Chapter 1

I pushed open the front door, and the groceries in my hand tumbled to the floor. I stood frozen in place.

A birthday candle flickered as everyone sang "Happy Birthday." The table was piled with an extravagant spread—dishes I didn't even recognize.

Seated around the table were my mother-in-law, my husband, Sophie Dixon, and a pair of twins nestled in their arms. The five of them bowed their heads in unison, making a birthday wish, smiles of contentment on their faces.

There wasn't even a place setting for me.

In that moment, I felt like a stranger who had barged into someone else's home.

It was a long time before my husband, Jaxon Murray, finally looked up and saw me. His fork paused briefly in midair, then, as if nothing had happened, he picked up a piece of meat and gently fed it to Sophie.

Sophie accepted it shyly, though her eyes flicked toward me with calculated indifference.

My mother-in-law acted as if she'd just noticed me standing by the door. Her gaze was cold and sharp.

"You're back? Done with your errands?"

I clenched my teeth and slowly stepped toward the table. "Mom, I took time off early today. Happy birthday."

Jaxon set down his fork and offered a casual explanation. "Mom decided to celebrate early. We didn't have time to let you know."

'Didn't have time to let me know? It only takes a phone call or a single message. But you didn't even bother with that,' I thought bitterly.

I placed a bracelet box on the table and forced a smile. "Happy birthday," I said.

My mother-in-law spared it a glance, didn't even open the lid, and went right back to cooing at the child in her arms.

After dinner, Sophie quickly stood and slipped her arm through my mother-in-law's.

"Mom, let me help you clean up the kitchen."

Then she turned to me with a polite smile. "Lauren, would you mind watching the baby for a bit?"

Jaxon, holding the other child, followed them into the kitchen. Laughter and cheerful chatter echoed from within as they played with the baby.

A dull ache pierced my chest. I lowered my head quickly, blinking back the sting in my eyes, and gently patted the baby in my arms.

Suddenly, the child began wailing violently, his tiny face flushed bright red.

Everyone came rushing out of the kitchen at once, only to find a rash spreading rapidly across the baby's skin.

Without a word, Sophie shoved me to the ground and snatched the child from my arms, her voice breaking as she sobbed.