Chapter 2

Charlie told me to hold off, saying we needed to save up for baby formula since we were about to start trying for a kid.

But Callie leaned in and whispered in my ear, "Those designer earrings alone could pay for Michael's formula until he's eighteen."

When I got pregnant, I felt so bad for Charlie, who was working himself to exhaustion to support us.

I couldn't even let myself glance at the cheap fruit in the market, let alone buy any.

Michael was born barely over four pounds and had to be put in an incubator. Charlie, desperate and out of options, said if we couldn't pay, we might just give up on him.

I went around begging every single colleague for money, doing whatever it took to save Michael's life and drag him back from the edge.

By our fifth year of marriage, Michael was old enough for preschool. I was juggling three part-time jobs just so he could attend public preschool.

Meanwhile, Callie was living it up at a luxury maternity center that cost 70 thousand dollars a month.

I was too scared to ask how she could afford it, worried she'd landed herself a rich sugar daddy and was keeping it from me. But she hadn't hooked up with anyone else.

The one she ended up with was my husband, who always pretended to be broke and useless in front of me.

Even now, as she tried to get me to sign the papers, she was full of allure, acting all seductive and confident.

After more than ten years, she was still living it up, looking as fresh and youthful as a college girl.

Meanwhile, I was completely worn out from years of hard work, the corners of my eyes showing every hardship I'd been through.

Just thinking about how the two of them had played me like a fool made my whole body shake with anger.

I wondered why I should be the one suffering.

I wondered why Michael and I had to eat all the bitterness, while Callie and her son got to enjoy all the sweet stuff.

The neighbor lady next door, still acting clueless, piped up, "Irene, just let go of the inheritance already.

"If you break things off, you and your son can finally have some peace."

Callie folded her arms, a sly smirk curling at her lips as she arched her eyebrow.

She shot me a look that screamed, "See? Didn't I tell you? Just do what I say, and you'll be fine."

After all, anyone with a brain could see what was really going on here.

But I wasn't having it. Without a word, I ripped up the inheritance waiver right in front of them.

I refused to back down. "Even if I end up homeless, I'll help Charlie pay off his debts.

"It's just some gambling debt, isn't it? I can't let Charlie feel betrayed in heaven over a bit of cash."

Callie straightened up, giving me a look like I'd lost my mind.

Ayden shot me a fierce glare, warning me not to play tricks.

I wasn't scared at all. I handed over the house deed, showing my sincerity. "Ayden, this house is still worth about 200 thousand dollars.

"Just give me three days. Once I've taken care of the funeral, I'll get you the money."

Seeing that I was even willing to give up on the house, Callie realized I was serious and snapped at me, "Putting up the house won't help you much.

"You're still short 1.5 million dollars. Where on earth are you going to find that much money?

"Three days? Please. You and Michael won't even have a roof over your heads. Are you planning to freeze to death out there?"

With that, Callie practically shoved another set of papers right in my face.

I slipped my arm around Callie's, acting all pitiful and needy. "Callie, you're my best friend. I know you wouldn't really let me end up on the streets, would you?"

Her gaze wavered, and she instinctively pulled her arm back. "I... I..."

The neighbor lady slapped her thigh. "Irene, your friend looks like a real stand-up girl. I remember you used to help her out with her kid, right?"

I nodded. "Yeah, her son is about the same age as Michael, and they even look a lot alike, same eyes, same eyebrows.

"If you didn't know better, you'd think they were brothers..."

Before I could finish, Callie's eye twitched, and she immediately cut me off. "Of course, I wouldn't let you end up on the streets.

"If you lose your house, just come stay with me. We're... best friends, after all."

Her voice faded, as if she were scared I'd realize something was off.

Without a second thought, I grabbed my stuff and moved in with Michael to Callie's place that night.

The apartment had crystal chandeliers, massive oil paintings, and wall-to-wall wine cabinets.

The place was nearly a thousand square feet, oozing quiet luxury.

It was the first time Callie had let me see her home.

My jaw dropped as I looked around. "Callie, I can't believe how well you've been living these past few years."

She fumbled for words, "It's just a rental. The landlord was desperate to rent it out, so I just got lucky."

I snorted inwardly, not buying it for a second.

I traced the subtle design along the edge of the frame. It was the Branch Group's logo.

No doubt, Charlie had bought all this for Callie and her son.

There was no way Callie, with her one-thousand-dollar salary, could afford a place like this.

If Charlie hadn't died so suddenly, I would've gotten the truth out of him, even if I had to crack his skull open to do it.

I couldn't understand why he went to such lengths to act poor.

He spent his days with me, living off scraps in our cramped little apartment, and then at night, he'd sneak off to a luxury condo worth millions, wrapped up in Callie's arms.

Maybe he had some sick game.

Charlie and I had been married for over ten years. When we tied the knot, he didn't have a penny to his name.

I didn't even think twice. I let him move straight into the old house my parents had left me.

My parents passed away early, so when Charlie showed up, willing to take care of me and cook, I gave him everything I had.

Back then, he said he wanted to strike out on his own and try his luck.

So I handed over all the savings I'd scraped together from years of hard work and let him take a shot.

But he just kept blowing it all, losing again and again.

I figured, with no money left, he wouldn't really get into much trouble.

But I never expected that not only did he still have money, but he was also seeing someone else behind my back.