LOGINHaley Reed thought she had the perfect life—a devoted husband, a sweet son, and a home filled with love. But when her husband’s ex-lover, Joye, slithers back into their lives, determined to steal everything Haley holds dear, her world shatters. The ultimate betrayal? Her own son turning against her, demanding she leave, and claiming that he wanted Joey instead of her to be his mother! Cast out with nothing—no money, no safety net—Haley collapses on the streets, broken… until crosses paths with Logan Hartwell, a powerful Billionaire with a guarded heart, and his fragile, enchanting daughter, Lily, who clings to Haley with a desperate hope: "Will you be my mommy?" However, as Haley rebuilds her life, chilling connections emerge—between Logan’s mysterious past and Joey, the woman who destroyed her marriage. "Did you choose me to hurt her?" she demands, but Logan couldn't give her a satisfactory answer. Realizing her world was surrounded with lies, Haley transforms into the powerful woman she was meant to be—wealth, influence, and hard-won independence at her fingertips—her past comes begging. Her ex-husband. Her lost son. The life that failed her. Will she return to the love that broke her… or claim the family that truly sees her worth?
View MoreHaley's POV
“Daddy, can you divorce Mommy?”
I stood outside my son’s hospital room, frozen in place as his dissatisfied voice hit me like a hammer.
I was stunned.
My fingers clutched the doorframe tightly, and a sharp pain pierced my chest.
What had happened?
I had just gone to the doctor’s office to ask why Jordan had suddenly developed acute gastroenteritis.
I had always been extremely cautious about his diet. His stomach was very sensitive—fragile even—so I always kept a close eye on what he ate.
Thank God, he was now in stable condition.
I couldn’t wait to tell him—and my husband.
What did I do wrong?
"Why would you say that?" Sebastian asked gently.
"Because Mom isn’t like Aunt Joey. She lets me eat whatever I want," Jordan said.
Aunt Joey? My stomach dropped. She was back?
Joey Mondéz. The woman Sebastian once loved. The woman who left him for a richer man and moved to France. When did she return?
I clenched my fists, my breath shaky.
"Hey, buddy," Sebastian said in a calm voice. "Don’t mention Aunt Joey in front of your mom. Your mom loves you very much."
My nails dug into my palms. Why did he have to tell Jordan to hide it from me?
Jordan pouted. "But—"
"Listen, sweetheart," Sebastian cut him off. "You need to rest now."
I felt my chest tighten. Jordan was just a child. He didn’t know how much his words hurt me. I had always been strict with his food because of his weak stomach. Was that why he didn’t like me anymore? Had I been too hard on him? Perhaps I needed to be gentler in my approach. After all, his sensitive stomach had always been a concern. I believed that once he recovered, we would return to our close bond.
I forced myself to push the door open. Sebastian turned to me, looking surprised. I walked straight to him and kissed him lightly. Sebastian is a man who naturally drew attention. He is tall, with broad shoulders and a strong, commanding presence that made people take him seriously the moment he walked into a room. His dark hair was always neatly styled, and his sharp facial features—chiseled jawline, straight nose, and deep-set amber eyes, everything made him really handsome and it is his gaze that is intense and almost unreadable. To outsiders, he looks like the perfect husband, charming and composed. But right now, Haley isn’t sure about anything.
"The doctor said Jordan will be fine. We just need to watch his inflammation tomorrow," I said softly.
Sebastian wrapped his arms around me. "Sweetheart, you worry too much. No one doubts your love for Jordan."
His words gave me comfort, melting some of my pain. My husband loved me, understood me. Tears welled up in my eyes as he cupped my face. I composed myself, not wanting to cry in front of my son. Maybe I was overthinking. Maybe things weren’t as bad as they seemed. Moreover, there is no way Sebastian would rekindle anything with Joey. We are married, and whatever they had was in the past. I loosened my clenched fists.
Jordan was only five—he didn't understand the weight of his words. I had been strict, but it was only because of his sensitive stomach. I needed to reflect on my approach, to find a balance between discipline and understanding.
I walked to Jordan’s bed and reached to kiss his forehead, but he turned away from me. My heart cracked, but I told myself he was just tired.
"Sweetheart, get some rest. I’ll leave now," I whispered.
Sebastian followed me outside and pulled me into a hug. "Look at me. Jordan is just upset because of your rules. I’ll talk to him."
I nodded, though my heart felt heavy.
That night, I lay in bed, unable to sleep. I picked up my tablet, planning to look through old photos of Jordan and me, to remind myself of our happy moments.
Then, a message popped up.
Group Chat: Happy Little Family.
My stomach twisted. I hesitated before clicking it.
When the chat opened, I saw a picture that shattered my world.
It was a photo of three people—my son, a woman, and my husband, Sebastian Steele.
I zoomed in, my hands trembling.
The woman held Jordan in one arm and a large ice cream cone in the other. She was smiling, looking utterly relaxed, utterly happy. Sebastian stood beside her, his large hand wrapped around her waist.
They looked like a perfect family.
The way Sebastian looked at Joey—
it was exactly how he used to look at me—full of admiration and longing.
My breathing turned rapid.
Then I saw the word Jordan had used to address her—Mommy.
Jordan had called her Mommy.
The sleeping pills slipped from my fingers and scattered across the floor.
My body went numb, and a wave of nausea surged through me.
Joey Mondéz. She was beautiful, confident, everything I wasn’t. My mind flashed back to my wedding night. The night Sebastian whispered her name instead of mine.
I had convinced myself I misheard him.
But I hadn’t.
I picked up the tablet again, scrolling through the messages, each one cutting me deeper.
One message made my hands go ice cold.
Joey: "Sweetheart, you told me you wished I could be your mom. You said anyone but your current mom would do."
Tears blurred my vision. I tapped on a voice message.
Joey’s voice was sweet and teasing. "You just want to be happy, right? I get it. Your mom is too strict—she doesn’t let you eat what you want or play when you want. But don’t worry, darling. In this family, I’ll be your new mom."
Then Jordan’s voice came through, full of excitement.
"Daddy, my birthday wish is to live with Joey as my mom! Can you make it happen?"
Sebastian’s reply was soft but clear.
"Of course. Just give it some time... Daddy promises."
A broken sob escaped my lips.
He promised.
He promised to replace me.
Then, Jordan’s next message sent the final dagger into my heart.
"Ugh, it’s because of Mom, isn’t it? She’s just a housewife. She didn’t even come to my birthday. I don’t like her! She’s not as pretty as Joey, and she always smells like sauce. She embarrasses me!"
I gasped for air.
Yes, I was a stay-at-home mom, but the endless chores left me no time to change out of my cooking clothes. I never thought Jordan would resent me for it. I read the messages over and over, unable to believe that the child I had raised, the child I had poured my heart into, could say such things.
Tears streamed down my face as I remembered the countless times I had carefully planned Jordan's meals, trying to protect his sensitive stomach. The times he had been hospitalized as a toddler for gastroenteritis. All my efforts, all my love—reduced to a list of grievances in his eyes.
On his birthday, I had been with Sebastian’s mother because she was sick. Sebastian told me he would explain it to Jordan. But he never did.
I looked down at my hands, the same hands that had cooked for Jordan every day, that had held him through every illness, every nightmare.
And he hated me for it. Tears poured down my face. I had done everything for my son. I had loved him more than anything.
And now he wanted me gone.
Sebastian had been comforting me at the hospital, but behind my back, he was planning my replacement. Was this why Joey came back? Was this why Sebastian never stopped her? Was he secretly planning our divorce? Why was he so cruel? Why was he taking my son away from me?
Tears poured down my face, unstoppable. My heart felt like it was being ripped apart. I couldn't breathe. I clutched my chest, struggling to breathe.
My son had betrayed me.
My husband had betrayed me.
And now, I was completely alone.
Haley’s POV:Nine months.That’s how long it had been since I found out I was pregnant. Nine months of morning sickness, strange cravings, swollen feet, and Logan fussing over me like I was made of glass. Nine months of Lily and Jordan kissing my belly every night and arguing about whether the baby would be a boy or girl. Nine months of love, laughter, and nervous waiting.And now… the waiting was over.The pain hit me like a wave.I clutched the sheets, groaning, sweat dampening my forehead. Logan was right there, holding my hand, his face pale but determined.“It’s okay, Haley, breathe. Just like the doctor said,” he urged.I squeezed his hand so hard he winced. “Logan, if you tell me to breathe one more time, I swear—” Another contraction hit, stealing the rest of my words.He quickly leaned close, brushing my hair back. “You’re doing amazing. I’m right
Haley’s POV:Lately, something felt… different.I couldn’t explain it, but my body was acting strange. I was tired more often, my appetite was all over the place, and I had been feeling queasy in the mornings. At first, I blamed stress, or maybe too much late-night snacking while working on my comics. But deep down, a tiny whisper in my heart told me it might be something else.Something big.I sat in the bathroom, staring at the little white stick in my hand. My heart was pounding so loudly I was afraid the whole house could hear it.Two pink lines.I blinked, then looked again, as if maybe my eyes were lying. But no. They were still there.Two. Pink. Lines.I pressed my hand against my mouth, my breath shaking. “Oh my God…”I was pregnant.I don’t know how long I sat there, frozen. My thoughts raced everywhere. Could I handle this? Was I ready? We already had Lily and Jordan, and I loved them with everything in me. But a baby… our baby…Tears filled my eyes before I realized it. But
Haley’s POV:Life has a strange way of balancing joy and pain.On one side, my career was finally shining brighter than I ever dreamed. My comics, the little stories I once drew on scraps of paper, were now published worldwide. Fans sent me letters. They waited eagerly for each chapter. I had an assistant, Erin, who often teased me but worked hard by my side. Logan supported me in everything, and the kids were my biggest cheerleaders.But on the other side… I knew my mother’s time was running out.The thought lingered at the back of my mind every day. No matter how many awards I won, no matter how many books I signed, I couldn’t forget that the woman I had finally reunited with after years of longing was slipping away from me.It was one of those bright mornings in the office. Erin was sitting at her desk, going through fan mail.“Mom, you’re trending again!” she said playfully, waving her phone.I looked up from my sketch tablet and laughed. “Don’t call me mom. You’re younger than me
Haley’s POV:I wasn’t expecting to see her.It was just an ordinary afternoon. I had gone out for a short walk to clear my mind, to grab some coffee before heading home. The day felt light, almost too peaceful after everything that had happened in my life. For once, there were no kidnappings, no hospital visits, no courtrooms. Just me, the soft breeze, and the sound of people chatting around me.But then… I heard a voice.“Haley?”I froze. The coffee cup in my hand almost slipped. That voice—I hadn’t heard it in years, but I knew it instantly. Slowly, I turned around, and there she was.Joey.The woman who had once shattered my marriage. The woman Sebastian had chosen over me.She looked older, though not in a bad way. Her hair was tied neatly, her clothes simple but elegant. There was a sadness in her eyes that hadn’t been there before. For a second, I thought maybe I was imagining her. But no. She was real. And she was standing right in front of me.“Joey,” I said softly. My throat
Haley’s POV:The morning of my wedding felt like a dream.When I opened my eyes, sunlight streamed through the curtains, soft and golden. My heart raced the moment I realized what day it was. Today. Today, I was marrying Logan.I sat up slowly, pressing my hand to my chest. I couldn’t believe how far life had brought me. From pain and fear, to finding my mother, to learning the truth about my past… and now, standing at the edge of a brand-new beginning.“Mom!” Lily burst into the room, wearing a little white dress with flowers pinned in her hair. “You’re awake! You have to start getting ready!”I laughed nervously. “Good morning to you too, sweetheart.”She hopped onto my bed, her eyes sparkling. “You’re going to be the most beautiful bride ever. Dad is going to cry.”My cheeks flushed. “Is that so?”Jordan appeared at the door, wearing h
Haley’s POV:Life had finally slowed down after the storms we had been through. For the first time in so long, I felt… happy. I had my work, I had peace, I had the children smiling around me, and most of all—I had Logan.But lately, something about him and the kids felt a little suspicious.Whenever I walked into the room, I would catch Logan whispering something to Jordan, and Jordan would smirk but never tell me what it was. Or Lily would giggle and run away when I asked her what secret they were keeping. Even Erin at the office had been teasing me with her little grins.I tried not to overthink it, but my curiosity kept growing.That Friday evening, Lily barged into my room with her usual energy. “Mom! Hurry up, get ready!”I looked at her in confusion. “Ready? For what?”Her grin widened. “We’re going out!”Jordan appeared behind her, leaning against the doorframe






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