Chapter 1

On my wedding day, someone posted a scandalous video of me and James Foster online.

My fiancé Michael Reed lost his temper, dumped me, and went straight to register his marriage with my sister Emily Shaw. They showed off their new marriage everywhere online, turning me into the internet's biggest joke.

At the lowest point of my life, James showed up with a fleet of luxury cars and proposed to me.

He said, "Olivia, we both know that video online isn't real. I'll get to the bottom of this and clear your name."

He also said, "Olivia, I've always liked you. This must be fate giving me a chance. I'll prove to everyone that you're the most precious thing in my life. Olivia, will you marry me?"

At that moment, I was completely lost, not knowing what to do. But deep down, I knew I was innocent, so I trusted James and said yes to his proposal.

Three years into our marriage, I was pregnant. But at the hospital, I overheard James talking with his friend.

"James, you were the one who leaked that video of you and Emily, ruined Olivia's wedding, and helped Emily get what she wanted. Now that Olivia's pregnant, are you still going to be obsessed with Emily?"

"Ryan, you know I've always liked Emily. I'd do anything for her."

"But James, Olivia's carrying your child!"

"It's fine. I'll take good care of the baby. She looks just like Emily. I'll just treat the baby as my child with Emily."

I stood frozen at the hallway corner, covering my mouth in disbelief.

"James, everyone knows how good Olivia's been to you these past three years. Aren't you worried she'll find out the truth someday?"

"I know, that's why I'll be good to her. And I'll make sure her baby is well taken care of too."

"But James, isn't the real reason you're nice to her because you're afraid she'll leave you and ruin Emily's happiness?"

"Yes! And so what? Emily's always been the one I care about. I married Olivia, I've done right by her—what more does she want from me?"

James was clearly frustrated. He paused, then said, "Ryan, just drop it. This isn't your concern. Olivia's pregnant, and for the baby's sake, I'll be even nicer to her."

The hallway went dead silent. Fighting back the heartache that threatened to drown me, I turned and ran back to my hospital room.

It was James's birthday. I got up early to make him a birthday cake. I'd been secretly practicing baking for a whole month, just to surprise him.

But I collapsed in the kitchen, and at the hospital, I found out I was pregnant. I was thrilled and couldn't wait to see James, just so I could share my happiness with him.

But before I had the chance, the truth about the past hit me like a ton of bricks.

For the past three years, I'd long since fallen for James. He rescued me from my lowest point and asked me to marry him. Because of that, I always felt indebted to him.

I went out of my way to look after him, gave him everything he wanted, and never refused him. Even this baby was what James wanted.

I had health issues, was afraid of the pain, and honestly, I never felt any maternal instinct. I never wanted kids.

But James said a baby would be the symbol of our love. He wanted me to have his child—a child that belonged to both of us.

I gave in and stopped taking precautions. But when I was finally pregnant, I discovered he actually wanted a child with Emily.

Even the humiliation I went through back then was all his doing. What did all those years of being laughed at and mocked even mean, then? My love for him was nothing but a cruel joke.

I lay in the hospital bed, one hand resting on my belly, the other covering my face as silent tears streamed down. Did this baby even have a reason to exist anymore?