She Borrows Starlight from the Night

The day after Lucas Foster went to prison, I was kicked out of the house by the Foster family. Seven months pregnant, I had nowhere to go. To provide for my daughter, I set up street stalls, washed dishes, and lived in a tiny partitioned cubicle of just a few square meters. For four whole years, I held on solely through the love letters Lucas sent from behind bars. He promised that once he was released, he would marry me and give our daughter and me a real home. Yet, the day before his scheduled release, I saw him dressed in a sharp suit, dining warmly with another woman and child. As it turned out, he hadn't spent a single day in prison! For four years, he enjoyed domestic bliss, while my daughter and I endured endless humiliation. The next day, I still took our daughter to wait for him at the prison gates. With red-rimmed eyes, he wrapped his arms around me, swearing he would never let me suffer again. I leaned into his embrace with a smile, but only one thought echoed in my mind: Lucas Foster, this time, I’m taking our daughter and vanishing completely—where you will never find us. Chloe Lin POV Everyone in New York knew that Lucas Foster, in a fit of rage over a man harassing me, crushed the man's groin and was sentenced to four years in prison. Because of this, the Foster family despised me to the bone. The day after Lucas went to prison, I was driven out of the house, seven months pregnant. Susan Foster pointed right at my face and snarled, "My son is in prison because of you! That little bastard in your belly doesn't deserve to be a Foster!" Because of her words, not a single hospital dared to admit me the day I went into labor. In the end, I gave birth to my daughter in a dingy alley clinic, nearly bleeding to death on the table. George Foster went even further, declaring publicly, "The Foster family will never acknowledge any child that woman bears. She has nothing to do with us." Consequently, in the entire city of New York, not a soul dared to help me complete my daughter's legal registration. From the day she was born, my daughter had no legal identity. Lucas’s sister, Victoria Foster, hated me with a passion and never missed a chance to make my life hell. She splashed paint across the door of my rented place, terrifying my landlord into terminating my lease. I had no choice but to move with my baby into the cheapest partitioned cubicle I could find. Victoria even sent thugs to cause trouble at the convenience store where I worked, forcing the owner to fire me. Unable to find decent employment, I barely kept us afloat by selling handmade jewelry on the street. Yet every time business picked up, someone would come along and trash my stall. Through relentless torment and persecution, the monthly letters from Lucas in prison were my only lifeline. Near the end of almost every letter, Lucas wrote with unwavering certainty: [Once I get out, I will marry you and give you and our daughter the very best of everything.] So I endured it all, over and over, reminding myself that these hardships were only temporary. Once Lucas came home, everything would be alright. Clinging to that belief, I gritted my teeth through the dark, endless days, and four years slipped by in the blink of an eye. Four years later, the day before Lucas’s release. That afternoon, I was washing dishes in the back kitchen of an upscale hotel. My daughter suddenly asked, "Mommy, are we really going to see Daddy tomorrow?" I looked down at her with a gentle smile. "Yes, sweetie. Are you happy?" Dotty blinked her clear, bright eyes and asked innocently, "Does that mean I'll get to eat lots and lots of meat, and drink lots and lots of milk from now on?" A sharp ache pierced my heart. Over the years, I couldn't provide her with a decent life; having meat was the rarest luxury for us. Chronic malnutrition had left her looking far smaller and frailer than other kids her age. Swallowing the bitter lump in my throat, I said softly, "With Daddy back, you can have whatever your heart desires. Today is payday, so after my shift, I’ll take you to buy some brand-new clothes. Tomorrow, we’ll both dress up pretty to go pick up Daddy, okay?" "New clothes for me? Yay! I love you the most, Mommy!" Dotty beamed with pure joy. I, too, was eager to wrap up my work early so I could use my paycheck to buy her an outfit and prepare for Lucas’s homecoming. Wiping my hands dry, I kissed her little cheek. "Wait here for me, okay? I’m going out front to clear the tables, and I’ll be right back." I settled her in the kitchen with a puzzle, pulled on my face mask, and headed out to collect the dirty dishes. As I pushed the bussing cart past a private dining room on the second floor, I glanced inside purely by chance. That single glance froze me dead in my tracks. Six people sat around the lavish table. Lucas Foster occupied the head seat, impeccably groomed in a tailored suit, looking breathtakingly handsome. Beside him sat an elegantly made-up woman, cradling a little girl around three or four years old. The child wore a lovely pink dress and a sparkling hair clip. Lucas’s parents and his sister were also at the table. The family atmosphere was warm and lively, as if they were celebrating a joyous occasion. My mind went entirely blank. For a second, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. Isn't Lucas supposed to be released tomorrow? Why is he sitting here right now? Did he get out early? Then why didn't he tell me? And who was the woman beside him? Who was that little girl? "Lucas, are you really going to see Chloe Lin tomorrow?" Victoria Foster set down her cutlery, her voice laced with disgust. "After all these years, you still haven't let her go?" Susan Foster sighed, chiming in, "Lucas, your child with Yvonne is already this big. You can't let her down." George Foster swirled his wine glass and drawled, "If you feel indebted to Chloe Lin, just give her a check and send her packing. As for the child she bore, we can pay child support, but she will never step foot inside the Foster household." Lucas leaned back against his chair, his eyes sweeping across everyone at the table. "I’ve told you, the only woman in my heart is Chloe. Drop this subject," he said. His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried an undeniable weight of authority. "As for Yvonne, I’ve stayed by her side for four years, and I will compensate them generously—that was our agreement from the very beginning. So tomorrow, I am going to find Chloe. None of you is allowed to mention a single word about this in front of her. If any of you lets her find out that I deceived her for four years, don't blame me for disregarding our family ties." Silence fell over the table for several seconds. The woman smiled gently, reaching over to place a piece of fish onto Lucas’s plate. "Lucas, don't be upset. I never intended to come between you and Chloe. Having you for these past four years has been more than enough for me. Don't worry, I won't say anything to her that I shouldn't." Lucas looked at her, the coldness in his eyes softening just a fraction.Chloe Lin POV Laughter and chatter soon resumed inside the room. Out in the hallway, I stood trembling from head to toe, almost hearing the sound of my own heart shattering into pieces. He was never in prison... Lucas Foster never spent a single day behind bars! He lied to me! Just then, Lucas seemed to sense something and casually glanced toward the doorway. Through the half-open crack, our gazes crossed for a split second. My heart seized violently. Pure instinct took over—I let go of the cart, spun on my heel, and hurried toward the other end of the corridor. The very next second after I vanished around the corner, the dining room door was pulled open from inside. Hidden in the shadows, I saw Lucas stride out. Standing in the hallway, he swept a piercing gaze across the empty corridor, his brow furrowed deep. A waiter happened to walk past, and Lucas caught him by the arm. "Does this hotel have an employee named Chloe Lin?" "Chloe Lin?" The waiter blinked, shaking his head. "No one by that name works here, sir." Lucas’s frown deepened. Just as he opened his mouth to press further, the click of high heels echoed from behind. "Lucas, what's wrong?" Yvonne Qiao stepped out, affectionately taking his arm, her eyes full of concern. "What are you looking for?" Lucas’s gaze remained fixed at the end of the hallway. "I thought I saw Chloe." "Chloe?" Yvonne looked astonished. "Why would she be here?" "I'm not sure." Lucas slowly pulled his gaze back, an edge of irritation in his voice. "She was wearing a mask, so I couldn't see her face clearly, but her eyes and her silhouette... they looked so much like hers." Victoria Foster’s voice drifted out from the room. "Lucas, you're seeing things. Chloe Lin has been living comfortably outside all these years, looked after by the servants we hired. Why on earth would she come to a place like this to work as a server?" Susan Foster agreed from inside, "The waiter just said there's no one by that name here. You're just overthinking it." Lucas fell silent for a moment, the tension in his furrowed brow easing slightly. "Let's go back inside and finish dinner." He placed an arm around Yvonne Qiao’s shoulders and turned back into the dining room. Meanwhile, I fled back to the kitchen as if running for my life. I braced myself against the wall, chest heaving violently, my head buzzing as though thousands of needles were piercing my brain all at once. Just then, footsteps approached from behind. "Chloe?" I whipped around to find the hotel manager standing nearby, his expression grim. "Sir..." my voice came out raspy. The manager hurried over and lowered his voice. "Someone just told me people from the Foster family are asking around about you. How on earth did they spot you?" "Didn't I tell you that they could never find out you're working here?" I parted my lips, but my throat felt completely choked up. The boss sighed. "Chloe, I know life has been hard on you, but my business can't afford that kind of trouble. If the Foster family finds out I've been harboring you, my hotel is done for. Just... pack your things, take this month's pay, and get out of here." I knew the boss had already been more than kind to me. All these years, not a single person in the entirety of New York dared to hire me; only he took me in out of pity. I couldn't drag him down with me. "Thank you, sir." I bowed deeply to him. "Thank you for taking care of me all this time." The boss waved his hand dismissively and pulled an envelope from his pocket, shoving it into my hands. "Here's your wages for this month. I added an extra half month's pay. Take it, and leave through the back door." I took the envelope, my fingers trembling slightly. I turned and walked toward the corner of the kitchen. Dotty was leaning over a stool, playing with a puzzle. Seeing me approach, she looked up with a radiant smile on her little face. "Mommy, are you done working?" I crouched down, gathered my daughter into my arms, and held her tightly. "Mommy?" Sensing something was wrong, Dotty asked in a whisper, "What's the matter?" "Nothing." I sniffled, doing my best to make my voice sound normal. "Dotty, we have to go." "Where are we going?" Dotty asked, tilting her head. "Home first." Picking up my daughter, I slipped out of the hotel through the back door. By the time we returned to our partitioned cubicle, dusk had already fallen. The room was barely eighty square feet. A single bed, a small table, and a makeshift wardrobe took up every inch of space. After coaxing Dotty to sleep, I sat on the edge of the bed. Looking at my daughter's gaunt, pale face, my tears finally broke free. I clamped a hand over my mouth, refusing to let out a sound. Four years. Four whole years. Lucas Foster had promised he would marry me the moment he got out. He promised he would give us the best of everything. His letters were so earnest, so resolute—every word felt like a vow carved deep into my heart. Yet he never went to prison. For these past four years, he hadn't spent a single day behind bars. He had lived so lavishly out here, surrounded by wealth and family. And what about me? I was crammed into an eight-foot cubicle with our daughter, choking down stale bread and cold tap water, watching my street stalls get trashed, having Victoria Foster show up at my doorstep to throw paint. Like an utter fool, clinging to those fraudulent hopes, I clawed and fought just to survive in the gutter. How ridiculous. So this was what he called love. Every ounce of hope and faith shattered completely in that instant. I wiped the tears from my face with force. This place was filled with nothing but deceit and oppression. The Foster family, Lucas Foster, and every single indifferent bystander—I never wanted to see any of them ever again. Grit my teeth, I resolved to take Dotty and leave this sickening city behind. However, Dotty was without legal identity, making it impossible to leave through normal channels. I scoured every source until I finally discovered that five days from now, a cruise ship bound for Boston would depart, and it didn't require any identification papers for children to board. Boston was far away—far enough that the Foster family's reach couldn't touch us. I could start over there and raise Dotty properly. Having made up my mind, I decisively bought a one-way ticket to Boston for five days later.Chloe's POV Early the next morning, I got out of bed. I dug out the dress I had retrieved from the trash bin the night before and slipped it on, dressed Dotty in her little pink coat, braided her dull, dry hair into two neat plaits, and tied them with red ribbon bows. "Mommy, are we really going to pick up Daddy today?" Dotty looked up, her eyes brimming with curiosity. I crouched down and adjusted her collar. "Yes, we are." I had to go. I wanted to see just how much longer Lucas Foster could keep wearing that mask, and how far he could take this farce. More importantly, I couldn't arouse any suspicion before I left. If Lucas discovered that I intended to run away with Dotty, given the Foster family's vast influence in New York, I would never be able to escape. Holding Dotty by the hand, I rode the bus for an hour before finally arriving at the prison gates. From a distance, I spotted that familiar silhouette. Lucas Foster stood outside the prison entrance, dressed in an impeccably tailored charcoal suit, his leather shoes polished to a mirror shine. He looked completely well-off and vibrant. George Foster, Susan Foster, and Victoria Foster gathered around him, flanked by two sleek black luxury sedans. "Lucas, look, Chloe is here," Victoria was the first to notice me, her tone laced with undisguised mockery. Lucas turned his head, his gaze settling on me. In that split second, the expression on his face shifted. He shoved Victoria aside and sprinted toward me at full speed. "Chloe!" He pulled up right in front of me, his eyes frantically searching me from head to toe. His brows drew tighter and tighter, his gaze flooded with heartache. Looking at that face etched with deep concern, an icy wave of cynicism washed over me. How had I lived? All those impoverished days, the humiliation of having my food stalls overturned, the disgrace of Victoria blocking my door to splash paint, the sheer helplessness of kneeling outside a rundown clinic in the dead of winter, begging a doctor to save my feverish child... How could I not be skin and bones? How could I not look worn down? Yet I wouldn't utter a single word about any of it. Lowering my gaze, I let my lips curve into a fragile, faint smile. "Maybe it's... because I've missed you so much over these past four years." Lucas's Adam's apple bobbed. A layer of guilt welled in his eyes, turning them instantly bloodshot. He reached out and pulled me fiercely into his embrace, his grip so tight it felt as though he wanted to crush me into his very bones. "I missed you too. Every single day of these four years, I missed you." His chin rested atop my head, his voice low and laden with tender devotion. "Every day I spent in there, I dreamed of this moment—dreamed of seeing you again, of bringing you and our daughter home. Chloe, we'll never be apart again." His chest was warm and broad, yet all I felt was a bone-chilling cold. It seeped from the deepest marrow of my bones, spreading bit by bit to every corner of my body. Then, the tears spilled over. I wept for my utter stupidity throughout these years, and for all the degradation and agony I had endured. It felt as though a gaping wound had torn open in my chest, blood pouring out, hurting so sharply I could hardly breathe. I desperately wanted to ask him... *You never served time—why did you lie to me?* *You lived in such absolute bliss these past four years—why did you leave me to rot in hell?* *Do you have any idea how much suffering I endured just waiting for you?* Yet I bit down hard on my lip, until I tasted the metallic tang of blood, without voicing a single accusation. I couldn't confront him. I feared that the moment I opened my mouth, I wouldn't be able to hold back the flood of resentment and rage tearing through me. If that happened, I would never get away. "All right, don't cry anymore." Lucas released me and raised a hand to wipe the tears from my cheeks, his touch exquisitely gentle. "Haven't I come back to you? With me here from now on, I'll never let you suffer another grievance." His gaze shifted past me, landing on Dotty behind my legs. "This is our daughter, isn't she?" He leaned down, a warm, gentle smile spreading across his face. "She's so beautiful, just like you." He reached out, wanting to gather Dotty into his arms. Dotty, however, recoiled in terror, ducking swiftly behind me and gripping the hem of my trousers with both tiny hands. "Dotty, don't be afraid. I'm Daddy," Lucas coaxed softly. Dotty buried her face against my leg, refusing to look up no matter what. Watching from the side, Victoria scowled deeply and snapped in an abrasive tone, "He is your father! Hiding the second you see your own father—just how has your mother been raising you these past four years?" A sudden flare of fury surged in my chest. Over the years, Victoria had targeted and humiliated me countless times. In the past, for Lucas's sake, I swallowed it again and again. But today, I didn't want to hold back anymore. Yet just as I was about to speak, Lucas stepped in first, smoothing things over in a gentle voice: "Don't speak to her like that. This is the first time I've met our daughter. She's still little, so it's only natural for her to be shy around me. We have all the time in the world ahead of us—there's no need to rush her into getting close right this second." Victoria scoffed, but in the end, she didn't push any further. I cast my eyes downward, swallowing the words that had risen to my throat. I had nearly forgotten—I came here today to play a part. Not to pick a fight. "Let's go, the car is waiting over there." Lucas naturally took my hand. "My parents put together a banquet for me today. You're coming with me."Chloe's POV The Foster family's ancestral mansion was ablaze with lights, packed to the brim with guests. Holding Dotty's hand, I walked into the grand ballroom beside Lucas, drawing every single gaze in the room onto us. "Lucas is out! Congratulations!" "The heir to the Foster family willingly serving four years in prison for the woman he loves—you won't find another man with that level of devotion in all of New York." Flattery rolled in from every direction. Lucas nodded and smiled politely in return, his arm resting securely around my waist in a posture of effortless intimacy. A sweet, docile smile remained plastered on my face, but inside, I was freezing like an ice cellar. Halfway through the reception, Yvonne Qiao walked over, holding her daughter's hand. She offered Lucas a radiant smile, her tone graceful and impeccably poised: "Congratulations, Lucas. And congratulations on finally reuniting with the woman and child you love." Lucas nodded. "Thank you." His response was neither overly familiar nor deliberately cold. It was measured to absolute perfection. Standing quietly at his side, I couldn't help but marvel at the sight—both of them were consummate actors, truly worthy of an Oscar. Yvonne Qiao turned back to me, greeting me with a gentle smile. "Hello. You must be Chloe Lin?" I offered a faint smile as well, pretending to look at Lucas Foster with curiosity. "Lucas, who is this?" Lucas's expression didn't waver in the slightest. "She's an old friend of mine, Yvonne Qiao." "Really? Just a friend?" A teasing, knowing smile played on my lips. "How come I've never heard you mention her before?" Lucas remained completely composed. "She's lived abroad for years, so we haven't stayed in close touch. That's why I never brought her up." A cold sneer rose within my chest. If I hadn't seen their intimate display in that private dining room with my own eyes yesterday, I would have swallowed his explanation whole. This man could lie through his teeth without batting an eye. Taking over the conversation, Yvonne spoke with utmost sincerity. "Ms. Lin, even though you didn't know about me, I've always known about you. I know how much Lucas loves you, and I know how much he suffered for your sake. I just hope you cherish him and don't take his devotion for granted." Hearing this, Lucas knitted his brows slightly. "Yvonne, don't bring that up. I love Chloe, and whatever I did for her was entirely my choice. I don't want her to carry guilt just because I spent four years in prison. All I need is her love." Yvonne lowered her gaze, looking somewhat hurt. "You're right. I shouldn't have said that." With that, she took her daughter's hand. "I'll take Niu Niu over to play with her friends. We won't disturb you two any longer." She turned and walked away. I caught the fleeting shadow of desolation in Yvonne's eyes as she turned her back. Lucas's gaze lingered on her retreating figure, the solemn tension between his brows deepening by the second. The arm he had wrapped around my waist slowly dropped away. As if he were fighting desperately to keep his emotions in check. I took in every subtle nuance in silence, a wave of profound revulsion churning in my gut. When he was with Yvonne, he yearned to return to my side; now that he was standing beside me, he couldn't stop aching for her. He was so greedy. So utterly filthy. "I need to use the restroom," I said, abruptly slipping my hand from his grip. Lucas snapped back to reality. "Want me to come with you?" "No need. Tend to your guests." I turned and walked away briskly, terrified that staying one more second would shatter my restraint and drive me to smash everything around me to pieces. Inside the restroom, I propped my hands against the vanity, staring at my pale reflection in the mirror. I took several deep, shuddering breaths before I could barely swallow down the turmoil inside me. Just then, an uproar erupted from outside. Someone shrieked in sheer panic: "Help! A child fell into the water!" My heart plunged into an icy abyss. I bolted out of the restroom, scanning the grand hall in a frantic search. Dotty was nowhere to be seen. My mind went entirely blank. I stumbled through the crowd, rushing madly toward the back garden where everyone was gathering. A massive circle of onlookers had already formed around the pond. Amidst a violent spray of water, a drenched Lucas hauled a child out of the pond. The little girl was wearing a pink ruffled dress, her hair clip washed away, wailing at the top of her lungs. It was Yvonne's daughter. Lucas carried the little girl ashore, his face pale with raw terror and panic, his voice trembling uncontrollably. "Don't be scared, Niu Niu. Daddy is here. You're safe now, you're okay..." Yvonne threw herself forward, wrapping her daughter in a desperate embrace, tears streaming down her face. "Niu Niu! You scared me to death..." The onlookers surged around them in a flurry of concern, but my eyes darted past the crowd until they finally landed on my own daughter. Dotty stood alone to the side, her small frame trembling, her tiny hands wringing together as she stared at the chaotic crowd in bewildered helplessness. From beginning to end, not a single person had spared her a glance. My heart seized with excruciating pain, as if squeezed in an iron vice. I hurried over, dropping to my knees to pull my daughter into my arms. "Dotty, are you okay?" Dotty shook her head, her lips pressed tight, her eyes rimmed with red. I scooped her up into my arms, desperate to get away from this place. Yet before I could take two steps, Yvonne's shrill voice rang out behind me. "Stop right there!" My footsteps halted, and I turned around with a flat, calm expression. "Is there a problem?" Yvonne demanded furiously, "Your daughter pushed mine into the pond and nearly drowned her! You think you can just walk away without even an apology?"Chloe Lin POV I frowned. "You're saying Dotty pushed your daughter? Do you have any proof?" Yvonne pulled her sobbing daughter forward. "Niu Niu, tell everyone who pushed you into the water just now." The little girl cast a timid glance around the circle of adults before pointing a trembling finger straight at Dotty in my arms. "It was her... She pushed me..." Gasps of shock rippled through the guests. Every pair of eyes turned toward Dotty and me, followed by an immediate wave of murmurs and whispers. I looked down at my daughter, asking in a gentle, reassuring tone, "Dotty, tell Mommy, did you push her?" Dotty shook her head frantically. "It wasn't me! I didn't push her! She fell in by herself. I tried to grab her, but I couldn't reach..." "Okay, I believe you." I patted her back softly, soothing her shivering little body. Yvonne's face darkened with indignation. "Chloe Lin, what are you implying? If your daughter didn't push her, are you saying my daughter is framing her? Niu Niu is only four years old! Would a child that young lie and frame someone?" I raised my chin, my gaze locking onto Yvonne's face with icy resolve. "If your daughter is too young to know how to frame someone, is mine old enough to lie?" With that, I turned away, ignoring Yvonne entirely as I held Dotty close to leave. "Stop!" Yvonne lunged forward, grabbing my arm with fierce grip. "We're settling this right here, right now, or you're not going anywhere!" Almost on pure instinct, I jerked my arm back to shake her off. With a startled shriek, Yvonne lost her footing, stumbled backward, and tumbled into the pond. Water erupted into the air. The entire garden fell dead silent. "Yvonne!" Lucas's expression contorted in sheer horror. Without a second's hesitation, he plunged into the pond. Water splashed violently once more. He swam toward Yvonne with frantic strokes, scooping her into his arms and supporting her waist as he paddled toward the edge. I froze on the spot, utterly dumbfounded. I barely used any force at all—how could she have fallen in? The guests along the bank hurried forward to pull them both out of the water. Lucas was soaked to the bone, his dark hair plastered against his forehead, water dripping relentlessly from his jaw. Yet he paid no mind to himself. His immediate priority was to inspect Yvonne in his arms, his voice laced with desperate worry and heartache. "Yvonne, are you alright? Did you swallow any water?" Yvonne clung to his chest, her face deathly pale, her entire body shaking. "I'm okay... Lucas, don't worry..." Lucas tightened his grip, pulling her even closer to shield her from the cold. Standing just steps away, watching him look so panicked and tender over her, my heart felt as though it were being devoured alive by thousands of biting ants. He had dived in so fast. It was as instinctive as breathing. "Chloe Lin!" Lucas snapped his head up, his gaze cutting into me like a blade, barely masking the fury simmering beneath. "What the hell is wrong with you? Yvonne was only standing up for her daughter! Why would you push her into the pond?" My lips parted, my throat dry and raspy. "I didn't use force. She fell in on her own—" "She fell in on her own?" Disappointment dripped from Lucas's voice. "Everyone here saw you shove her away with their own eyes before she fell! Chloe, when did you become so vicious?" My heart felt as if it were being sawed by a dull blade, the pain choking the air out of my lungs. At that moment, Victoria Foster stepped out from the crowd and chimed in disdainfully, "What did you expect? With a mother like Chloe Lin, how could the daughter turn out any better? Learning to harm others and lie without owning up to it at such a young age—who knows what kind of monster she'll grow up to be!" The looks the surrounding guests threw at Dotty and me turned bizarre, thick with open condescension and contempt. With red-rimmed eyes, Yvonne whimpered, "Lucas, whatever humiliation I suffer doesn't matter. But as a mother, I cannot let my daughter be wronged! If we let this slide, won't everyone bully us just because Niu Niu doesn't have a father?" Hearing her words, Lucas looked back at me, his tone brooking no argument. "Chloe, make Dotty apologize. Once she apologizes, we'll let this go." "My daughter already said she didn't push her." I pulled Dotty behind me, my eyes turning dead and frigid. "Why should she apologize for something she didn't do?" Lucas's patience had clearly run out. He turned toward the nearby bodyguards and barked, "What are you standing there for?" Two burly bodyguards in black suits stepped forward at once. "What do you think you're doing?!" Panic seized me, and I instinctively pulled Dotty into a tight embrace. One bodyguard seized my arms, yanking me aside, while the other bent down to grab Dotty. Dotty shrieked in sheer terror, thrashing violently. Her face was paper-white, tears pouring down her cheeks like broken pearls. "Let go of my daughter! Get your hands off her!" I fought like a madwoman, but the bodyguard held me in an iron grip, leaving me completely powerless. The other man dragged Dotty over, standing her directly in front of Yvonne and her daughter. Her tiny body trembled violently as she sobbed in despair, "Mommy, save me! Mommy!"