Chapter 1

The day my son, Samuel Carter, comes screaming into this world, my husband, Edward Carter, doesn't celebrate. He just looks at me cold-eyed and delivers a warning. "You know I can't stand kids. Don't expect me to ever claim him as mine."

So for five whole years my little boy never once let the word "Daddy" slip out.

In his innocent little mind, Samuel is convinced he just isn't good enough to deserve a father.

But on Christmas, something shifts. When Samuel tentatively goes in for a hug, Edward doesn't push him away.

Sam's face flushed pink with pure joy. He looks up at me, eyes sparkling, and asks, "Mommy, does this mean Uncle Edward finally likes me?"

I swear my heart grew wings right then. I really believe it too.

That is until Edward drops the bomb. He wants to end our secret marriage. He's leaving me to make things official with Olivia Sterling, his one true love.

Besides, he plans to announce to the world that Olivia's illegitimate daughter, Chloe Sterling, was his own flesh and blood.

The light in Samuel's eyes is extinguished.

"Mommy," he whispers. "I only have seven days left. Do you think he might like me by then?"

Then he pressed his wet face into my neck and added, "If he still doesn't want me after seven days, please don't put his name on my tombstone. I don't wanna be his son anymore."

*****

I didn't want my son, Samuel Carter, to find out he only had seven days left.

But my too-mature-for-five boy hid outside the office and heard every word.

Seeing me break down into wracking sobs, he tried to comfort me. "Mommy, don't be sad. In seven days, I'll just become a star. I'll watch over you forever, so I'll never really leave."

I fell to my knees and clung to him, but it was my five-year-old son, acting like a little man, who gently patted my back.

"Sammy, is there anything you want? I will make it happen."

He bit his lip and looked up with those hopeful eyes. "Can Uncle Edward come home to see me?"

I nodded.

"Okay. I'll go get him."

After I got Samuel settled at home, I went to find Edward Carter.

Ever since Olivia Sterling had returned to the country, I hadn't seen him at the house in weeks.

He never read my texts, which meant he had no idea his son was dying.

I didn't have access to his office, so I waited at the coffee shop across the street.

I sat by the window, staring through the window like some pathetic stalker. That's when I saw three people walking out of the high-end mall.

Edward stepped out of the mall across the street, carrying a little girl in a frilly princess dress. She giggled as she clung to his neck.

Clinging to his other arm was Olivia, who leaned in to kiss the girl's cheek.

They looked like the perfect family you see on Christmas cards. If the man hadn't been my still-legal husband, I would've smiled at the scene.

But Edward had never once taken Samuel and me anywhere. He had never bought Samuel so much as a single Lego, let alone the armfuls of shopping bags his personal assistant, Ryan Black, was now trailing behind them with.

My chest caved as I thought of Samuel's hopeful eyes.

Would his last wish ever come true?

Edward crossed the street and saw me.

He gently set the girl down and murmured something to Olivia, who stood on her toes to give him a lingering kiss on the cheek before walking away.

He pushed through the glass door and strode toward my table with a cold mask.

"Heard you were looking for me. Perfect timing. I've got something for you too. We're finalizing the divorce tomorrow."

I didn't want the divorce, not because I still loved him, but because I couldn't bear for Samuel to die as the son of a single mother.

When I didn't answer, his face hardened with impatience.

"I told you, this is all for Chloe's schooling. She can't enroll without proper paperwork. Once Olivia and I are legally married, it's fixed."

Chloe Sterling was Olivia's daughter.

Edward and I had an arranged marriage. When Olivia left him six years ago, he fell apart. His grandmother, Joy Carter, picked me out of a lineup of suitable girls to "fix" him.

One of his conditions for the marriage was simple: when he wanted a divorce, I could not refuse.

For six years, I had tried to warm his frozen heart. But my efforts were nothing against a single word from his beloved Olivia.

"Edward, I'll sign the papers," I said, my voice shaking. "But Sam..."

"Grace Bennett," he cut me off. "You gave me a son. We won't abandon you. Olivia is only here for a year. After that, we can remarry if you want."

I forced a smile. "If she's only here one year, why does Chloe need to enroll in school here?"

He shot me a glare.

"Know your place, Grace. Stay out of it. Ryan will send over the papers. Just sign them."

He stood to leave, not willing to spend another second with me.

"Edward, please," I pleaded. "Just come home to see Sammy. He misses you so much."

"Tell him to man up," he said dismissively. "Big boys don't beg for attention. Olivia and Chloe are only here a year. After that, I'll have plenty of time for you two."

He walked away without looking back. There was not a single trace of hesitation in his stride.

He didn't know his son didn't have an "after."