All Chapters of He Chose His First Love's Son, I Faked Our Deaths: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

I'd just finished watching the video the gossip reporter had sent me and was about to delete it when he sent another message."Adrian Shaw's dirty little scandal. Two and a half million dollars will keep his reputation and your perfect marriage intact. Not too high a price, is it?"I scoffed.I replied, "Go ahead and leak it. I don't care."Then I blocked him.When I turned around, the nanny had just brought my son, Noah Shaw, home from preschool. He was rubbing his red, teary eyes."Mommy, when is Daddy coming home? All the kids at preschool say I'm the kid without a dad," he sobbed.My chest tightened, and tears burned my eyes.I pulled him into my arms, but my mind drifted back to that night five years earlier.We'd been on a business trip. Adrian, the man I'd quietly loved for ten years, had barged into my hotel room drunk.He was barely conscious, so I let him stay.I thought we'd get through the night without bothering each other. Instead, he suddenly started burning up, and befo

With that, I grabbed my sobbing son and rushed out of the house.I heard hurried footsteps behind me.I thought Adrian had come after us.Like a fool, I looked back, only to find it was Chloe."Mandy, don't be angry. Adrian is just being stubborn. Even after all these years with me, he never stopped worrying about you and Noah. He just couldn't get past the way you tricked him into marrying you."Her voice was soft."But I'm so grateful to Adrian. He gave Leo the father he'd never had. He truly loves Leo as his own."Mandy."Chloe took my hand.The gesture looked friendly, but every word cut straight into my heart. "Leo finally has a father. He's very possessive and doesn't want Adrian to have any other children."Poor Leo. I divorced his father right after he was born. Without Adrian, we'd be all alone, and life would be so hard."I'll convince Adrian not to divorce you. Don't worry. He listens to me."But I do have one condition."Could you please let Leo have his daddy to himself in

The words hit Adrian like a blow."What? My family's ashes?"Before he could finish, the line went dead.He stood frozen as images of Mandy and Noah flashed through his mind."No... No way!"Adrian tore out of the hospital and floored it all the way to the funeral home.He sped through one red light after another. Chloe called him over and over, but he ignored every call.When he finally reached the funeral home, his knees nearly gave out as soon as he stepped from the car.He was terrified that the "family" the caller had mentioned meant his wife and son.It took him a long time to find the courage to walk inside.His legs felt like lead, and he could barely lift them.The funeral director placed two urns in front of him. Each bore a familiar name in clear lettering."Mandy Jennings.""Noah Shaw."Adrian's mind went blank as he ran his fingers over the photos on the urns."How?"Just a few days ago, I heard Noah had been rushed in with a medical emergency," he murmured. "How could he

He couldn't hide his disappointment.Chloe wasn't happy about that."What's that supposed to mean? You don't want to see me?"Didn't you say you had no feelings for Mandy at all? Then why did you keep calling her name? You have no idea how much that hurt me!"Adrian felt a heavy weight settle on his chest.He gave Chloe an impatient look."And what about you? What have you done?"You gave interviews at the hospital claiming you're my wife and Leo is my son. How could you lie so casually? You know exactly who my wife and son are!"Adrian roared, a vein throbbing at his temple.Chloe immediately softened her voice."I... I just wanted to love you."I didn't mean any harm."She lowered her head as tears filled her eyes. She looked so fragile that anyone would have pitied her."Besides, you said it yourself. You said that even though we weren't married, I was your wife in your heart, and Leo was your son. That's why I... I'm sorry. I went too far."I thought you really meant it."She knew

Adrian's ears began to ring.His mind went back five years."Mr. Shaw, someone let the truth slip after a few drinks. The person who drugged you that night was trying to secure a deal with the company, but you stumbled into the wrong room."When that person realized what had happened, they had no choice but to slip away quietly."I've since confirmed it with the person involved and checked the messages they sent that night."Their timeline matches the night you were with Mandy exactly!"Adrian was speechless.He gripped the phone, too devastated even to cry.After a long silence, the phone slipped from his hand and hit the pavement with a smack.Adrian slumped where he sat, completely lost.He'd blamed Mandy from the very beginning, and she'd been innocent all along.He was the one who had destroyed their marriage. Mandy had endured the pregnancy and given birth alone. She had fought through everything to raise Noah by herself. In the end, she'd died because of him.Adrian gasped for a