His Daughter, His Mistake

My husband, Austin Rogers, had been missing for five years, only to return with a royal illegitimate child.

The first thing he did was burst into my daughter Joanna's room, wrap her in a blanket, and throw her into the sauna.

His sister, Rosita, sneered as she poured a whole box of leeches inside and locked the door.

I rushed over, begging them to let my daughter out.

They glared at me with malice. "How dare you plead? The little princess bruised her leg yesterday. If her mother finds out, we'll all be in deep trouble. You're just envious! You want us to stay trapped in this miserable place with you forever."

At that moment, I finally understood that they intended to use my daughter's life to appease that Slaka Queen.

But their plan was doomed to fail.

The person being bitten by leeches inside wasn't my daughter.

They were about to face the consequences of their actions.

1.

"Paper and pen have been thrown in. Tell Joanna to write 'I'm sorry' ten thousand times for the little princess, Anna. Have her write "I'm sorry" and then read it out loud. If she misses it once, she will never be able to leave the sauna in her life."

These were the first words Austin spoke to me after being missing for five years.

Austin and I had been married for five years when he mysteriously disappeared on the day of our child's birth.

Everyone said he was killed by enemies, but I didn't believe it. I single-handedly took care of his family and our daughter for four years.

Four years later, he finally returned, holding the hand of a little girl.

He said he was swept away by the waves back then and rescued by the Slaka Queen, Katy Spencer.

He also said that they were both single, so it was natural for them to fall in love and give birth to Anna.

Recently, Katy lost her ability to bear children, making Anna the sole heir.

She allowed Austin to return home to fetch his family and enjoy a life of luxury in Slaka.

I have imagined many times what his reaction would be when he came home after five years and saw that I had kept the house in order.

Would he be touched, surprised, or feel sorry for me?

I never expected it to be this disgraceful.

Rosita even took out her phone to start recording, "Did you hear that, you little troublemaker? Hurry up and write. Admit your mistake. I'll play this for Her Majesty when she arrives, so she'll forgive us and only punish your wretched mother. We're finally about to go to Slaka with Austin for a good life, and you two just keep causing trouble."

But what came from inside was not Joanna's crying voice, but Anna's scream.

Joanna had already gone on a picnic with her school. If Austin hadn't been busy coaxing Anna and bragging to his friends since he came back, this blunder wouldn't have happened.

The leeches, poured into the hot, humid environment, writhed wildly, quickly covering the walls and floor, and started gathering towards Anna.

The little princess, raised in a sheltered and privileged upbringing, had never seen such a terrifying scene.

She was scared out of her wits, left only with cries and shouts.

Her voice was so hoarse from tension that even her biological father, Austin, didn't recognize it.

"Still playing tricks on us, huh?" Rosita sneered, unable and unwilling to understand, "Austin, listen! She's deliberately speaking a foreign language to provoke us! Without a sincere apology, she's still playing tricks."

Austin frowned slightly, seemingly trying to discern something.

But he didn't understand Slaka's language. During his time in Slaka, a single glance would tell the servants what he wanted, and he had a dedicated translator when going out, eliminating the need to learn the local language.

I quickly shouted, "Austin! Listen clearly. Inside is Anna. It's the little princess Anna! She can't write in our language and doesn't understand what we're saying. Let her out quickly!"

Rosita was defiant, "Gwyneth! Shut up! This is the result of your indulgence, making Joanna lawless. Thinking she can escape by pretending to be innocent after doing something wrong? No way! If we don't teach her a lesson today, she'll dare to commit crimes tomorrow."

Her words instantly made Austin's hesitation disappear, and he became even angrier.

"Unrepentant!" he barked, then ordered the servant beside him, "Raise the temperature by another 50 degrees Fahrenheit."

I couldn't believe my ears, "Austin, have you lost your mind? It's already 122 degrees Fahrenheit. Raising it more will drive the leeches insane. They'll burrow into human skin. A child's skin is so tender, how can it handle that?"

Rosita scoffed, "Well, so your daughter is precious? We country kids have all seen leeches. Who are you trying to scare? A higher temperature is better. It'll knock some sense into her, so she won't be as foolish as you, unable to distinguish between major and minor issues."

The cries from the sauna reverberated like a heavy hammer on my heart.

Even though it wasn't Joanna inside, it was a helpless child. As a mother, I felt sorry for her.

I picked up the paper and pen left on the floor, "I'll write. I'll write for her. Ten thousand times, is that enough? Just open the door, it's really Anna in there."

My plea seemed to have some effect. Austin looked at the continuously shaking door, and his expression finally softened a bit.

Seeing this, Rosita immediately grabbed his arm, "Austin, don't soften. She's just pretending to trick us. Thinking about Katy and our future. If you soften now, we'll all suffer with her. Our parents worked hard to raise us, toiled their whole lives, and finally have a chance to follow you to a good life. Are you going to let it all be ruined by this woman? We must make her remember this lesson."

This statement completely ignited Austin's fear and greed.

His remaining hesitation was burned away, and he glared at me, his face full of murderous intent.

"Yes! If it weren't for you making Anna fall, would I need to worry about Katy getting upset? Everyone knows Katy dotes on Anna! Turn up the heat! No one is allowed to open the door without my order."

Inside the sauna, the high temperature and Anna's fear had reached a critical point.

The banging sounds were growing weaker, and Anna's cries had turned into intermittent moans.

Due to the high temperature, these leeches burrowed into Anna's body. Anna jumped frantically and tried to pull them out with her hands, but it was useless. Instead, the leeches drilled deeper and deeper.

Suddenly, a piercing scream cut through the air, shattering the silence and stabbing through everyone's eardrums.

It was a sound no child could fake. It seemed that some leeches had already crawled into her body.

Austin jolted, his expression changing. He was about to say something when Rosita interrupted him. "Austin! If you open the door now, all our efforts will be wasted. If Katy finds out, none of us will escape. Thinking about our parents, they've worked hard their whole lives and are counting on you to bring them happiness."

Her eyes gleamed as she turned her accusations towards me. "Besides, do you think Gwyneth has been faithful for the past four years? When you weren't home, who knows how many men she dined and drank with, always dressed to the nines when she went out. Who knows what she was up to? A daughter raised by such a woman can't be any good. She deserves a harsh lesson."

Austin's gaze darkened instantly, glaring at me.

I couldn't help but snort with derision.

My family was the richest in the country. Six years ago, I was going to marry Austin, a poor and useless boy. My parents were so angry that they cut off all ties with me.

We hastily got our marriage license five years ago without even holding a ceremony.

He felt guilty for me, holding me as he cried, promising to give me a good life.

After I got married, my parents and brother couldn't bear to see me suffer, so they secretly gave me some start-up capital.

Austin used this money to build his fortune, but when his company went bankrupt due to poor management, he vanished without a word.

Everyone thought he had fled or been killed by enemies, urging me to abort and remarry. It was I who returned home to plead with my brother to introduce me to investors, helping his family thrive.

But Rosita actually slandered me for cheating?

"Austin, open the door! Don't you believe me?" I suppressed my anger. "Who managed the household during the years you were gone? Have you forgotten who stood by you when you were at your lowest?"

Austin's eyes flickered, as if touched by memories, but Rosita interrupted again.

"Austin. Don't listen to her nonsense! She's just trying to excuse herself. This kind of cheating woman should be..."

"Enough." I pulled a document from my bag and slammed it in front of him.

"Let's divorce. I had the lawyer draft the agreement right when you brought that child back."

Austin stared at me, wide-eyed in disbelief. "Gwyneth! You wanted a divorce all along? You even prepared an agreement?"

"What do you think I should do? I'm your legal wife. Did you think you could go to Slaka and make the Queen your mistress? Do you think if the Queen's family knew about this, would they treat you like a guest of honor, or would they punish you hard?" I sneered.

"That's not a big deal. You can go as my cousin, and we can still secretly meet."

What a lunatic!

I spat at him.

Austin hesitated for a while, but finally snatched the pen and signed his name heavily.

"You'll regret this!" he shouted, tossing the pen down.

"Give me the key," I demanded, extending my hand.

He snorted and walked away.

Watching his retreating figure, I quickly scribbled a note in Slaka language and slipped it through the door crack. "You can crawl out through the vent."

It was a hidden exit I had accidentally discovered when I brought Joanna here for a bath.

A faint voice in Slaka language came from inside, "Thank you..." followed by the soft sound of crawling from the ventilation duct.

My heart pounded as I moved quietly under the duct's exit, ready to help.

Just when I thought she was about to come out, a chilling scream from Anna echoed through the duct, followed by a heavy thud.

"Are you trying to escape through here? No way!" It was Rosita.

She appeared out of nowhere, holding a long stick, and pushed Anna back inside.

Triumphantly, Rosita ordered the servants to nail the vent shut. "I've told you, all the locksmiths in the city and all the tools for breaking or prying open doors have been hidden by Austin. Don't try any tricks. Your precious daughter had better finish writing 'I'm sorry' ten thousand times."

I couldn't bear it anymore and slapped her hard. "Are you crazy? A child could fall and die."

That slap enraged her.

She had always acted obedient in front of me because the whole family relied on my support.

But now that Austin was back, she thought she had a new pillar and revealed her true self. "You dare hit me? Who do you think you are to control me? You stop me from using my phone or going out with my boyfriend? Who do you think you are?"

Seeing her hysterical state, I finally understood the ungrateful person I had been caring for.

I stopped her from using her phone during class because the teacher had warned her many times that she would be expelled if she did that again.

I stopped her from seeing that boy because he was a convicted rapist, just out of juvenile detention. I showed her the doctored news reports, but she thought I had photoshopped them to deceive her.

"Catch her!" Rosita ordered the servants.

Those two servants hesitated but eventually held my arms.

Rosita stepped forward and slapped me hard. "Apologize! Kneel and apologize!"

I was not convinced, but when I thought of Anna inside, who was being eaten by leeches and whose life or death was unknown, I lowered my head in humiliation. "... I'm sorry."

Only then did Rosita smile in satisfaction.

"See? If you had been obedient from the start, it wouldn't have come to this. Remember, in this house, be humble!" After she said that, she turned and left arrogantly.

I broke free from the servants, looking at the completely sealed sauna, my heart sinking.

Inside, there was no sound at all.

I held my burning cheek and rushed to the sauna door, gently knocking on the door. "Anna? Anna? Can you hear me?"

Pressing my ear against the scorching door, I listened carefully.

A faint tapping sound emanated from inside.

My heart leapt. That was great. She was still alive.

Without hesitation, I pulled out my newly purchased ultra-thin phone and slipped it through the crack of the door, urgently speaking in Slaka language, "Sweetheart, call your mother. Ask your mother to rescue you."

A small hand, flushed red from the heat, trembled as it reached out and swiftly took the phone.

A faint "thank you" came from inside.

My eyes instantly welled up with tears.

Such a brave and thoughtful child, she shouldn't have to endure this.

Just as the phone was about to connect, Rosita shouted angrily.

"Bitch! How dare you betray us?" Terrified, I turned around to see Austin holding the sauna's remote control, his face turned ghostly pale. "You actually want to report us to Katy? Do you think she'll help you? Don't dream about it. Katy dotes on Anna and would probably kill you if she knew you harmed her."

Rosita chimed in to exacerbate the situation, "Austin, Gwyneth is too cunning. She needs to be taught a lesson."

I was shocked by their demeanor, and the next moment, Austin's fingers frantically pressed the remote control, causing the temperature to soar.

I screamed, "No!"

Before I finished speaking, there was a sound of an explosion in the sauna room.

The phone battery had exploded from the intense heat.

Anna's heart-wrenching scream followed, leaving everyone stunned.

"What happened? My darling just called me!"

A commanding female voice suddenly came from the doorway.

The Queen of Slaka appeared suddenly, holding my daughter Joanna's hand, surrounded by a group of bodyguards in black.

Her piercing gaze swept across the room, finally fixing on Austin. "Austin, who's this little girl I'm holding? Why is her family here, too? Didn't you tell me you were single?"

Austin and Rosita's faces turned pale, realizing the gravity of their unforgivable mistake.

"Jo... Joanna?" Austin's lips trembled, his body shaking violently with fear, "And inside is..."

Katy's gaze grew colder as she looked at them. "Where's my darling princess? She just called me, and then the call suddenly ended. Where is she?"

Austin and Rosita's legs went weak, and they fell to their knees with a thud.

A fishy liquid spread from Austin's crotch, and he was so scared that he became incontinent.

At this moment, a pool of blood slowly seeped out from under the door of the sauna room.