Chapter 1

"Honey, look at this little guy. He's so lively, and his eyes look just like yours."

Shane Shaw walked over to me, but there was a trace of caution in his eyes as he watched for my reaction.

Right behind him was his personal secretary, Lena Mann.

In my previous life, Lena had come to me with tears in her eyes and told me this boy was the most pitiful child in the orphanage. She'd even claimed that, of all the children there, he somehow had the strongest connection to the baby I'd lost.

I'd believed every word. For more than ten years, I'd loved and raised that little monster as if he were my own son.

It wasn't until I was dying that I learned the truth. The boy was Shane and Lena's biological son, born from their affair behind my back.

"Shane, when exactly did you have a child without me knowing?"

I picked up my coffee and took a sip.

The smile on Shane's face stiffened, and he quickly explained, "Honey, you've got it wrong. He's an orphan. Why don't we adopt him?"

Lena went pale. She couldn't help stepping forward, her voice soft and delicate. "Mrs. Shaw, this poor boy has had such a hard life..."

I shot to my feet. "Then why don't you adopt him?"

Shane immediately set the boy down and hurried toward me. "Honey, what are you talking about? Lena isn't married. How is she supposed to adopt a child?"

Before he could finish, three-year-old Theo Shaw suddenly kicked a vase over, smashing it to pieces.

Shane was clearly startled, worried I would lose my temper.

"Honey, Theo's still young. He doesn't know any better. He broke your vase, so I'll buy you another one..."

"Buy another one for what? A vase isn't more important than a child."

I walked over to Theo, crouched in front of him, and stroked the little face I now knew hid such a vicious nature.

"Good job, Theo. I was tired of that vase anyway. It was too boring."

I pulled a thick stack of cash from my purse and shoved it straight into his hands.

"Son, from now on, if there's anything in this house you don't like, smash it. Mom's got you covered."

Theo froze, clutching the thick wad of bills as confusion filled his eyes.

Lena covered her mouth and stared at me in disbelief.

Shane was completely dumbfounded too. "Honey, what did you just call him?"

I stood up with a radiant smile.

"My son. I've decided to adopt him.

"Shane, starting today, I'm going to spoil him like the most precious little prince in the world."

I would indulge his every whim until he was rotten to the core.

I turned to the housekeeper. "Mrs. Warren, go get that set of antique blue-and-white porcelain vases from the study and bring them out for Theo to play with."

Then I looked back at them.

"You heard me. As long as Theo's happy, he can tear this whole house apart for all I care."

A flash of wild delight crossed Shane's eyes as he looked at me.

He thought the loss of my baby had truly driven me out of my mind.