Chapter 1

Trash Dad looked at Mom with deep concern.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong?"

Mom just stared blankly at the baby boy in his arms.

"...I think I just heard our daughter talking. She said this boy... isn't my baby."

Trash Dad's face froze for a split second, but he recovered fast.

He bent down and gently kissed her forehead.

"Serena, you're just overexcited. There's no daughter. You had a boy!

"Look at our precious boy. He looks just like you. Same nose, same mouth. He's going to be so handsome when he grows up!"

Trash Dad's routine was painfully predictable, but lovesick Mom fell for it every time!

Crammed at the very bottom of the bin, I struggled with everything I had, trying to kick off the waste piled on top of me.

It pressed down so hard I could barely breathe.

None of it budged. The waste was wet and heavy, and it stank to high heaven.

I was a brand-new baby with no strength at all.

I couldn't even control my arms and legs. All that flailing did nothing but wear me out, so I had no choice but to keep begging lovesick Mom for help.

Silly Mom, open your eyes and take a good look. That baby boy is the son of Trash Dad's stepsister, Sophie Lane. He has the exact same mismatched eyes she does!

When Mom heard that, her eyes flew wide open.

She clearly remembered Sophie from her wedding to Trash Dad. Sophie had one green eye and one brown, and Mom had never forgotten.

Mom took a deep breath, set her jaw, and looked at the baby boy's eyes, which were open just a crack.

When she saw that one was green and one was brown, the color drained from her face, and she rounded on Trash Dad.

"John, we both have blue eyes. Why are his eyes two different colors?"

"The doctor says it's a genetic mutation. It's rare, but it's not impossible."

Trash Dad had obviously prepared that answer long before she asked.

Trash Dad is lying to you again. Don't you dare believe him. He's been lying to you for years.

Mom, hurry up and save me! They stuffed me way down at the bottom of a biohazard bin, and any minute now they're going to throw me in the incinerator and burn me to ash!

The louder I yelled, the faster I breathed.

The bin was huge and packed full. There was hardly any air down there.

Mom couldn't hold back anymore.

Ignoring the pain of having just given birth, she pushed herself up and shouted at Tessa Reed, the red-haired nurse who was wheeling the bin toward the door, "Stop right there!"

Tessa froze and looked at Mom nervously. Mom pointed at the bin. "Bring that bin over here."

Tessa broke out in a cold sweat, and she kept sneaking glances at Trash Dad as she spoke. "Ms. Brunetti, this bin is full of... full of medical waste and all kinds of contaminants.

"If you get anywhere near it, you could develop a serious infection. It could easily be fatal!"

"She's right, sweetheart. That stuff is filthy. It's crawling with germs and viruses, and it smells awful. There's nothing to see."

Mom glared at the nurse and said, biting off each word, "I'll say it one more time. Bring me that bin!"

Trash Dad's face went cold. "Serena, stop this nonsense! Even if you don't care about yourself, think about our son! What's he going to do if you get sick?

"What are you standing around for? Get rid of that medical waste right now!"

"Y-yes... yes, Mr. Carter."

The nurse was about to rush out with the bin.

Mom, stop her! I don't want to die an eighth time... I haven't even gotten to see you or Grandpa yet!

Trash Dad and his stepsister have it all planned out. Once I'm dead, they're going to poison you and Grandpa at this baby's christening party.

Then, with the baby first in line to inherit from Grandpa, they'll use him to take over the whole Brunetti family!