Chapter 1

The man I'd been with for seven years gave me one hell of an April Fools' gift: his marriage certificate with his first love.

My boyfriend scoffed, "It is only a joke. Do not be so uptight. After the holiday, I will divorce her. Do not push it."

I didn't cry or make a scene. I just turned around and left.

Three years later, with his company about to go public, he came waving his divorce papers around like he was doing me a favor.

Three years later, he said, "I am single now. Behave, become my son's mother, and I will forgive you."

Then he saw me enter an elite gala on the arm of Capital City's most mysterious tycoon.

He pointed at my face and cursed in front of everyone. "A gold digger who slept her way up thinks she belongs here? Get the hell out!"

"Before I could speak, the man beside me sent him sprawling with a single kick.

""Whichever hand pointed at her, break that hand."""

On April Fools' Day, everyone's feed was full of prank posts. I alone received a real shock: my boyfriend's marriage certificate with his first love.

Leonard had married Vivian. In the official photo, they smiled as if they had never been happier.

"It's just an April Fools' joke. Can you stop being so petty?" Leonard Lane lounged on the couch, barely looking up from his game.

"Vivian's on her own in the city. She needed first-time homebuyer status, so I helped her out. Once the holiday's over, I'll divorce her, then we'll get our license. Don't push it."

I didn't scream or fall apart. I quietly packed my things, blocked every way he had to reach me, and disappeared from his world for good.

Three years later, Leonard blocked my way in the lounge at Capital City's most exclusive business gala, holding divorce papers and a huge diamond ring.

He examined my couture dress. Jealousy flashed across his face before hardening into naked contempt.

Leonard sneered, "Stella Shaw, do you hear yourself? With no family backing and no skills beyond waiting on me, what decent man could you marry? Some balding sugar daddy must have bought that outfit."

He stepped toward me, all condescension and charity. "Stella, you've dragged this out for three years. Isn't that enough?" He slapped the divorce certificate down on the long table beside him.

"He said, ""Vivian and I already finalized the divorce. I'm single now.

I came here today in full sincerity.

If you come back with me right now, take off that trashy outfit, and behave yourself, I'll take you to get married tomorrow."""

His smug face made me sick. I said, "Leonard, are you out of your mind? We ended when you handed me another woman's marriage certificate three years ago. Now you wave divorce papers around and pretend to be devoted?"

"Before I could finish, a soft voice came from behind a pillar. ""Stella, that's a cruel thing to say.""

Vivian sashayed out in a tight dress, hooked herself around Leonard's arm, and pressed half her body against him."

"Leonard only married me to help. Do you know how hard it is for a woman to make it alone in this city? He was helping an old classmate.

"We were spouses in name only. He never touched me. Are you really holding a three-year grudge over that?"

"She widened her eyes like she'd suffered some outrageous injustice.

""Besides, it was just a joke.

""You couldn't even take a joke and vanished on him. Do you know how miserable Leonard's been, searching for you these past three years?"""

I laughed in disbelief. "Helping her qualify for a home? A marriage on paper?" My gaze dropped to Vivian's rounded stomach.

"Vivian, did your paper marriage produce a baby too? What is this, a medical miracle? Did thin air get you pregnant?"

"Vivian's face went white, and she clapped a hand over her stomach.

Leonard pulled her behind him like he was protecting some priceless treasure and roared,

""Stella, watch your mouth.

""The baby Vivian's carrying is innocent."

"""If you hadn't stormed off back then, Vivian wouldn't have gotten drunk trying to comfort me, and none of this would've happened.

""In the end, this is all your fault. You pushed us into this."""

He blamed me for his cheating and tried forcing the ring into my hand. "I will overlook the past and let you join my family.

"You can raise this child. What else could you want? Put on the ring and stop embarrassing me."

"I shook off his hand,

and the diamond ring arced through the air before rolling to a stop beside a trash can in the corner."

I said, "Leonard, you want me to raise your affair baby? Do you think I am desperate enough to take back your trash? Take your scheming first love and your child and get out of my sight."