Chapter 2

"Mommy," Mia wheedled, "I'm craving Cheesecake Factory. Can you take me? Please?"

"Sure," I agreed, but instead of heading downtown, I started driving toward David's office.

Mia was too absorbed in a game on her phone to notice we were going the wrong way until we were almost there. "Mom, don't you know the way to the restaurant?"

"I have to take care of something first," I said smoothly. "I'll have your dad take you."

"Oh, okay," she mumbled, her eyes already back on her screen. As I pulled into the underground parking garage, she took the chance to send a quick text to David.

My eyesight has always been sharp, so I could clearly read the message: [Dad, Helen Warren's bringing me to you.]

So, her loyalties had shifted toward David long ago.

David was always busy with work, so I was the one who stayed home for five years to raise Mia from the day she was born. Even after I went back to work, I was still the one managing her grades and obsessing over her health.

I had poured my entire heart into raising her, and in my previous life, she repaid me with a fatal betrayal.

David, on the other hand, just had to show up on a holiday, take her out, and buy her a few gifts to become her hero.

I pressed a hand to my chest, trying to soothe the ache. The only thing that could make this better was discovering Mia wasn't my real daughter.

The same girl who had just referred to me by my full name in a text was now playing the role of the sweet, concerned daughter. "Mom, what's wrong?"

I offered a placid smile, masking the cold smirk I felt inside. "It's nothing. Let's go find your dad."

At the security desk, I turned to Mia. "Wait here for a second. I just have to sign in."

"Okay, Mom," she said quickly, probably eager for another moment to text David more details. I pretended not to notice.

While signing the visitor log, I openly flipped through the last few pages, scanning the entries from the past three days. The name "Olivia Quinn" was nowhere to be found.

David's company had strict security, and the guard ran a tight ship. Back when we were dating, even when David escorted me in himself, I still had to write down my name and phone number.

Had Olivia not visited David here? Then why would Mia risk sending that text?

"Is there a problem?" the guard asked, fixing his eyes on my frozen hand. "Something wrong with the form?"

"No, not at all," I said quickly. "Sorry, my hand just cramped up. My apologies for the delay, Mr. Henderson."

After signing, I walked toward David's office, a new puzzle turning in my mind.

The second his office came into view, Mia broke into a run. Through the glass wall, I saw her leap into David's arms, with a perfect, sweet smile on her face. Her lips moved, and I knew she was calling him "Dad."

I forced down the sudden, violent surge of hatred and walked in, keeping my expression neutral.

Mia had already hopped down and was settling onto the sofa, casually picking up a tablet that was lying there and starting a game.

David had a touch of OCD and a thing about cleanliness, so he never left things lying around.

A new theory, as absurd as it was, clicked into place. Olivia had probably been lounging on that sofa all day.

She must have known I was coming and waited until the very last second to hide in some dark corner, leaving David no time to put the tablet away.

"What are you doing here?" David asked.

I looked up, forcing a smile. "Mia wants to go to Cheesecake Factory. I thought you could take her."

He wrapped an arm around my shoulder. "Why don't we all go together?"

A whiff of cold perfume lingered on him as he leaned in. I knew that perfume. It belonged to Olivia.

Even during our desperate flight in the apocalypse of my previous life, she never went without it.

I had to suppress a bitter laugh. Of course, Olivia was the one woman he would make an exception for.

I continued my performance. "I'm actually not feeling great. I was thinking of heading to a clinic."

David's eyes filled with concern. "What's wrong? Where does it hurt? You shouldn't go to the doctor alone. I'll go with you."

Such a hypocrite. That same false sincerity had once tricked me into believing I had married for love, while in his heart, his epic romance was with Olivia. Our marriage was just a compromise.

"It's not for me. I'm visiting a friend," I said, glancing at Mia, who was still focused on her game. I looked back at David. "And you don't want to disappoint Mia, do you?"

"Alright then," he agreed, though he tried to look reluctant.

From the barely concealed excitement on Mia's face, I knew my guess was right. Now that I was making myself scarce, their little family of three was about to have a happy reunion over dinner.

Pretending to be oblivious, I visited both a hospital and a specialized clinic to get the maternity tests done.

After finishing my errands, I disguised myself and slipped into the only Cheesecake Factory in town to stake it out.