Chapter 3

The door swung open again, and Jessica walked in with fake concern plastered all over her face. "Vivian, I heard they called you to the visitor's room. Is everything okay?"

I quickly tucked the envelope away and said, "It's nothing, just a salesperson."

"Oh." She looked clearly disappointed, but then she pivoted. "By the way, I heard that you and Andrew—"

"We're divorced," I said calmly.

She put on a shocked expression. "Oh my god! Why? You two seemed so in love."

I watched the poorly hidden satisfaction gleaming in her eyes, and I let out a cold laugh. "Drop the act, Jess. You already knew, didn't you?"

Her eyes darted away. "I don't know what you mean."

"That bracelet was my first anniversary gift from Andrew." I locked eyes with her. "But it's fine. You two deserve each other. I hope you're very happy together."

Her face changed, but then she lifted her chin defiantly. "Vivian, don't be like this. Love isn't about right or wrong. Andrew and I just—"

"I don't want to hear it." I cut her off. "If there's nothing else, I need to get back to work."

But she didn't leave. "We've known each other for so many years. Are we really going to throw all that away?"

I took a deep breath. "Jessica, our friendship ended the moment you started sleeping with my husband. Now please leave."

Her expression darkened. "You're going to regret this. Andrew's the head of the project now. Do you know what that means? The company's restructuring soon. How long do you really think you'll last here?"

I looked at her calmly. "I guess we'll find out."

After work, I didn't go straight home. Instead, I drove to my mother's neighborhood. My mother had divorced my father—the man I'd always believed was my father—when I was very young, and she'd raised me on her own.

She opened the door, and her eyebrows shot up in surprise. "It's so late. What made you want to come see me?"

I followed her inside, and after hesitating for a long moment, I finally asked her directly. "Mom, is Richard my biological father?"

Her cup slipped from her hand and crashed onto the table, and coffee splashed everywhere. "You... how did you find out?"

That reaction already told me everything I needed to know. A wave of dizziness washed over me. "So it's true? You've been lying to me for 28 years?"

"Vivian, just let me explain..."

"Explain what?" I cut her off. "Explain why you made up a fake father? Explain why you let me think I was just some ordinary person my whole life?"

Linda's face went pale. "The situation back then was complicated. Richard... he had a family. I didn't want you to get dragged into that kind of mess."

"So you'd rather keep me in the dark about everything?"

"I was trying to protect you." Her voice shook as she spoke. "The environment at Eastbridge Corporation? It's full of backstabbing and politics. I was scared you'd get hurt."

I let out a bitter laugh. "Well, I got hurt anyway, didn't I? My husband and my best friend betrayed me, and I might lose my job. Is this what you call protection?"

Linda stared at me in shock. "You and Andrew..."

"We're divorced." I said it flatly, exhaustion settling into my bones. "He's with Jessica now."

Linda stayed quiet for a moment, then she walked over to the bookshelf and pulled out an old, worn box. "Richard has been keeping tabs on you all these years. He had someone send these things to me, but I never gave them to you."

Inside the box was a thick stack of photos and documents. I flipped through them and saw pictures of myself from kindergarten all the way through college graduation. There were even some candid shots from my wedding day with Andrew.

At the bottom of the box sat a letter, and the envelope had already turned yellow with age. I carefully opened it and found Richard's neat handwriting inside.

[Linda, I respect your decision, but please allow me to care for our child. This is my responsibility, and it's also my right.]

I looked up at my mother. "He's known about me this whole time?"

Linda nodded. "Yes, he has. But I begged him not to disturb our lives, and he agreed. All these years, he's been taking care of you from the shadows, and he even..."

"Even what?"

"He even helped you get into your current company." Linda's voice dropped to almost a whisper. "Do you really think a fresh graduate with your resume could have gotten into a company like that on her own?"