Chapter 3

On Stella’s thirteenth birthday, Elena booked the most expensive hotel in the city.

My mother came too.

She refused to see me all these years. More than half of her hair had turned white.

The moment she saw me kneeling on the floor, fixing Stella’s dress, her eyes instantly turned red.

Stella kicked my hand away in disgust.

“Don’t touch me. You’re dirty.”

I pulled my hand back.

“Okay.”

The relatives nearby whispered among themselves.

“Damian is completely ruined.”

“His wife is raising her ex-boyfriend’s child, and yet he treats her like royalty.”

“I heard it was all because of a single photo back then.”

“What kind of photo could be that powerful? I’d like to see it too.”

Elena heard them and raised her glass with a smile.

“You’d like to see it?”

The entire room went quiet.

Slowly, she took the photograph out of her bag.

Everyone took half a step back.

No one dared to take it.

My mother rushed in front of me and lowered her voice as she said, “Damian, don’t embarrass yourself again today. Come home with me.”

I replied, “Mom, it’s Stella’s birthday today.”

She grabbed my hand tightly.

“Your father died under suspicious circumstances. Zachary is sitting at the main table, and yet you’re throwing a birthday party for his daughter?”

Zachary was sitting in the seat of honor.

Stella leaned against him, calling him Daddy.

The moment my mother heard that, her body swayed.

Elena walked over with a glass of wine.

“Mrs. Lane, please don’t get so worked up.”

She placed a document on the table.

“Since you’re already here, it’ll save me a trip.”

I saw the words on the cover.

[Lane Corporation’s Share Transfer Agreement.]

My mother saw it too.

She suddenly looked up.

“Have you lost your mind?”

Elena pointed at me.

“Let Damian transfer the shares under his name to Stella.”

Zachary added, “She’s grown up. She needs some security for her future.”

My mother grabbed the document and tried to tear it apart, but two bodyguards grabbed her shoulders and held her back.

I stepped forward.

“Don’t touch my mother.”

Elena raised an eyebrow.

“You care about her now?”

She placed the photograph in front of me.

“Then sign.”

I picked up the pen.

My mother struggled desperately.

“Damian, if you sign this, your father’s entire life’s work will be destroyed!”

Stella rolled her eyes.

“Grandma, stop yelling.

“You’ll have to rely on me to support you in the future anyway.”

My mother was too furious to speak.

Zachary smiled and patted Stella’s head.

“Stella is such a good girl.”

I lowered my head. The tip of the pen touched the paper.

Just then, my mother broke free from the bodyguards and rushed over. She fell to her knees in front of me.

She wrapped her arms around my legs.

“Damian, Mom is begging you.

“If you want to raise her, I’ll accept it.

“If you want to stay with Elena, I’ll accept that too.

“But you cannot give away the shares. Your father traded his life for them.”

I looked at her.

Her hands were ice cold.

Elena spoke impatiently, “Mrs. Lane, why don’t you take a look at the photo too?”

My mother looked up.

“Let me see it.”

My fingers froze.

Elena smiled.

“Are you sure?”

My mother wiped away her tears and stared at her.

“I want to see exactly what you did that turned my son into this.”

Elena handed her the photograph.

However, I grabbed it first.

Everyone watched me.

I flipped the photo over and handed it to my mother.

She only glanced at it once. Her expression changed.

It was not fear, but shock.

Then, with trembling hands, she picked up the agreement and pressed her thumbprint onto the final page.

The entire room erupted.

My uncle was the first to rush over.

“Sophia, have you gone crazy too?”

My mother ignored him.

She only looked at me. Her eyes were bloodshot.

Elena frowned.

“What did you show her?”

I slipped the photo back into my pocket.

“It’s the same photo you gave me all those years ago.”

Elena stared at me.

Zachary stood up as well.

The smile disappeared from his face.

Stella impatiently slapped the table.

“Just sign already! I want to open my presents.”

I picked up the pen and signed my name on the agreement.

The guests erupted into chaos.

My uncle grabbed me by the collar.

“Damian, what exactly did you show your mother?”

I looked at him and smiled.

“Would you like to take a look at it?”