The CEO's Wife Was the Mistress

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Leaving the county office felt like walking through a dream. My daughter's new birth certificate rested in my bag, carrying my surname instead of Adrian's.

My phone rang.

Adrian.

I stared at his name before answering.

Sweetheart, I'm tied up with meetings today, so I'll be home late, he said warmly. "Give our little princess a kiss for me. Don't wait up, okay? I miss both of you already."

His voice was gentle and affectionate, exactly as it had always been.

How could someone lie so effortlessly?

Adrian had always seemed like the perfect husband. He called whenever he worked late, constantly updated me during business trips, and never came home without pulling me into his arms first.

Now every memory felt tainted.

I remembered a charity banquet years ago when a socialite publicly mocked my background. The next morning, news spread that her family's company had collapsed after losing its investors.

When I asked Adrian about it, he had smiled.

"My wife isn't someone people can humiliate without consequences."

At the time, I thought it was love.

I remembered casually mentioning a limited-edition handbag I had admired online. The very next day, Adrian canceled his meetings, flew overseas, and returned carrying that exact bag.

"If this makes you smile, then the trip was worth it," he had said, kissing my forehead.

I used to think I was the luckiest woman alive.

Now I wondered whether every grand gesture had simply been his way of easing his guilt.

I sat behind the steering wheel, unable to insert the key because my hands wouldn't stop shaking.

While he was taking another woman and their son home from school, he had been telling me that he missed me.

How many times had he left their house only to come home and hold me?

People had warned me about men like Adrian.

"Power changes them," they said. "The richer they become, the more women they'll have."

I always laughed.

Adrian had given me no reason to doubt him.

Which made this betrayal impossible to understand.

Especially because the other woman was Vanessa.

Years ago, she had worked for the Sterling family as a nanny. I still remembered her entering Adrian's study in a revealing dress while carrying coffee.

The mug smashed against the wall.

Adrian's expression turned cold.

"Save those pathetic tricks for someone else. You're fired."

Then he wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me close.

"You'll never have to worry," he said. "You're the only woman I'll ever love."

Vanessa had fallen to her knees, crying and begging for another chance.

Adrian never looked at her.

"My wife is all I need."

She left that same day.

So when she reappeared months later as his executive assistant, I questioned him.

He had cupped my face and sighed.

"After losing her job, her relatives tried forcing her to marry an old widower. She's threatening to end her life. Keeping her close is the safest option. I'm only doing this so she can't hurt you."

I believed him.

I believed every word.

But their son was six years old.

That meant Adrian hadn't merely kept Vanessa close.

He had been living another life for six years.

I wiped away my tears.

I needed proof.

I hired a private investigator.

Half an hour later, my phone chimed.

A live location and a video arrived.

Adrian wasn't at the office.

The footage showed him leaving a kindergarten after what appeared to be a parent-teacher conference. His fingers were intertwined with Vanessa's while a little boy skipped happily beside them.

Then Adrian lifted the child into his arms.

He was smiling.

Not politely.

Not out of obligation.

The smile was warm, relaxed, and full of affection.

For some reason, it hurt more than the marriage record.

I followed them from a distance.

Eventually, they entered an upscale villa community.

Adrian parked in front of a house and opened the trunk.

Inside was a large box filled with toys.

The little boy squealed and ran into the yard.

Vanessa laughed.

"You spoil him too much."

Adrian chuckled.

"He's my son. If I don't spoil him, who will?"

Pride filled his voice.

Then he reached out and brushed a strand of hair behind her ear before leaning down and kissing her.

It wasn't a casual kiss.

It was slow and intimate.

When they separated, Vanessa rested her head against his shoulder.

"Thank you for getting James into the city's best private school," she said softly. "When I found out I was pregnant, I never intended to tell you. I didn't want to complicate things between you and Vivian."

Adrian smiled.

"Don't say that again."

His voice was impossibly gentle.

"She'll never find out the truth."

He paused.

"And even if she does... what can she possibly do?"

My fingers tightened around the steering wheel.

Then he looked into Vanessa's eyes.

"You are my legal wife. You and our son deserve the best. Taking care of both of you is my responsibility."

Legal wife.

The words echoed in my mind.

If Vanessa was his wife...

Then who was I?

The woman he introduced proudly at banquets?

The wife whose hand he never let go of in public?

For seven years, I believed I was the love of Adrian Sterling's life.

Standing outside that villa, I finally realized that I had never been his wife at all.

I had simply been the woman he chose to deceive.

Vanessa laughed through her tears, looking as though she had been handed the greatest gift in the world.

Adrian bent down and murmured something into her ear.

"We're husband and wife in the eyes of the law," he said in a low voice. "Shouldn't we start acting like one? We've been holding back for too long."

She gave his chest a playful shove. "You have no shame."

He chuckled, completely unbothered. Then he slipped an arm beneath her knees, lifted her into his arms, and carried her straight into the villa.

I remained in my car.

It felt as though a dull blade was cutting through my heart. Not enough to end the pain quickly. Just enough to keep tearing through me inch by inch.

...

I don't remember driving home.

One moment I was parked outside the villa. The next, I was standing in my living room.

Later that night, Adrian walked through the front door.

As always, he opened his arms and smiled the moment he saw me.

"My wife," he said fondly as he approached. "Have you been waiting long? You spent all day taking care of our daughter. You must be tired. Come here."

I moved aside before he could embrace me.

A flicker of surprise crossed his face, disappearing so quickly I almost thought I imagined it.

"I went to the county office today," I said. "I registered our daughter."

The smile on his face stiffened.

It lasted only a second.

Then he laughed softly.

"You didn't have to do that. I was going to take care of it myself. We can deal with the paperwork another day."

"It's already done," I replied evenly. "The process wasn't difficult."

For the briefest moment, something sharp flashed across his face.

"I told you I'd handle it."

His voice came out harder than intended.

Then he seemed to catch himself.

He immediately reached for my hand.

"Genn, don't take that the wrong way." His voice turned gentle again. "Things are complicated right now. You just got through your postpartum confinement. You shouldn't be running errands. You should stay home and recover. Let me handle these things. I don't want you overexerting yourself."

So considerate.

So thoughtful.

I lowered my eyes and nodded.

I didn't tell him our daughter had been registered under my surname.

I didn't tell him I had changed her name.

And I certainly didn't tell him that on my way home, I had made a phone call.

To the one man Adrian despised more than anyone.

I had gripped my phone so tightly my fingers hurt.

"I'm still legally unmarried," I had said calmly. "If your offer still stands... marry me in seven days."

Silence filled the line.

Then he quietly answered.

"Yes."

Back in the living room, Adrian exhaled softly and leaned against me as though he were the aggrieved one.

"It's been weeks since your confinement ended," he said gently. "We've barely had any time alone together. Tonight, maybe we could..."

My stomach churned.

Just then, his phone rang.

He glanced at the screen, and I caught it.

A flicker of panic.

Maybe guilt.

He quickly turned away and answered.

A minute later, he hung up and looked at me apologetically.

"Honey, something urgent came up at the company. I need to go. I'm sorry. I'll make it up to you."

He pressed a quick kiss to my forehead and grabbed his coat.

The moment he left, I followed him.

His car never went anywhere near the company.

Instead, it drove directly to the same villa.

Several minutes later, Vanessa emerged from the house.

She walked toward his car with a satisfied smile, her hips swaying as though she had already won.

She slid into the passenger seat.

Not long after, the car began to move.

I stared blankly.

Then, with trembling hands, I opened the listening app on my phone.

Months ago, I had installed it because I worried about Adrian's safety during business events. I was afraid someone might try to harm him.

The irony almost made me laugh.

Instead, it was helping me listen to my husband betray me.

Vanessa's voice came through first.

"Good thing I told you I wasn't feeling well," she said sweetly. "Otherwise, you'd still be at home acting like the perfect husband."

Adrian laughed softly.

"You should rest instead of overthinking. Genn suspects nothing."

He paused.

Then he said casually, "After giving birth, her body changed so much. Her stomach is covered with stretch marks. Honestly, I don't even want to look at it anymore."

I forgot how to breathe.

That body had carried his child.

Vanessa let out a pleased little gasp.

"Then stay with me tonight. Let her sleep alone."

Adrian never answered.

The sounds that followed spoke clearly enough.

A few minutes later, the car door opened.

He carried Vanessa in his arms and brought her inside the villa as though she were something precious.

...

The next morning, I lay in bed pretending to wake up when Adrian walked into the room.

His hair was damp from the shower.

"Genn, wake up." He smiled. "I planned something for today. There's an antique fair in town. You used to love those things, remember? I thought you'd enjoy going."

He bent down and kissed my forehead.

The same gesture I had once mistaken for love.

After a long pause, I got out of bed.

...

We arrived at the fair.

Then Vanessa appeared.

She was dressed entirely in red, wearing a dress with a slit so high that people couldn't help staring.

She approached us carrying a coat.

"Mr. Sterling, your jacket."

Adrian froze.

Then he turned toward her with a frown.

"What are you doing here? I didn't ask you to come."

She glanced at me and lowered her eyes.

"But someone has to take care of you."

Whispers immediately spread among the crowd.

Everyone knew Adrian spoiled me.

Our wedding had been lavish enough to become the talk of the city.

Adrian's arm tightened around my waist.

"That's enough, Vanessa. This isn't appropriate. Go back to the office."

She bit her lip, looked hurt, then hurried away with tears in her eyes.

Adrian looked at me again.

He kissed my forehead once more and helped me into a chair.

But I noticed everything.

The slight tremble in his hands.

The tension in his shoulders.

The way his eyes kept drifting elsewhere.

"I'll be back in a few minutes," he said. "Take your time. Buy whatever catches your eye."

People around us sighed enviously.

"He treats his wife so well."

"She's from the Ashford family. Her life must be perfect."

I ignored them.

My stomach was in knots.

I followed Adrian when he left.

A few minutes later, I stopped outside the women's restroom.

I shouldn't have listened.

But I did.

"Why did you come here dressed like that?" Adrian said, his voice rough and low. "Was this morning not enough for you?"

"You were the one who started it," Vanessa complained flirtatiously. "You shouldn't have thrown me out earlier."

I wanted to disappear.

Adrian chuckled.

"Relax. She's only my wife on paper. Everyone here treats me well because of the Ashford name, not because of me. You know that."

"I am your legal wife." Vanessa's voice trembled. "When can I finally be with you openly?"

"Stop talking nonsense." His voice hardened. "We agreed to keep this secret."

A moment later, his tone softened.

"The gemstone I bought? It's yours. Consider it an apology."

She fell silent for a moment.

Then she spoke again.

"I want a wedding too. One bigger than hers. I want everyone to see it."

The sound that followed made my stomach lurch.

I stumbled away from the restroom and braced myself against the wall.

I thought I might throw up.

So this was the truth.

The man who had given me a grand wedding, publicly adored me, and called me his wife...

had reserved his real love for another woman and the child they shared.

I closed my eyes.

Then I forced myself to breathe.

Six days.

Only six more days.

I took out my phone and called my assistant.

My voice was calm.

"Review every share and project I still hold in Sterling Group. Prepare all transfer documents immediately."

There was a pause.

Then my assistant spoke.

"Miss Vivian... the Cancer Research Project you personally managed..."

I suddenly felt cold.

"It was transferred to Miss Vanessa last month."

The Cancer Research Project had always been my father's greatest dream.

He had dedicated his entire life to helping people, and this project was supposed to lead to treatments that could genuinely save lives.

Even during my pregnancy, I had continued overseeing it. I worked right up until my due date, unwilling to let years of effort stall. It was only shortly before giving birth, when the project had finally begun progressing smoothly, that I permitted myself to step back and rest.

The moment I arrived at the company, my assistant practically ran toward me.

She was pale and drenched in sweat.

"Miss Vivian, Mr. Sterling transferred everything to Miss Vanessa," she said breathlessly. "Every department, every document, every approval. We have no idea what they're doing in there."

I drew in a slow breath.

"It's all right," I said as calmly as I could. "Take me to the president's office. I know the password to Adrian's computer."

I had barely taken two steps when someone stepped into my path.

Vanessa.

"Miss Vivian, please wait."

Her chin was lifted confidently. Her lips were slightly swollen, and faint marks stained her neck. She looked like a woman who believed she had already won.

"The president didn't authorize anyone to enter his office," she said coolly. "You can't go inside."

"Move."

I met her eyes without blinking.

"That project belongs to me. I've managed it from the beginning. I have every right to inspect it."

Her expression darkened.

"You ignored it throughout your pregnancy and now you suddenly want to take credit for it?" she snapped.

I stared at her.

"Do you really think you can claim something you've never worked for? Months of research don't magically become yours because someone handed you an office."

She couldn't refute that.

Instead, frustration overtook her.

She looked less like an executive and more like a child having a tantrum.

At that moment, Adrian appeared.

He looked surprised to see me.

"Genn?" he said hurriedly. "Why are you here already? I thought you'd wait for me."

I almost laughed.

Or maybe cried.

You were too busy playing husband somewhere else. Why pretend to care about me now?

Without a word, I handed him a stack of documents.

"Take a look."

He frowned and accepted them.

"Every original sample has been replaced. The imported materials we approved have all been switched with cheaper substitutes. Someone changed the suppliers and pocketed the money."

Adrian's brows knitted together.

Even he could immediately tell something was wrong.

Vanessa's face turned white.

"This has nothing to do with President Sterling," she blurted out. "I... I only wanted more money for my son. I didn't expect things to become this serious. I'm sorry, Miss Vivian."

I looked at her coldly.

"Sorry?"

I almost laughed.

"You're committing fraud. An apology isn't going to fix this. I'm reporting it."

I had barely finished speaking when a small body suddenly crashed into me.

The impact wasn't strong.

But I had given birth only a month ago.

My body was still recovering.

The collision sent a sharp pain through my abdomen.

A pained sound escaped my lips before I could stop it.

For a second, my vision blurred.

Silence descended across the office.

Adrian rushed toward me immediately.

"Genn!"

His expression changed completely.

"Look at me. Are you hurt? Does your stomach hurt? Tell me."

His hands hovered near me, wanting to help yet somehow never quite touching me.

Meanwhile, Vanessa hurried over and pulled the little boy behind her.

She wrapped her arms around him protectively.

"James, that wasn't nice," she said softly.

But there was no anger in her voice.

"You shouldn't push people. Apologize to Auntie."

Auntie.

She actually called me Auntie.

Then she looked at me with moist eyes.

"Miss Vivian, please don't blame him. He's only trying to protect his mother."

Protect.

The word almost made me laugh.

Before I could say anything, Adrian spoke.

"Genn, don't be upset with him. He's only a child. He doesn't understand adult issues."

Then he turned toward Vanessa.

"Take James downstairs. I'll talk to Vivian. He didn't mean anything."

Didn't mean anything?

I looked directly at him.

"Talk about what exactly?"

My voice was frighteningly calm.

"Are you going to explain why he called me a bad woman?"

I paused.

"Or are you going to explain why he called you Dad?"

The entire office seemed to stop breathing.

Adrian stiffened.

Only for a second.

Then he smiled.

"You're thinking too much," he said lightly. "Children sometimes call people Dad when they're close to them. It doesn't mean anything."

I stared at him.

Really?

I couldn't bear another second of their performance.

I turned around and headed toward the elevator.

Adrian followed after me.

"Vivian, why are you making such a big issue out of this?" he said impatiently. "He's six years old. Are you seriously upset with a six-year-old child?"

I stopped.

Then I slowly turned around.

Six years old.

And already capable of looking at me with hatred.

Who had taught him that?

Who made him believe I was his enemy?

Children don't invent those feelings by themselves.

They learn them.

I tightened my fingers into fists.

"They're taught," I said quietly.

Adrian frowned.

"What exactly are you trying to imply?"

His voice hardened.

"That he's my son? Vivian, don't be ridiculous. I have only one child."

He looked directly at me.

"Our daughter."

He said it naturally.

Effortlessly.

Even now, he was still lying.

A strange laugh escaped me.

It didn't even sound like my own.

"Then tell me something."

I looked him straight in the eye.

"What's our daughter's name?"

He froze.

I watched his expression carefully.

"You haven't even given her a name, have you?"

He opened his mouth.

No answer came.

I suddenly remembered a note I had discovered months ago.

He had scribbled down a single sentence.

I hope my child grows up strong, fearless, and impossible to break.

Underneath it was a name.

The name that was supposed to belong to our child.

Instead, it belonged to Vanessa's son.

I looked at him steadily.

"Her name is Charlotte."

He swallowed.

Something unreadable flashed through his eyes.

Then, as always, his expression softened.

"Charlotte," he repeated with a smile. "That's a beautiful name. Warm and bright."

His gaze settled on me.

"Just like you. I hope she always becomes the light of your life."

He lifted his hand, intending to touch my hair.

I took a step back.

His hand paused awkwardly in midair.

Then he lowered it.

"I'll be leaving on a business trip for a few days," he said, as though nothing had happened. "When I return, we'll sit down and talk properly. I'll explain everything."

I looked at him for several long seconds.

Then I nodded.

"Of course," I said evenly. "Your work is important."

I didn't give him another chance to speak.

I turned around and walked away.

When I got home, I fed Charlotte and gently rocked her until she fell asleep.

She made soft little sounds in her sleep, and beneath the warm glow of the bedside lamp, her long lashes cast delicate shadows over her cheeks.

My phone vibrated.

Vanessa had uploaded a new post on Instagram.

It was a photo of three hands stacked together.

Adrian's hand.

Her hand.

And Ethan's tiny hand gripping a set of car keys.

The caption read:

Rewarding our little hero today.

A five-million-dollar car.

A child was receiving it as casually as if it were a toy.

I stared at the picture.

Just last week, I had reminded Adrian three separate times to buy imported diapers for his daughter. Every time, he told me he was busy and had forgotten.

Suddenly, I laughed.

The sound that came out was empty and sharp.

I saved the screenshot and added it to my folder of evidence.

Charlotte shifted in my arms and smacked her lips softly in her sleep.

I lowered my head and kissed her silky cheek.

"Don't worry, sweetheart," I whispered. "Mommy will protect you. I promise."

...

The following day, after reviewing all my shares, resources, and assets, I booked a flight to New York scheduled for three days later.

Over the past few days, Adrian had been sending me messages nonstop.

I supposed he was trying his best to maintain the image of a perfect husband.

Honey, today's client was difficult, but I finally closed the deal.

Honey, you've been working so hard. I found a pastry shop downtown that's incredible. I'll take you there sometime.

I scrolled through the messages one after another.

A bitter smile slowly appeared on my face.

Did he really think I knew nothing?

Every bonus payment he had secretly transferred into Vanessa's account showed up in my email notifications.

Every single transaction.

And while he played the role of the devoted husband in front of me, Vanessa posted photos of herself online with stacks of cash stuffed inside her lingerie and fresh love bites blooming across her skin.

I laughed again.

A broken, almost pathetic sound.

How had I been so blind?

Once upon a time, Adrian had loved me like that.

We had been childhood sweethearts.

People envied us.

Beneath an old banyan tree, he had promised me that he would marry no one else.

When we were in college, he chased away every boy who tried to approach me and guarded me as though I belonged solely to him.

When I underwent surgery for appendicitis, he remained beside my hospital bed for three nights, refusing to sleep.

The first paycheck he ever earned had gone directly into my bank account.

Attached to it was a short message.

For my little princess.

Back then, I thought I had found the kind of love people spent their entire lives searching for.

None of it mattered anymore.

A sudden cry interrupted my thoughts.

It came from the nursery.

"Oh my God, Miss Vivian!"

The nanny rushed out, her face drained of color.

"The baby's thigh got cut somehow. The bleeding won't stop!"

Her hands were trembling.

There was blood on them.

My heart nearly stopped.

I ran into the nursery and immediately scooped Charlotte into my arms.

Her tiny cries had weakened considerably.

Blood continued to flow down her leg.

I felt my limbs go numb.

Still, I carried her and rushed to the hospital as quickly as I could.

The doctor looked over the test results and frowned.

"She has a rare neonatal disorder. Her hemoglobin level is dangerously low. She needs a blood transfusion immediately."

My lips trembled.

"Then do it," I said desperately. "Start an IV. Use whatever medicine you need. I'll do anything. I'm her mother"

The doctor shook his head.

"Parents can't donate blood directly in situations like this. And your daughter has Rh-negative blood. We need to see whether our blood bank still has units available."

"Then give her a clotting agent first!" I practically shouted. "Please, hurry!"

They administered the medication.

The bleeding didn't stop.

I held Charlotte's tiny body against my chest.

She looked so pale.

Tears streamed down my face endlessly.

Several minutes later, a nurse hurried into the room.

Sympathy was written all over her face.

"Miss Vivian..." she said softly. "The Rh-negative blood is gone."

I looked up sharply.

"What do you mean gone? You told me there was reserve blood available!"

The nurse lowered her eyes.

"This is a private hospital. Mr. Sterling's son needed blood urgently, so the director transferred all the remaining Rh-negative units to the VIP ward."

Everything inside me froze.

I felt as though lightning had struck me.

My chest hurt so badly I could barely breathe.

I was about to call Adrian.

I wanted to scream at him.

Then my phone lit up.

Vanessa had posted another story.

Our little rascal scraped his knee. Luckily, Daddy can get the rarest blood in the city whenever he wants.

For a second, I thought my head would explode.

I handed Charlotte to the nurse and ran.

Up the stairs.

Down the corridor.

My heart pounded violently inside my chest.

I reached the VIP ward and kicked the door open.

Inside, Vanessa was smiling while playing a game with James.

The boy sat comfortably on the hospital bed.

There was a tiny scrape on his knee.

It was so minor it didn't even need a bandage.

I stood there, unable to move.

The scene before me was almost unbearable.

A happy mother.

A cheerful child.

Meanwhile, my daughter was fighting for her life downstairs.

Hatred surged through me like a tidal wave.

I couldn't contain it.

"Give the blood to my daughter!" I screamed.

Vanessa looked at me with that familiar expression.

Smug.

Triumphant.

The expression she wore whenever she believed she had won.

"Why are you making such a scene?" she asked coldly. "My son just scraped his knee."

My voice shook.

"This isn't about a scraped knee! My daughter has a rare condition. If treatment is delayed any longer, she could die!"

The doctor standing outside heard the commotion and stepped inside.

He looked between us uneasily.

"If there is enough blood available... perhaps some of it can be given to this child?"

I looked at him desperately.

I felt like I was drowning.

"Please," I begged. "My daughter needs Rh-negative blood immediately. If we delay any longer, she won't survive."

Vanessa rolled her eyes.

"Oh, please, Doctor."

She folded her arms.

"You know who my husband is. He's this hospital's largest shareholder. Did you forget that? Every unit of Rh-negative blood belongs to my son. Are you trying to get yourself fired?"

It felt like someone had punched me directly in the chest.

I couldn't breathe.

I couldn't think.

I lunged toward the IV stand and grabbed the blood bag.

"You stole my daughter's chance to live!" I cried. "How could you do something like this?"

Vanessa screamed.

"Security! Hurry!"

She pointed at me.

"This crazy woman is trying to steal my son's blood!"

Two security guards immediately rushed into the room.

They grabbed my arms and restrained me.

I struggled wildly.

My pulse thundered inside my ears.

Vanessa snatched the blood bag from my hands and raised it triumphantly.

"Look at her!" she shouted. "She actually tried to steal my son's blood! Get her out of here!"

The guards dragged me backward.

I could barely breathe.

Fury.

Despair.

Panic.

Everything twisted together inside my chest.

One of the guards frowned.

"The hospital has enough blood. You're just causing trouble."

I almost screamed.

"I don't care about anything else!" I cried hoarsely. "My daughter is dying! She has every right to live!"

At that moment, the hospital director arrived outside the room.

After taking in the chaotic scene, he frowned.

"Hold on."

His gaze moved across the room.

"Which one of you is Mrs. Sterling?"

Vanessa lifted her phone and shoved it toward the director.

"Take a good look," she said smugly. "I'm the woman President Sterling legally married. James is his legitimate son. As for her child..." She glanced at me with contempt. "That baby was a mistake. An illegitimate child who isn't even acknowledged."

Every word struck me like a knife.

I looked down at Charlotte's tiny, pale face resting in my arms.

My legs suddenly gave way.

I collapsed onto the floor right in front of Vanessa.

"Please..." My voice broke completely. "Please save my daughter."

I was crying so hard I could barely speak.

"Please. I'm begging you."

The hallway fell silent.

No one spoke.

Everyone was watching.

Vanessa didn't look affected in the slightest.

Without even glancing at me, she pulled out her phone and called Adrian.

The second he answered, her voice changed.

She sounded frightened and wronged.

"Honey, come back quickly. Vivian's gone crazy. She's trying to take James's blood. She wants to hurt us. She's trying to kill me and our son."

Something inside me snapped.

I jerked free from the security guards and grabbed the phone.

My hands were shaking violently.

"Adrian!"

I was crying, but I forced myself to speak clearly.

"Charlotte is injured. She has a rare blood disorder and severe anemia. She needs a transfusion right now. Tell them to release the blood to her immediately, or she's going to die!"

Silence answered me.

A long, terrible silence.

Then Adrian finally spoke.

His tone was impatient.

"Genn, the blood has already been reserved for James. He needs it now, so stop making a scene and delaying things."

I couldn't breathe.

"How much blood could a one-month-old baby possibly need?" I cried. "Your son has a tiny scrape on his knee! My daughter is downstairs bleeding in the emergency room. She needs it right now!"

More silence.

Then he spoke again.

This time, his voice sounded cold.

Almost doubtful.

"A newborn with a rare condition?" he said slowly. "Genn... are you exaggerating? Are you even telling me the truth?"

I felt something break inside me.

"Adrian!"

Hot tears poured down my face.

"She's your daughter! She's your own child! How can you say something like that?"

I could hear voices around him.

The hospital director was speaking cautiously.

"Mr. Sterling... how should we handle this woman? She seems emotionally unstable. She keeps insisting she's your wife."

Adrian said nothing for several seconds.

Then he answered.

His voice was distant.

Almost indifferent.

"My wife is Vanessa. She's the mother of my son, James."

He paused.

"I don't have a daughter."

The room seemed to relax.

The tension disappeared.

People looked at me with pity.

Or suspicion.

As if I were someone who had lost her mind.

Vanessa smiled.

It was the smile of someone who had won completely.

She took the bag of Rh-negative blood and dropped it onto the floor in front of me.

"Do you really think your child deserves this?" she asked softly.

Then she lifted her heel and stepped on the blood bag.

"I'd rather waste every drop than let it go to you."

I felt like my chest had been crushed beneath a boulder.

I couldn't breathe.

I couldn't even cry anymore.

...

When I returned to Charlotte's room, the ward door closed behind me with a dull thud.

It felt as though I had been cut off from the rest of the world.

I walked to the bed and carefully picked up my daughter.

Her tiny body felt frighteningly cold.

I held her close against my chest while tears slipped down my face endlessly.

I had never felt so helpless.

Then my phone suddenly lit up.

Another Instagram story.

Vanessa again.

She was holding James in her arms and smiling brightly at the camera.

Below the photo was a screenshot of a transfer notification.

Five hundred thousand dollars.

The note attached to it read:

Take care of our son.

I stared at the screen.

A chill spread through my body.

The warmth in my arms seemed to be fading little by little.

I felt utterly powerless.

How had this man spent years convincing me he loved me...

only to stand by while another woman did this to our child?

Despair swallowed me whole.

Then, from the doorway, a calm male voice spoke.

"I have Rh-negative blood."

I looked up.

The man stood quietly in the doorway.

"If you'll allow it," he said gently, "I can donate to your daughter."

...

Because of that stranger's donation of four hundred cubic centimeters of blood, my daughter survived.

My baby lived.

The irony of it all was almost unbearable.

Her own father had controlled every unit of Rh-negative blood in the hospital and refused to spare her a single bag.

Meanwhile, a complete stranger had appeared out of nowhere, saved her life, and disappeared without even leaving behind his name.

Color gradually returned to Charlotte's tiny face.

Her little lips moved instinctively, searching for milk.

The nanny suddenly leaned closer.

"Miss Vivian... something isn't right."

I looked at her.

"I watch her all the time. Nothing sharp ever went near her crib."

I froze.

"But the doctor said the wound came from a razor blade," I said slowly. "She never left her crib."

A terrible feeling settled in my stomach.

The second we returned home, I went straight to the nursery.

I pulled apart the velvet bedding.

My blood turned cold.

Several razor blades were hidden among the folds.

Some of them still carried traces of my daughter's blood.

I stood there in shock.

I remembered asking Adrian to purchase the crib during my postpartum confinement.

Of course he hadn't personally selected it.

He never paid attention to details like that.

He had probably told his assistant the same thing he always did.

Buy the most expensive one.

And the assistant...

The assistant was Vanessa.

I suddenly understood.

She had arranged all of this.

She had placed those blades there.

A chill ran down my spine.

Did Adrian know?

Did he realize Vanessa had almost killed our daughter?

And even if he knew...

would he protect Charlotte?

Or would he continue pretending to be the perfect husband while quietly allowing our child to die?

I didn't know.

I honestly didn't know anymore.

I sat down on the sofa and held Charlotte tightly against my chest.

Her tiny body radiated warmth.

I buried my face against her soft hair.

"Don't be afraid, baby," I whispered through my tears. "Mommy won't let anyone hurt you ever again."

At least we only had two more days.

In two days, we would leave.

We would start over somewhere new.

...

Adrian returned from his business trip the next evening.

The moment he entered the house, he looked angry.

"Genn, you've been acting completely unreasonable lately."

I looked up at him while tightening my hold around Charlotte.

"You went to the hospital and caused a huge scene."

His voice softened slightly, but it sounded artificial.

"Did you even stop to think about how that would affect me?"

A shiver ran through me.

His gaze dropped to our sleeping daughter.

Concern appeared on his face.

It looked convincing.

But now I could see right through him.

"You used our daughter to create trouble," he said with disappointment. "Honestly, Genn, I never expected this from you."

I slowly shook my head.

"Adrian," I said quietly, "it's over."

He frowned.

"What?"

"It's over between us."

His face changed immediately.

He stepped forward and grabbed my arm.

"Over?" he repeated. "What do you mean, over?"

His grip tightened.

"We've known each other since we were children. We've been together for more than ten years."

His voice rose.

"You can't just throw all of that away."

It felt as though someone had driven a needle straight into my heart.

I stared at him in disbelief.

"Weren't you the one who said over the phone that Vanessa is your wife and Ethan James is your son?" I asked, my voice shaking. "Then why are you standing here acting like you're the victim?"

Adrian wouldn't look at me.

He turned his face away, his expression uncomfortably guilty.

"Vivian, it was an emergency," he said quietly. "Everyone at that private hospital knows who Mrs. Sterling is. If they found out the truth, they might not have given James the blood. I didn't have any other option."

No other option?

My chest tightened painfully.

My eyes stung.

I wanted to tell him that there was no truth to any of this, that our marriage wasn't simply a title or a formality, that I had been his wife for years.

But somehow, the words refused to come out.

Then he looked at me again.

His expression had already returned to that calm, reasonable look he always wore.

"So this is really about Vanessa, isn't it?" he said evenly. "You're jealous because you think I care more about her than I do about you. You're letting your feelings get in the way, and now you're using our daughter to compete with her."

I stared at him.

I actually couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"That's ridiculous," I said. "You honestly think I'd ever do something like that?"

"Oh, come on, Genn." He sighed impatiently. "She has a son and you have a daughter, so now you're creating problems because you feel insecure. Just admit it."

He didn't even let me finish speaking.

His phone suddenly rang.

He glanced at the screen.

"Stay home and think about what you've been doing," he said. "And don't go to the company today."

Then he simply turned around and left.

I stood there trembling.

I was furious.

I was shaking so badly I could barely breathe.

The marriage certificate I had with him was fake.

Because of that, I couldn't legally touch Vanessa.

I couldn't protect anything.

Nothing in this house was truly safe from her.

Nothing that belonged to me.

I sat down and reviewed my shares again.

I needed to transfer everything as quietly as possible.

I couldn't let Vanessa get even the smallest piece of what belonged to me.

I had barely begun when my phone rang.

The moment I answered, my assistant sounded panicked.

"Miss Vivian, you need to come home immediately."

I stood up.

"What happened?"

"The woman who claims she's Mr. Sterling's assistant just came in with a child. She said Mr. Sterling personally allowed her inside. We tried to stop her, but we couldn't."

Vanessa.

My hand tightened around the phone.

I didn't think.

I didn't ask another question.

I grabbed my keys and drove home as though my life depended on it.

The nanny was pacing anxiously when I arrived.

The second she saw me, she looked like she was about to cry.

"Miss, I really tried to stop them," she said shakily. "But Mr. Sterling called himself and told us to let them in."

I hurried past her.

Then I froze.

Ethan James was sprawled on the floor.

He had dumped an entire container of colorful glass marbles and was rolling them across the carpet.

The moment he saw me, he pointed at me and shouted, "Mommy! Look! The bad lady who stole my blood is back!"

I looked up.

Vanessa was standing beside Charlotte's crib.

One hand hovered near my daughter's cheek.

She was smiling.

As though she had done absolutely nothing wrong.

I rushed toward her and shoved her away from the crib.

She stumbled backward.

Then she smiled.

Not angrily.

Not surprised.

Just smug.

Cold.

"Let's make something very clear, Vivian," she said slowly. "Adrian and I are legally married. You're nothing more than the hidden mistress. This house belongs to us. If I want you gone, I can throw you out whenever I please."

Every word stabbed me.

I gripped the edge of the crib so hard my fingers turned white.

My jaw hurt from clenching my teeth.

"I stopped wanting your trash of a husband a long time ago," I said coldly. "I'm done with him. But until I leave, you need to get out. Otherwise, I'll call the media and expose everything you've done."

Vanessa's face immediately reddened.

The veins in her neck stood out.

"Who do you think you are?" she screamed. "You don't get to talk to me like that! The law is on my side, not yours. You're the one who should leave! You're insane!"

I looked at her calmly.

"The law?" I repeated with a faint laugh. "Even if I walk away right now, I still have both the Sterling and Ashford families behind me."

I looked her up and down.

"And you? You're a former nanny who seduced her employer and now hides behind a piece of paper while calling yourself his wife."

I smiled coldly.

"Do you really think that marriage certificate makes you important? Adrian wouldn't dare introduce you publicly, would he? The two of you hide in the shadows because that's the only place you belong."

"Shut up!"

Her eyes filled with hatred.

She raised her hand and slapped me.

The sound echoed through the room.

My cheek burned instantly.

I didn't even blink.

I slapped her back.

Harder.

I wanted her to feel every bit of my anger.

Besides, the security cameras in the living room would record everything.

Then I heard it.

A tiny, strange whimper.

I froze.

The sound came from the crib.

My heart stopped.

I turned around.

Then I saw it.

Ethan James had shoved something into Charlotte's mouth.

A glass marble.

"Charlotte!"

I practically threw myself toward the crib.

I scooped her into my arms and patted her back frantically.

My hands were shaking uncontrollably.

"Spit it out, sweetheart. Come on. Mommy's right here. It's okay. You're okay."

The front door suddenly flew open.

Adrian stormed into the room.

His expression immediately darkened.

"What are you doing to our daughter?"

Vanessa instantly ran to his side.

Her voice became soft and frightened.

"You're finally back." She clung to his arm. "Don't worry. James only wanted to play with the baby using his marbles. He didn't mean any harm. Vivian is overreacting."

Overreacting?

I was desperately trying to open Charlotte's mouth.

"It's okay, baby," I said through my tears. "Mommy's here. You're safe. You're okay."

Adrian suddenly pulled Charlotte out of my arms.

"Have you lost your mind?" he shouted. "You're going to hurt her if you keep doing this!"

Something inside me snapped.

I slapped him.

Hard.

The sound rang throughout the room.

"You think you get to lecture me?" I screamed. "Look at what your little bastard just did to my daughter!"

At that exact moment, Charlotte coughed violently.

Then she vomited.

A glass marble rolled onto the carpet with a heavy sound.

Her tiny face turned bright red as she cried.

My heart broke.

I pointed at the marble with shaking hands.

"Do you see that?" I shouted, my eyes burning with tears. "Your precious little bastard shoved marbles into your newborn daughter's mouth!"

I looked directly at him.

"Are you blind?"

Then I looked at Ethan.

"And what kind of monster teaches a six-year-old child to hate an infant?"

I snatched Charlotte back into my arms and held her tightly against my chest. Then I looked at Vanessa and the little monster she called her son, and if looks could kill, both of them would have been dead already.

Adrian finally seemed to realize how serious the situation was. His expression stiffened as he pulled Ethan James toward him.

"James, apologize to your auntie and your little sister right now."

The boy only cried harder. He kicked his legs wildly and buried his face in Vanessa's clothes.

"Daddy's mean! I don't want him anymore! I hate him!"

His cries mixed with Charlotte's frightened wails until the noise seemed to drill straight into my head.

Adrian looked at me again, and the brief concern on his face quickly disappeared.

"He's just a child, Vivian. Children don't understand how much strength they're using. You're making too big a deal out of this." He frowned at me. "You're an adult. If you can't handle something like this maturely, how are you going to teach your daughter to grow up properly?"

I stared at him in disbelief. Every word that came out of his mouth felt like another crack spreading through my heart.

I shoved him with all my strength and slapped him hard across the face.

"Get out!" I shouted, my whole body shaking. "Take your fake wife and that little monster and get the hell out of my house!"

Adrian's expression darkened immediately.

"Why do you always resort to hitting people?" he snapped. "Why can't you behave like a normal person for once?"

Beside him, Vanessa suddenly raised her hand as though she intended to hit me back, but Adrian caught her wrist before she could move.

"Enough," he said sharply.

He pushed her hand aside and turned back to me. His eyes were filled with that familiar look of disappointment and concern, the same expression I had once mistaken for love.

"Genn," he said quietly, "what's gotten into you?"

I almost laughed.

What had gotten into me?

He had lied to me for years, cheated on me with another woman, and now stood there acting confused because I was angry after watching our daughter nearly choke to death.

How exactly did he expect me to react?

He let out a tired sigh and said to Vanessa, "Let's go outside first. She needs time to calm down."

Then he picked James up and ushered Vanessa out of the room.

The moment the door clicked shut behind them, all the strength left my body.

I slowly slid down the wall until I was sitting on the floor. My hands were still wrapped around Charlotte protectively, but my entire body trembled uncontrollably. Tears poured down my face, hot and bitter, and I couldn't seem to stop them.

Just then, my phone beeped.

I looked down and saw a notification confirming that the equity transfer had been completed.

My chest tightened, but this time the pain was accompanied by something else.

Relief.

Tomorrow.

By this time tomorrow, Charlotte and I would be gone.

I lowered my eyes and looked at my daughter. She had finally quieted down and was sleeping against my chest, her tiny fingers curled into my shirt.

I gently rocked her and kissed her forehead.

"We're almost free, baby," I whispered. "Mommy promises no one will ever hurt you again."

I settled the nanny in for the night, packed everything we would need, and quietly erased every trace of our life in that house. By the time dawn began breaking across the sky, I was sitting in the taxi I had booked in advance with Charlotte asleep in my arms.

"Please take us to the airport," I said.

"Of course, ma'am."

I took out my phone and called the person waiting for us.

"I'm sorry. We got delayed, but we're on our way."

A gentle voice answered from the other end.

"Don't worry about it. Just drive safely."

There was something warm and reassuring in his tone. For the first time in days, I felt a tiny spark of hope.

Then I smelled something strange.

A sharp chemical odor filled the car.

My entire body went cold.

I looked up and met the driver's eyes in the rearview mirror. They were dark and expressionless, and a chill ran down my spine.

I instinctively tightened my hold on Charlotte and pulled her closer.

"It's okay, sweetheart," I whispered repeatedly as panic gripped me. "Mommy's here. I've got you."

I didn't know when I lost consciousness.

When I opened my eyes again, I was lying on rough concrete.

Overgrown weeds surrounded us, and a crumbling factory stood in front of me like something abandoned by the world years ago.

Adrian was standing nearby with his phone in one hand. Charlotte was bundled in his suit jacket, her tiny face scrunched up as though she had been crying.

"The people are here," he said into the phone. "Go ahead with the plan."

He hung up and looked at me.

"Oh, you're awake," he said calmly. "That saves me from having to explain everything twice."

I tried to sit up, but pain shot through my wrists.

I looked down and realized my hands were tied behind my back.

"What is this?" I shouted. "Adrian, what the hell are you doing? Give me my daughter right now!"

He looked at me with unsettling calm.

"James has been kidnapped."

For several seconds, I simply stared at him.

"What do you mean?"

"They were originally after my son," he said evenly. "They grabbed the wrong child at first, and now they've taken James. They said they'll only release him if they see him in person."

A wave of disbelief crashed over me.

I shook my head repeatedly.

"No... no, you're not saying what I think you're saying."

He didn't answer.

My heart nearly stopped.

"You're going to exchange her for him?" My voice rose hysterically. "She's only one month old, Adrian! She has severe anemia because of her condition. Even a mosquito bite could be dangerous for her. Have you completely lost your mind?"

His expression didn't change.

"This is the only way. They said they won't let James go unless they see him. He's only six years old, and this could traumatize him for life."

I lunged toward Charlotte, but he stepped aside easily and kept her out of my reach.

"She's too young to remember any of this, Genn," he said in that same horrifyingly calm voice. "Nothing that happens today will leave any lasting impression on her."

I stared at him as though I no longer knew the man standing in front of me.

At that moment, Vanessa came running toward us. Her hair was disheveled, her makeup had streaked beneath her eyes, and she looked utterly frantic.

"Baby!" she cried. "The kidnappers called again! They said if they don't see James soon, they'll kill him!"

Then she noticed me.

To my shock, she dropped to her knees and began kowtowing repeatedly.

"Vivian, please!" she sobbed. "Just this once! Let Charlotte save James! I'll do anything you ask. Anything!"

I kicked her away.

"Move!" I screamed. "This happened because you couldn't watch your own child. Why should my daughter's life pay for your mistakes?"

Adrian crouched beside me.

"Genn, please." His voice suddenly softened. "James is innocent. Once he's back safely, I promise I'll make everything right for Charlotte too. We can go back to the way things were. We can still be a family."

I laughed bitterly through my tears.

"The way things were?" I repeated. "You want me to trade my daughter's life for your illegitimate son and then go back to pretending we're a happy family with the man who sacrificed her? Adrian, what exactly do you take me for?"

Just then, a frightened cry echoed from inside the warehouse.

"Daddy! I'm scared!"

Adrian's face changed immediately.

Without another word, he picked Charlotte up and started walking toward the building.

I threw myself forward and grabbed his leg with my bound hands.

"Adrian!" I screamed. "If you care so much, then go yourself! Aren't you her father too? Take his place! Exchange yourself for him!"

He shook me off impatiently.

"Enough!" he snapped. "James is a boy. He's the only heir of the Sterling family. Nothing can happen to him."

I looked up at him in horror.

"And Charlotte?" I cried. "Isn't she your daughter too? She's your flesh and blood! How can you do this to her?"

For the first time, he hesitated.

He turned and looked at my tear-streaked face.

"I..." He swallowed hard. "I'm sorry."

Suddenly, I felt a sharp sting in my neck.

I gasped.

My vision instantly blurred.

Adrian's voice sounded far away.

"It's only a sedative. When you wake up, your daughter will be safe."

The last thing I saw was him turning his back on me and walking toward the warehouse, carrying our daughter in his arms as though she were nothing more than a bargaining chip.

I woke up coughing violently, the harsh scent of disinfectant filling my lungs. The white ceiling above me swam in and out of focus, and then I heard Adrian's voice beside the bed, gentle and familiar as if nothing had happened.

"You're awake. How are you feeling?"

I immediately sat up. The movement tugged painfully at the IV in my hand, but I ignored it.

"Charlotte!"

I yanked at the blankets, desperate to get out of bed.

Adrian quickly grabbed my arms and tried to ease me back onto the mattress.

"Relax. She's okay," he said softly. "Vanessa is watching her in the next room."

I shoved him away so hard that he took a step back.

"Get out."

The warmth on his face disappeared for a moment.

"Genn, I understand that you're upset, but James had been kidnapped. I didn't have another option."

A bitter laugh escaped my lips.

"So your solution was to use my daughter in his place?"

Tears burned my eyes.

I reached for the glass on the bedside table and hurled it onto the floor.

It shattered at his feet.

"Get out, Adrian!" I shouted. "I never want to see you again!"

He stared at me for several seconds before sighing.

When he spoke again, his voice was gentle, almost patient.

"Do we really have to do this? You've been different ever since giving birth. You're emotional and unpredictable." He paused and rubbed his forehead. "Fine. I'll leave. Call me when you've calmed down."

The door closed behind him with a heavy thud, and the room fell silent.

I had barely taken a breath when the door opened again.

Vanessa walked in wearing a satisfied smile.

She was holding a document.

"Your daughter's in the nursery," she said casually. "Sign this agreement, promise never to see Adrian again, and I'll let you take her."

I lowered my gaze to the paper.

The clause was simple.

I would cut all contact with Adrian and never appear in his life again.

My fingertips slowly traced the words.

Then I looked up.

"You arranged your son's kidnapping yourself, didn't you?"

She simply raised an eyebrow.

"You really are smart."

She didn't even bother denying it.

"I just wanted you to understand something." She smiled. "In Adrian's heart, James and I are his real family. When he had to choose, he saved my son. The only people he cares about are us."

She leaned forward slightly.

"You can't beat me, Vivian."

I didn't answer.

Instead, I turned to the last page.

Then I signed my name.

...

When the nurse finally brought Charlotte back to me, I wrapped my arms around her tiny body and held her against my chest.

Only then did I let myself cry.

This little girl was everything I had left in the world.

Vanessa watched me quietly before sighing.

"You know, there was a time when I thought he genuinely loved you too."

I remained silent.

"Our first time together happened by accident. After that, he avoided me for months. It wasn't until I found out I was pregnant that he finally came back."

Every word felt like another knife being driven into my heart.

"But people change," she continued. "Maybe he loved you once, but now he loves me. I gave him a son. Your daughter could never compare."

She smiled faintly.

"Honestly, you're fortunate you were born into a good family. If our positions had been reversed, you wouldn't be any better than me."

I didn't even have the energy to argue.

My throat felt raw.

My chest hurt.

Even speaking seemed exhausting.

I left the hospital and went to the company one last time.

I reviewed everything related to the cancer treatment project.

As expected, Vanessa had hidden all evidence of her actions inside encrypted files. She had replaced expensive materials with inferior supplies and quietly pocketed the difference.

I looked down at Charlotte sleeping in my arms and held her a little tighter.

Karma didn't miss anyone forever.

Those files were ticking bombs.

I wondered whether Adrian would still be capable of protecting his greedy wife when everything finally exploded.

Then I picked up my phone and sent a message to the one man Adrian hated most.

I'm sorry for taking so long. I said I'd marry you, and I never go back on my word.

The reply came almost instantly.

Vivian, I've waited twelve years for this. No matter how long it took, it was worth waiting for.

I swallowed the lump rising in my throat.

Then I opened Instagram.

Vanessa had already posted another story.

James was wearing a birthday hat while Adrian and Vanessa kissed him on both cheeks.

The caption read:

Our little birthday boy turns seven today. Mom and Dad will always love you.

I stared at the screen.

A birthday gift.

Of course.

Adrian had been too busy celebrating with his real family.

My phone suddenly rang.

It was Adrian.

I answered.

"Genn, I had an urgent matter at the company, so I'll be home late tonight. When I get back, I'll register our daughter's household information and arrange the best doctors to treat her condition." His voice softened. "I love you, and I always will."

I nearly laughed.

Always love me?

When his own daughter needed him the most, he couldn't even spare her a bag of blood.

Charlotte shifted slightly in my arms.

I gently brushed the soft hair away from her forehead.

"Mommy's here, sweetheart," I whispered. "Don't worry."

Another message arrived.

Gen, don't be angry. Everything I've ever done has been for your sake. I promise I'll fix this. By the time I come home, everything will be all right again.

I stared at the message for a long time.

Then I laughed until my chest hurt.

Everything would be fine?

For whom?

For him?

For Vanessa?

For the little boy he would choose over our daughter every single time?

Certainly not for me.

And definitely not for Charlotte.

Without another thought, I blocked every way they could contact me.

Adrian.

Vanessa.

Every single person connected to them.

Then I switched off my phone and set it aside.

Outside the window, the airplane broke through the clouds and climbed higher into the sky.

I closed my eyes and never looked back.