Chapter 3

My husband, Johnny, rushed over and stopped the guards.

The second I saw him, my eyes burned. "Johnny Howe! Say it—right here. Who's your mother? And who's your wife?!"

His reaction hit me cold. He hesitated. "Sienna, it's a misunderstanding. Let's go home. I'll explain."

Lydia stared at him. "Explain it now!"

Johnny stalled, and Peggy smirked.

Her daughter clung to his arm. "Johnny, tell them. What am I to you? And what's my mom to you?"

Johnny looked at her like she was everything—soft, helpless. He avoided our eyes. "Lily, once we're married, you'll be my wife. Your mom's family."

If Lily was going to be his wife... what was I?

Then he actually turned to Peggy, like it was the most natural thing. "Are you okay?"

The crowd locked it in—Lydia and I were the homewreckers. They started throwing whatever they could grab.

Only when we got hit did Johnny step in, pushing the guards and crowd back.

I snapped out of it, rushed to Lydia, helped her up, and fixed her torn clothes as best I could.

Lydia—always composed—was shaking with fury.

She stepped up and slapped Johnny hard. "You ungrateful jerk! You call her family—then what am I? Who gave birth to you? Who raised you?"

I stared him down, slow and clear. "You say Lily's your wife. Then what am I after all these years?"

Panic flickered across his face. He pulled us aside, voice low. "Mom, you're my mom. Sienna, you're my wife. Just listen—this is a misunderstanding. Lily is autistic and has delusions. She thinks we're already engaged. I said that to calm her down. It's better for her."

Lydia didn't buy it. "Why do you need to appease them? Why were our access records wiped? And the 'Heart of the Ocean' and that emerald bracelet—what are you and your father playing at?"

Johnny pressed his lips together. Guilt flickered in his eyes. "It's for Lily's condition. Don't argue with a patient. We have other houses. You and Sienna can stay somewhere else for now. Dad and I haven't betrayed this family."

None of it made sense.

Lydia's eyes went red. She stared at him like she didn't recognize the son she carried for ten months and raised with her own hands.

She bit her lip hard, fury blazing. Grabbing a phone off the ground, she dialed George.

"George, how dare you keep a side chick behind my back! Forgot what happens when you betray me?!"

George's voice came fast, tight with panic. "Honey, how could I betray you? I swore I'd only love you. I've never even looked at another woman. You misunderstood. I'm almost home—don't believe anyone. Let me explain in person!"

His steady tone seemed to calm Lydia.

Thirty years together... she was still willing to give him a chance.

Back then, he had nothing when he married her—a rich heiress. Their prenup was clear: cheat, and he walks with nothing.

He'd have to be insane to risk it all.