Chapter 1

When I went to enroll my daughter, Anna Grant, I found that our reserved spot at the school had already been taken.

I tried to reason with the teacher, but she stood firm, blocking the door.

"Mr. Edward Grant's son has been attending this school for a year. Why is there suddenly a daughter?" she snapped.

After digging into it, I was stunned to discover that Edward had secretly registered Rachel Jones's son, Lucas Jones, under our family name, all to protect her reputation.

And Rachel just happened to be the woman who'd taken my place in my wealthy family for years.

I couldn't help but laugh, though it was a laugh born of pure frustration. That very day, I filed for divorce and, exercising my rights as the legal guardian, sent Lucas to a dilapidated school in the suburbs.

Because he was officially registered under my name, he was legally my son.

*****

"Mom, why did the teacher say I'm an illegitimate child with no papers?" Anna asked.

Anna clung to her stuffed animal, blinking back tears as she looked at me.

Sorting through the divorce paperwork, I rasped out, "Anna, there's no way you're an illegitimate child. You're my one and only, my precious girl."

Tears spilled down Anna's cheeks, her voice sounding hurt. "Then why won't the teacher let me go to school?" she asked.

Before I could say a word, Edward burst through the door, and Rachel, the fake heiress herself, followed right behind.

When Anna started crying, Edward panicked. He glanced at me, his mouth opening and closing as if he wanted to speak, but all he did was stutter in silence.

I stormed up to him and slapped him hard.

"Give me a reason. Why the hell did you put Rachel's son under our family name?" I demanded, staring him down.

Just recalling the kindergarten teacher's eyes when she looked at Anna stabbed right through my heart.

"So, is what they're saying true? Is he your son?" I choked out.

Seeing my tears, Edward freaked out. He gently wiped my cheeks and pulled me into a protective embrace, his arms shaking as he held me tight.

"I swear, I only ever loved you. There's no way that kid is mine," he insisted.

Rachel rushed over, putting on her softest, most anxious voice to explain herself, "Isabelle Jones, we came back today to talk this out with you.

"When you came back, I had no choice but to leave the Jones family behind. Now I have nothing. The only thing that still matters to me is my son.

"If not for Edward's kindness, my boy wouldn't even have the chance to know what it's like to have a father."

Edward wiped my tears, shooting Rachel a warning look, not happy with what she was saying.

"I only agreed to put your kid's name down, not to play father," he said, his tone firm.

Rachel froze, like she'd been slapped in the face.

"Yeah, that's it. I'm sorry, it's all my fault. If my boy hadn't gotten put on your family register, Anna wouldn't be treated like some outsider with no place. This is all on me," Rachel said.

The moment that came up, Edward's face turned ghostly pale.

He grit his teeth, trying to say something, but Rachel jumped in with her usual pitiful act.

Rachel urged, "Isabelle, it's all my fault. Please don't take it out on Edward.

"He only did it because we'd known each other forever and didn't want me to get dragged through the mud. That's why Anna got hurt in the process.

"Since it's already like this, and my son's registered as Edward's kid, why not tell everyone Anna is adopted? What do you think?"

I let out a bitter chuckle, motioned for Anna to head back to her room, and furiously wiped my tears away.

Staring right at Edward, I shot back, "So you won't let anyone call Rachel's son a bastard, but you're fine with your own daughter being branded one? And now you're suggesting we call her adopted?"

Edward's eyes were rimmed red, and he muttered over and over, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

"Rachel and I grew up together. When you came back, she handed over everything from the Jones family to you. I was trying to get her kid a spot at school. Anna is still little. She could attend a more prestigious bilingual school.

"It's not like she won't get registered. It'll happen a bit later."

I fell silent, staring at the man I'd loved for five years, and for the first time, he felt like a stranger.

I didn't say another word and dropped down onto the couch, stiff and silent.

Edward caught the change and, thinking I'd cooled off, instantly tried to butter me up.

"Honey, Anna means everything to me. I promise I'll sort out this registration stuff. Give me a little time, alright?" he pleaded.

Edward acted like nothing had happened and walked into Anna's room.

He took out the Black Pearl model that Anna and I had built together when she was five.

Rachel brushed past me and ran right up to Edward, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Edward, did you make this model yourself? It's gorgeous. Lucas is going to get praised by his teacher for this," she gushed.

Edward glanced at me first to check my reaction and cut Rachel off with a frosty tone.

But Rachel kept pretending she didn't get it, putting on her best innocent face and using that sugary, childish voice.

"Edward, Lucas is crazy about you. He sees you as his father. He said if the teacher gives out a Super Dad award, he'd want you to have it," she cooed.

Now I finally got it and couldn't help but let out a sarcastic snort.

"This is Anna's favorite model, and you're going to hand it over to someone else?" I shot back, disbelief all over my face.

Edward was left standing there, uncomfortable.

Rachel quickly chimed in, "Isabelle, you're overthinking it. Lucas's school is hosting a craft competition, and he has never had a father to help him out. He asked Anna if he could borrow the model for a while and he'd return it soon."

I fixed my gaze on Edward and asked, "Did you ask Anna before you took her things?"

Edward breathed a sigh of relief and replied, "Of course, Anna was happy to share it with Lucas."

I couldn't help but wonder. Anna always treated that Black Pearl model like a treasure. How could she suddenly be willing to let someone else have it?

Seeing my frown, Edward kept trying to reason with me.

Edward coaxed, "Isabelle, Anna gave her consent. Can you please stop being upset and talk to me?

"Rachel's got it tough on her own. She and I grew up like family. I can't walk away from her or her little boy.

"You'll understand, right?"

Biting back my anger, I asked, "Where is Lucas's father?"

"He's a hopeless gambler. You wouldn't want someone like that messing up Lucas's life, would you?" Edward said, puffing himself up like he was doing something right.

My eyes went cold, and I pressed, "So you're going to let someone else's kid mess up my daughter's life. Is that it?

"Do you know what they called Anna at school today? They called her a bastard and said she didn't belong there."

Edward swallowed the wave of regret rising inside him.

He muttered, "I'm sorry.

"I know it's not fair to Anna, but I couldn't stand by and do nothing."

I wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes, took a deep breath, and said resolutely, "Fine. Let's get a divorce."

"You can't be serious," Edward blurted out, anger flaring in his eyes.

"You're my wife, Anna is our daughter. You want to divorce me because of this mess? I told you, I'll figure it out. Give me some time," he protested.

As if terrified I'd keep talking, Edward, looking downright rattled, grabbed Rachel and hurriedly dragged her out of the house.

The loud slam of the door startled Anna.

She cautiously pushed open her bedroom door, eyes swollen with tears, and ran straight into my arms.

"Mom, I gave him my favorite toy. That means Dad will come back to me now, right? I won't be called an illegitimate child anymore, right?" she asked.

My heart ached so much that I couldn't speak. All I could do was hold her close and try to comfort her.

"Anna, you have me. I promise, I'll never let you feel wronged, not even for a moment," I whispered.

That was the moment my nearly seven-year marriage crumbled for good.

After I got Anna settled in bed that night, I immediately reached out to my lawyer friend.

I kept my cool as I asked about drafting the divorce papers and what the whole process would look like.

I didn't mention the stolen school spot until I'd already talked about everything else.

It turned out that since Edward had already given his consent, there was nothing I could do to fight it. Even if I took it to court, the best I could hope for was a token payout.

"Even if you take it to court, it'll be a long, expensive battle. I think you should start looking for another school for Anna. At least, she won't miss out on this year. Or, you could wait until next year," my friend said.

I fell silent.

Why did it have to be like this?

Why should my daughter have to take all the crap, be called a bastard, so someone else's kid got what they wanted?

A wave of helplessness crashed over me.

Out of nowhere, my lawyer friend had a lightbulb moment. "Wait a sec. Since Lucas's papers are under your name, and you're still legally married to Edward..."

Suddenly, it clicked in my head, and I got what he meant.

Just like that, I was the official legal guardian of Lucas now. Whether I liked it or not, the kid was legally mine.