Chapter 3

It was the body-recovery job I'd already taken on—the one I'd once believed would lead me to Asher's remains. All of it had turned out to be a lie, but as a body diver, I had professional principles, so I went anyway.

I'd barely stepped toward the boat when someone shoved me from behind with brutal force, straight into the river.

The freezing water swallowed me whole, the stench of rot flooding my nose. I fought my way up, gasping.

Through my blurred vision, I made out a small figure standing on the bank. The moment his face came into focus, a jolt of shock went through me.

It was Asher. My son—the one I'd spent six years aching for.

"Asher, help me—"

"Stop yelling."

There wasn't a trace of warmth on his young face.

"I'm the one who hired you for this dive." His voice was flat with contempt. "You're bad luck. My mom got upset the second she came back, and it's your fault. I'm not letting you off easy."

Despair sank into my bones along with the river water. I stared at his small face—so much like Drew's—and forced the words out, my voice shaking.

"Valerie isn't your mother. I am."

I told him the truth about where he came from, as hard as it was to say.

Asher didn't so much as flinch.

"I've known for a long time."

He looked down at me like I was already dead, nothing but disdain in his eyes.

"Uncle Rick told me ages ago. I just never wanted to admit it. My mom says your job is disgusting and shameful, and it's embarrassing for me. You upset her, so today I'm punishing you for it, on her behalf."

Those few words shattered whatever was left of my hope. I'd been fooling myself this entire time.

As the current dragged me under, I caught a hazy glimpse of Drew diving in and swimming toward me.

When I woke again, he was sitting at my bedside, worry etched into his face.

"Carrie, thank god you're all right."

For a moment, I was disoriented enough to think we'd gone back to right after our wedding, back when he'd doted on me without reservation.

Then the next second, I heard him say, "Asher just cares too much about Valerie. It made him act without thinking. Don't hold it against him. Let's stop fighting and just live our lives."

The hospital room door swung open as he spoke, and Valerie walked in with Asher in tow.

"Carrie, don't blame Asher. This is my fault. Let me apologize on his behalf."

She started to kneel, but Drew caught her before she could.

"It's not your fault." He shot me a displeased look. "Carrie, do you have to be so difficult about everything?"

A bitter lump rose in my throat. I hadn't even said anything.

As I struggled to sit up, Asher suddenly rushed forward and shoved me.

"You evil woman! Why don't you just die!"

The back of my hand, still hooked up to an IV, slammed into the edge of the bed, and pain drained the color from my face.

Asher froze for a second. Before Drew could even scold him, he panicked and bolted.

Valerie let out a worried gasp, and Drew rushed to comfort her. "I'll go check on him. He'll be fine."

I watched the three of them like an outsider looking in on their family, a bitter ache spreading through my chest.

The moment Drew left, Valerie's fragile act dropped away.

"Carrie, you really are pathetic."

I met her smug gaze head-on.

"As long as I'm still here, you'll always be nothing but a thief who stole my family and my husband."

"A thief?" Valerie looked like she'd just heard a joke.

She pulled two folders from her tote and threw them in my face.

"See for yourself who the real thief is."

Two sets of paperwork. One was her marriage license with Drew. The other was the Forrest family's inheritance filing—and right there, still on the books, was the name that should have been struck from the records years ago: Valerie Forrest.

Mine wasn't on it at all.

My fingers trembled as I reached for a closer look, but Valerie snatched them back before I could.

"You think changing my name means I'm not a Forrest?" She let out a mocking laugh. "Tonight's my welcome-home banquet. Dad and Mom already said you're expected to be there to apologize to me.

"Think about Asher."

With that, she turned and walked away.

That was when the System chimed in my head: [Six hours remaining.]

I forced down the hatred boiling in my chest. Since that was how it was going to be, I didn't need to hold back anymore.