Chapter 1

My husband had been bedridden with heart failure for twenty long years.

During those two decades, I ruined my own health caring for him day and night.

When he finally passed away, the lawyer arrived to read his will.

"Mr. George Prescott leaves his estate equally between Yvette Sinclair and Dylan Prescott."

"All real estate properties under his name are to be transferred entirely to Yvette Sinclair."

I nearly blacked out from shock and rage, demanding answers on the spot.

"Why did my husband leave everything to another woman? What about me?"

My son, Dylan, only looked at me with cold indifference.

"Mom, you already stole Dad's chance to be with Aunt Yvette when he was alive."

"Now that he's gone, isn't it only fair that she gets some compensation?"

"He is dead, Mom. Why can't you just let us go?"

I let out a bitter, mocking laugh.

Did he truly forget that everything they ever owned came from my pocket?

1

Looking at George's casket, a bone-chilling cold swept through my entire body.

If I hadn't insisted on attending his funeral today, I would have been kept in the dark about this will forever.

I remembered how, with his dying breath, George specifically pleaded with me to skip the service.

He claimed he didn't want me to see him looking undignified in death.

He even slipped a plain gold bangle into my hand, claiming it was the only thing he had left to give me.

Yet in reality, he secretly handed over every single one of his luxury properties to Yvette Sinclair.

I had no idea those properties even existed until today.

He had spent decades behind my back securing a lavish future for his mistress.

I had been by his side since I was twenty, remaining faithful throughout forty-eight years of marriage.

Yet nearly half a century wasn't enough for me to see the monster lurking beneath his gentle mask.

Taking a deep breath to suppress my shaking fury, I looked at Dylan.

"Why? Why are you two doing this to me?"

"I sacrificed my life nursing your father, and this is how you repay me?"

Dylan scoffed, crossing his arms with blatant disgust.

"Do you really have to start a fight in front of Dad's casket?"

"He is dead. Why can't you show a shred of mercy?"

"Do you really need to torment him even in the grave?!"

Looking at the son I raised for over two decades, my chest tightened painfully.

My hands trembled as my breath turned shallow and ragged.

"How dare you speak to me like that!"

"I am your mother! Have either of you ever cared about my feelings?"

Dylan retorted without a second thought.

"When you die, I will still arrange your funeral, so what are you whining about?"

"Aunt Yvette is all alone in this world. It's our duty to look after her!"

"Why do you have to be so damn heartless?"

Blood rushed to my head in pure outrage.

He seemed to have forgotten who sat by George's bed through every sleepless night.

George couldn't even stand up on his own due to his condition.

I cleaned up his waste and washed his body without uttering a single complaint.

Meanwhile, Dylan wouldn't even step into the room without grimacing in disgust.

I gave everything to this family, but none of them ever gave a damn.