Chapter 2

The day the adoption papers were finalized, my mother smashed the Lane family’s ancestral heirloom.

She said the Lane family did not have a son like me.

I did not argue.

Elena placed Stella in the crib and spoke in a soft voice, “Mrs. Lane is getting older. She’s also become more temperamental.

“Try not to provoke her.”

I nodded.

“Okay.”

Then she added, “You’re quitting your job and staying home to take care of the child starting tomorrow.”

I continued nodding.

“Okay.”

My mother rushed out, still holding the broken pieces of the heirloom in her hands.

“He is the heir of the Lane Corporation! You’re telling him to quit and stay home to raise some illegitimate child?”

Elena’s expression turned cold.

“Mrs. Lane, watch your words.”

My mother rushed in front of me.

“Damian, say something!”

I was preparing the milk formula.

The water temperature was 113°F, and seven level scoops of formula were to be poured.

Stella had a weak stomach. The doctor said we could not make any mistakes.

I shook the bottle until it was mixed properly before speaking.

“Mom, don’t say that about her.”

My mother was momentarily stunned.

“Who are you defending?”

“Stella.”

“She’s not your child!”

I looked at her.

“Now she is.”

My mother tried to slap me, but this time Elena stopped her.

She grabbed my mother’s wrist. Then, she smiled faintly.

“Hit him again and I’ll show you the photo.”

My mother’s hand trembled.

“What exactly are you using to threaten him?”

Elena leaned closer to her ear.

“If you want to know, look for yourself.”

My mother did not dare to look at it.

She hated me, but she was even more afraid of what I had become.

That night, she packed her things and moved out.

Before she left, she stood at the door. Her voice was hoarse and broken.

“Damian, if you ever wake up, come home.”

I held Stella in my arms and did not see her off.

Elena leaned against my shoulder. Her voice was as sweet as honey.

“Your mother doesn’t want you anymore.”

I replied, “I still have you and Stella.”

Satisfied, she kissed my cheek.

“Good boy.”

For the next twelve years, I truly was a good boy.

When Stella was three, she spilled hot water onto the back of my hand.

Elena said, “She’s just a child. Don’t frighten her.”

As such, I hid the blistered burn beneath my sleeve.

When Stella was six, she asked me, “Daddy, why does Grandma say I’m not your biological daughter?”

Elena sat beside her, watching me.

I knelt down and tied her shoelaces.

“Grandma is old and confused.”

Stella smiled and stepped on my foot.

“Then you’re not allowed to see her anymore.”

I nodded.

“Okay.”

The year she turned ten, Zachary returned to the country.

Elena brought him home for dinner.

Somehow, my mother found out and rushed to the door to stop them.

“Zachary, how dare you come back?”

Zachary wore a gray suit. On his wrist was the watch my father loved most when he was alive.

The moment my mother saw it, she completely lost control.

“That’s my husband’s watch!”

Zachary smiled.

“Mrs. Lane, please don’t claim things that don’t belong to you.”

My mother lunged forward to take it, but the bodyguards pushed her to the ground.

I wanted to go help her.

Elena only called my name.

“Damian.”

I stopped.

My mother lay on the ground. Blood trickled down from her temple.

She looked at me. Her lips trembled.

“You’re abandoning your own mother?”

Stella ran out of the house and hugged Zachary’s leg.

“Uncle Zach!”

The way she called him sounded so affectionate.

It was much more affectionate than when she called me Dad.

Zachary picked her up and pinched her nose.

“Stella has grown taller.”

My mother stared at them. Then suddenly, she laughed.

The laughter slowly turned into crying.

“Damian, you really are your father’s good son.”

I stood by the doorway. My fingers dug into my palm.

Elena wrapped her arm around mine.

“Your mother says hurtful things. Don’t take them to heart.”

I lowered my voice.

“I won’t.”

When Zachary entered the house, he deliberately bumped into my shoulder.

“Mr. Lane. No, I suppose I should call you Damian now.”

He looked at the oil stains on my apron. His eyes were filled with mockery.

“I heard you haven’t even gone to the company all these years?”

I answered, “The family needed someone to take care of the home.”

Zachary laughed.

“Good. A man who puts his family first is doing the right thing.”

Stella rested on his shoulder and stuck her tongue out at me.

“Useless dad.”

Everyone in the room laughed…

Everyone except my mother, who sat by the doorway looking as though she had suddenly aged ten years.

Elena looked at me.

“Prepare dinner now. Zachary likes steamed fish.”

I turned around and walked into the kitchen.

As the knife sliced open the fish’s belly, I heard Zachary ask from the living room.

“Does that photo still work?”

Elena replied, “Of course.”

Zachary asked again, “He still hasn’t suspected anything?”

Elena laughed.

“Do you really think he looks like someone with a brain?”

The knife fell onto the cutting board.

Thud.

Elena walked to the kitchen doorway.

“Damian, what did you just hear?”

I turned around.

“You said Mr. Quinn likes steamed fish.”

She stared at me for a long moment, then she finally smiled.

“Good boy.”