Chapter 2

Samantha sat motionless on the bed all night, her heart empty.

Her entire life was like a joke.

She laughed.

Including their five years of marriage, she had loved Channing for eight years.

Back in college, she had fallen for Channing at first sight, but she knew very well that she wasn't worthy of him. The Lane family was the most powerful family in the area. She was only an orphan who had lost both parents.

Samantha kept working hard, treating him like a dream she had to catch.

At last, she was truly seen.

In college, she showed great talent with computers. A small game she created became popular with all the boys at school. A major company had already offered a huge sum to buy the patent before she even graduated.

She could have earned the first fortune of her life from it, but in the end, she chose to use her patent to help Channing for free.

At the time, Channing had already joined the game company under the Lane Group. If he hadn't needed to be the first in his generation to produce real results and secure his inheritance rights, he never would have married her.

But even after he married her, Channing had never once tried to love her.

In the past, Samantha had naively believed that as long as she worked hard enough, he would one day cherish her.

Alas, reality was often disappointing.

It was time to wake up. She was going to divorce Channing.

Samantha wanted to get up and take a shower, but she had been sitting for so long that her legs had gone stiff and she almost fell. In the end, she simply fell unconscious while lying flat in her bed on her stomach.

When she woke again, it was already five in the evening.

Although she had been home all day, the house had been strangely quiet. No one disturbed her, as if both her husband and son had pretended she didn't exist and didn't need her.

She picked up the phone.

"Tina, can you help me prepare a divorce agreement?"

Tina Hanson was Samantha's best friend, and an excellent lawyer focusing on divorce law. "I've already drafted it according to your requirements. Should I send it to you to take a look?"

"Thank you, Tina." Samantha paused, then immediately added, "No. Just have someone deliver it right away."

"Is it urgent? Have you really thought this through?" Tina asked.

In truth, she wasn't against Samantha getting a divorce.

Back when Sydney had deliberately hurt Samantha and caused her to have a miscarriage, Tina had insisted that Samantha shouldn't forgive her or settle. Sydney must be sent to prison.

But how could her small law firm withstand the pressure from those with powerful influences?

Even though Tina had been crushed by that power, she knew very well that the incident had cracked Samantha and Channing's marriage. It could never go back to the way it was.

In reality, how many broken things could truly be repaired? Tina only believed that something that had cracked would simply get even more brittle in time.

After that incident, Tina had thought Samantha wouldn't be able to endure it for long before getting a divorce. She had never expected Samantha to last so many more years.

The most despicable part was that Channing had taken the initiative to adopt a son with her, using that son to distract her from the agony of losing her own baby.

Tina had at first thought that since Samantha had managed to endure even that, she wouldn't suddenly act now. But after handling so many cases, Tina was worried Samantha was only acting on impulse.

"Channing may not be a good husband, but in some ways..." she began.

Samantha turned on the light and sat up, her thoughts clearer than before.

"I've thought it through. Tina, do you know something? Harold is very likely the son Channing has with Sydney while he was cheating on me."

"What?!" Tina was shocked.

She had never expected someone like the heir of the Lane Group, and a wealthy CEO at that, to do something so shameless. How could he hurt someone like this?

Tina immediately cursed under her breath. "Does he even have a conscience? Forget getting it delivered! I'm not working overtime today, and I'll bring it to you myself!"

After the call ended, Samantha's tears fell too.

Ever since she had broken down last night, something had been stuck in her chest. Her mind, body, and everything felt wrong. She could even feel her chest tighten as her breathing grew shallow.

Only after saying those words to Tina did Samantha finally understand what had been stuck in her chest.

Resentment.

Hatred.

The grievance of being mistreated like this.

Sydney had caused Samantha to lose her child, yet that woman herself had given birth to Channing's son while she was still married to Channing.

Even worse, Sydney had used that son to steal years of Samantha's attention and motherly love. Samantha had given everything to their child.

If she hadn't discovered the truth, how long would she have sacrificed herself for him? Was she supposed to spend her entire existence exhausting herself for a husband who didn't love her and a child who wasn't hers?

Samantha hadn't even wiped away her tears when Tina arrived.

The doorbell rang.

Samantha opened the door to find Tina standing outside, documents in hand. Tina looked like she would have dragged Samantha and Channing to the Clerk's Office to finalize the divorce immediately, if not for the fact that the office refused to work overtime.

Before Samantha could speak, Tina said, "Do you know who I saw on the way here?"

She took out her phone and played Samantha a video she had recorded from the road.

In a family diner along the road, Channing, Sydney, and Harold were sitting together, having dinner like a family.

Sydney was sitting affectionately beside Harold as she talked to Channing while teasing her son. The boy proudly shook his head and leaned against her with complete fondness.

Meanwhile, Channing was serving them food. His gaze was fixed on Sydney across from him the entire time, as if she were the only person he could see.

Just moments ago, a tiny bit of hope remained inside of Samantha that maybe she had gotten it wrong.

Now, her heart truly died. After taking the divorce agreement, she collapsed into Tina's arms and cried bitterly.

After Samantha calmed down a little, Tina couldn't stay because she needed to meet a client for a consultation. Samantha let her leave first.

It was past ten at night when Samantha finally heard movement downstairs in the manor.

Harold was asking reluctantly, "Daddy, can't Mommy live at home? I'm so happy to see her."

Because Samantha had opened the window and was standing beside it, she heard every word clearly.

The son she had raised for years was calling the woman who had hurt her "Mommy."

So… Saving her as "Syd" on his phone had only been a cover. The real way he called her was Mommy.

Their family of three had eaten dinner, satisfied and happy. Meanwhile, Samantha couldn't drink even a mouthful of water or eat a piece of bread.

She didn't hear Channing answering the question.

Samantha didn't know how much time had passed until a tall figure approached her.

Channing's thin lips pressed against her ear, and his low voice asked her in a seductive tone, "Are you still angry about yesterday?"

Then, he kissed her.

Only then did Samantha return to her senses. She wanted to step back, but Channing's tall figure trapped her completely. He picked her up and carried her toward the bed, throwing her onto it before pressing her down over her.

Samantha knew he hadn't gotten enough last night, and now he wanted to let loose on her.

How could she possibly agree?

She bit him in the lip hard, and blood trickled from Channing's lip. He let out a muffled groan before raising his head. His slender fingers wiped the blood from his lip, and he stared at her in anger.

Then, he lunged forward and kissed her even harder.

Samantha pressed her hands against his broad figure.

When she looked at Channing's handsome face, so close to hers, her heart still beat strongly.

She remembered their first meeting eight years ago, at a tech exhibition held on Christmas. He had been wearing a black cashmere coat, his demeanor polished and proud.

She couldn't stop herself from following him with her eyes as he walked past.

Then she saw a young woman wearing an expensive white fur coat over a red dress lean intimately against his shoulder, acting indulgently with him. The coldness in his eyes suddenly melted, and he stroked her head affectionately.

Samantha later learned that the young woman was Channing's childhood sweetheart and also the woman he loved most.

Samantha finally woke up completely, and she used all her strength to push Channing away as he lay over her.

"What is it?" Channing asked with a hoarse voice as his cheeks were flushed.

Samantha asked, "Channing, did you and Sydney have a son together?"

When Channing heard her words, his expression changed at once, turning extremely cold. His desire for her vanished too, and he sat up and pulled away.

"Yes," he suddenly admitted. "She gave birth to a son. He's of my blood."

Samantha's voice trembled. "That boy is Harold, right?"

"Yes." Channing's voice was firm. "It's Harry."