Chapter 1

I went to the orphanage to bid farewell to the child I had sponsored financially on the day I received my cancer diagnosis, only to find that the child, Lillian Lowe, was the illegitimate daughter that my husband, Henry Graham, had with my younger sister, Felicity Sullivan.

Mom and Dad had also urged me to divorce Henry so that Felicity could take my place. Lillian, the child I had supported financially and adored dearly, actually wished for my early death.

It was only after I was truly dead that everyone around me unraveled into madness.

…

I was told by the doctor that I had, at most, a week left to live. I held onto my diagnosis and spent all day trudging through the rain. I was consumed by thoughts of how I would tell my family and Henry, and what I would say to them as a final farewell.

Walking aimlessly, I eventually found myself at Serenity Orphanage. I had been financially supporting Lillian Lowe, a girl who lived there, for three years. Though we weren't related by blood, the years we shared made me long to see Lillian once more before my end.

I unexpectedly spotted Henry there as well.

I hurriedly shoved the diagnosis documents into my handbag and was about to call out to him, but then Felicity came over and hooked her arm through Henry's. In that instant, everything I wanted to say got stuck in my throat.

They held hands and looked lovingly at Lillian, the child I had been supporting for the past three years.

Lillian gripped Henry's finger and asked in a sweet, childlike voice, "When can I come back home with you, Daddy?"

I immediately froze in place; the word "Daddy" hit me with a jolt, making my head spin.

I didn't even have a moment to process what was happening before Felicity started weeping. She buried her face against Henry's chest, staining his clothes with her tears. "How can you allow Lillian to continue to suffer in the orphanage, Henry? Please divorce Whitney already. Lillian and I deserve a legitimate status in your life, Henry."

Henry's eyes fell on the tearful Felicity and Lillian, his eyes showing a mix of agony and conflict. He then let out a sigh and said, "I just need a bit more time."

I leaned against the wall, holding my hand over my mouth to muffle my sobs. I hadn't cried when I got the cancer diagnosis, but now my tears wouldn't stop falling. I couldn't understand how Henry, who had told me that he loved me the previous night, could cheat on me with Felicity.

I was still reeling from the revelation when they led Lillian to the car and got in.

I quickly hailed a cab and followed close behind. They pulled up to Mom and Dad's place, looking every bit the perfect family. I, on the other hand, looked like a mere stranger trailing in their wake.

Upon them stepping inside, Mom and Dad immediately set the cookware in their hands aside and rushed over to welcome them, bending down to affectionately stroke Lillian's head.

"Oh my precious, Lillian! Come and let Grandma and Grandpa give you a hug!"

"You've gotten so thin since I last saw you. What happened?"

Felicity and Henry glanced at each other and smiled, their eyes brimming with happiness as they watched the scene unfold.

I stood in the shadows of the entryway, silently watching everything.

There was still an empty seat at the large table, yet I felt like there was no place for me at all.

In the middle of the meal, Mom suddenly said, "You should stay here tonight, Henry. You three should spend some time together as a family."

Felicity blushed while Lillian jumped in place with joy. "Hooray! I'll sleep in the small room, Grandma. Mommy and Daddy are going to give me a baby brother!"

Lillian's comment caused everyone at the table to erupt in laughter.

Henry, on the other hand, kept his head lowered, lost in his thoughts.

Upon sensing his hesitation, Mom cut straight to the point, saying, "You can rest assured that Whitney won't be coming home tonight since she went to the hospital."

Henry immediately looked up and asked, "What do you mean she's at the hospital? What happened to Whitney?"

Mom scoffed and asked, "What could possibly happen to her? She's probably at the hospital again for that worthless womb of hers."

"You shouldn't say that about Whitney, Mom. She's done her best!" Felicity had a triumphant smile on her face, as though she was speaking up for me.

Henry remained silent; instead, he simply placed some food on Felicity's plate, which seemed to be his way of rewarding her.

I could feel the biting wind brush me through the door that was left slightly ajar, though the chill in my body was nothing compared to the one in my heart.

I had actually suspected something was going on between Henry and Felicity for a long time. Henry, for instance, would often visit Mom and Dad's place, always bringing a huge pile of gifts. He would even bring Felicity dresses and health supplements, as if he knew her preferences better than I did.

Henry's clothes would always carry the scent of the perfume Felicity wore. He always dismissed my questions by saying that it was a coincidence. Yet in hindsight, Felicity often changed her perfumes, and somehow he always wore the matching scent.

I had complained to Mom and Dad about these things, but they rebuked me, saying I was overthinking. They even told me that I was being ungrateful since a good man like Henry was truly a rare find.

It turned out I hadn't been overthinking it at all, and Henry wasn't the good man everyone thought he was.

Mom and Dad, the ones I loved the most, had even conspired to lie to me.

I found myself wondering when their affair began as I watched them look so lovingly at one another. I had been married to Henry for five years, and Lillian was already four years old. I couldn't help but wonder if it started on our wedding day—or even before he asked me to marry him.

I felt a wave of nausea rising within me at that thought. I then felt my grief morph into rage, and I had the urge to barge in there and demand answers from them. I was frozen in place, though, unable to take a single step. I merely stood there and looked at the blissful family before me, my vision blurring as tears filled my eyes.