Chapter 1

After Edward Grant and I had been together for ten years, my mom and his dad made their relationship official.

And just like that, I became Edward's stepsister in name.

On the day my mom married Edward's dad, Edward posted my intimate photos on the big screen for all of Torrinia to see.

He said, "Everyone, take a good look at how disgusting this mother-daughter duo is. The mom seduced my dad, and the daughter seduced me."

His eyes were red as hell as he stared me down.

"Listen up, Yolanda. Someone as profligate and totally uncivilized as you? There's no way in hell I'd ever marry you," Edward spat.

I became the laughingstock of the whole circle, and I was cyberbullied so badly that I cried myself sick every day.

But Edward didn't care at all. He took different girls home every night, shattering my heart again and again.

He had no clue I was pregnant.

I packed my bags and took off alone.

Eight years later, I was called to the school because my son got into a fight at school. The moment I stepped into the office, I came face-to-face with Edward.

And the kid my son fought with happened to be Edward's child.

When Edward caught sight of my son standing beside me, he absolutely lost his mind.

*****

I never thought I'd see Edward again in a situation like this.

I walked into the principal's office, holding my son's hand, and the moment I looked up, my eyes met Edward's.

Edward looked completely different now. His suit was sharp and spotless, not a wrinkle in sight. His hair was neatly cropped, and his sharp features looked even more striking. There was a new air of maturity about him.

He met my gaze, irritation flickering in his eyes.

Edward's kid tugged at his hand.

"Dad, he's the one who hit me," the boy said, pointing straight at my son.

Harry, my son, burst into tears, yelling, "Mom, he called me a bastard nobody wants, and said my dad ditched me. That's why I fought back."

My heart was a mess. Harry had always craved a dad's love.

He couldn't stand it when anyone called him an unwanted bastard.

But I could never actually tell him the truth that his dad really did leave him behind, and he'd gotten a new family now.

I reached out and gently wiped the tears from his face, my fingers almost unconsciously clutching the hem of my shirt, making sure my wrist stayed hidden.

"I think you guys owe me an explanation," I said, looking at the principal, doing my best to keep my voice steady.

Edward's attention shifted, his gaze deepening as he swallowed hard.

"So this kid doesn't have a dad?" he asked.

Back then, when Edward put my intimate photos on display at my mom and his dad's wedding, I got cyberbullied for a whole month.

He didn't care about me at all. He was taking different girls home every single night.

He had no clue I was already pregnant, and my mom would never let me be with him.

With my family and my heart both shattered, I moved to this city, pregnant and on my own.

Just as I was about to speak, Edward spoke up, "Figures. With your lack of upbringing, you probably picked up your mom's tricks, seduced some random guy, got knocked up, and then got dumped.

"No wonder people call your son a bastard. When the mom's got no shame, her kid's bound to pay the price."

He kept his eyes fixed on Harry, his gaze cold and impossible to read.

The atmosphere turned painfully awkward, and the principal just kept his head down, too scared to say a word.

I squeezed Harry's hand so hard that my knuckles went white, that bitter taste rising in my throat, and the old scar on my wrist started to sting all over again.

I snapped, "Edward, don't you dare talk about my son like that!

"He's doing great, and his father and I both love him dearly."

Harry suddenly shot a look up at Edward.

Edward's name had been written on the back of Harry's birth photo for a long time.

Now that Harry could read, he must have put two and two together by now.

"Oh, really?" Edward gave me a look like he was trying to see straight through me.

I stopped myself from saying anything, then softly ran my hand over Harry's hair.

"Who his father is has nothing to do with me. But right now, you owe my son an apology," Edward said.

Edward deliberately stressed the words "my son".

Harry's head dropped, eyes rimmed with tears.

Watching his own dad love another kid but not him had to hurt like hell.

I wrapped my arms around Harry, held him close, and softly caressed his head.

"Yolanda, you don't have to apologize if you don't want to. But you'd better think about your son's schooling," Edward said coldly.

I clenched my jaw, covered Harry's eyes with my hand, and bowed. "I'm sorry. It was our fault."

Edward let out a cold laugh, but didn't leave right away. He swept his gaze over me and Harry with icy indifference, then took his son by the hand and walked out of the office.

I held Harry close, his face still wet with tears, and walked him out of the principal's office.

When we reached the school gate, Edward grabbed Harry and me and practically dragged us into his van.