Chapter 1
"Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend Sophie's one-month celebration," Edward Shaw announced, his voice ringing with pride.
"Cheers, everyone!" he said, lifting his glass high.
I held our daughter, Sophie Shaw, in my arms as I watched Edward onstage, tall and confident. A gentle, contented smile tugged at my lips.
This was the happiest day of my life.
Then a woman in a striking red dress stepped onto the stage, smiling.
She slipped her hand around Edward's arm and lifted a glass to his lips.
And then, right in front of everyone, she leaned in and kissed him.
The room fell into instant, stunned silence.
*****
The party hall glittered with luxury, crystal chandeliers scattering light everywhere.
The air was sweet with the mix of champagne and desserts.
Claire Shaw sat at the main table, cradling her newborn daughter Sophie. Claire wore a custom pink dress, her face glowing with the tenderness of a new mother.
Her husband, Edward, was up on stage, grinning as he raised his glass.
"Today we celebrate Sophie's first month, and it's also proof of the love between my wife and me," Edward announced.
Edward's voice carried through the microphone, filling every corner of the hall.
The crowd erupted into thunderous applause.
Claire's gaze lingered on Edward, her heart softened with love.
He was the senior she'd admired since college, the one she insisted on marrying despite her family's objections.
Together, they built a company from scratch. Now, with a thriving business and a beautiful daughter, their life was like a fairytale come true.
Fairytales, though, are just beautiful lies.
A figure sashayed onto the stage, her every step full of confidence.
It was Melissa Linwood, Edward's chief secretary.
She wore a bold red silk slip dress with a thigh-high slit, flaunting her curves. Her sultry look was out of place at this cozy family celebration.
Claire's brow furrowed, a hint of unease flickering across her face.
But Melissa acted like Claire wasn't there and walked right up to Edward.
Melissa picked up another glass of wine from a waiter's tray and linked her arm with Edward's, flashing a dazzling smile.
"Mr. Shaw, congratulations," she cooed.
Her voice was sultry and teasingly intimate, as if no one else in the room mattered.
Edward's smile faltered for a second, but he quickly recovered.
"Thanks," he said.
He tried to pull his arm away, but Melissa clung to him tighter.
"Mr. Shaw, this one is for you and your little princess," she said.
As she spoke, she brought the glass to Edward's lips, and her movements were so intimate that everyone in the room wondered what was happening.
The guests in the crowd started whispering, their eyes flicking back and forth between the three on stage.
Without realizing it, Claire hugged Sophie a little tighter.
She saw Edward's Adam's apple bob, his gaze darting away, but he didn't pull away from Melissa.
Claire's heart sank a little more.
Just then, Melissa did something that made the whole room suck in a breath.
After offering him the wine, she didn't let go. Instead, she raised her chin and stretched up on tiptoe.
Right in front of everyone, she pressed her lips to Edward's in a brazen kiss.
It was a long, provocative kiss, one that dared anyone to look away.
Claire's mind went blank.
The music in the hall came to a sudden halt.
The guests' whispers fell silent.
The whole party hall was so silent that the faintest sound carried across the room.
Every eye in the room was fixed on the couple kissing on stage and on the woman cradling a baby at the main table.
It was sheer humiliation, like a thousand burning needles piercing every nerve and bone in Claire's body.
Sophie, cradled in Claire's arms, seemed to sense Claire's tension and pounding heart. Suddenly, Sophie burst out crying.
Her cry was like a bolt of lightning, snapping everyone out of their daze.
Edward shoved Melissa away, his face drained of color as his panicked gaze darted to Claire in the crowd.
"Claire, i-it's not what you think. She—" he stammered.
Melissa stumbled back, but she didn't look upset. Instead, she smoothed out her dress and flashed Claire a smug, victorious grin.
That smile was like a venom-tipped dagger, sinking deep into Claire's heart.
Claire didn't cry. She didn't lose her cool or cause a scene.
She didn't even look at Edward's panicked face.
Claire bowed her head and gently patted Sophie's back, softly repeating words of comfort only she could hear.
"There, there. I'm right here," she whispered.
Her movements were soft and steady, as if everything that had happened was nothing but a ridiculous performance.
But the more composed she appeared, the more unnerving it was for everyone watching.
Linda Shaw, Edward's mother, was the first to react. She stormed over to Claire, not to comfort her but to attack her with harsh words.
"Claire, why are you standing there? Hand me Sophie. Is this how you want people to see you?" Linda barked.
Linda sneered, "Look how bloated you've become after giving birth, and you can't even hold onto your own man.
"Even your husband's secretary dares to walk all over you. You've dragged the Shaw family's name through the mud."
Linda's harsh voice pierced Claire's ears without mercy.
Claire slowly lifted her head.
Her face was as pale as paper, making her once gentle eyes look almost frightening.
She stared at Linda in silence.
There was no anger or sadness.
There was only an icy, lifeless calm.
Linda felt a chill crawl up her spine under Claire's stare, and the rest of her words got stuck in her throat.
"What are you staring at? Am I wrong? It's all because you're useless," Linda snapped.
Claire's lips curled into the faintest hint of a smile.
Her smile never reached her eyes.
"Yes," Claire replied, her tone icy.
Her voice came out hoarse, but every word was clear as day.
She snapped, "I'm the useless one.
"I was blind, mistaking a traitor for someone loyal and treating him like family."
As soon as those words left her mouth, the crowd went wild.
Edward's face flushed bright red. He rushed off the stage, reaching for Claire's hand.
"Claire, please don't do this. Let's talk at home, okay?" he pleaded.
Claire held Sophie close and sidestepped him, pulling away from his reach.
Her eyes slid past Edward, landing on Melissa, who stood behind him, her face full of smug satisfaction.
Melissa hadn't seen that coming from Claire. Her smug grin faded, replaced by a wary look.
Claire met her gaze and suddenly broke into a smile.
"Miss Linwood, right?" Claire said, her tone icy.
Claire added, "Congratulations.
"From now on, this man and his bossy mother are all yours. Good luck.
"Everything I discard is yours for the taking. Save your thanks."
With those words, she didn't spare a single glance at anyone. Holding her wailing daughter close, she straightened her back and walked toward the party hall doors, step by step.
Her heels clicked sharply against the polished marble floor, each sound echoing with finality.
Every step felt like it was stomping right on Edward's heart.
"Claire!" Edward shouted, his voice raw with desperation.
Edward roared and tried to run after her, but Michael Summers, Claire's brother, suddenly stepped forward and blocked him with a forceful move.
Michael seemed to appear out of nowhere, his towering six-foot-plus frame blocking Edward's path like an unmovable wall.
He fixed Edward with a glare so cold that it could freeze the air between them.
Michael spat, "Edward, I must've been out of my mind to let Claire marry you.
"From this moment on, you and the entire Shaw family better pray that Claire and Sophie come out of this unharmed.
"Or else..."
Michael didn't finish, but the deadly chill in his eyes made Edward's blood run cold.
Claire walked to the door and paused.
She didn't look back.
She spoke to the doorman waiting by the entrance, her voice crisp and icy, uttering two words.
"Call the police," Claire ordered.