Chapter 1 - THE FALL
Dark clouds gathered over the old tiled roof, and rain beat heavily against the tin sheets as if warning of the storm about to unfold.
Inside the dim, damp room, Linda knelt trembling on the worn wooden floor. Clutched tightly in her arms was her newborn daughter, wrapped in a thin blanket, sleeping peacefully unaware of the hatred surrounding her. Standing before her was her mother-in-law, Mrs. Lisa — face twisted in rage, eyes burning with contempt.
"Give that thing to me!" Mrs. Lisa shrieked, stepping forward.
Linda pressed her baby closer to her chest, tears streaming down her pale face. She shook her head, begging in a broken voice. "Mother... please... she is your granddaughter. I beg you... have mercy..."
"Granddaughter?" Mrs. Lisa laughed harshly. "A worthless girl born by a useless daughter-in-law? I told you from the day you married my son — no grandson means no place in this house! This girl is nothing but a stain upon this family!"
She lunged forward and grabbed the baby. Linda refused to let go. Her hands were pale and trembling, every knuckle white with effort. She felt as if heavy iron chains were wrapped around her body and neck, binding her like a slave with no rights, no voice, no way to protect what she loved most. She wept and pleaded until her voice cracked, clinging to her child with every ounce of strength she had.
Mrs. Lisa grew furious. She drew back her foot and kicked Linda hard in the chest.
Linda was thrown backward, hitting her shoulder against the floor. But even as she fell, her arms never loosened around her baby.
"Filthy creatures like these..." Mrs. Lisa spat, her voice dripping with venom, "...are not allowed to remain in this house. Get out! Both of you!"
With a violent jerk, she tore the baby from Linda’s grasp. She held the tiny infant high in the air, eyes blazing with hatred, as if the helpless child were her worst enemy.
"NO! PLEASE! SHE IS ONLY A BABY!" Linda screamed, scrambling forward, reaching out with trembling hands.
Mrs. Lisa did not listen. She opened her hands.
The baby fell.
Linda’s heart shattered. She lunged desperately but arrived too late. The infant landed hard upon the unforgiving wood. A heart-wrenching cry filled the room — thin, weak, and utterly helpless. Wrapped tightly in her blanket, the little one writhed in pain.
Linda crawled frantically toward her child. But Mrs. Lisa stepped between them. She raised her foot high above the crying baby — deliberately, with clear malice — bringing it down toward the tiny body. She meant to crush the life out of her granddaughter. Her face showed pure, unbridled hatred.
"GET AWAY FROM HER!" Linda threw herself over her daughter just in time, shielding the infant with her own body as Mrs. Lisa ’s heavy shoe slammed against the floor inches away.
Mrs. Lisa raised her foot again — and in that same instant...
The gate burst open. A man rushed in like a storm.
Khai. Linda’s husband. Mrs. Lisa ’s only son.
He had returned home early and heard the screams from the gate. Glancing through the doorway, he saw his mother raising her foot to sLisa p upon his newborn daughter. Rage consumed him. He did not think — he acted. He ran, leaped from across the room, and launched himself through the air, striking his mother hard in the chest with both feet.
The blow sent Mrs. Lisa flying backward. She crashed against the wall and slumped to the floor, winded and stunned, staring at her son in disbelief.
Khai ignored her completely. He dropped to his knees beside his wife and child. He saw Linda — bruised, terrified, weeping, still shielding their baby beneath her body. He heard his daughter’s weak cries. His heart broke into a thousand pieces. He wrapped his strong arms around them both, pulling them close, pressing his face against theirs as hot tears spilled freely. He held them tight as if to shield them from the entire world.
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"I am here... I have you..." he whispered, his voice trembling yet filled with unshakable resolve. He lifted his head and looked straight at his mother — his wife’s arms still wrapped protectively around their baby. His voice was low, heavy, and absolute.
"No one... from this day forward... will ever lay a hand on my wife or my child. No one."
