Chapter 1

I stared at the message on my phone, frozen in place.

Jealousy and bitterness surged over me like a tidal wave, swallowing me whole.

For some reason, my mind drifted back to the day I was first brought home.

Back then, I stood awkwardly in the villa wearing dull, worn-out clothes that made me look completely out of place.

Angela Miller, meanwhile, was dressed in an elegant little dress. There was not the slightest trace of hostility in her eyes.

Instead, she walked over and took my hand warmly.

"Cassidy, we're family now."

My parents looked at me with guilt written all over their faces as they pulled me down to sit beside them.

"Cassidy, we're sorry. We failed you all these years, but we'll make it up to you."

"We've already arranged marriage prospects for both you and Angela. Take a look and see which family you prefer."

Compared to spending my whole life struggling as an ordinary worker, what was so terrible about an arranged marriage?

I agreed without much thought.

A few days later, the medical checkup results came back.

The doctor's expression was unusually serious.

"Cassidy Miller is healthy. She exercises regularly and has no major issues.

"But Angela has a naturally cold uterus and a weaker constitution. Conceiving in the future will likely be very difficult."

That same night, Angela came to see me alone.

"Cassidy, the Cardone family may be wealthy and powerful, but their son, Gary Cardone, has fertility issues. If you marry into that family, you'll definitely suffer.

"But my body condition makes pregnancy difficult anyway. Even if I can't conceive after marrying him, nobody would blame me."

At the time, I was deeply moved. I felt the whole thing was terribly unfair to her.

She simply smiled, her voice soft and gentle.

"I spent twenty years in the Miller family enjoying the life that should have been yours. This is the least I can do."

Even my parents tried to persuade me.

"Cassidy, listen to Angela. The Cardone family is too complicated.

"You should marry into the Lester family instead. Our families are well matched, and we've known each other for years."

Back then, I truly believed my suffering was finally over.

I had found my family, and I was about to marry into a good household.

What I did not realize was that this was the beginning of the nightmare.

Alex Lester really did treat me well. He was honest, gentle, and always accommodating toward me.

However, after a year of marriage, I still was not pregnant.

In wealthy families built on alliances, producing an heir was everything.

The atmosphere at home had already been tense, but the moment news arrived that Angela was pregnant, everything exploded.

My mother-in-law, who had once treated me kindly, gradually became more and more dissatisfied.

Every day, she muttered under her breath.

"What's the point of marrying a hen that can't lay eggs? We should've let my son marry Angela instead. At least she could give me a grandson…"

I was furious and humiliated.

Thankfully, Alex stepped in and shielded me.

"Mom, Cassidy is already trying her best. If we can't have a child, you can't just blame her. These things take time."

My mother-in-law shot me a sharp look and raised her voice.

"How can I not be anxious? Just look at the Cardone family. They used to look down on Angela, but now that she's pregnant, they treat her like royalty. Everyone says she's blessed. Meanwhile, look at our family…"

After that, I gave up every food I loved.

I started working out, regulating my schedule, living with a level of discipline that barely felt human in the modern world.

I even stopped using skincare products because I was afraid the chemicals might affect fertility.

Alex and I went to the hospital for countless examinations.

However, every report came back the same: both of us were perfectly healthy.

No problems whatsoever.

As for why I still could not get pregnant, even the doctors could not explain it.

Snapping out of my thoughts, I closed the medical report in my hands and prepared to head home.

Suddenly, someone cried out in surprise and blocked my path.

"Angela? Did you come to visit me?"