Chapter 1

Edward Lane was a rising star in Bayview City's tech scene, and he couldn't wait to propose to Claire Wynn.

But the very next day, the powerful Ford family sent people to drag Claire into the mountains, where they whipped her ninety-nine times.

To save Claire, Edward was forced to accept Richard Ford's demand: to marry his daughter, Jessica Ford.

By then, Claire was already pregnant. Edward held her in his arms, his eyes red from crying.

"Claire, wait for me," he said. "One day, I'm going to bring you and our daughter back to my side, out in the open."

So Claire moved from downtown to the suburbs and lived as Edward's hidden mistress.

She gave birth alone in a delivery room, cramping in pain, while on the big screen above her, Edward and Jessica kissed at their lavish wedding.

She stayed up late at night breastfeeding their daughter, exhausted and losing weight, while on the news she watched Edward take Jessica on a honeymoon to Paradise Isle.

Claire felt miserable. But Edward came to her, held her, and comforted her in a shaking voice.

"Claire, you have always been the one I love," he said. "What I have with Jessica means nothing. It's just for show."

Five years into the marriage, Edward finally tore apart the Ford family's twisted web of power. He acquired Ford Group and made Lane Technologies the top tech company in Bayview City.

To avenge what had happened to Claire, Edward arranged a car accident for Richard.

On the day he went to the suburbs to bring Claire back to the city, Edward wore a perfectly tailored black suit. His tall figure was cast in shadow. Claire stared blankly at his sharper, more handsome features and felt lost for a moment.

Her husband had come back. Their daughter Lily was finally going to have her father at home.

Claire thought they would finally live happily as a family of three. But soon, Edward started staying out all night, using overtime as an excuse to barely come home.

When she pressed him for the truth, Edward admitted it in a low, hoarse voice, "Claire, Jessica still doesn't know you and Lily exist. Don't blow our cover."

Claire's mind went blank. "What are you talking about?"

Edward's eyes flashed with guilt, and his voice sounded awkward. "Claire, it was Jessica's father who had you kidnapped. She never knew anything about it.

"That silly girl still thinks I married her because of love. And not long ago, I had her father killed to get revenge for you. I can't help but feel sorry for her."

Claire stared at him in shock, her voice shaking. "Edward, are you saying you want me to keep being your mistress, never able to show my face?

"And what about Lily? Is she supposed to be your illegitimate child?"

Edward's gaze darted away for a second before he crouched down in front of her, his voice gentle and pleading. "Claire, you're the only one I love. What I feel for Jessica is nothing but guilt.

"Let me wait until she's had time to grieve for her father, okay? Then I'll come clean to her about everything, I swear.

"Don't you remember? You're the one I actually married. Legally, you're my wife.

"As for Lily, she's my one and only child."

Claire stared at him, her eyes growing hot with unshed tears.

How could she ever forget? If it weren't for that piece of paper proving they were married, she might not have survived those endless five years of waiting.

Once again, Claire chose to trust him.

After that, even when Edward left halfway through lunch, or when she saw him and Jessica flaunting their love in public, Claire could only bite back her tears.

But one day, while Edward was taking Claire and Lily shopping at the mall, Jessica suddenly rushed over from a distance and slapped Claire across the face.

Claire was so startled that she barely had time to react before Jessica, her face twisted with fury, pointed at her and shouted, "You shameless homewrecker! Who do you think you are, trying to steal my husband?"

Claire shot Edward a desperate look, silently begging him to step in.

But Edward reached out to stop Jessica with barely any real effort, which only fueled Jessica's rage.

Jessica went at Claire, shoving and kicking her. When five-year-old Lily rushed over to help Claire, Jessica elbowed her aside, sending her sprawling to the floor.

Claire was kicked hard by Jessica when she tried to scoop Lily up.

"Seriously, why don't you get a job instead of stealing someone else's husband?" Jessica shouted. "And don't tell me this kid is my husband's daughter with you. Have you no shame at all?"

Her outburst instantly drew a crowd. People all around started whispering, pointing at Claire and Lily like they were some kind of spectacle.