Chapter 1

While my son was recovering from surgery, I sat by his hospital bed and scrolled through a thread on a popular forum.

The prompt was: "What is the most evil thing you have ever done?"

One anonymous user had commented:

"I used the woman who sponsored my education as a stepping stone."

"My sponsor was a total pushover with more money than brains."

"After she paid for my college, I slept with her husband and got pregnant."

"The best part? My son and her son were born on the very same day, so my husband swapped them at the hospital."

"Now, she treasures my son like he's her own world, working herself to the bone just to pave his way."

"Meanwhile, her biological son is with me, wearing rags and eating leftovers."

"My real son had surgery today, and it broke my heart to see him in pain. I went home and slapped her son a few times just to vent."

"By the way, her three-million-dollar inheritance just cleared. My husband is coming to the ward soon to trick her into handing it over for a 'better school district house.'"

"Once we have the cash and a mansion, I'll reveal the truth and kick her to the curb!"

The post included a blurry photo of a young boy kneeling on the floor, begging for mercy.

My breath stopped.

On the boy's wrist was a hand-knotted red silk cord bracelet―the exact one I had placed on my son the day he was born.

Just then, the door pushed open and my husband walked in.

"Babe, Jaxson is starting elementary school soon. Let's use that money from your mother's estate to buy a house in the elite school district."

Caleb Vance looked at me, his eyes burning with an impatient greed.

I looked at the man in front of me and felt like I was staring at a stranger.

Seeing me dazed, he stepped closer. "What's wrong? Are you just tired?"

"I'm fine," I said, forcing down the waves of nausea.

I turned to stroke Jaxson's head.

The six-year-old I had raised with everything I had jerked away.

He avoided my hand and looked behind Caleb. "Daddy, where's Auntie Vivian? She promised she was coming to see me!"

His voice was cold toward me but filled with an undeniable warmth for Vivian Thorne.

It felt like a knife twisting in my chest.

"Auntie will be here soon," Caleb said, soothing him with a smile before turning back to me.

"So, about the house in the Heights…"

My voice was dry. "Homes there are easily two or three million. Your mother's money would barely cover a down payment, and the mortgage would be insane."

"Babe, you have to think long-term!" Caleb interrupted.

"Investing in our son's education is the best move we can make! Don't worry about the payments; your company is bringing in plenty of revenue, right?"

"But…"

"No buts!" Caleb's brow furrowed, his tone sharpening.

"Elena, answer me this: is your son important, or is your money? Are you really going to be stingy with your own child?"

Those words stung like needles.

For six years, I had sacrificed everything for this family. He knew that better than anyone.

Now, he was using my love for my son to trap me.

I gripped the bedsheets, but before I could speak, the door opened again.

Vivian Thorne walked in carrying a luxury fruit basket. "How is Jaxson? Oh, I've been worried sick!"

She walked straight to the other side of the bed and leaned over him.

The heartbreak in her eyes looked more genuine than mine ever had.

Caleb's expression softened instantly. "The doctor said the surgery was a success, but he's still in a lot of pain."

"Surgery is so scary for a little boy," Vivian said, turning to me with a self-righteous tone.

"Elena, you really need to buy him some high-end supplements to help him recover!"

When I didn't answer, she kept talking as if she owned the place.

"Oh, I think I heard you guys talking about the house in the Heights when I was at the door?"

Caleb jumped in. "I was just discussing it with Elena. I want to use the inheritance for the down payment, but she's hesitating."

Vivian made a face of pure disapproval. "Elena, you have to listen to Caleb on this! A child's future is everything."

"Jaxson is so bright. You can't let him fall behind before he even starts."

"Isn't that right, Jaxson?"

Jaxson pouted at Vivian, his voice trembling with a mix of pain and spoiled affection. "Auntie Vivian… it hurts…"

"Poor baby, I'm right here," Vivian whispered, taking his hand.

She seized the moment. "Jaxson, Daddy wants to buy you a huge house near the best school so you can be the smartest boy. Wouldn't that make you happy?"

Despite the pain, Jaxson nodded eagerly.

He looked at me with a glare full of resentment.

"Mommy, Daddy and Auntie Vivian are doing this for me. Why are you being so mean?"

"My friend Leo's mom sold her car just so he could go to a good camp! You only care about your money. You don't care about me at all!"

My heart turned into a block of ice.

This was the son I had spent six years raising.

He was spitting on the mother who had stayed by his bedside for days.

Caleb looked at me with a smug "even the kid gets it" expression.

Vivian patted Jaxson's hand, a flash of mockery and triumph crossing her face when she glanced at me.

The three of them were a perfect little team.

And I was the villain, the greedy woman standing in the way of her son's future.

The room went silent for a few seconds.