Chapter 1

To save his illegitimate son, Lucas, who was suffering from kidney failure, Edward secretly sent his only five-year-old daughter, Sophie, to the operating room to donate her kidney, without his wife Emily ever knowing a thing.

When Emily found out, she lost her mind, racing to the hospital as if every second counted.

By the time she arrived, the surgery was already underway.

Emily's eyes were burning with desperation as she frantically pounded on the surgery room doors.

"Stop! I'm her mother! I don't consent to this!"

Edward stepped forward and locked her in his arms, his voice heavy with guilt.

"Emily, I'm sorry. If we wait any longer, Lucas won't make it. Only Sophie can save him."

Emily looked at the man she'd loved for so many years, disbelief flooding her eyes. The face she once longed for now seemed like that of a stranger.

All he cared about was his illegitimate son's safety. Did he ever stop to think about Sophie? She was born premature, always weak and sickly.

How could her tiny body possibly survive losing a kidney?

*****

The "Surgery in Progress" sign was already lit, hanging over Emily Carter like a blade poised to fall. Her voice trembled.

"That boy is your son, but isn't Sophie your daughter as well? Please, I'm begging you. Just stop the surgery, please?"

By the end, Emily's tears fell in big, heavy drops, hitting the floor with a dull sound.

Edward Bennett brushed away the tears at the corner of her eyes with aching tenderness, but his arms stayed locked around her, unyielding.

"Emily, relax. It's just a kidney. Sophie will be fine," Edward said.

Emily felt utterly betrayed. She fought with everything she had, sinking her teeth into the flesh between Edward's thumb and forefinger.

She tasted blood, but Edward never loosened his hold, pinning her in place as if nothing could move him.

She didn't know how long she stood there, but eventually, the "Surgery in Progress" sign went dark.

The doctor came out, carrying a medical container, and rushed upstairs.

Edward's face lit up with excitement. He let go of Emily and strode away without a second glance.

Emily rushed into the operating room, stumbling in her panic.

When she saw Sophie lying there, her face pale as a ghost, a tidal wave of guilt crashed over her, threatening to drown her.

"Sophie, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry that I was too late..." Emily whispered.

Sophie weakly opened her eyes, struggling to lift her tiny hand to Emily's cheek.

"Mommy... Didn't Daddy say he'd take me to the amusement park? Why am I in the hospital? Did I do something bad? Is Daddy mad at me?" Sophie whispered.

Hearing her lost voice, Emily felt like her heart was stabbed. She couldn't make a sound.

How could she tell Sophie that she hadn't done anything wrong? That her father, Edward, only cared about his other son now, and Sophie didn't matter to him anymore?

How could a five-year-old ever handle something so cruel?

The hurt in Sophie's eyes grew deeper, tears gathering at the corners.

"Daddy always said he loved you and me best, and he'd never get mad at us, right?" Sophie whispered.

Emily couldn't hold it in anymore. She broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.

Edward used to love only her and Sophie. But now, things had changed.

Edward was the infamous ice-cold tycoon in the business world, but Emily, his childhood sweetheart and wife, was the only one who ever saw his gentle side.

If she so much as said she felt unwell, he'd drop multi-million dollar deals without a second thought and fly back from overseas overnight, just to personally sit by her bedside and take care of her.

If her gaze lingered on a collectible for even a moment, he'd pull every string to track down the owner and spend billions to buy it for her, no matter the cost.

When she got pregnant, Edward indulged her in every possible way. Whatever she wanted, he made it appear.

They said that couples in high society always ended up living under the same roof but worlds apart, their hearts drifting further and further away.

But Emily firmly believed she and Edward would be different.

Yet when she was seven months pregnant, she caught him in bed with a college student.

The shock and heartbreak sent her into early labor. She was rushed to the hospital and ended up giving birth to Sophie Bennett ahead of time.

Edward knelt by her bedside, the once proud man slapped himself hard until his face was swollen, admitting his fault to her.

"Emily, I was set up. Please trust me, I swear I never meant to betray you," Edward pleaded.

As she gazed at her newborn daughter, Emily's anger melted away.

Edward handed the college student a sum of money to make her leave and then resumed his role as the devoted husband and father.

But just a month ago, Emily stumbled upon Edward holding hands with a woman and a little boy.

The boy was the spitting image of Edward, just in miniature.

The woman, Olivia Shaw, stepped in front of the boy protectively, her eyes stubborn and defiant as she stared at Emily.

"Mrs. Bennett, Lucas is only my child. He'll never compete with your daughter for Bennett Holdings," Olivia said.

For once, Edward looked genuinely panicked. He held Emily close, desperate to explain.

"Emily, Olivia is the college student from that night five years ago, the night I was drugged," Edward said.

Only then did Emily realize the truth. That night five years ago, Olivia had gotten pregnant and raised the child all on her own.

Just recently, Olivia brought Lucas Shaw to Bennett Holdings for an interview, and Edward happened to run into them.

Edward had long forgotten what that college student looked like, but the little boy beside her looked so much like him that he instantly knew the boy was his son.

When they got home, Edward made Emily a promise.

"Lucas is my son, and that's just a fact. Give me a little time. I'll make sure Olivia and Lucas have somewhere to go. Sophie will always be my only heir, and nothing will ever change that," Edward said.

Thinking of how much Sophie depended on Edward, Emily gave in once again.

Not long after, Lucas was diagnosed with kidney failure.

Edward was already wracked with guilt over Olivia and Lucas, and when he found out about Lucas' condition, he searched everywhere for a compatible kidney donor.

But in the end, the only match was Sophie.

Emily always believed that, given how much Edward adored Sophie, he'd never let her go through something like this.

But reality hit her like a ton of bricks.

Edward didn't just suggest Sophie donate her kidney. He went behind Emily's back and secretly sent Sophie to the operating room, despite Emily's desperate protests.

All Emily felt was regret as she looked at her weak, fragile daughter.