Sharing a Son With My Husband's Ex

Luther Tanner sighed. "I've let you down. I couldn't keep you by my side, so the only thing I could do was raise our child myself."

Monica Spencer shook her head. "You've done more than enough. To secure Sean's inheritance rights, you even sent away the daughter you had with Clara. You've suffered more than I have. Once the surgery is over, I'll leave. We've already done Clara wrong by seeing each other today."

He tightened his grip on her hand and gently brushed her hair back. "We were never meant to be. Clara has always stood between us. But if we ever meet again in our next lives, I promise to marry you."

He pulled her into his embrace and kissed her passionately. She struggled for a moment before giving in, tears welling in her eyes as she kissed him back.

The love on Luther's face looked all too genuine.

Clara Jones felt like barbed wire was slowly tightening around her heart, each twist digging deeper than the last. They were the two most important people in her life, yet now, they were betraying her together.

And to think, they hadn't always been like this…

On Clara's wedding day, Monica had been her bridesmaid. She'd cried so hard that she was practically a wreck.

Grabbing the microphone, she had warned Luther that if he ever made Clara unhappy, she would never let him off the hook.

She had even bought a house across the street from the Tanner residence so she could drop by for meals every day.

Back then, Clara had truly believed she was the happiest woman in the world. She had the best husband by her side and her best friend living right across the street.

Less than two years after Sean was born, however, Clara began to notice strange things.

Luther would often sit alone on the balcony, smoking and staring blankly at his phone. They had known each other for so long that she could read him like an open book.

It took only the smallest change in his behavior for her to realize it—Luther was cheating on her.

Clara spent ages investigating, but he had hidden the other woman well. In the end, all she could find was a few chat records. She confronted him in a furious scene and demanded a divorce.

The day before they were supposed to finalize their divorce, Luther slashed his wrist and begged her through tears. "I can't live without you, Clara."

Only when he was rushed to the hospital did Clara realize just how deeply intertwined their lives had become after more than a decade of love.

They were bound together like flesh and bone, so interwoven that they could no longer be separated. So, ultimately, she forgave him.

After they remarried, Luther went out of his way to give Clara everything she wanted. The villa practically overflowed with flowers, jewelry, and designer gowns.

He stopped attending business dinners and spent every spare moment taking her and their son, Sean Tanner, on trips.

Clara had believed that he had cut ties with the other woman long ago, but she never imagined that the mistress was her very best friend.

Worst of all, the son she had doted on for five years was the product of their affair.

Fighting back the pain in her heart, Clara turned and walked back down the hallway. After hesitating for a long time, she finally dialed a number she hadn't called in years.

"I saved your life once, and you promised me three favors. I still have two left," she said. "First, find my daughter. Second, help me get two sets of immigration papers ready for her and me. I'm leaving Luther for good."

The man's deep voice came through the phone. "Give me three days. I'll take you away."

Clara had barely hung up when she turned and saw Sean standing at the top of the stairs, watching her.

No matter how terribly Luther had treated her, Sean was still the child she had cherished for five years, the boy she had loved with all her heart.

With their separation drawing near, she couldn't help but feel a little reluctant to let him go.

Clara took off her coat and draped it over his shoulders. "What are you doing out here? Your surgery is in a few days. It's cold outside."

Sean shook his head. "Mommy, once I'm better, can Ms. Spencer be my mommy instead? I'll be healthy and good enough to be her son at last."

Clara's smile froze.

Monica was a model who spent most of her time traveling between cities and countries for work. Sean had often said that she was young and beautiful, and that he wished she could be his mother.

Back then, Clara dismissed it as a child's innocent ramblings. Now, looking back, she realized just how in sync this mother and son had been.

"Don't worry. Your wish will come true very soon. I'll be out of your lives for good."

Just then, the hospital room door behind her swung open.

"Where are you going?" Luther asked somewhat angrily.