Chapter 3

I drove back from the Hamptons in silence, taking the long way home.

The salty ocean breeze slipped through the crack in my window, carrying away the last trace of cold on my face.

The ten years I'd spent loving Carter, I buried them on that drive.

At three-thirty that afternoon, I pulled up outside Noah's private school.

The moment he spotted me, he came running with his little backpack bouncing behind him.

"Mommy!"

He wrapped himself around my leg like a baby koala.

I crouched down and hugged him tightly.

The frozen wasteland inside my heart finally thawed, if only a little.

No matter what happened, I still had Noah.

After we returned to my private design studio, I settled Noah in the lounge with his coloring books.

A moment later, a series of steady, synchronized footsteps echoed outside.

Three custom-built black Rolls-Royces glided silently to a stop outside my studio.

The doors opened.

Several security officers in tailored black suits stepped out first, forming a protective line.

Then an elderly gentleman with silver hair emerged, impeccably dressed in a bespoke three-piece suit from Savile Row.

Four distinguished attorneys carrying leather briefcases followed close behind.

The old gentleman pushed open the glass door.

The moment he saw the sapphire necklace around my neck, his gaze locked onto it for five long seconds.

Something flickered in his eyes.

I frowned.

"May I ask who you are?"

"My name is Alfred." His voice was calm and measured. "I serve as the Chief Steward of the Winslow family."

"Miss Gwen, the sapphire necklace you're wearing is the hereditary crest of the Winslow bloodline."

"Thirty-four years ago, tragedy struck the family overseas. The only daughter of the direct line disappeared."

"We have been searching for you for thirty-four years."

"Only recently did your DNA match our records."

He opened a file and turned to the final page.

An official DNA report lay before me.

Match Probability: 99.99%.

"Winslow..." I whispered the name.

Across Europe—and among the world's elite—the Winslow name meant only one thing.

Old money.

A dynasty that had endured for centuries, controlling vast financial trusts and some of the world's most valuable real estate.

"Miss Gwen..."

"Your biological father passed away last month."

Alfred placed an antique signet ring set with a sapphire in front of me.

"According to the family's trust agreement and testament, you are the sole heir of the Winslow family."

"You now have full access to a family trust valued at thirty-five billion dollars."

I stared at the antique ring, its sapphire catching the light with a deep blue glow.

Slowly, I slipped it onto my middle finger.

The cold metal against my skin cleared my mind instantly.

Just hours earlier, Carter had stood in that garden telling Victoria I was nothing more than an obedient tool he'd kept around for ten years.

A woman he planned to strip of everything before throwing her away.

I lifted my eyes to meet Alfred’s respectful gaze, then took in the formidable team of legal eagles standing quietly behind him.

Alfred explained, "The Winslow family has spent decades comparing DNA records through international genetic databases and missing-person registries."

"When your hospital recently updated your genetic profile, our system immediately flagged a match."

"So that's what happened."

Everything finally made sense.

After a minor surgery last month, the hospital had asked whether I would consent to uploading my DNA to an international family-reunification database.

I had never imagined the Winslow family would find me so quickly.

"Alfred."

I glanced down at the ring on my hand before meeting his eyes.

"Yes, Miss Winslow."

"I need you to do two things."

I spoke calmly.

"First, conduct a full forensic audit of every company and personal account Carter owns."

"I want every dollar he secretly transferred to another woman while we were married."

"Second, prepare the strongest possible divorce strategy."

"I want every legal and financial escape route closed before he even sees it coming."

Alfred bowed respectfully.

"As you wish, Miss Winslow."

Just then, the lounge door opened.

Noah rubbed his sleepy eyes as he wandered out.

"Mommy? Who are you talking to?"

The moment Alfred saw Noah, he froze.

Without hesitation, he lowered himself onto one knee.

"Young Master."

His voice was filled with reverence.

"At last... the Winslow family has its rightful heir."