Chapter 2

I quickly spoke up. "Officer, it's not that I'm refusing to cooperate. My husband is dead and there's no proof this child is his."

I spread my hands helplessly. "How about this? Let's do a paternity test. If the child is my husband's, I'll divide the inheritance according to the will. That should work, right?"

"Thomas is dead. How am I supposed to do a paternity test?" Jessica exploded.

"True, Thomas is dead, but Jack is still alive," I replied smoothly. "We can test the grandfather-grandson relationship."

Jessica refused without hesitation. "No way. Why would we need a paternity test? Thomas and I were together for years. This is insulting."

But Amanda stepped forward. "You'll stand by that?"

"Amanda, if you don't trust me, we can sign a contract. If the child is Thomas', I won't say another word."

Amanda signed the contract with me right there and completely ignored Jessica and Jack's protests.

After we left the police station, I walked ahead with my arm linked through Amanda's.

"Amanda, I'm not trying to be difficult, but Thomas is gone now. We need to make sure Ben is actually Thomas' son before we talk about his inheritance, don't you think?" I kept my tone gentle and reasonable.

"And besides, I'd rather be the one to say it and play the bad guy instead of you or Jack having to bring it up, right? That way, even when Ben grows up and finds out about this, he won't hold it against you and Jack."

God, I was being so considerate.

Amanda nodded along and raised an eyebrow at me.

"Thomas wronged you when he was alive, but he's dead now. He left behind Emily and Ben, and I'm not worried about Emily since she has you. But Jessica's just a mistress and completely unreliable, so I have to think about my only grandson.

"You don't need to get worked up about this. Technically, Jack and I should get a share too since Thomas is gone, but let's just say we're giving our portions to Ben instead."

I nodded obediently. "Amanda, I'm not being paranoid, but I just don't understand something. All it takes is one DNA test to get that much inheritance, but—"

I hesitated, as if finally gathering the courage to continue. "Why was Jessica so reluctant?"

After I finished speaking, I glanced back at Jessica, Ben, and Jack walking behind us.

Jessica was holding Ben and walking alongside Jack. Jack and Ben were playing, and the two kept exchanging smiles.

They looked cozy together.

Amanda followed my gaze and immediately grew alert, her brows furrowing in thought.

I quickly made my excuse and slipped away.

I figured they'd be too busy to bother me for a while.

Still, thinking about Jessica living in that 1,800-square-foot luxury apartment really pissed me off.

The lawyer discovered that although the apartment was registered in Jessica's name, Thomas had bought it for her two years earlier.

Same story with the BMW under Jessica's name.

The lawyer suggested I look into Thomas' financial records and that I could reclaim everything as marital property.

Now that was precisely what I wanted to hear.

Once I started digging, I couldn't believe what I found.

Thomas had given Jessica over seven million dollars' worth of assets over the years, and Jessica still had one of Thomas' cards, which she swiped every single day.

I was practically doubled over with laughter as I looked at the evidence. God, this was all supposed to be my inheritance.

The lawyer asked if I wanted to sue now. What kind of question was that? Of course I did.

"File the lawsuit immediately. Get the apartment and the card back first. Everything else can wait." I waved my hands excitedly at the lawyer, practically dancing with joy.

The court moved fast. They froze the house Jessica was living in and the bank card with all that money still on it, claiming them as disputed assets.

Jessica showed up at my door again with the baby, screaming her head off.

I called building security and had them escort her out.

She kept yelling outside the complex gates, so I pulled out my phone and called Amanda.

"Amanda, Jessica's outside with Ben, cursing me out. I don't care what she says about me, but it's freezing out there and Ben's so little. What if he gets sick?"

Amanda rushed over and dragged Jessica and Ben back home. I heard she tore into Jessica pretty good, too.

Amanda came back soon after.

"Helen, why did you have the court freeze their house?" She barged in, voice raised.

"Amanda, please, let me explain." I ushered her inside quickly. "Thomas said the assets were for the child. But that penthouse is in Jessica's name, not Ben's."

"So what if it's in Jessica's name? I'm asking why you threw them out. Don't give me all these excuses." Amanda's anger hadn't cooled one bit.

"Amanda, there's a huge difference between the house being in Ben's name versus Jessica's. Jessica's so young. What if she remarries and—"

I saw Amanda's expression shift, so I pressed on. "And I already signed paperwork at the station.

"The second we confirm Ben is Thomas' son, I'll return the house to Ben immediately. But if I don't protect these assets now and Jessica gets any ideas. You see what I mean, right?"

My words softened Amanda's expression considerably.

She said, "So where are they supposed to stay now? Your place is big enough. Why not let them stay here for a few days? I see you've raised Emily well. You could help with Ben too.

"Jessica seems like the restless type—she'll leave eventually anyway. Might as well get to know Ben now so it's easier later."

I was absolutely floored.

My dead husband's mother wanted to move his mistress and illegitimate child into my house.

And apparently, once the mistress left, I'd be expected to raise my dead husband's bastard son for him.

She must be crazy.

"Amanda, I'm so busy with work that I can barely keep up with Emily," I said. "Why don't you go pick up Jessica and bring her and the kids to your place?"

I added, "That way you can keep an eye on them. If Jessica tries to sneak off with Ben, your precious grandson might just disappear."

Amanda shot up from her seat. "Absolutely not. I need to get back there and watch that little vixen before she runs off with my grandson."

She rushed toward the door, and I couldn't stop her even if I tried.

I called after her, "Amanda, don't forget about the paternity test! Don't forget the paternity test!"

After Amanda left, I pulled out my phone and opened the home security app.

Thomas had installed the cameras, worried that Jack and Amanda might fall and get hurt without anyone knowing.

Jack hated being watched, so Thomas hid the cameras in discreet spots and told Jack he'd removed them.

Now those cameras were working in my favor.