Chapter 1

1.

My childhood sweetheart’s best friend and I got pregnant at the same time.

To protect that girl’s reputation, he claimed the child in her belly was his.

And my child became a bastard with an unknown father.

When I confronted him, Aiden avoided my eyes.

“You know how people are. Claire is the ‘perfect girl.’ If this got out… her reputation would be ruined.”

That day, I stared at the man I had loved for seven years. A dull ache spread through my chest, and it felt like I couldn’t breathe.

Later, the day my family, ashamed of me, forced me to deal with the pregnancy…

He was in Europe with his childhood friend, making sure she was comfortable.

By the time he came back.

I had already gone through with the procedure and disappeared from his life forever.

…

Three months into my pregnancy, Aiden’s childhood friend, Claire, also found out she was pregnant.

We ran into each other at the UCLA Medical Center, where I overheard a conversation I was never meant to hear.

“Aiden! Feel this―I think the baby just moved!” Claire Sullivan pulled his hand and placed it on her stomach. “Your son is already so strong.”

Aiden’s face softened, letting her guide his hand.

The next second, the doctor called my name. Aiden whipped around.

He looked like he’d been caught red-handed, his mouth hanging open, speechless.

I walked slowly toward him and slapped him hard across the face, again and again.

His cheeks turned red and swollen, but he didn’t say a word.

“What the hell are you doing, Aiden,” my voice was strangely calm.

Seeing me hit Aiden, Claire jumped in front of him.

“It’s my baby. Aiden’s baby. You want to hit someone? Hit me.”

In that instant, the last shred of hope I had―that maybe he was forced into this, that maybe he still loved me―shattered completely. Tears streamed down my face.

Seeing me cry, Aiden pushed Claire aside and pulled me into his arms, his voice full of pain.

He whispered, “Mia, don’t cry―that baby isn’t mine. I swear.”

Claire pouted, tears welling up in her eyes too.

She looked at Aiden pitifully, as if he had betrayed her.

“You promised. You said you’d step up and be the father. How can you tell her now?”

Aiden wiped my tears while looking at her coldly. “Mia is my wife. She has the right to know the truth.”

Claire suddenly stopped crying and gave me a smug, knowing smile.

“Oh. So, does she know her child is going to be a bastard?”

Aiden’s body trembled, and his face went pale.

Claire continued, gloating.

“Aiden’s doing this for me. He can’t have people gossiping about me, so… your son has to be the illegitimate one.” She paused. “Don’t worry. My son will be Aiden’s heir. Yours… can be the… what do they call it? The adopted one?”

I stared at the man in front of me, who now seemed like a complete stranger, and struggled wildly in his arms.

Aiden’s eyes turned red, his voice hoarse. “I’m sorry. God, Mia, I’m so sorry.”

I cried for a long time before I could finally ask, “Is she worth it? Is she worth turning our child into a bastard?”

Aiden paused for a long time before answering, his voice strained. “Claire has always been a good girl. You’ve met her parents! What was I supposed to do?”

He held me tight as I collapsed to the floor, speaking more to himself than to me.

“It won’t be for long. I promise. Once Claire’s situation is handled, we’ll fix everything. We’ll tell everyone the truth.”

That day, I looked at the man I had loved for seven years.

I realized that love could die in an instant―like a light switching off, leaving the room in complete darkness, without a single trace.