Chapter 1

My ex-husband, Carlos Wesley, wanted to drain my bone marrow to save his first love, Sonia Hathaway, who had leukemia.

Outside the operating room, he ignored my desperate pleas and coldly signed the consent form to terminate my pregnancy.

He said, "That's a malignant tumor, not a child. Lydia, how could you fake a pregnancy to avoid donating your marrow?"

Under the nurses' sympathetic gazes, he gently comforted Sonia who was on the hospital bed.

At that moment, my heart froze over. I later jumped from the fifth floor, whispering, "Carlos, since you said it's a tumor, I'll take my pathetic self to hell and keep it company."

Five years later, at a party, Carlos bumped into a boy who looked strikingly like him.

Carlos rushed forward like a madman, only for the boy to step back in disgust.

The boy sneered, "Sir, stupidity is a dominant genetic trait. There's no way I'd have a father as dumb as you."

*****

My son's Noah's voice rang out clearly. As I walked over, Carlos stood there stunned, his hand still frozen mid-air.

Noah rushed over and took my hand. "Mom, this guy's acting weird. He won't stop staring at me."

Carlos turned his head, looking like he'd seen a ghost. He seemed about to explode.

"Lydia, you're alive," he said.

I pulled my shawl tighter around myself. "Mr. Wesley, long time no see."

He stared at my face, looked down at Noah, then back at me. Suddenly, he smiled.

"Well, Lydia, five years huh? You really went all out. Faking your own death? Only you could come up with something like that," he said.

Before I could say a word, he turned to Noah. "Where did this boy come from? Did you adopt him for this show today?"

Noah looked up at me. "Mom, is this guy crazy?"

Carlos's face turned even darker.

"Lydia, if you think faking your death could make me feel bad, then you win," he said. "But where did this boy come from? Is he a prop for your drama?"

I kept my voice steady. "Faking death is illegal. Turns out I'm just hard to kill and didn't die after all. As for Noah, is that your business at all?"

Sonia's voice, trembling with disbelief, came from behind me. "Lydia? Is it really you?"

As she spoke, her hand instinctively tightened around Carlos's arm.

Noah suddenly chimed in, blinking his big eyes. "Ma'am, if you really feel bad, then why are you wearing the same ring my mom used to have?"

The room instantly fell silent. Sonia instinctively covered her hand.

Carlos glanced down, his brows knitting together. "Sonia, this ring..."

Sonia's lashes trembled, and tears spilled out. "I... I thought it looked nice. Carlos, you know I barely have any jewelry."

Carlos looked up at me, his expression complicated. He stepped forward, moving to stand in front of Sonia, as if to protect her.

"Lydia, keep your…" He stopped, glancing at Noah, clearly at a loss for what to call him.

I crouched down and scooped Noah into my arms.

"Relax, Mr. Wesley. He's my tumor, the kind one couldn't cut out," I said.

Carlos's eyes narrowed.

"If you were alive, why didn't you show up back then? Why pretend to be dead for five years and only show up now?" he asked.

I straightened Noah's collar. "I came back for work? Do you have a problem with that?"

Carlos scoffed. "Sonia's illness is back. Looks like it's finally time for you to give her the bone marrow you owe."

I stared at him for several seconds.

Then I said, "Alright. When do you want it? Right now?"

He was stunned. He probably never thought I'd agree so readily.

Noah clung to my neck, holding on tight. "Mom..."

"It's okay," I said, patting his back. I flashed Carlos a smile. "After you get what you want, will you finally stop bothering me?"

Carlos's lips moved, but he couldn't get any words out.

Sonia, behind him, gently tugged at his sleeve. "Carlos, just let it go. Lydia just came back. Don't do this to her."

Carlos stared at me. "Tomorrow morning, I'll come pick you up for the bone marrow testing at the hospital."

With that, he led Sonia away. After a few steps, he glanced back at Noah.

I couldn't tell what that look meant.

Noah buried his face in my shoulder and whispered, "Mom, that guy is so annoying."

I hugged him a little tighter. "Yeah, he's a beast."

*****

The next morning at nine, Carlos's car showed up right on time. He was leaning against the car, smoking. When he saw me come out holding Noah's hand, he paused, surprised.

"He's coming too?" he asked.

"What else do you expect?" I shot back. "You want me to leave a four-year-old home alone?"

Carlos stubbed out his cigarette and swung open the car door. The car was thick with smoke, and as soon as Noah climbed in, he started coughing.

Carlos glanced at Noah in the rearview mirror, didn't say a word, but opened all the windows.

On the way, Carlos he suddenly asked, "Where have you been these five years?"

"What's it to you, Mr. Wesley?" I shot back.

When we stopped at a red light, he handed me a card. "This should be enough to cover your expenses for a while."

I didn't take it.

"It's not for you. It's for the kid, so he keeps his mouth shut in public," he said.

Noah tilted his head. "Hey, sir, how much is on that card?"

"300 thousand dollars," Carlos replied offhand, like it was no big deal.