Chapter 1

"Eunice, I've completed all the paperwork and brought him home," Simon Lincoln said as he guided a boy who appeared to be around ten years old toward me.

"Come on, this is your mom from now on," he encouraged the child.

The word 'mom' hit me like a bolt of lightning. My whole body shuddered, and I nearly dropped the water glass in my hand. I quickly looked up toward the source of the voice and met a pair of eyes as dark as night.

Simon was holding Owen Lincoln's hand while giving me a warm, affectionate smile. A wave of nausea suddenly washed over me, and I gulped down several mouthfuls of cold water until my stomach began to cramp uncomfortably before I finally set the glass down.

"Eunice, are you alright?" Simon's voice was filled with concern, his eyes brimming with worry.

Every gesture he made was thoughtful, as if I were his entire world. Since our marriage, he had always put me first and accommodated my every need.

Even when I could not bear children, he took the blame and told everyone it was his problem. Yet, this seemingly perfect husband would eventually conspire with his stepson to take my life.

"Dad, does Mom not like me?" Owen's words jolted me back to reality—it was just like my previous life.

At first, I truly believed Simon could not have children. However, I accidentally discovered my medical reports in his drawer—I was the one who could not bear children.

I looked at Simon, feeling guilty for letting him shoulder the blame and criticism from others all these years.

Having witnessed everything, Owen claimed I was deliberately ignoring him and did not like him. This resentment persisted until the day he drove me out of the house.

"No, she doesn't dislike you. She's just overwhelmed with joy," Simon quickly responded.

I walked over to Owen and crouched beside him, fighting my disgust as I gently patted his head. "Yes, your dad is right. I don't dislike you at all. I love you very much," I said, assuring him.

Owen looked at me skeptically before asking, "Really?"

I nodded firmly. "Of course it's true."

Simon smiled contentedly. "This is perfect. We finally have a son, and my parents will be relieved too. Eunice, why don't we invite them to stay with us?"

I agreed without hesitation. After all, family should stay together. Or suffer together.

Simon's parents arrived incredibly fast the next morning. His mother, Irene Truman, made herself comfortable on the couch and beckoned Owen over. "Come here, my precious grandson. Oh, aren't you just adorable?"

Owen snuggled into Irene's embrace, appearing perfectly well-behaved. However, no one knew that Owen had developed a pretty nasty personality under the influence of Simon's former flame, Yuna Grover.