Chapter 1

When my son, Ryan White, told me he wanted to marry his father's mistress's daughter, I refused. I threatened to end my life if he went through with it.

He dropped to his knees and promised he'd break things off.

Later, I got into a car accident. I called Ryan dozens of times, but he didn't pick up once.

As I was wheeled toward the emergency room, someone blocked my way.

It was Ryan, but he was holding Olivia Quinn, the other woman, shouting to her, "Mom, be careful."

My ex-husband, Mark Quinn, was shielding Olivia and yelling, "Use the best medicine. My son's got money."

They swarmed the doctor, completely blocking my way.

The doctor snapped, "Move! Don't get in the way of the rescue."

Only then did they look at me.

I was lying on the gurney, blood all over my face.

Ryan froze for a moment. I caught a flicker of disgust in his eyes. Then he quickly shielded Emily Lynn, Olivia's daughter, from the sight. "Don't look. It's bad for the baby."

Mark tried to comfort Olivia. "What bad luck, running into someone who's about to die."

I breathed my last, dying of sheer anger.

When I opened my eyes again, it was the day Ryan brought Emily home for the first time.

I wanted to see if those people would treat you like a person without me around.

*****

I looked at Emily's familiar features: the slender brows, the slightly upturned eyes, and the way her lips curved when she smiled. She was a dead ringer for Olivia.

Then I glanced at Ryan. He kept stealing glances at me, but quickly looked away with a hint of guilt.

"Mom." Ryan came over, trying to sound all sweet and cautious. "This is Emily Lynn, the one I told you about... We're really in love." He pulled her close, looking at her like she was his whole world.

Emily obediently piped up, "Hi, Helen." Her voice was gentle, her smile perfect, but she kept watching me, trying to read my face.

Seeing her face made me sick to my stomach.

It'd been twenty years. Back then, Mark cheated, and Olivia barged into our home and forced me to divorce him.

To win custody of my son, I was left with no choice but to walk away empty‑handed.

Five-year-old Ryan clung to my leg, sobbing so hard he could barely breathe. His tiny hands gripped the hem of my shirt, his tear-streaked face looking up at me. "Mom, you still have me.

"I'll be good to you, I'll make lots of money for you, and I won't let anyone hurt you. Don't cry, Mom. I'll grow up fast, and when I'm big, I'll protect you."

That year, he stopped being a crybaby and grew up overnight. While other kids were still begging for toys, he was already helping me carry the groceries.

We'd been each other's whole world for twenty years.

For twenty years, I kept my pride and built White Enterprises from scratch.

I gave Ryan the best possible education, pouring all my love and hopes into him.

Now, he brought the mistress's daughter home and said he wanted to marry her. And like that, he could call that heartless bastard "Dad" and the mistress "Mom," as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Mom?" Ryan said, noticing my silence. He leaned in, forcing a smile. "Are you tired? Maybe I should take Emily to a hotel so you can get some rest. We can talk tomorrow—"

"No need." I cut him off, my voice calmer than I expected. "Sit down."

Ryan visibly relaxed, quickly pulling Emily to the couch. He poured her a glass of water, then turned to me with a fawning smile. "Mom, Emily's really a great girl. You'll see once you get to know her. She's gentle, thoughtful, and she treats me so well..."

He kept rambling on, every word about how wonderful Emily was.

Emily chimed in right on cue, "Helen, I know it couldn't have been easy raising Ryan all by yourself. I really admire you. I promise I'll take good care of Ryan, and I'll do my best to be a good daughter-in-law to you."

She smiled, her eyes crinkling, her tone so warm and sincere. Anyone else would think she was the perfect, considerate girl. But I caught that fleeting look of smugness in her eyes.

And when I glanced at Ryan, I saw the way he looked at her was like walking on eggshells, terrified of making her unhappy. It was exactly like how his father used to fawn over Olivia all those years ago.

Suddenly, my chest felt tight, like something inside me was slowly collapsing.

Twenty years. I spent twenty years raising Ryan. He knew exactly how much I despised that cheating couple, and yet he still went behind my back and started dating their daughter.

I never imagined that the son I poured twenty years of my life into would be the one to stab me in the heart.

"Do you know whose daughter she is?" I asked coldly, locking eyes with Ryan.

Ryan's expression kept shifting, his lips quivering as he finally managed to speak, "Mom, Emily's a good girl."

He didn't dare say Olivia's name. He knew exactly how much I hated her.

I let out a cold laugh. "She's the daughter of that woman who stood at our door back then, acting all high and mighty, claiming she and your father were 'true love' and forcing us to leave.

"So what, Ryan? Are you going to accept that cheater as your father and that homewrecker as your mother?"