saved!"

I tried shaking the unconscious child awake.

Victor had terrified Sweetie before leaving, making her faint again.

Still, I felt grateful he hadn't noticed the phone in the corner.

"Sweetie!

Please wake up!"

In the darkness, Sweetie finally opened her eyes.

Thank heavens—she mustered enough strength to lift her tiny frame, crawling toward the ringing device.

The moment the call connected, Sweetie burst into hysterical sobs.

"Waaah... Mommy!

Mommy!"

The three-year-old couldn't hold on any longer.

Heartbroken, I held her: "My sweetie, Mommy's here, here..."

"Mommy will stay with you."

Soon, Gary's surprised voice came through the phone.

"Sweetie, where are you?"

Only three years old, sick with a high fever, she was already scared out of her wits.

"Basement... Mommy, Mommy..."

Gary seemed anxious too: "What basement?

"Are you in the basement?"

"Don't be scared, I'm coming to find you."

It felt like hope had arrived.

I stayed by sweetie's side, not daring to leave, anxiously hoping Gary would hurry.

"Gary, hurry! Save my daughter, she can't hold on much longer."

Moments later, I heard someone stride across the yard and push the basement door.

"Sweetie?

"It's Gary, I've come to get you."

But the next second, Ashley's shout came from outside.

"Victor!

I reached Victor. He says Jessica and her daughter are fine."

Startled, I drifted out of the basement.

I saw Ashley rush in, handing over her phone.

Gary took the call, his tone turning cold.

"Victor, is Jessica with you?

I just called her. The baby's crying hysterically."

"Didn't you promise me they'd never be mistreated?"

My heart ached hearing Gary's words.

Back when I got bullied at school, he'd used that same icy tone to bankrupt those bullies' families.

He even drove them out of Helena.

If only I hadn't foolishly fallen for him, maybe I'd be living happily now?

Wonder how he'll react when he learns I was murdered...

"Uncle?"

Victor's voice remained calm over the phone, unchanged as ever.

"Sorry to disturb you. Guai Guai clings to her mom—cries if she's out of sight for a minute."

"Jessica suddenly wanted to have another baby with me. My fault for not settling Guai Guai first."

Victor put on that gentle, indulgent act again, pretending to adore me.

Someone as principled and upright as Gary couldn't stand such intimate talk.

As expected, Gary's face darkened.

But I was right beside him.

I pleaded bitterly: "Gary, don't believe Victor."

"Open the basement door. You'll see the truth."

"Guai Guai is waiting for you to save her..."

Oh God, could Gary hear my desperate pleas?

But he couldn't. He pressed his lips tight, seeming at a loss for words.

Victor added: "Gary, your wedding with Ashley is the day after tomorrow. Jessica and I are so happy for you."

"Jessica said she's grateful for your care all these years. She's giving you a 99,999 lucky money envelope."

"Symbolizing lasting love. May you and Ashley cherish each other till old age."

At this, Gary seemed distracted.

Ashley chimed in cheerfully:

"It's good Jessica came around."

"You know, she once threatened suicide if Gary married anyone."

"Motherhood truly matured Jessica."

"Having another child would be good. She's become more independent since having yours."

Gary noticed nothing unusual throughout the call.

Ashley linked arms with him, urging him to leave.

Gary, it's getting late. We have to get up early tomorrow to inspect the wedding venue. Let's go home and rest.

I frantically blocked their path, shouting and begging Gary not to leave.

But he couldn't hear my voice.

Though I was already dead, I still felt the chill of the night.

On this freezing night, my poor girl lay feverish in the chilly basement.

How much longer could she hold on?

I didn't dare to think further, hating my own helplessness.

In despair, I saw a car crawling toward us from the distance, its headlights off.

Even so, I instantly recognized Victor's car.

"Why would he come back?"

Terror and dread made my very soul tremble.

Victor stepped out of the car, undisguised murder in his eyes.

He strode toward the basement without even closing the car door.

My heart leaped into my throat.

Just then, Gary's frosty voice cut through the darkness behind him.

"Victor?

What brings you back here so late?"

"Why is there blood in your car?"

Gary's voice was low and icy.

It made my heart ache.

With Gary here, Victor wouldn't dare harm the baby easily, right?

But Victor proved more shameless than I'd imagined.

He turned to Gary without blinking and answered with a smile.

"Jessica and I are trying for a second child. I bought Fortifying Blood Sausage to nourish her."

Victor even invited Gary inside.

"Uncle, you've lived next door for three years but never visited."

"I know you avoid her because of her past feelings for you."

"She's out today. Come in for some tea."

I watched Gary in despair.

I hadn't left this country estate since giving birth to my baby three years ago.

During every beating, I'd prayed countless nights for Gary to appear suddenly—to shield me, save me.

Yet though so near, he never heard a single prayer.

Perhaps he truly despised my affection.

So hearing I was absent, Gary followed Victor inside.

They entered the living room together.

"Most things are packed. Only cold-brewed tea's left in the fridge."

Victor opened the fridge and handed Gary a glass.

I drifted closer, spotting an unfinished strawberry cake inside.

"Strawberry cake?"

Gary also saw it.

Victor looked at the cake and explained calmly.

"Jessica insisted on having some this morning, but barely touched it."

Though I was already dead, my throat felt clogged with sickening sweetness, suffocating me in agony.

The day my parents died in that car crash, they'd just bought my favorite strawberry cake.

Their blood had stained that very cake crimson.

Ever since, strawberry cake made me break out in hives—one bite would steal my breath.

Victor didn't believe me. Today, before killing me, he'd forced that cake down my throat.

Gary lowered his eyes to sip tea, expression unreadable, suspecting nothing.

He too seemed to have forgotten my allergy.

"Uncle, wait here. I'll fetch her pillow upstairs."

"We got a bit rough without mercy. Jessica can't sleep comfortably—demanded I fetch her rabbit pillow to support her back."

Victor's flippant words hung in the air as he turned toward the staircase.

Gary set his teacup down coldly.

I thought he was impatient to leave. Instead, he followed Victor upstairs in silence.

Victor emerged from the bedroom clutching the rabbit pillow, closing the door to find Gary waiting.

Victor's smile froze momentarily before snapping back into place.

"Uncle? Why'd you come up?"

Gary's voice remained flat, betraying nothing. "Took you long enough."

Victor smiled nostalgically: "Jessica and I were intimate here often. I'm still reluctant to move away."

Victor felt guilty, terrified Gary might open the door and see the whips and chains inside.

He deliberately used this man-woman affair to disgust Gary.

Gary indeed suggested leaving.

Victor escorted Gary all the way to the Country Estate entrance.

Only after watching Gary enter the neighboring Country Estate did he lock every door.

Soon, Victor went down to the basement again.

Malice twisting his face, he approached the child lying weakly on the floor.

"Daughter, blame Gary. If he hadn't suddenly wanted to find Jessica..."

"How could Daddy bear to really hurt you?"

Victor muttered darkly, eyes shadowed.

My mind shattered. I roared at Victor, swinging fists, charging, pulling.

But Victor was already crouching before his daughter.

He cradled his unconscious child firmly against his chest.

"Daddy brought you something special."

"Haven't you always wanted Mommy? Take this medicine and you'll see her."

He reached into his bag and pulled out her water bottle.

Inside swirled cloudy liquid with dissolved pill powder.

He pinched his daughter's chin, pressing the bottle opening close.

"No!

Victor!

How could you!"

She is your daughter too!

I recklessly threw myself forward.

Buzz—

Right then, Victor's phone vibrated frantically.

At the same time, police sirens blared from outside the Country Estate!

Victor panicked at the police siren's wail.

He cursed, dropped the child, and bolted.

Baby crashed to the floor. Thud.

The sound wrenched my heart.

"Baby?

You okay?"

Still unconscious, Baby whimpered for Mama.

"Don't be scared!

Mama's here..."

"I'll get help right now!"

I rushed out—Victor had vanished, escaping by car.

The Country Estate's doors soon splintered open.

Gary stormed in with police.

"Gary?

Why'd you come back?"

I stared in disbelief.

"Jessica!"

Gary shouted my name, charging through my spirit upstairs.

"Gary, I'm not on the second floor. You won't find me."

"Check the basement! Baby needs you!"

But Gary couldn't hear me.

He kicked the bedroom door open.

Moonlight flooded the unlit room, revealing everything.

No bed—only props.

Bloodstained whips covered the walls.

Chains thick as wrists littered the floor.

Victor's playground. My nightmare.

Gary froze there, utterly still.

I saw shock, pain, and guilt on his face...

His always-straight back slumped weakly.

I thought, now he finally believed what I'd told him.

Victor was scum – he kept beating me. Those five years married to him were pure hell.

Just then, a shout came from downstairs.

"There's someone in the basement!"

Gary suddenly seemed to regain his strength.

"Jessica!"

He spun around and raced downstairs.

Hope flashed in his eyes, and I felt it too.

"Sweetie's safe!"

I chased after Gary down the stairs.

In the basement, I found sweetie was awake.

She trembled in the corner, terrified as police approached.

That bastard Victor must've scared her half to death.

"Sweetie, don't be scared, you're safe now..."

I ran over and hugged her: "The police are good people. Will you go with them?"

But my sweetie couldn't hear me.

She flinched from anyone near, sobbing: "Mommy, I'm scared..."

"...Mommy."

Sweetie kept backing up until she bumped against a black bag in the corner.

That bag was the one Victor had left behind deliberately.

When he fled earlier, he'd forgotten to take it.

Gary stepped forward, red-eyed as he slowly crouched down, coaxing in a gentle whisper.

"Sweetie, I'm Gary. We talked on the phone earlier, remember?"

"Why isn't your mom with you?

Let's go find her together, okay?"

Sweetie's tears flowed harder, wrenching my heart.

Truth was, Gary would know I was dead the moment he unzipped that black bag beside us.

But Gary didn't know.

He lifted Sweetie carefully, continuing to soothe.

"Don't be scared, sweetie."

"I'll protect you. No one will ever hurt you again."

Sweetie refused to let police near, yet trusted Gary inexplicably, the trembling gradually subsiding in his arms.

Seeing Sweetie calmer, Gary ventured cautiously.

"Sweetie, I'll take you out, then we'll find your mom. Alright?"

This time, Sweetie didn't look at Gary.

But pointed at the black bag bulging with something round near their feet.

"Mom... is here."

Silence slammed through the basement.

Police who'd been searching froze mid-action.

Every gaze locked onto the black bag in the corner.

Gary lowered the child with trembling hands.

Then, fingers shaking, unzipped the black bag—