Chapter 1

I looked at Shane Mitchell, the manager of the trust fund, in shock. "Wasn't the money given away as a charitable donation?"

Hearing that, Shane hesitated, as though he'd just thought of a possibility. All he could do was offer me an awkward smile.

A heavy feeling came over me, but I didn't press him any further. I simply asked to see the recipient's information.

The moment I saw the money had been transferred to an account belonging to someone named Kayla Reynolds, I accidentally bit through my lower lip. Blood coated my tongue.

That was the name of William Stewart's first love.

William once told me that he fell in love with me because I was the only woman willing to stand by him through everything, especially the hard times. The person he despised the most in the world was his first love who'd dumped him for money.

When he was at his poorest, she had not only ditched him, but she'd even taken every last cent he had before throwing herself into another man's arms.

Yet now, William was giving the woman he hated most five million dollars every year?

The corners of my lips twitched. I wanted to laugh, but I couldn't.

William had claimed that the money was going to a boy with leukemia. The boy was obviously Kayla's son. I saw from the information that he'd been born the same day my daughter, Ivy Stewart, died.

My mind went back to that unbearably painful period of my life. Back then, I spent every waking moment caring for Ivy, but I had to force myself to stay strong. I refused to let her see my grief or despair.

As for William, who should've been there with us, he'd used work as an excuse, saying he was too busy to spend time with Ivy and me.

However, the truth was, he'd run along and fathered a child with another woman at the point when our daughter needed him most. To make matters worse, his son was born the same day Ivy died.

My body swayed, and for a moment, I could barely keep myself upright.

Once I collected myself, I headed straight to the kindergarten the boy attended, which was also included in the file. Rather than sit around guessing, I decided to see the truth for myself.

When I arrived, I discovered it was Family Day at the kindergarten.

I barely had to look before I spotted William in the middle of the field.

His usual stern, no-nonsense demeanor was gone. He was happily running along the track with another woman, the two of them flanking a little boy.

When the "loving family of three" crossed the finish line, my mother-in-law, Martha Cook, was waiting there for them, smiling as she wiped sweat from the boy's face.

My nails dug into my palms as my heart twisted in agony.

Seemingly sensing my gaze, William looked over. His instinctive reaction was to immediately step in front of the boy and the woman, shielding them from me.

Martha's guard came up as well. Eyeing me warily, she asked, "What are you doing here?"

I looked at the rosy-cheeked boy. He was solidly built and looked perfectly healthy, with no trace of illness.

I couldn't resist remarking in a mocking tone, "You said the family was providing financial aid to a boy with leukemia, didn't you? Why are all of you getting so nervous? That being said, he doesn't look like he has leukemia to me."

The expressions on all of their faces changed. Martha looked livid. "Don't you dare curse my grandson like that!"

I looked her in the eye and asked bluntly, "Is he your grandson, Martha? I didn't know you had another child besides William."

Martha's mouth opened, but she didn't respond. Instead, William said to me, "Go home, Holly. Stop being such an embarrassment."

I was the embarrassment, huh?

My lips twitched as I eyed William incredulously.

Meanwhile, the boy standing beside William seemed to grow impatient. He grabbed William by the sleeve and shouted, "Daddy, I'm hungry!"

William picked the boy up without hesitation, while Martha looked at him caringly. "Oh, dear! We mustn't let my precious grandson go hungry, of course. Don't worry. We'll get you something to eat right away!"

The three of them simply ignored me and walked past me.

My expression turned darker.

As the woman who had remained silent the entire time, she deliberately bumped my shoulder as she walked past me. I saw the smug look of triumph in her eyes.