Chapter 1

The day my son won a prestigious lifetime achievement award in scientific research, I died alone on the freezing pavement.

On stage, he thanked his professor father, his biological mother who had just returned from overseas, and even the family housekeeper.

He did not say a single word about me, the foster mother who had broken her back raising him.

When my husband, Chester Miller, heard the news of my death, his first reaction was to cut all ties.

"We separated years ago," he announced coldly. "Whatever happens to her is none of my business."

They were respectable gentlemen now, built entirely on my blood, sweat, and tears.

Yet to them, I was nothing more than an embarrassing stain they could never wash away.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the crossroads that had ruined my entire life.

Chester was holding his college acceptance letter, flashing that familiar, deceitful smile.

"I know I'm divorced," he said smoothly. "But if you marry me, I'll take you to the city so we can build a great life together."

"If the boy ever misbehaves, feel free to scold him or discipline him. I will never say a word against you."

In my past life, I was blinded by his hollow promises.

I naively believed being a stepmother would be simple.

I raised his child and spent decades drowning in endless domestic chores.

In the end, father and son conspired to throw me out on the street without a single penny.

All because his ex-wife, who had abandoned them when they were dirt poor, decided to come back for a second chance.

Having lived through that nightmare once, I was done with these ungrateful leeches.

1.

I raised my head and met his scheming eyes.

The suffocating hatred of being abandoned and humiliated by him and Danny in my past life surged through my veins.

Instead of blushing and nodding like I once did, I curled my lips into a freezing smirk.

"I'm not interested in climbing the social ladder, Chester," I said flatly. "I can't afford to play the fancy city lady."

"And I certainly have no desire to become an instant stepmother. Keep that blessing to yourself."

Chester's smile instantly froze, as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped over his head.

He probably never imagined that I, the girl who used to obey his every whim, would ever speak to him like this.

Suppressing his temper, he cleared his throat and put on that arrogant posture typical of college men.

"Sadie, have you lost your mind?"

"If you come to Chicago with me, you'll be living in the city. With my degree, my future is limitless. How could you possibly suffer by my side?"

I scoffed inwardly at his shameless pitch.

"Stop making yourself sound like a saint, Chester," I sneered.

"You just want a free maid to cook, clean, and look after your kid so you can enjoy your college years without lifting a finger."

In my past life, I followed him to the city and worked two grueling jobs every single day.

I washed greasy dishes at a diner by day and sorted fabric at a textile mill late into the night.

Every dollar I earned went straight toward buying meat and groceries for the two of them.

Meanwhile, I survived on thin, watery porridge, starving until I was nothing but skin and bones.

Chester would pretend to feel sorry for me, telling me everything would get better once he graduated.

Yet he had an eighteen-dollar monthly stipend from his university and never gave me a dime.

He sent ten dollars of that check to his ex-wife, Clarissa Evans, every single month.

The remaining eight dollars went straight into secret snacks and private meals for him and Danny.

Danny actually laughed in my face when he confessed that secret to me years later.

With his petty schemes exposed, Chester turned red with fury.

"Sadie Croft, don't push your luck! Plenty of women are lining up to marry me! You'd better not regret this!"

I couldn't even stand the sight of him for another second.

"Save that wonderful fortune for your ex-wife," I tossed back coldly.

I spun around on my heel and walked away without looking back.

In this life, I would never be their stepping stone again. I was going to pave my own way.

The moment I stepped through my front door, Aunt Clara grabbed my arm in a panic.

"Sadie, where have you been? Did you go meet Chester Miller?"

"My silly girl, no matter how promising Chester looks, being a stepmother is a thankless trap!"

"That boy is already eight years old. Do you really think he'll ever see you as his real mother?"

Looking at Aunt Clara alive and well before my eyes, a wave of grief crashed over me.

I buried my face in her chest and broke down in tears.

I lost my parents when I was little, and my aunt and uncle had raised me as their own daughter.

Yet in my previous life, I had been utterly blind.

I thought Aunt Clara was trying to ruin my happiness, and I actually severed ties with her just to marry Chester.

Later, after the Millers kicked me out to starve on the streets, Aunt Clara fell critically ill.

She sent word begging to see me one last time, but I was so ashamed of my ruin that I didn't even dare show up at her funeral.

"Aunt Clara, I'm not marrying him. I'm not going to be anyone's stepmother…"

"I will never marry Chester Miller. If you don't approve of someone, I will never look at them again!"

Seeing me sob so desperately, Aunt Clara rubbed my back with deep tenderness.

"What happened, sweetie? Did that bastard Chester bully you?"

My young cousins ran out from the study room upon hearing the commotion, their faces flushed with anger.

"Cousin Sadie, don't cry! We'll go beat him up for you!"

Watching my family rally around me to defend my honor brought a sweet warmth to my aching heart.

"I'm fine," I said, wiping my tears. "I was just overwhelmed for a second, but I'm okay now."