Chapter 1 A Change of Identity

Bryce returned in the afternoon.

I immediately rushed downstairs, my eyes never leaving the baby sleeping in the nanny's arms.

The nanny hesitated and glanced at Bryce for permission. Only after he gave a slight nod did she hand the baby over to me.

I couldn't help but feel relieved as he still allowed me to hold my child.

"You win." Selina suddenly spoke up. She burst into laughter and continued, "We made a bet. I told them that the proud heiress of the Hawthorn family would never tolerate the man you loved cheating on you. Initially, I thought you'd storm out in a rage.

"However, Bryce said you were hopelessly in love with him. He bet that you would never leave him even if he brought women home."

As she spoke, Bryce crouched down and personally helped her out of her high heels and into a pair of slippers.

His voice was gentle and soft as he spoke. "I'm not going to look for other women. All I need is you."

Selina shot me a sidelong glance upon hearing his answer, her lips curling into a smug smile.

Only then did I recognize the slippers she was wearing.

They were the custom-made pair Bryce had ordered. He had written six words on the box, and that was "For the Mother of My Child."

I had assumed it was a present for me. I had even looked forward to him opening the box himself and placing it in my hands after the full-month banquet.

Yet, I was never the mother of his child in his eyes, was I?

"Jessica, pack your things and move into the nursery."

Bryce tilted his chin toward the hallway, his arm languidly draping around Selina's shoulders.

"We'll tell everyone that you're the nanny of our family. Your main responsibility is to take care of Thomas."

Selina smiled sweetly and added, "Ms. Hawthorn, the sterilization team Bryce hired will be here soon, so you'd better hurry. Make sure you take everything with you since I'm a bit of a germaphobe. I'll get nauseous if you leave behind even a single strand of hair."

They spoke as though it were the most natural thing in the world. The other staff stood nearby and watched me with undisguised curiosity.

After all, everyone in the house knew how Bryce used to treat me.

I had been the center of his world. He became more distressed than I was if I got so much as a scratch. He would practically beg for forgiveness whenever I threw a tantrum.

Bryce wasn't good at raking in money, but he excelled at spending the money. So, anything I mentioned that morning would be promptly delivered to me by noon. He would even get me the best quality items out there.

I had thought those idyllic days would last forever. Yet, who could have imagined that another woman would become the new mistress of this house after a single full-month banquet?

I had fallen from a treasured sweetheart to a hired nanny in just one night. I even had to give up my bedroom.

Anyone would have been devastated by such a brutal fall.

However, I neither cried nor protested. I simply tucked the blanket more securely around my baby and murmured, "Okay." Then, I turned and walked calmly upstairs.

Bryce's voice drifted through the air, thick with lustful anticipation. "I won the bet. So, you'd better make it worth my while tonight."