Chapter 1

On Christmas Eve, I asked for a divorce.

The reason was simple. Stephen Chambers, my husband, had bought an apartment in a top school district for another woman, Helen Turner.

From the photos my son Ryan sent, I finally saw her for the first time.

She was five years older than me, yet her face betrayed no age at all.

My son called and asked, "Mom, did you see the pictures I sent? You're nowhere near as good-looking as Helen. No wonder Dad chose her over you."

I was so furious I almost laughed. I didn't hold back just because he was a child. I yelled, "Don't call me Mom anymore. If you like her so much, call her Mom from now on.

"You think your father doesn't want me? No. It's me who doesn't want either of you ingrates anymore."

After hanging up the phone, I immediately contacted my lawyer.

*****

Christmas was supposed to be all about family, but my house felt like it was ready to explode.

Stephen and I were yelling at each other about getting a divorce right in the living room.

Ryan Chambers, my son, stormed out of his room, saw the dinner I'd just finished, and threw the dishes onto the table.

Rice flew everywhere, and the steaming food turned into a total disaster in seconds.

He snapped, "Why are you always making a scene? You're always yelling and fighting at home. If I were Dad, I wouldn't want to come back either, with you acting like this."

I stared at my son, the kid I'd spoiled since he was little, totally shocked. I couldn't believe he'd talk to me like that.

All these years, I'd gone to war with Stephen over and over, all for him and this family, turning myself into a crazy woman.

But he couldn't see anything good in his own mom.

Seeing me stay silent, Ryan squared his shoulders next to his dad, his tone even sharper. "Just look at you. Your clothes are all wrinkled, your hair's a mess. You look crazy. You're always fighting over petty things, making our family look bad."

Stephen, seeing Ryan take his side, got even more self-righteous. "Hailey Miller, did you hear your own son? Stop acting like a madwoman and causing drama."

I ignored Stephen and looked at Ryan; my voice shook. "Ryan, is that really how you see me?"

Ryan glared at me, ranting like he hated my guts. "Yeah, that's exactly how I see you. All these years, you've been living like a princess, doing nothing, just enjoying life at home, and still not satisfied."

In fact, I do everything around here, cleaning, cooking, and looking after all the families. There was nothing in this house I didn't take care of.

I just sat there, listening to my son, and couldn't stop the tears from rolling down my face.

"Do you even know what your dad gave her?" I demanded.

Ryan just scoffed.

"Of course I know. Helen has to pick up and drop Ethan off every day. It's a lot of work. So what if Dad gave her a school district house? It's not a big deal," he shot back.

He actually didn't understand that the house was worth millions. I looked at him in shock.

Stephen shot me a smug look.

"Ryan's in the loop about everything. He and Ethan are like brothers, and he's the one who came up with the idea to give her the house," he said.

"Yeah, Grandma thought it was a great idea too," Ryan chimed in.

So I was the only one left in the dark.

Thinking back to all those times Hadley Chambers, Stephen's mother, told me to just let things go, it sent a shiver down my spine. The whole family was so selfish and heartless.

I shot Stephen a glare, my voice trembling. "Stephen, that's our property. We bought it while we were married."

All these years, I put up with him cheating on me, all for this family, all for Ryan.

But now, he was shamelessly giving a school district house to another woman, right out in the open.

Stephen, afraid I'd go after Helen to reclaim the house, instinctively grabbed Ryan by the arm.

But Ryan blocked me from getting to his dad and gave me a rough shove.

I lost my balance and crashed to the floor, shards of broken dishes slicing into my palm. Blood gushed from the cut.

"What property? It's all mine now, and I'll hand it out to whoever I damn well please," Stephen said.

Ryan looked at my bleeding hand, a flash of guilt flickering across his face, but he quickly hardened, going right back to being cold and indifferent.

Suddenly, Ryan blurted out.

"Dad has plenty of women in his life, and you can't even hold a candle to Helen. Can't you be a little more understanding? Why can't you be sweet and considerate like Helen? Honestly, I wish you weren't my mom. You're such an embarrassment."

Ryan's words cut me like a knife.