Rebirth In Divorce My New Mr. Perfect (by Summer Knowles) novel Chapter 468

Toddler Tina wobbled toward her, her tiny voice asking if she could have a piece of candy.

The teenage Tina was forced to accept hand-me-down clothes from distant relatives. Even when she accompanied her mother to the market, her gaze would linger longingly on the dresses in the store window. The price wasn’t high, but she never once asked for one. She had learned to be obedient.

As an adult, Tina had grown into a graceful young woman, but she became quieter, more withdrawn. She buried all her thoughts deep inside. Yet, when she was alone, she would still glance at herself in the mirror, as if searching for something.

All these memories had always been there—she had just chosen to ignore them. Each fragment had been locked away in the deepest corners of her mind, things she never wanted to bring to the surface. Because if she did, she would have to face the truth: she could have easily bought her daughter that candy. She could have bought her that dress.

But she never did.

Somewhere deep down, she had always believed that there was no need to treat her too well.

The scenes flashed by like a spinning reel, and she let out a bitter laugh, her eyes brimming with tears.

When Tina had stood before her, crying as she told her about her illness, she could still hear her own cold, heartless voice.”

Stay away from me! Don’t infect me! Filthy!"

She had watched, with her own eyes, as the hope in her daughter’s gaze shattered into pieces. And deep in her heart—there had been a sliver of satisfaction.

Bang!

The sound of a body hitting the ground from the twentieth floor.

A terrifying speed. A deafening impact.

She had been standing right there with her bags of groceries.

She could still see her daughter lying on the pavement, those wide, lifeless eyes staring up at nothing. She could still hear the sickening crunch of bones breaking.

She had reached out—her daughter’s body was already turning cold. Those unblinking eyes, forever frozen in shock and pain. No matter how much she did now, there would never be a response.

She was no longer a living, breathing person.

And yet, when she first learned that Tina had HIV, all she could hear was the endless, echoing voice in her mind, whispering the same words over and over again.

"Filthy. So young, and she already caught a disease like that. Disgusting. Who knows how many men she’s slept with?"

"Must be a lot. Like mother, like daughter. Look at her mom—single parent. She probably had her out of wedlock. The father might not even know she exists."

"Good thing she’s dead. At least she won’t spread it to anyone else. One less menace in the world."

A sharp pain shot through her as she dug her nails into her own skin, trying to stop herself from crying.

She let go of the little girl’s hand.

And then, in an instant, the child was gone—replaced by an older Tina, smiling at her. "Mom, I can cook."

Go away. Go away!

Mrs. Mendes jolted awake, gasping as she sat up in bed.

She frantically scanned her surroundings, fear gripping her chest.

Her face was wet. She reached up to touch her cheek, feeling the dampness of tears she hadn’t realized she had shed.

Stumbling into the living room, her gaze landed on the black-and-white photo resting on the TV stand.

Tina’s eyes stared straight at her.

For a moment, it felt as if she had come back to life.