Chapter 1

On the day of my son Nathan Shaw's funeral, Edward Shaw brought a five-year-old boy to meet the Shaw family.

The boy was dressed in a little black suit, hiding shyly against Edward, but his bright eyes looked just like Edward's when he was a kid.

The viewing room was utterly silent.

I stood at the bottom of the steps, holding my son's photo so tightly that my nails nearly pierced the wooden frame.

Today was the day we laid Nathan to rest.

Three days ago, he drowned in the private pool at the Shaw residence. Even though they tried everything to save him, he died that same night.

The doctor said Nathan had been underwater for too long, and by the time he got to the hospital, it was already too late.

But that day, there were three servants, a nanny, and a butler in the house. My mother-in-law, Margaret Shaw, was even upstairs playing card games.

How could Nathan die so silently, without anyone noticing?

Before I had a chance to figure out what really happened, Edward brought that boy to meet the Shaw family.

Edward stood at the entrance of the viewing room, dressed in a black suit with a white pocket square on his chest, his expression so grave. He looked exactly like a grieving father who had just lost his only son.

If I hadn't seen him last night in the study, cradling that boy and softly coaxing, "Don't be scared. This is your home now. Daddy will protect you", I would have believed it, too.

"Edward, who's this boy?" a relative whispered.

Edward lifted his head, his voice rough. "He's my son."

That single sentence was like pouring boiling oil over everyone. The viewing room erupted.

"What?"

"Edward has another son?"

"But Nathan hasn't even been buried yet."

"This is a bit over..."

Margaret, her eyes red, stepped forward and took Edward's arm, like she was comforting a son who'd carried the weight of the world.

She sighed, "Since things have come to this, there's no point in keeping it a secret anymore. We can't let the Shaw family line die out."

I jerked my head up, staring her down.

She dodged my gaze, but spoke even more confidently. "Grace, you can't blame Edward. Your health hasn't been good for years, and now Nathan is gone.

"Someone has to carry on the Shaw family line. Leo is Edward's own flesh and blood. From now on, he's officially a part of the Shaw family."

I let out a soft, bitter laugh.

So that was how it was.

My son had just passed away, and they couldn't wait to bring the illegitimate child home.

I walked over, stood before Edward, and gazed at the boy he was holding.

The boy was thin, his complexion pale, his long lashes framing eyes filled with fear and uncertainty.

He was innocent, but the man holding him was not.

"Edward," I said, my voice unusually calm, "tell me again. Who is he?"

Edward's brow tightened, as if he was restraining himself, trying to keep his emotions in check. "Grace, today's Nathan's funeral. I don't want to fight."

"Answer me, who is he?"

"He's my son."

Smack! I raised my hand and gave him a hard slap across the face.

Gasps echoed throughout the viewing room.

Edward's head snapped to the side, and a bright red handprint appeared on his cheek.

Leo let out a loud cry, terrified.

Margaret shrieked, "Grace, are you crazy? Do you remember what day it is? How can you cause a scene right now?"

"Me, causing a scene?" I stared her down, my eyes so red that they looked like they might bleed. "My son's only been dead three days, and you're already taking Edward's illegitimate child in during his funeral.

"And you say I'm the one causing a scene?"

"Nathan is gone!" Margaret's voice rose. "The living have to move on. The Shaw family line can't die out."

"Can't die out?" I laughed, my whole body shaking. "So the second my son dies, you don't even bother to put up a front anymore?"

Edward finally reached out and grabbed my wrist, his voice cold. "That's enough, Grace."

"What right do you have to tell me to stop?" I yanked my wrist free. "You cheated on me, had a kid on the side, and now that our son is gone, you don't even care about the truth.

"You rush to bring that bastard home first. Edward, how can you be so heartless?"

"Watch your mouth!" Margaret lunged at me, hand raised to slap. "Leo is the Shaw family's flesh and blood, not some bastard!"

I sidestepped, and she swung at empty air, nearly losing her balance.

The Shaw family relatives rushed over to smooth things out. "Alright, let's get Nathan laid to rest today. Whatever else, we can deal with it back at home."

"Yeah, don't cause a scene in the viewing room. We don't want to upset Nathan."

"Grace, calm down first."

They wanted me to calm down?

My son was lying in a freezing coffin, and his father was standing right in front of me, cradling another child in his arms.

How was I supposed to calm down?

I turned and fixed my eyes on the black-and-white photo at the center of the viewing room.

In the picture, Nathan was smiling so sweetly in his blue school uniform, his two tiny canine teeth peeking out.

He was only six years old.

Just two days ago, he ran into my arms and said, "Mom, when I learn to swim, I'll take you to see the ocean."

But he'd never get to see the ocean.