Chapter 1

Three days after my daughter was born, my husband was killed by a car while running to the store for some groceries.

I was so devastated I passed out. When I came to, his funeral was already over, and a stranger was standing in my living room.

"I'm your husband's twin brother. I'll be around to help take care of you and the baby."

Later, I locked myself in the bathroom with his urn, sobbing uncontrollably, when I overheard his childhood buddies talking through the open window.

"Dude, you’re so cold blooded. Inventing a twin brother just to dodge diaper duty? What's next—triplets and quadruplets coming out of the woodwork too?"

"Shut up, man! I didn't have a choice. This kid cries non-stop. Look how exhausted I am after just three days! Find me two hotties so I can catch a break."

"Two? Why stop there? You're finally free—might as well hook up with a dozen! Hannah Lanson gave you a kid, so that's done. Why not just keep this new identity? You won't even have to pay child support!"

My husband's voice sounded annoyed.

"No way. I love Hannah. After I've had my fun, I'm going to win her back. She'll fall for me again, I know it. Then we'll have a baby boy!"

I wiped away my tears and flushed the "ashes" down the toilet.

—-

"Your baby's breathing is abnormal. It might be neonatal pneumonia. We need to transfer her to intensive care. You should call a family member to come."

"Where's your family?"

I wiped away my tears. "My family member is dead. I'll carry her myself."

The doctor looked disapproving. "You had a C-section just three days ago. You need to rest. Give me a family contact number, and I'll call them."

The doctor called Kelvin Ferguson.

Kelvin's end was extremely noisy, with sounds of people toasting and clinking glasses.

"I'm not her family. Let her figure it out herself!"

The doctor's tone became stern. "The baby's condition is very serious, and the mother needs assistance too..."

"Tell Hannah to call her own parents. Why bother my bro?"

I heard one of Kelvin's friends in the background before the call disconnected.

Kelvin and I had been together for eight years and married for one. During that time, I'd never met his family. Even for major events like our wedding, pregnancy, and childbirth, his parents never showed up—only a few friends.

These friends clearly looked down on me, though they pretended otherwise out of respect for Kelvin.

The doctor looked troubled. "I'll find a nurse to help watch your baby. As for the cost..."

I pressed my lips together. "I'll pay the full amount."

I still had Kelvin's salary card. I handled our daily expenses while we saved his income for baby supplies. Now it would go toward hospital bills.

Shortly after, the nurse who went to process the payment returned with a troubled expression.

"There's no money on this card!"

"That's impossible..."

I called Kelvin repeatedly. After more than ten attempts, he finally answered.

“Hannah, I'm busy right now!"

I could hear women's voices in the background, but I had no time for that. "Where's the money from your card?"

"You mean my brother's salary card? Before he died, my brother said that money was for our parents, so I transferred it."

"You bastard, the baby is—"

“Hannah, gotta go. I'm really busy!"

"Oh, and pack up your things when you get a chance. That apartment was also part of my brother's inheritance. You can't live there anymore!"

"I'll come collect the keys tomorrow!"

"Kelvin!" I shouted, my emotions overwhelming me. The post-C-section contractions hadn't subsided, and the pain left me sweating.

"Ms. Lanson?"

The nurse stood waiting with my baby. I pulled another card from my purse.

"Use this one instead."