Chapter 1

Cassandra's POV

The wind made my eyes sting. I looked down at my phone to check the location on my husband Gavin Grover's dashcam. He was at Belcrest Hospital. He wasn't at the office at all.

I told the cab driver to turn the car around. When I arrived outside the delivery room, the lights inside were bright.

The moment I saw those familiar faces, a chill ran through my body. My parents and Gavin were there. Even my best friend, Tara Smith, was also there. The baby slept peacefully, while they beamed with joy.

When my gaze finally landed on the woman in the bed, my entire world came crashing down. It was none other than my younger sister, Jenny Thorne, who had been away from home for six months.

I immediately remembered that winter in Halton when we were children. She had fallen through the ice, and I had risked my life to pull her out. Back then, she had sobbed as she gripped my sleeve with both hands. "Cassandra, I owe you my life. From now on, I'll do whatever you say."

But now, my beloved younger sister was lying in the delivery room, having just given birth to my husband's child. My parents and Tara knew the truth, but they had deliberately kept me in the dark.

Jenny's face was pale as she hesitantly said, "It was my drunk driving that caused Miley's death in the first place. And now, I've given birth to Gavin's child…"

Tara quickly held her hand and said gently, "Don't blame yourself. None of us wanted anything to happen to Cassandra. She was just too weak to begin with."

Mom opened a container of chicken soup, scooped up a spoonful, blew on it to cool it, and brought it to Jenny's lips. She said sweetly, "Drink this. Your sister loves you the most. She won't be angry with you. Besides, haven't you already given her a child to make it up to her?"

Gavin lowered his head and kissed her. Beneath the lights, their lips glistened with a delicate sheen. "Don't torture yourself, okay? You're the one who's done the most for both our families. This baby is the gift you fought so hard to give Cassandra."

She had done the most? A gift? What a nice way to put it. What about my precious daughter, Miley Grover? What about her?

I froze where I stood, stunned by what I was seeing, my stomach churning violently. I wanted to leave, but before I could, my body betrayed me, and I couldn't suppress a retch.

At the sound of my retching, Jenny's face turned deathly pale, and her body began trembling uncontrollably. "Cassandra…"

Before I could react, Tara rushed over first and pulled me into the hallway. "Calm down. Jenny almost died giving birth to this baby. She's called you her sister for twenty years, so please don't cause a scene."

Gavin followed close behind and took my hand, his voice as gentle as ever. "Are you cold? What brings you here all of a sudden? Don't overthink this. No one wants to hurt you. Jenny only felt guilty and wanted to have a child for you to make it up to you."

"Make it up to me? Is that why she decided to sleep with you?" I retorted.

He sighed, sounding almost resigned, as if he had known I would react this way. "This is exactly why we didn't dare tell you. You've always been reasonable. At least don't make things difficult for everyone today."

As soon as he finished speaking, a scream came from inside the room. "My stomach hurts!"

Gavin's expression shifted, and he quickly said, "Talk to you later." Then, he turned and left.

Tara didn't even hesitate and immediately rushed off to call a doctor.

I stood in the corner, took out my phone, and opened my chat with my company's vice president.

Last week, he had told me they needed someone to oversee the new North Avorian market and asked if I was willing to go. At the time, I told him that my family was all here, so I needed to think about it.

But now, I confirmed my application for the job. Then, I replied to my vice president. "I'll take it."