Chapter 1

I was the Wolcott family's illegitimate daughter and I gave birth to a son for Nathan Foster, the heir to a significant wealthy family in Seadow City.

Later, he told me he wanted me to be his mistress for life.

I snorted, turned around, and faked my death with my son in tow.

I was done playing house with that bastard.

*****

"Nathan, are you not planning to marry Josie?"

"Marry her? Come on, she's just the Wolcott family's bastard daughter. Like she could ever be good enough for Nathan."

My hand froze on the door handle.

Just like always, Nathan's assistant messaged me to come pick him up at this bar.

But I never expected to catch Nathan and his friends talking trash about me.

The music in the bar continued to blast in my ears.

"Man, Josie really got the short end of the stick, huh? Went through all that trouble to set Nathan up, even popped out his kid, and now she's lost it all. Bet even the average trust fund baby wouldn't touch her now."

Nathan was lounging in the corner, swirling his drink with a lazy hand.

"She's nobody. Don't bring her up. She's killing the mood," he said.

The guys all burst out laughing.

Everyone just nodded, like they had expected Nathan's reply.

After all, even if Josie was pretty, it meant nothing. Nathan was the most important heir in Seadow City's elite circle. He could have any stunning beauty he wanted.

Then one guy got a little too cocky and said, "Nathan, when you get tired of her, maybe you can toss her our way for some fun."

The whole place went dead silent. The guy realized he'd just put his foot in his mouth and started shaking.

After all, no one would dare to even think about Nathan's woman. That was a death wish.

"Suit yourself." Nathan just smirked, tipped his glass back, and downed his drink in one go.

My fingers tightened around my bag. My heart plummeted, cold as ice.

So this was how Nathan really saw me.

I turned away without a trace of emotion. Scumbags like him belong in the trash.

By the time I picked my son Sammy up from Foster Manor and brought him home to my apartment, it was already late at night.

Sammy rubbed his sleepy eyes and snuggled into my arms.

He asked in a soft, sleepy voice, "Mommy, isn't Daddy coming home tonight?"

He was clearly exhausted, but he tried his best to stay awake, just to hear my answer.

I didn't know what to say, so I just kept gently patting his back, unsure for a long moment.

I finally asked, "Sammy, if Mommy has to leave here, would you want to come with me?"

Sammy was too young to really get what 'leaving' meant.

He mumbled, "Okay, Mommy. Wherever you go, I'll go too."

I pulled Sammy into my arms, my heart aching for him. After everything tonight, his words soothed my battered heart, if only for a moment.

To everyone else, Nathan was untouchable, the top dog in Seadow City. But for me and Sammy, he was nothing but a disaster.

The Wolcott family sent me to his bed just to curry favor with him, and he resented me for being a scheming illegitimate daughter.

Even with Sammy, his own flesh and blood, he never once showed us any warmth.

So what was the point in holding on anymore?

If neither Sammy nor I were wanted here, maybe leaving really was best for everyone.

Nathan almost never came to the apartment to see me.

So when I opened the door in my bathrobe and saw him standing there, I was stunned for a moment.

He looked me up and down, frowning, the smell of alcohol lingering in the air. "You didn't come back to the manor tonight."

What he really meant was, I was supposed to be waiting for him at the manor, ready to serve him whenever he wanted.

Now that I'd made up my mind to leave, I was done with it all inside, but I just flashed him my most obedient smile.

Only an idiot would try to make waves with him at a time like this.

Maybe I was slipping back into the role he always expected from me. His expression softened a little.

"From now on, you'll live at the manor. Don't go out making a fool of yourself and dragging my name through the mud," he said.

My anger flared up again. I'd never seen anyone so damn shameless.

He had discussed with his buddies about passing me around for their amusement, and now he told me not to embarrass him.

Who was the one with absolutely no shame?

I just kept my head down, said "okay," and pointed to the couch for him to sit.

I brought him some warm honey water.

"I'm really not used to living in a huge manor. The apartment's way better, and it's close to Sammy's school," I said.

When I mentioned Sammy, Nathan's hand froze mid-rub against his forehead.

It was as if it only now occurred to him that he even had a son.

"He's in school now?" he asked.

This showed just how little he cared about us. He didn't even know Sammy had started kindergarten this year.

"Yeah, so tonight's really not a good time. I have to take Sammy to kindergarten early tomorrow. Why don't you just go home, Nathan?" I said.

"Josie, are you trying to kick me out?" Nathan snapped.

Nathan was no fool. He totally caught on to what I intended.

I reacted at once and acted like nothing was wrong, giving him a sweet smile. "No way. I hardly ever get to see you. It's just that tonight's not the best timing. Sammy's already fast asleep in my bed."

Nathan was caught off guard and didn't know what to say.