Chapter 2

On the drive home, Roland thrust his phone at me, barely containing his excitement.

The screen blazed with headlines like [Zane Cheated on Gambling Tycoon's Daughter], [Sanfords Vow Retribution], [Grimes Group Stocks Crash].

While the internet erupted, Zane scrambled to suppress the story. It was futile because I had already warned the media: aiding him meant crossing the Sanfords.

Realizing I meant business, the Grimes family arrived at my doorstep with lavish gifts and forced smiles.

"Brittany," Bruno pleaded, his voice dripping with false humility, "this must be Martha seducing Zane. We'll deal with him. Please, forgive him just this once."

Camille chimed in smoothly, "The child exists now. It's a life and part of your bloodline. Why not register him under your name? We'll send Martha away and make sure she never troubles you again."

I laughed, sharp and humorless. "Don't bother. Martha and Zane are a perfect match. Why not let them marry? It would be a charming union."

"Brittany is untouchable, too good for your disgraceful son," Roland scoffed. "A love child wants a place in our family? Keep dreaming."

I tapped his arm to calm him, then fixed my gaze on the old couple. "I don't need apologies, and I don't want that child."

Zane burst in with Martha and the baby, his face flushed with urgency. Seeing his parents grovel, he exploded, "My parents are apologizing. What else do you want?"

I ignored him and tossed the divorce agreement at their feet. "From today on, anyone who works with the Grimes family is an enemy of the Sanford family. Let's see how long your ship stays afloat without us."

The words landed like a grenade. Bruno and Camille were dumbfounded.

Camille lunged at the baby in Martha's arms, snarling, "It's all because of this cursed child!"

Her fingers dug into the infant's arm, threatening to choke him. "You hate this child, right? Don't worry, Brittany. I'll kill him to make this right."

"Stop! Give me my baby!" Martha screamed, throwing herself forward.

Zane yanked the child from Camille's grip and pulled Martha behind him, glaring at me. "How can you be so vicious? You can't bear children, so you'd kill mine? You can't tolerate his existence?"

Her words cut deep, stirring a memory I rarely touched.

Years ago, I'd taken a blow meant for Zane, a wound so severe it left me infertile. As the Sanford heiress, I was expected to continue our bloodline—a duty he knew well. Yet he never suspected Martha's origins. She was not my father's biological daughter.

"Are you so certain this child carries Sanford blood?" I asked.

Martha clutched the baby, tears streaming down her face. "Zane, believe me. The child is yours."

Zane wrapped an arm around her, his gaze sharp. "Enough with your lies! You're jealous of her because you can't have children."

I gave a slow, measured smile. "Is that so? Then why doesn't this baby look like you?"

"Don't listen to her," Martha said anxiously, grabbing his arm. "Look at his features. He looks exactly like you when you were a kid."

Zane stroked the infant's cheek, the moment sickeningly tender.

Done with their act, I looked him in the eye. "I never said the child isn't yours. I said he isn't Sanford blood. You wanted a child with both our bloodlines, didn't you? Well, you're going to be disappointed."

I slapped a DNA report into his face. "Martha has no relation to my family."