Chapter 1

Bianca's POV

Yvette Silva's younger brother, Aster Silva, looked at me, whose face was streaked with tears, and sneered, "See? You're nothing but a babysitter who raises their kids for free!

"The only reason Yvette and Julius have been arch-nemeses is that they've known each other since childhood for 20 years and have spent all that time hating each other for not loving one another enough."

A sharp cramp tore through my lower abdomen. Even though my wound had healed long ago, it felt as though someone had brutally ripped it open, sending excruciating pain through me.

For the last five years, I'd thought I was wrapped in love. However, now, I realized I'd been blindfolded by my own illusions.

My phone's screen remained frozen on the booking confirmation page.

Julius Robles' messages kept popping up on WhatsApp. "Bee, it's getting colder in Kestrel. Since you have an old injury in your leg, remember to dig out your knee braces and wear them."

Every single word he wrote was thoughtful and attentive.

Five years ago, the vow he made as he knelt beside my hospital bed rang in my ears. "I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to you!"

Who could have imagined that all of this was merely an elaborate deception?

My phone vibrated. I'd received a call from Julius.

I stared at it blankly for quite a while and only answered it when the ringtone reached the fifth ring.

"What took you so long, Bee?"

"I was asleep."

The crisp click of a lighter came from the other end of the line. "It's getting colder in Marisport. I'll have my concierge doctor check on you tomorrow so your joints don't ache from the cold again.

"As soon as I wrap up this project, I'll take you skiing in Glimmerwald. I know you've always wanted to go."

As I watched the neon nightscape whiz past outside the car window, my mind was filled with the image of him gripping Yvette's chin with bloodshot eyes, followed by the two of them losing themselves in each other.

I bit my lip so hard that I tasted blood. "Julius, have you always thought I was filthy?"

The line instantly went dead.

Several seconds later, his furious voice came through the receiver. "Who has been filling your head with nonsense again? I'll have my assistant deal with them!"

Not a single tear could spill from my dry eye sockets. "Let's get divorced, Julius."

"Bianca, are you upset because I'm away on a business trip? I'll push all my meetings aside and fly back tonight. Be good and wait for me at home."

I choked back a sob. "Julius, you went to visit Yvette, didn't you…"

He froze for a split second before he rushed out. "Don't let your imagination get the better of you. She's at a sanatorium in Veridia. She won't hurt you again."

I didn't have the strength to listen to any more of his lies, so I hung up.

…

When I returned to the villa, soaked to the bone, the butler, Martha Perez, hurriedly brought me a cup of chamomile tea.

"Mrs. Robles, you injured your body five years ago; you absolutely can't afford to catch a cold now." I ignored her and walked straight into the nursery.

Emma Robles and Elijah Robles were fast asleep. Upon closer inspection, their features were practically a carbon copy of Julius'.

Quite a few people had talked about how blessed we were because even the children we'd adopted had grown to look more and more like Julius. Who could have imagined that this pair of children was his own flesh and blood?

In the center of the nursery wall hung a family portrait that the two children had drawn themselves. It was a happy family of four, but the mother in the drawing sported a short bob.

I'd asked Emma in confusion, "I have long hair. Why did you draw me with short hair?"

Emma had thrown her chubby little arms around me and answered, "Because I think Mommy would look prettier with short hair."

As it turned out, the person she had drawn wasn't me, but Yvette, who wore her hair in a neat short cut.

I dragged myself into the study, printed out the divorce agreement and the declaration of voluntary relinquishment of parental rights, and signed my name without hesitation.

Julius' eyes were bloodshot as soon as he saw the documents on his desk. "Bianca Montes, do you really want a divorce?"

I nodded. "I know everything now. Emma and Elijah are Yvette's children."