Chapter 2

Everyone froze when they saw the marriage certificate, staring like they couldn't believe it.

I didn't waste a second. I scooped Heidi up from the ground, ready to get her out of there.

I barely made it a few steps before someone blocked my way.

A man stepped out of a black luxury car, dressed head to toe in designer, a heavy watch catching the light as he moved.

"You've got some nerve, causing trouble right outside my house," he said coldly.

The second I saw his face, I recognized him.

He was the student Stella and I had sponsored years ago. Back then, when we went back to our old school for an event, he had been so thin that he looked like he might collapse. He had groveled before us at the school gate, begging us to help him.

He said his parents had sold everything just to get him through high school, and they couldn't afford college. He kept asking us to give him a chance.

Stella had looked at him with open disgust.

"In this day and age, anyone can make money if they try," she'd said. "Why grovel and pressure people into supporting you?"

And now, the same person she once looked down on was standing in our house, acting like he owned the place and hurting our daughter.

My jaw tightened until it hurt.

The man didn't seem to recognize me. His eyes went straight to Heidi in my arms, something dark flashing across his face.

"Get down on your own," he said flatly. "Or…"

He didn't even finish.

Heidi started shaking violently, then scrambled out of my arms and dropped to the floor, curling in on herself.

My eyes burned.

The man smiled, satisfied, then turned to the maids.

"What's going on?" he asked. "It's Angela's birthday. Is this how you're handling things?"

The maids rushed to explain.

"He forced his way in," one said quickly. "He smashed Ms. Angela's cake and ruined her dress. He even claimed he's Ms. Dixon's husband. He showed a marriage certificate, but we don't know if it's real."

The man's expression went cold. He slapped the maid across the face without hesitation.

"Of course it's fake," he said. "I'm Stella's husband. Don't you people know that?"

Then he looked at the guards.

"Throw him out. Send him to a psych ward," he said. "As for that girl… I'll make sure she pays for seducing men here."

Before I could react, he kicked Heidi hard, sending her tumbling across the ground.

The maids and guards grabbed ropes and closed in on me, ready to send me to the psych ward.

"Don't touch me!" I said sharply. "I'm not just Stella's legal husband. I'm part of a classified government research team. You lay a finger on me, and you'll regret it!"

At the same time, I pulled out my phone and sent out a distress message to Stella and the Federal Security Agency.

The Agency replied almost immediately.

But Stella didn't.

I tried to call her, but the man reacted fast. He snatched my phone and smashed it on the ground.

I didn't hold back. I drove my fist straight into his face.

He staggered back, furious.

"You're done!" he snapped. "You think you can touch me? My wife won't let you off the hook!"

He pulled out his phone and made a call.

The line connected quickly.

A familiar and warm voice came through, filled with affection.

"Hey, honey, you and Angela go ahead and have some cake. I'll be there soon. I'm picking out a gift right now. I have a big surprise for both of you tonight."