Chapter 1
The year I hated my father, Jack Evan, the most, he tried to win me back by sending his old friend to my bed.
After one night, I was already falling for him.
Three months later, I forgave my father.
Four months in, I found out I was pregnant.
From that moment on, I became the most precious expectant mother in New York.
At every prenatal checkup, New York’s richest man and the second richest never failed to show up.
Everyone said I was spoiled like a princess by both my husband and father.
But on the day of my major anomaly scan, they both suddenly vanished.
“There’s an important project,” Jack said, gently stroking my head.
Ryan Morgan ran his hand softly over my belly. “When it’s done, I’ll bring gifts for you and the baby.”
I smiled, watching them leave, but just before the scan, an anonymous video appeared on my phone.
Jack, dressed in a groom’s tux, stood next to Evelyn Scott, the same woman who once destroyed my mother.
Their illegitimate daughter, heavily pregnant and in a white wedding
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gown, was arm–in–arm with Ryan.
“We have the pleasure of celebrating two joyous occasions tonight. Congratulations to Mr. Evan on finding true love and to Mr. Morgan on his beautiful marriage.”
At the video’s end, Jack’s voice sounded light, almost careless.
“That marriage to Sarah wasn’t even real. What happens when the kid’s born? Technically, they’ll be illegitimate, won’t they?”
Ryan chuckled softly in reply, “Sarah’s got it all. But Rachel? She’s always carried the label of being illegitimate. I can’t let her kid go through that too.”
I bit my lip hard and left the hospital, but my phone kept buzzing.
A vasectomy appointment reminder flashed across the screen, followed by a single message.
“If you’re willing, this baby will be my only child. My heir.”
Outside the hospital, I wandered the streets aimlessly.
A giant mall screen was playing a family interview from three months. ago, right after I found out I was pregnant.
My father held up an auctioned diamond and explained to the camera, “This Heart of the Ocean is a gift for my future granddaughter,” my father told the camera. “It’s not about how much it’s worth. It’s what it stands for.”
Ryan gently squeezed my hand.
“The hardest part is still Sarah,” he said. “But I’ll take care of both of them. For life.”
28 04
Chapter 1
The video froze on the moment we smiled at each other.
Below it, glowing letters scrolled across. New York’s Happiest Family.
Rain mixed with tears blurred my vision.
Just then, my phone rang. It was Ryan.
I used to rush to answer whenever I heard his ringtone.
But this time, I hesitated for a long moment.
Finally, just before the call went to voicemail, I picked up.
A voice laughed on the other end. One of Ryan’s friends.
“Ryan finally got what he wanted, huh? When Rachel went overseas, he tore the whole city apart, looking for her. Now he helped her take back the Evan Group and even played the sweet fiancé to that little heiress for two whole years!”
“Ha, Ryan’s still got charm! The last time Sarah was kissed by Ryan, she practically melted and clung to him. No wonder he got her pregnant without even getting married.”
“Tsk, she always looked down on illegitimate kids. Funny how her own child ended up that way!”
“But the best part? Today’s stunt. Rachel says, My mom won’t marry anyone, and Ryan goes and gets Jack to marry Evelyn. Evelyn and Rachel both scored rich husbands! I swear, New York hasn’t seen a scandal this juicy in years.”
I clenched the phone so tightly that tears splattered down like rain.
Then Ryan’s cold voice cut through the noise.
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“Who’s been messing with my phone?”
Everything went silent.
