Chapter 1

Kayla Campbell clutched her prenatal check-up papers and felt completely lost. She didn't expect to run into Luke Hudson and Stephanie Campbell in the hallway just as she was leaving the clinic.

"Luke, isn't today Kayla's appointment too? Wouldn't it be better if you were with her instead of me?" Stephanie asked.

Luke noticed her shoelace was untied. Without hesitation, he knelt down and tied it into a perfect bow, his movements so practiced it was clear he'd done this countless times before.

"Look at you, you didn't even notice your shoelaces were untied. How am I supposed to trust you like this? As for Kayla, I've already told her to wait for me at home. Once I'm done here with you, I'll go with her to her appointment."

Sunlight streamed through the window, catching Stephanie's slightly rounded belly. It made her look radiant, soft, and unexpectedly joyful.

"So you came with me first. Does that mean you... care about me a little more? Oh! I think our baby is kicking, Luke! Can you feel it?"

Luke's expression immediately shifted to concern. Without a second thought, he swept her into his arms, holding her sideways in a protective embrace. But then, as he turned, his eyes landed on Kayla standing silently in the corner.

Panic flashed across his face. He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

Kayla stepped forward slowly, her hand swinging sharply to deliver a slap.

She put everything she had into it. Luke's cheek instantly swelled from the impact.

"Luke, explain yourself."

Before Luke could say a word, Stephanie had already stepped in. Her arms spread wide as if shielding a chick, her face full of defiance.

"I'm carrying Luke's child. He's here with me for my appointment. Who are you to hit him?"

At that moment, Kayla could no longer hold back her tears. Her chest ached so much she felt like she might collapse.

Luke immediately saw that something was wrong with Kayla. Without a second thought, he pushed Stephanie aside and held his wife tightly in his arms, his voice thick with concern.

"No, Kayla, don't cry. Stephanie's baby isn't mine. I just couldn't bear to see her suffer from the gossip about being pregnant out of wedlock. The father ran off, and she couldn't terminate the pregnancy because of her condition. I just wanted to help her.

"After all, she's your sister, isn't she?"

Kayla froze.

Even now, she could still remember the day Stephanie returned to the Campbell family. She had tumbled down the stairs all on her own, then had run crying to their parents.

"I don't blame Kayla. She didn't mean it. She was just afraid I'd take your love away from her."

Lara Smith had slapped Kayla hard, screaming at her for being malicious. She stripped Kayla of all her clothes and threw her out of the Campbell family's residence.

"You took Stephanie's life from her, and even your clothes belonged to her. You have no right to stay here. Get out!"

If Luke hadn't happened to pass by that night, Kayla might have frozen to death in the winter cold.

"She's not my sister!" Kayla cried, breaking down completely. Luke held her tighter, whispering soothingly.

"Shh, it's okay. Don't be upset, all right? My heart is breaking for you."

Stephanie noticed the prenatal checkup report in Kayla's hands and began to explain, her voice carrying an odd, self-satisfied edge.

"Luke was only worried will gossip about me, Kayla. I'm not as strong as you, and I really won't be able to handle it. That's why Luke agreed to be my baby's father.

"You know the Hudson family can only have one eldest grandchild. That means your child will have to start out without a father, but just for a while. I promise I'll make sure Luke adopts your child, and he'll never strip them of their clothes and chase them out of the house just because they're adopted. Don't worry, Kayla."