Chapter 2

I couldn't help wondering whether Tyler had left his brain abroad before returning. Did he realize how stupid he sounded?

Nelson was so alarmed that sweat beaded on his forehead. He wiped it and cried, "What are you saying, Mr. Tyler? Madam Aurora has married Mr. Skyler, and he is now Stone Group's CEO. Have you forgotten about your Uncle Skyler?"

After Tyler had run off back then, I'd stood there dazedly, surrounded by everyone's mocking gazes. That was when his uncle, Skyler Stone, had stepped forward. He'd told everyone that he would marry me.

I'd been lost and helpless at that time. Everyone knew that Tyler and I were supposed to get married on that day, yet he'd died on the way to pick me up.

People had labeled me a symbol of misfortune and a jinx. They'd shamed me for cursing Tyler. Yet, Skyler had stepped forward and announced his willingness to marry me—he would help prove to the world that I wasn't who they said I was.

He would save my family from shame, and he would help me out of the predicament I was in. What reason did I have not to marry him?

Skyler hadn't actually intended on attending my wedding with Tyler, but he'd returned to the country because his father, Philip Stone, had insisted on it. Unexpectedly, he'd ended up becoming my groom.

Tyler looked at me mockingly. "Everyone knows Uncle Skyler stays away from all women. His career is all that matters to him! He wouldn't spare a lapdog like Aurora a glance."

Skyler was known in Jalton for being a genius businessman. Half of the Stone family fortune belonged to him. He was like a god in the Stone family.

To this day, I didn't understand why he'd marry me. There were plenty of women who were prettier and more gentle than I was.

Nelson continued trying to convince Tyler of the truth. "It's true, Mr. Tyler. You can check the news online—ask the household help if you still don't believe me!"

Tyler snorted and asked a gardener and a maid for the truth. When their answers matched up, his expression turned ugly. He glared at me and snapped, "I've underestimated your manipulative ways, Aurora! Look at how you've bought everyone over in the years I was away! They're ganging up to lie to me!"

I remained calm. I didn't want to argue with him over something like this. There was no changing the fact that I'd married Skyler. It didn't matter to me whether or not Tyler believed me.

Tyler had been spoiled while growing up, so Nelson was worried he wouldn't let the matter slide so easily. He hastily told someone to tell Skyler to come home. "Hurry up and call Mr. Skyler's secretary. Tell him to come home as soon as possible!"

Skyler had left for the office early that morning to negotiate an aerospace deal, and neither Philip nor Mary was at home. If not for that, Tyler wouldn't even get the chance to speak to me.

We were at an impasse when my son, Calvin Stone, suddenly ran over. "Mommy, why aren't you back to be with me yet?"

Tyler's eyes bulged in rage when he saw Calvin. I could guess why—Calvin was like a mini version of me, aside from the fact that he was a boy.

Tyler's gaze traveled between Calvin and me. After a long silence, he pointed a trembling finger at me. "How dare you betray me and even give birth to a bastard! Tell me who the father is!"

Calvin had inherited Skyler's personality. He didn't really understand what "bastard" meant, but he could tell it wasn't anything nice.

He rubbed his jaw and asked, "Who are you calling a bastard? Daddy said anyone with a potty mouth deserves a beating."

He was six years old and could recognize everyone at home. He was sure he didn't know who Tyler was, though.

Tyler snapped, "How dare you talk back to me, you bastard!"

That pissed me off. Calvin was my treasure—how dare he call him a bastard!

I growled, "Watch your mouth, Tyler! Otherwise, you can't blame me for getting nasty!"

Ruth looked like she was enjoying the show. "The kid looks like he should be of schooling age. Don't tell me you got knocked up with him before even marrying Ty!"

Her words had been chosen to kill. The moment Tyler heard them, he glared at me like he wanted to murder me. The one thing men couldn't accept was their wives cheating on them, especially when said wives claimed to love them deeply.

I said calmly, "Calvin is six years old."

"You're such a whore, Aurora! You've had a child with someone else when I've only been gone for seven years! How shameless can you be?" Tyler snapped.

"Only" been gone for seven years?

That was almost as long as we'd known each other, and he'd spent most of it missing in action. Besides, he was the one who'd left me.