Chapter 2
He gave a knowing smile, as he always did, trying to put her down.
He had a point. In Cyberis, no one else would marry her.
Their families were close; their marriage was arranged before they were born.
But Daniel, always the rebel, hid who he was to date some girl.
She dumped him for being broke.
After that, he gave up and married Mia.
Mia had loved him forever, but she was too proud to ever say it.
To everyone else, it just looked like a family deal.
Only Mia knew how excited she'd been to marry him.
But right before the wedding, his old girlfriend, Layla Brown, came back.
That night, during a storm, Daniel begged his family to let him be with Layla.
The Smith and Johnson families had plans, though.
In the end, his mom, Chloe, told Mia to handle it.
Mia found Layla and offered her ten million.
Layla said, "I don't need your money."
Mia offered fifty million.
Layla said, "I love Daniel, not his money!"
Mia almost believed her. Then Chloe stepped in and offered a hundred million.
"If you still say no," Chloe said, "I'll believe you really love Daniel. But I'll cut off all his money.
"If you want to be with a guy who's got nothing, as his mom, I wish you luck."
The second she finished, Layla's face changed. She took the money and said, "Don't worry, Mrs. Smith. I'm gone."
That night, Chloe taught Mia something.
These rich kids had no idea how the world worked. They thought people liked them for who they were.
They didn't get that without their family's name and money, they were just... regular guys.
Chloe showed Daniel the ugly truth.
He didn't believe it. He went crazy, saying he'd find Layla. Instead, he got ninety-nine lashes.
When they carried him out, the look he gave Mia was pure hate.
"Mia, since you're so set on marrying me, we'll just make each other miserable for life.
"You ruined my happiness. I'll make sure you're never happy again."
And just like that, she earned Daniel's resentment.
At first, Mia thought hatred was better than indifference.
But then, Daniel's actions went too far. He crossed lines that could never be forgiven.
Snapping back to the present, Mia took a deep breath of the cold air and shot him a sideways glance.
"Three years, and you haven't changed a bit."
She held up her left hand, the diamond ring catching the light. "I'm remarried. I have a son now."
Daniel scoffed, his eyes full of contempt. "You ran off with my child. We're not done with that."
Mia almost laughed in disbelief.
Where did he get this confidence that she was still hung up on him?
"Where's the boy? A child of the Smith family does not belong on the streets.
"If I don't see him today, nobody's leaving!"
Mia clenched her fists, forcing down her anger.
Perhaps it was for the best. Once he saw for himself that Matthew bore no resemblance to him, he would give up.
She gave him the hotel address.
As soon as they entered the room, a small figure rushed into her arms.
"Mommy! You're back!"
Mia knelt down, her voice soft. "I had some things to do. I won't be late next time."
Matthew nodded obediently, his eyes landing on Daniel. "Mommy, who's that?"
Before she could answer, Daniel stepped forward, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "I'm your dad."
Matthew's face scrunched up.
He already had a dad, who was handsomer and richer than Daniel.
Daniel crouched down, studying Matthew.
"They say sons look like their mothers. True enough. Pity. Only the eyes are mine.
"But," he continued, standing up, "since you gave me a son, I'll let the last three years slide."
Mia was speechless.
Matthew bore little resemblance to him, save for the eyes.
He could even deceive himself to that extent.
Daniel scooped Matthew up. "Let's go. I'm taking you home."
Mia tried to stop him, but bodyguards surged in, restraining her and forcibly escorting her back to the Smith estate.
Returning felt strangely surreal.
Daniel insisted on spending time alone with Matthew, so Mia went to the living room and called her husband, Lincoln Wilson.
His assistant answered.
"Where's Lincoln?" Mia asked.
"His family is pressing Mr. Wilson to secure the overseas railway development rights," the assistant explained. "He's been in back-to-back negotiations with them for days."
Mia worried about him.