Chapter 1
By the third month of my pregnancy, another woman had entered my husband, Leon Carter's life.
She was mature and glamorous, the complete opposite of me.
The second she parted ways with my husband, she went right back to hers.
So I asked her out.
Then I placed the photos of her meeting my husband behind her husband's back in front of her.
I asked, "Does your husband know you've been hooking up with mine?"
Her red lips curled into a smile.
She said, "I remember you. You're the one my son has been keeping on the side, aren't you? I heard you're pregnant, but so is my daughter-in-law. The Carter family won't take in children born to mistresses."
She shoved a bank card toward me. "Here is 30 thousand. Get rid of it, then take care of yourself."
Staring at the bank card, I looked at her in utter disbelief.
I always thought she was just a sophisticated woman.
But she was actually Leon's mother?
"I like to take care of myself. Guess that's why you mistook me. Sorry about that," Evelyn Carter said.
Evelyn smirked at me, her red lips curling up. "Leon likes to fool around with women. That's just how he is. But there's one rule: he can't father any illegitimate kids. Ms. Taylor, please handle the abortion yourself."
I instinctively covered my belly.
"But we're married," I blurted out.
"You mean that marriage certificate?" A man's voice echoed from the doorway.
Evelyn turned, smiling. "Honey."
They shared a soft kiss.
The man took a seat next to Evelyn, smiling. "Listen, your marriage certificate is a fake.
"Leon was already married before meeting you. He was worried you would cause a scene, so he had some of my buddies put on a show for you.
"Don't take it personally."
I couldn't believe my eyes as I stared at the man in front of me.
He was the grand-master of martial arts, a grand-master swordsman, inheritor of the Supreme legacy, Richard Carter.
I stared in shock and blurted out, "Mr. Carter?"
The kid my dad adopted, Leon, was actually the son of the legendary Richard Carter, the guy I had only ever seen on TV?
If it was really him, faking a marriage certificate would've been no big deal.
I clutched my belly.
For a moment, I couldn't get a word out.
Richard said, "Our real daughter-in-law is already three months in.
"The Carter family has a rule. We don't take in kids from affairs.
"Leon went missing for a while when he was young, so he never got the proper Carter upbringing. He never learned how a Carter man should handle himself around women.
"Sorry for the trouble he's caused you. About the baby..."
He pointed at my belly. "It's best you deal with it yourself."
Evelyn was escorted into the Maybach by Richard.
I sat alone in my chair.
I watched as Richard carefully guided Evelyn into the passenger seat, shielding her head, then closed the door.
Richard was attentive to every little thing, just like Leon always did for me.
There was one thing that ran in the Carter family.
They always pampered their wives.
Up until an hour ago, I really thought I would marry into the Carter family.
By the time Leon got home, I had been sitting on the couch for three hours, staring into space.
He leaned in for a kiss, like always.
For the first time, I pulled away.
His handsome eyes crinkled with a playful smile.
"What's wrong? Are you jealous?" he asked.
I stayed silent. "You went to see her?" I looked at him.
"Babe, there's nothing between me and her."
He reached out and pulled me into his arms.
"Of course not," I said with a smirk. "Seriously, what could possibly happen between a son and his mother?"
His embrace suddenly stiffened.
I pulled out a report I had printed from the courthouse.
I slid it toward him. "Mind explaining this?"
Leon stared at the report, realizing there was no record of us ever being married.
His smile froze. Then it slowly faded away.
He let out a sigh and released me.
"Yeah, I lied to you," he said.
"Why?" I asked.
I heard my voice trembling, barely holding back tears. "We said we would get married on the 18th anniversary of when we met."
Leon's shoulders slumped.
He said, "I didn't want to lie to you. But she has such a fiery temper. She would never settle for being the other woman."
He gazed at me with those tender, dreamy eyes.
"You didn't deserve any of this, Allie," he murmured.
"I was the first one you met, wasn't I?"
He stayed silent.
"I was the first one you got engaged to, wasn't I?" I pressed.
He still didn't say a word.
"Who is she?" I demanded.
"Allie," he murmured.
"Who is she?" Tears poured down my face as I screamed.
Leon held my shoulders gently. "Easy, Allie. You're pregnant. Please, calm down."
"Leon, tell me who she is." I pushed him away, sobbing uncontrollably.He hesitated for a second.
Then he shook his head. "I can't tell you, Allie."
"You really want to protect her that much?" I laughed bitterly, almost in spite of myself. "What, scared I'll show up and cause a scene right in front of her?"
"Allie." His voice suddenly chilled.
That was the same icy warning he would use before a showdown.
"If you're okay with how things are, we can keep going like this. But if you're dead set on finding her, you'll have to face the consequences," said he.