Chapter 1

Being suddenly shoved a baby into my arms left me completely stunned. When I finally processed what was happening, disbelief washed over me.

What did it even mean that Zelda Lawson gave birth to a child for Ryan Lawson?

Even though they were not blood-related, they were still adoptive siblings in name, and more importantly, I was his legal wife.

How could they do something so morally twisted?

Dressing up an affair with such a bizarre justification really showed they thought I was an idiot.

The smile on my face slowly turned cold. I shoved the baby back into Zelda's arms, then ripped that so-called "custody agreement" into tiny pieces. With a flick of my hand, I scattered the shredded paper all over her face.

I said, "I'm not taking the fall for this, especially not for second-hand trash."

Zelda's face instantly flushed red, and her hands trembled as she clutched the baby. Meanwhile, Ryan's expression darkened as he stepped forward and barked at me angrily.

"Victoria Sullivan, what's with that tone?! Zelda was only thinking of what's best for us!"

I felt like I just heard the joke of the century. "Best for us? What's best for us is having her show up at our post-wedding dinner with your bastard child to disgust me?"

He argued, "We're all family here. Can't you be the bigger person?"

Be the bigger person.

It was those exact words again.

Ever since Ryan and I started dating, it was chanted in my ear like a daily mantra, a spell I could not break.

When Zelda said she liked my limited-edition handbag, I had to be the bigger person and give it to her.

When Zelda mentioned she wanted to move into our marital home, I had to be considerate and worry about her safety living alone. So, I became the bigger person and let her move in.

Even when I was pregnant for the first time, Zelda dragged me onto a drop tower ride despite knowing I was terrified of heights. As a result, I was so scared that I started hemorrhaging badly.

My first child with Ryan was just gone like that.

Because of that traumatic experience and the miscarriage, the doctor said I damaged my body fundamentally and would have a hard time conceiving again.

Yet, what did Ryan say back then?

He said, "Victoria, Zelda didn't mean it. She's scared, too. Be the bigger person and don't blame her."

I was being the bigger person, but what did I get in return?

And now, as a reward, she walked right into the room, holding their illegitimate child, while I was still expected to just “be the bigger person” and accept it all.

It was utterly ridiculous.

My voice trembled with rage as I shouted, "Ryan, I was already being the bigger person when I forgave the person who killed my baby. Now you want me to tolerate your mistress and her bastard child moving in? You're absolutely ridiculous!"

Ryan's mother, Margaret Potter, who was silent until now, suddenly snapped and rushed at me.

She jabbed her finger at my nose as she screamed, "Victoria, you barren woman! How dare you even say a word! The Lawson family has only had one son per generation for three generations. If the line ends because of you, you'll be the one who doomed this family. Zelda was kind enough to bear your child. Instead of being grateful, you'd let a Lawson bloodline be cast out into the world?"

She got more and more vicious with her words, her spittle nearly hitting my face.

"I think you're just jealous of Zelda because you can't have children yourself. You are always out drinking and socializing with other men, so maybe your body has already been ruined, which is why you cannot have children!"

Zelda held the baby and wiped her tears beside her, pretending to be pitiful while fanning the flames.

She whimpered, "Victoria, I know you're upset, but how could you cheat on Ryan? I-I even gave Ryan my first time."

She cried as if she suffered the greatest injustice in the world. I was shaking with anger as I stared at the man I loved for three years.

"Ryan, is that what you think too?"

He avoided my gaze, and his voice was completely cold. "If I cared, I would not have married you. Victoria, stop making a scene, sign the agreement, and do not blow this up, because it will not look good for anyone."