Fake Bankruptcy，My Daughter Disowned You, Ex-Husband

When Julian went bankrupt, the first thing he did was ask for a divorce and offer to walk away with nothing. I thought he just didn't want to drag me down with him. So I took on three extra part-time jobs to stand by his side. To save money, every night after work, I took our five-year-old daughter, Lily, to the night market to braid and sell bracelets until midnight. Her tiny hands worked fast and steady. Every time she finished one, she would whisper: "Mommy, if Lily braids more bracelets and makes more money, will Daddy take me to the theme park to see the fairy-tale castle?" Hearing her timid hope broke my heart. Julian always claimed money was tight, ignoring our daughter's wishes again and again. Finally, on Lily's birthday, I shook the tin box full of coins with a smile, took her hand, and headed straight for the theme park. Only to see Julian outside the castle, bending down to smooth the hem of his first love's dress, before lifting her daughter high onto his shoulders. The park attendant gave us an apologetic look: "Mr. Vance booked the entire castle for a private birthday party for his daughter today. It's closed to the public." "I'm so sorry, ma'am. You'll have to come back another day." I froze in place. Lily clutched the hem of my shirt tightly, looking up with big eyes full of confusion and heartbreak. "Is that Daddy? Who is that little girl on his shoulders?" My throat tightened. I couldn't utter a single word. Julian seemed to sense something and turned around. Our eyes met. The smile on his face instantly froze, replaced by a flicker of annoyance. The woman beside him gently nudged his arm and murmured something. Julian immediately looked away, smiling again as he adjusted the little girl on his shoulders. The girl wore an exquisite princess dress, her laughter ringing out like silver bells. Beside me, Lily wore a faded, washed-out old dress. The spark of hope in her eyes slowly died. The blood in my veins turned to ice. My chest ached so fiercely I could barely breathe. I bent down, scooped Lily into my arms, and pressed her head against my shoulder, hiding the cruel scene from her eyes. "Good girl, Lily. We'll come back another day," I said, my voice hoarse. "Today... the castle is closed for maintenance." "But Daddy is in there..." she sobbed softly. "That's not Daddy," I heard myself say with terrifying calm. "You saw wrong, sweetie." Sensing my distress, Lily forced a sensible smile. "Maybe Lily made a mistake. Let's come back another day, Mommy. Don't be sad." Her voice grew fainter until it was barely a whisper. A sharp pain stabbed my heart. I lifted her small face, already drenched in tears. Panicking, I pulled her tight into my arms and practically fled. Yet Lily kept looking back over my shoulder until the happy family of three inside the castle completely vanished from sight. Back home, I sat in silence for a long time. How much did it cost to book an entire fairy-tale castle for a day? I didn't dare to imagine. With trembling fingers, I looked it up on my phone. When I saw the starting price of hundreds of thousands of dollars, a heavy lump caught in my throat. "Mommy... doesn't Daddy have no money?" After a long silence, my daughter finally gathered the courage to ask. Her small face was filled with confusion and longing, desperate for an answer that made sense. I was in a daze. Was he really broke? Julian's company had been valued in the tens of millions before going under. Three months ago, he suddenly announced that his funding had collapsed. From then on, he acted utterly defeated, insisting that Lily and I leave him so we could start fresh. I thought Julian loved me. I thought he loved Lily. I thought he wanted to walk away with nothing just to keep his debts from ruining us. Never had I imagined that his so-called bankruptcy was nothing but an elaborate, years-long lie. The old door lock clicked. Julian was home. I listened quietly from the bedroom. Lily ran to him like a cheerful little bird, throwing herself toward her father as usual. Julian didn't hug her. Lily was already used to his coldness—disappointment had become routine. She eagerly held up her phone, showing him the screen. "Daddy, can I have this princess dress?" Julian's voice was dismissive as usual. "We'll talk about it when things get better." Normally, Lily would quietly put the phone away. But today, she was unusually persistent, as if trying to prove something. Her tiny voice trembled imperceptibly. "How long do I have to wait? Daddy, today is my birthday..." Why did she have to wait? He had enough money to book an entire castle for another woman's daughter, so why couldn't he buy his own daughter a dress for her birthday? The heartbreaking part was that even though Lily was choking back tears, she never said those words out loud. Julian finally relented. "Fine. I'll make it up to you next time." Before I realized it, Lily had thrown herself into my arms. She chattered excitedly in my ear: "Daddy promised! He said yes!" I tried to be happy for her, but my heartache kept me awake all night.Day after day passed, but that dress never appeared. Finally, after another night Julian returned empty-handed, Lily ran to her room and buried her face in her pillow, crying softly. Julian didn't even notice. Before I knew what I was doing, my hand struck his face. Julian froze, staring at me in disbelief. "Natalie, have you lost your mind?" He was the one who got slapped, yet I was the one on the verge of tears. "Where is the dress you promised Lily?" A flash of irritation crossed Julian's face. "What's the rush? I'll buy it once I pay off this month's loan." Lily and I had heard those words countless times over the past few years. "Wait a little longer. Don't rush. Pay off the debts first. Maybe later." I had reached my limit. I pushed open Lily's bedroom door. Pulling back her blanket, I looked into her tearful eyes and asked: "If Daddy and Mommy split up, who do you want to live with?" Lily froze, pure terror lacing her voice. "Mommy, please don't leave me." I pulled her fragile body into my arms, my voice catching. "If you stay with Daddy, you might have a better life." Lily shook her head, weeping. "Mommy, can we wait just one more week? Please?" I agreed. After putting Lily to sleep, I felt compelled to open Julian's company website. The liquidation notice was still posted on the homepage. I searched the news. Most articles reported on his company's demise. Everything looked completely legitimate. Yet all I could see was Julian holding that girl at the castle, his face glowing with relaxed, carefree happiness. That wasn't the face of a man suffocating under crushing debt. The next morning, after dropping Lily off at kindergarten, I went to work as usual. I used to be a top graduate in foreign languages with plenty of promising job offers. But when I got pregnant shortly after marriage, and Julian's business took off, I chose to become a stay-at-home mom. When his sudden "bankruptcy" struck, I was forced back into the workforce, only to find the job market had completely changed. To earn more, I had to juggle three jobs. By day, I worked the front desk at a tutoring center. At night, I took shifts at a convenience store. On weekends, I did bookkeeping for two small firms. Even so, the money was just a drop in the ocean compared to the massive debt Julian claimed to have. Still, I never once considered giving up. I believed that as long as we fought together, we would overcome this storm. Only now did I realize the hardship I thought we shared was nothing more than a web of lies he carefully spun. "Natalie, there's a parent inquiring in Classroom 3. Go handle it." Snapping out of my thoughts, I answered and walked toward the room. The very next second, my eyes locked with Julian's. Julian's expression instantly soured. Sitting right beside him was Evelyn, his first love. Elegant, flawless, exuding effortless grace. Compared to her, I looked haggard and worn out, the fine lines around my eyes telling tales of relentless exhaustion. Yet I didn't feel sad. I felt a surge of cold fury. Because Evelyn's daughter was wearing the exact princess dress Lily had longed for. Evelyn glanced over the curriculum and picked the most expensive private coaching package. Julian spoke up: "Bella is still young. Please give her extra care during lessons." Evelyn smiled softly. "If you're so worried about her, why don't you teach her yourself?" It sounded like a complaint, but the underlying intimacy was undeniable. My knuckles turned white around the clipboard. My face burned as if slapped. Stumbling back toward the reception desk, my distraction caused me to bump straight into my supervisor, who was carrying a cup of hot coffee. In an instant, scalding coffee drenched my clothes. Before I could react, my supervisor was already screaming at me: "Natalie! If you keep zoning out on the job, you're fired!" Julian shot up, his brow furrowing as he moved toward me. The next second, Evelyn held her forehead and let out a soft groan. Julian instantly halted, turning to support Evelyn with frantic concern as he guided her toward the exit. Evelyn leaned delicately against his shoulder, meeting my gaze with calm superiority. In that silent battle, I was utterly defeated.After a miserable shift, I headed home covered in coffee stains. The moment Lily saw my disheveled state, her eyes welled up. "Mommy, what happened to you?" I forced a faint smile, swallowing the bitterness. "Mommy was just clumsy and bumped into someone," I lied gently. Her worried little face softened slightly. "Mommy," Lily tugged on my hand, "can we skip selling bracelets tonight?" "What if... what if Daddy brings my gift home today?" I opened my mouth to speak, but the lock turned. Julian had arrived. Lily's eyes lit up with fierce anticipation, her tiny hand sweating in mine. A second later, we both froze. Julian's hands were empty. My heart plummeted. I looked at Lily. Disappointment flickered across her face, but she didn't break down like last time. Tears burned behind my eyes. Just as I was about to confront him, Julian pulled me into the bedroom. "Are you okay? I saw the coffee spill on you earlier." He pulled out the first-aid kit, reaching out to check my burn. I shoved his hands away. "Where is the dress?" I demanded coldly. Julian paused. "What dress?" Fury surged through me, my voice rising: "The princess dress Lily asked for! I saw you buy it for someone else's daughter today!" Julian's eyes darted away. He rubbed his temples and muttered in a low voice: "That one wasn't right for her. I'll buy one another day." "Another day." Swallowing my burning rage, I turned and walked into the bathroom. To save on the water bill, I took a quick three-minute rinse. Suddenly, my phone buzzed with a friend request on SnapChat. I stared at it for two seconds, a gut feeling telling me who it was. I hit accept. It was Evelyn. She immediately sent a photo along with a message: "Thank you to the most thoughtful man in the world. Bella and I love all the gifts." The picture showed the princess dress, surrounded by designer jewelry and luxury bags. My mind went blank. I stared up at our shabby bathroom shelf. Discount shampoo from the dollar store, a worn-down sliver of bar soap, and Lily's cheap hair ties. Grief crashed over me like a tidal wave. My legs gave out, and I slid down the cold tiles, weeping in silence. After a while, Julian knocked on the door. "Natalie, why are you taking so long?" When I didn't answer, he pushed the door open. I walked past him without a word. Seeing my swollen, red eyes, Julian's face darkened, and he let out an irritated sigh. "I'll buy it tomorrow! It's just a damn dress!" "Just a dress?" I let out a bitter, silent scoff and said nothing. At dinner, the tension was suffocating. Julian glanced at me, then at Lily, who remained quiet. He paused, then placed Lily's favorite chicken wing onto her plate. Lily's eyes instantly sparkled, her expression full of stunned gratitude. A pang of agony struck my heart. A child starved of love treats the barest crumb of affection like a miracle. That small gesture gave Lily courage. She looked at Julian timidly and whispered: "Daddy, tomorrow is the school field day. The teacher said fathers need to do the two-person soccer race. Can you come?" Julian froze. Seeing how cautious she was, he suddenly thought of Bella's bright, confident smile. An uncomfortable feeling gnawed at him. Why was his own daughter always so timid? Clearing his throat, Julian patted Lily's shoulder. "Daddy will be there." Lily was overjoyed. She dragged me out to buy sneakers. When I reached for my wallet, she proudly pulled out her own little coin purse. Every cent in it came from braiding bracelets at night. She had saved for six months, yet spent it all without hesitation. That night, she held her new sneakers tightly against her chest, refusing to let go until exhaustion claimed her, falling asleep with a sweet smile.The next afternoon, Lily and I waited early on the kindergarten field. She clutched her new sneakers, standing tall and proud. Soon, other families arrived one after another. Lily's expression grew anxious. I silently prayed Julian wouldn't disappoint her again. Over the next half hour, I called him countless times. None went through. Seeing Lily's tiny knuckles turn white, I couldn't sit by anymore. I left her with her teacher and rushed straight to Julian's company. It was peak business hours, so I slipped in with the crowd. Not knowing which floor he was on, I searched floor by floor. Drenched in sweat, I finally found him outside the executive penthouse suite. Before relief could set in, I froze. Julian and Evelyn were playing with a little girl. Bella's face shone with radiant, pampered happiness. Julian looked like a doting father, his eyes full of tenderness as he laughed with her. Lily flashed across my mind. Same age, but denied her father's love, living in poverty. At that moment, pride and dignity vanished. My vision blurred red with hatred. I wanted everyone to see who this monster really was. Just as I opened my mouth to scream, a hand clamped over my face from behind. A security guard dragged me backward. In that split second, Evelyn turned her head slightly and shot me a smirk. A volcano of indignation erupted inside me. Yet, I was thrown onto the street like a bag of trash. Ignoring the scrapes on my arms, I scrambled up and tried to rush back in. "I'm Julian Vance's wife! Let me in!" The two guards shoved me to the ground again, full of contempt. "Get lost, crazy woman! You think you can hustle people here in broad daylight?" "Crazy woman?" I laughed through my tears. Finally accepting reality, I picked myself up and hurried back to the school. When I arrived breathless, the scene broke my heart completely. Lily stood alone outside the crowd, clutching her new sneakers. Other kids pointed and giggled: "Her dad didn't show up again! Her daddy abandoned her!" A roaring noise filled my ears. I rushed over and pulled Lily into my arms. Seeing that I returned alone, Lily accepted the truth instantly. She looked down at the shoes, quietly zipped them into her backpack, and smiled at me. "Mommy, the week is up." My heart shattered. I nodded through my tears. Meanwhile, Julian began glancing at his watch, an unusual restlessness washing over him. He couldn't stay any longer. What time was Lily's field day again? He froze, realizing he hadn't even remembered the time, even though Natalie had reminded him repeatedly. Panic crept in. He excused himself from the party and headed to his office. Inside was the princess dress he had purchased that morning, intending to give it to Lily after the sports day. Evelyn caught up to him. "Julian, where are you going?" Julian gave a distracted reply, walking toward the door without looking back. "I have something to handle. Head back on your own later." Evelyn quickly shot her daughter a look. Bella grabbed his jacket, looking up with wide, pleading eyes. "Uncle Julian, you said you'd take me to buy a new piano today. Why are you leaving so soon?" Julian looked torn. "Uncle has an emergency. We'll go another day." Bella refused to let go, whining stubbornly. A headache pounded behind his temples. Julian looked at Evelyn for help, but she just shrugged helplessly. Julian decided to call Natalie first. Pulling out his phone, he realized it was turned off. Nobody dared touch his phone except one person. He gave Evelyn a chilling look. She avoided his eyes. Julian understood everything in an instant. Without another word, he gently pulled Bella's hand off and strode out. Bella was always demanding things. No matter how much he gave, she was never satisfied. Yet what about his own daughter? Lily was always so sensible, asking for so little, yet he had neglected her over and over. Every forgotten memory flooded back, making his heart race violently. Julian powered on his phone, terrified of what he might find. A single text from Natalie popped up: "Let's get a divorce."