Chapter 1

The fifth time we remarried, Charles Kingston laid down three rules for me.

First, I had to cook for his first love, Grace Lynn, every day, wash her feet, and wait on her like a personal nurse.

Second, I had to go to the hospital every month to get my blood drawn for dialysis matching tests for Grace.

Third, I was never allowed to go near my own son, Lucas Kingston, ever again.

Charles sat on the leather couch and looked down at me with cold, dismissive eyes.

He tossed the agreement at my feet, his voice dripping with the kind of detachment that made charity sound like a threat.

Charles said, "Evelyn, sign this agreement, and I'll let your little stunt with Grace slide. You get to keep your title as Mrs. Kingston."

He leaned back and added, "But if you pull the same old tricks again, throwing tantrums and making a scene, we're heading straight to the courthouse tomorrow to finalize the divorce."

Five-year-old Lucas stood behind his father with his hands shoved in his pockets and rolled his eyes dramatically.

Lucas piped up, "Yeah! If you bully Grace again, I won't call you Mom anymore!"

There was a time when words like that from the two of them would have shattered me.

I would have dropped to my knees and begged. I would have cried and asked Charles how five years of marriage could mean less to him than some woman who appeared out of nowhere.

But now, all I could see were two actors in a bad comedy, and I wasn't buying the performance anymore.

I didn't hesitate for a second. I bent down and picked up the pen.

*****

Charles stared at me in stunned silence as I picked up the pen and signed my name in one fluid motion.

"Fine," I said with a nod. "I agree."

I didn't argue over a single word, not like I used to.

Charles' brow furrowed deeply, as if he hadn't expected me to give in so easily.

His eyes searched my face, looking for any sign that I was faking it.

"You better mean it," he warned. "Don't think signing this means you can go behind my back and sabotage things."

I ignored him, walked over to the side table, and picked up my phone. I tapped the voice message button and spoke into it.

"Dr. Miller, I need to schedule a termination for tomorrow. The sooner, the better."

The message played back in the quiet living room, and every word cut through the silence like a knife.

Charles shot to his feet and grabbed my wrist, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"You're pregnant?" he demanded. "You're getting rid of it? Evelyn, have you lost your mind? When did you become like this?

"You used to talk about wanting another daughter all the time. So why are you going to the hospital now? Why?"

I pulled my hand free without much effort and rubbed my reddened wrist.

"You said it yourself," I replied calmly. "That was before. I don't want to have it anymore. It's as simple as that."

Charles grabbed my shoulders with bloodshot eyes, shaking me like he was trying to rattle some sense into me.

"You're using the baby to get back at me? Evelyn, you're absolutely vicious!"

I stared at his furious face and let a mocking smile curl across my lips. "This isn't revenge. I just think your genes are tainted.

"Raising one ungrateful brat was bad enough," I said. "I'm not about to bring another one into this world."

"You—" Charles was shaking with rage, and his hand flew up, ready to strike.

I didn't flinch. I just stood there and watched him with cold eyes.

His hand never came down on me. Instead, he slammed his fist into the coffee table beside us, and the glass shattered across the floor.

A crisp chime rang through my mind.

"Congratulations, Host. Plot deviation is rising. Villainous supporting character awakening has reached 90%.

"Please complete the fake death mission within three days. A ten-billion-dollar asset reward and new identity will be issued upon completion."

A slow smile crept across my lips the moment I heard that.

Charles caught it, and his anger flared even hotter.

He snapped, "You think this is funny? You think putting on this whole broken-hearted act is going to make me feel sorry for you?

"I'm warning you, Evelyn. If you so much as touch this baby, I will make your life a living hell."

He still stood there like he owned the world, convinced he had me under his thumb.

But he had no idea. During all those days he spent with Grace, I had already funneled most of Kingston Holdings' hidden cash flow through offshore shell companies and drained every last cent.

I wasn't just going to get rid of his baby. I was going to bleed him dry.

I didn't have the energy to keep playing this game with him anymore. I turned and headed upstairs.

Lucas' shrill little voice rang out behind me, dripping with venom. "Dad, forget about her! Grace was right. She's a crazy woman, and her baby's going to be just as crazy!"

My feet stopped on the stairs, but I didn't look back.

This life was already a lost cause, and I was done trying to save it.

This whole rotten family could burn for all I cared. I was done with all of it.