Chapter 1

Samson Foster still had a smile on his face as he looked down, playing with the baby in his arms.

He told me his flight was delayed because of a thunderstorm and that he couldn't be there for the delivery, but in truth, he was really with that helper.

Even the nurse couldn't take it anymore. She pushed the lifeless baby in front of him. "Your wife almost died giving birth. The baby was stillborn. How could you…"

Samson just glanced over, his expression showing a hint of pity. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he quickly covered the baby's eyes, worried that the scene would scare him.

I clenched my fists, and I couldn't help but let my thoughts wander.

A few months ago, he fired that helper. He checked in with me many times a day, let me look through his phone whenever I wanted, and patiently helped me pick out baby supplies.

But all of that was just to keep me calm, so that woman could secretly have his child.

Perhaps he had always hoped my baby wouldn't make it.

My mom, Dana, was so shocked that her face turned pale. She rushed over and slapped Samson across the face twice, shouting at him.

"You monster! No wonder… No wonder my daughter would suddenly start crying for no reason whenever we talked while she was pregnant! I was so stupid. I thought she was just getting emotional because of the pregnancy. I had no idea she was suffering this much. You're the one who begged me to let my daughter marry you in the beginning!"

Not long after Samson and I got engaged, his father was reported to the authorities for taking bribes and died suddenly in prison after his conviction. The supposedly devoted and loving Mr. Adam Foster was discovered to have fathered three illegitimate children, all fighting Samson for the inheritance.

My mom insisted we break off the engagement.

"There's no way Samson didn't know his dad was cheating all these years, but he never stood up for his mother because he cared more about his own wealth. Who's to say he won't do the same thing someday? Kelda, listen to me. You can't just pick a man because he's nice to you. If he ever stops treating you well, you'll have nothing left."

But I refused.

We had been together for six years.

That was two thousand two hundred and thirteen days.

If I even sounded a little distant, Samson would immediately ask if he had done something wrong.

When I was studying abroad and couldn't get used to the food, he made a week's worth of meals, froze them in a thermal container, and flew for over ten hours just to bring them to my apartment.

So…

How could someone like that ever change?

I secretly married Samson behind my family's back. My mom was so furious that she nearly broke Samson's leg with a stick. He trembled with pain, but never tried to get out of the way.

"Please don't compare me to my father. I'd rather die than let Kelda suffer even a little," Samson had said.