Chapter 1

My son's heart transplant was scheduled for tomorrow.

But a woman in a custom designer gown blocked the delivery of the donor organ.

She held a Golden Retriever on a leash and threw ten thousand dollars in cash at my face.

"I'm taking this heart. My fur baby has a cardiac condition, too. Take the money and get lost!"

I stared at her, unable to process such insanity.

"This heart is for my son. How can you compare a dog's life to a human's?"

"Besides, a human heart can't even be transplanted into a dog!"

She let out a sharp, mocking laugh.

"Do you have any idea who I am? I'm the wife of Dominic Sterling, CEO of Sterling Global."

"This dog is our only son. How could a peasant's life ever compare to his?"

"I don't care what kind of heart it is. If I want it, it's mine!"

Furious, I dialed Dominic's number immediately.

"I heard you have a woman on the side? And a dog for a son?"

1

The call was disconnected the second it went through.

When I tried again, it was already busy.

I stood there, stunned, until I heard a high-pitched, flirtatious voice from the woman's phone.

"Dominic, honey, why did it take you so long to pick up? I brought Prince to the hospital today, but someone is bullying us."

"She's saying our Prince isn't good enough to be compared to her brat."

Melanie Hunt turned the volume to the max and pointed the speaker at me.

A familiar voice came through, but the tone was ice-cold.

"I don't care who she is. Anyone who messes with you is an enemy of Sterling Global."

"There's no turning back now. I'll make sure she and her son regret ever being born!"

I had been abroad for a year, focusing on my son's treatment.

I never imagined that when I finally heard Dominic's voice again, he would say something so cruel to us.

My son, Leo, hid behind me, peeking out with trembling eyes as he recognized his father's voice.

Melanie crossed her arms and sneered at me after hanging up.

"Scared now? Let me tell you something. In this city, if I want something, I get it."

"It doesn't matter if it's a heart or your son's life. I can end you with a snap of my fingers."

"My dog is the young heir of the Sterling family. Letting him have that heart is a blessing you don't deserve!"

It was beyond ridiculous.

If Dominic's parents knew he had replaced his own flesh and blood with a dog, they would disown him.

Before I could speak, Melanie signaled her bodyguards.

"Take the donor heart. I want it as a backup for my baby boy!"

Time was running out for the transplant.

Leo had waited a year for this specific match.

As the guards closed in, I shouted with everything I had.

"Don't you dare! Is there no law in this city?"

Melanie laughed even harder.

"Law? In Manhattan, Sterling Global is the law! I am the law! Pin this bitch down!"

The guards grabbed my arms, forcing me to stay in place.

Leo began to sob, his pale face covered in tears.

Melanie frowned, looking irritated.

"So noisy! Shut that brat up!"

A guard reached out and covered Leo's mouth and nose.

My son was already weak; his face turned a terrifying shade of red as he struggled for air.

Panic surged through me.

"Stop! He's Dominic Sterling's biological son! If anything happens to him, you'll all pay with your lives!"

The room erupted in laughter.

"This woman is delusional. Everyone knows Dominic's wife is Miss Hunt. They've been public for a year!"

"Exactly. Some stray kid trying to claim he's a Sterling? Pathetic."

I froze.

The moment I left the country, Dominic hadn't wasted a second to go public with another woman.

A cold shiver crawled down my spine.

Melanie walked over and delivered a stinging slap to my face.

The force sent my head spinning, and I tasted blood in my mouth.

She kicked my knee, forcing me to collapse, and then grabbed my hair.

"You little slut. You think you can climb into the Sterling family? Look at yourself."

"If you ever mention Dominic again, I'll have your tongue cut out."

"And throw that little bastard out of here!"

Leo was dragged toward the door.

The Golden Retriever joined in, biting Leo's pant leg and pulling aggressively.

My son cried out for me, his voice breaking with fear.

In a fit of maternal rage, I broke free and lunged at Melanie, grabbing her hair in return.

"Touch my son again and I'll kill you!" I screamed.

Melanie gasped in pain, her insults turning into high-pitched screeches.

"Let go! Dominic will destroy you for this!"

I tightened my grip, ready to go down swinging.

The guards were scrambling to intervene when a booming voice echoed through the hall.

"What the hell is going on here?"