Chapter 1

Three years ago, my husband sent our three-year-old daughter to live with his aunt in the countryside, claiming it would "build her independence."

That same year, he brought home the orphaned son of a fallen comrade.

The boy moved into my daughter's room, wore her clothes, attended the most expensive private school, and enjoyed nothing but the finest of everything.

Meanwhile, my daughter couldn't even get a coat that fit her in the countryside.

I didn't throw a fit. Instead, I showered that boy with love and affection. Everyone praised me as a living saint.

But today, at the family dinner to plan the boy's tenth birthday banquet, I asked Jacob Swinburne for a divorce in front of everyone.

Everyone at the table froze.

*****

Jacob slammed his glass down on the table, splashing wine all over my face.

"I sent Zoe to the countryside to toughen her up, so she'd grow up tough and capable. I took in Xavier because his father literally took a bullet for me.

"I owe him my life. And you want a divorce just because of that?" Jacob shouted.

I wiped the wine off my face and looked at him.

"You just love playing dad to someone else's kid, don't you? After the divorce, you can call him your own son for all I care. Whatever you do with him, it's none of my business," I said.

"Are you out of your mind?" Jacob's chest heaved as he slammed a stack of photos onto the table. "Just look at these. See what kind of life Xavier's had with us these past three years.

"When he first came, he was so thin you could count his ribs, crying out for his father in his sleep. I spent the whole night holding him, both of us in tears.

"I took him in because I owe his father. If his dad were still alive, would his son have to depend on strangers?"

Everyone at the table looked at the photos in shock. Xavier was malnourished when he first arrived, but now he looked healthy and full of life.

Jacob's mother, Lucy Swinburne, was the first to speak up, slamming her cane down on the floor.

"Rebecca, my son took in his buddy's orphan. That's a good deed. As his wife, you should be backing him up, not talking about divorce over this. Where's your conscience?" Lucy snapped.

Jacob's comrade, Tyler Bellamy, put down his fork, his voice heavy with emotion.

"Rebecca, Xavier's dad took a bullet for Jacob and died right then and there. His mom passed away in a car crash that same year. The kid's got nobody left.

"Jacob took him in, and every guy in the squad gives him props for it. You really think you're doing right by his dad, saying stuff like this?" Tyler said.

My brother, Philip Tate, was the first to rush over and grab my arm.

"Rebecca, can you stop acting up? Guys like Jacob are one in a million. You totally hit the jackpot marrying him. Just look at how he treats Xavier, then look at yourself.

"Are you just looking for trouble because your life's too easy?" Philip said.

I shot Philip a look.

"When did you start siding with the Swinburne family?" I asked.

Philip's face turned red. "I'm just calling it like I see it. If word gets out, what are people gonna say about the Tate family? That we raised a daughter who can't even handle her husband taking in an orphan?"

Jacob stepped forward and took my hand, his tone gentler than before.

He said, "Rebecca, I know it's been tough on you these past few years, and I get how much it hurts not having Zoe around. After Xavier's birthday, I'll go get Zoe myself and bring her home, alright?

"Just take back what you said about divorce. Everyone here is family and friends. How am I supposed to look them in the eye after this?"

He was giving me an easy out.

Everyone at the table nodded in agreement.

"Jacob's really patient. Any other guy would've blown up by now."

"Yeah, Rebecca, just go with it and let it go. Why make things uncomfortable for everyone?"

I looked at Jacob, who was acting all affectionate, and pulled my hand out of his.

I asked, "Bring Zoe home? How many times have you said that?

"Three years now, and every year you say the same thing, after New Year, after summer break, after Xavier settles in. And did it ever happen?

"My daughter's been getting beaten up by your aunt's son out in the sticks. Her arms are covered in bruises. Did you ever bother to find out?"

I pulled up the photos on my phone, revealing a skinny little girl's arm, mottled with fresh and faded bruises.

Lucy glanced at the photos and thumped her cane on the floor again.

She snapped, "Kids fighting and messing around is normal, isn't it? Didn't you get into scrapes when you were little?

“Country kids are tough. They need to take a few knocks to grow up right. You're just being too soft as a mom."

I stared Lucy down.

"Then why don't you send Xavier out to the countryside to toughen up?" I shot back.