Chapter 2

Then Max looked at me with a triumphant smirk.

"I'll publish this withdrawal application online for everyone to see. You won't get a second chance to sue."

Max then sent me a photo.

It was a mansion worth millions in a prime school district.

"Shawna's almost depressed because of you. This villa is your apology gift to her."

I looked at Max's arrogant face, my expression darkening.

"You buy that house yourself, Max! After all, the victim's family who made her depressed isn't me."

Max shot me a furious glare, his face turning pale.

"Seraphina Hayes, what does your mother dying have to do with me? You're the only victim's family here. Don't drag me into this. My mother is perfectly fine."

Then he pointed a warning finger at me.

"Don't let me catch you cursing my mother behind my back, or I swear I won't let you off easy."

With that, Max grabbed the withdrawal application and stormed out.

I watched his retreating back, utterly bewildered, unable to fathom why Max would go to such lengths for Shawna, even threatening our son's life.

Thinking of Leo, I frantically called Maria, the nanny. Learning that Leo had already been taken to the hospital, I rushed there immediately.

After a doctor's examination, Leo was fine, but I froze when I saw his medical report.

The report listed Leo's blood type as AB!

But I am O-negative.

A wave of panic washed over me. I grabbed the report and hurried home, determined to confront Max.

Just as I was about to knock, I heard mocking laughter from inside.

"It was just an AI-generated video, and Seraphina believed it right away. You're so clever, Max."

Peeking through the slightly ajar door, I saw Shawna leaning into Max's embrace, gazing at him with adoration.

Max's hand traced circles on Shawna's back.

"How could I ever truly hang *our* biological son hundreds of feet in the air?"

Shawna giggled shyly, tracing patterns on his chest.

"It was brilliant, the way you swapped Seraphina's vitamins for birth control pills, making her believe she was infertile, then forced her into IVF. Then, so naturally, you had my egg implanted in her, making her carry our son for ten months. Pure genius."

It felt like a thunderbolt exploded in my mind. My son, whom I had lovingly raised for five years, was Shawna's?

I clenched my fists, feeling a sharp knife plunge deep into my heart.

I never imagined the man sharing my bed was a complete demon!

I was about to push the door open and confront Max, but his next words stopped me cold.

"If it weren't for Seraphina's family background, I never would have left you to marry her. Now that her mother is dead, all the inheritance will go to Seraphina. Once I get my hands on those assets, our family of three can finally be together."

Max's words were like invisible hands squeezing my heart, making it impossible to breathe.

I never thought this entire conspiracy was tailor-made for me!

If Evelyn hadn't come to our house that day to bring Max soup, perhaps the one who died would truly have been *my* mother.

I dared not think further. I immediately pulled out my phone and dialed my lawyer.

"Prepare a divorce agreement for me right away. I'm filing for divorce."

Then I called my assistant.

"Help me investigate something."

The next day, I returned home with the divorce papers. Max was lounging on the sofa, casually eating fruit with Shawna in his arms.

When he saw me, Max's face darkened.

"So you finally decided to come home. Where's that apology gift I told you to get for Shawna? Is it ready?"

I scoffed at Max's entitled attitude.

"Max, Shawna caused Evelyn's death, and you expect me to buy Shawna a house? Aren't you afraid Evelyn will crawl out of her grave tonight to claim your life?"

Hearing me, Shawna, feigning fear, hid deeper in Max's embrace.

"Max, I know Sera is still angry about Evelyn's death, but how can she curse people so viciously?"

Max looked at me with utter disgust.

"Your mother's death is her own bad luck. Otherwise, why would the fire only burn her and no one else? If you keep dwelling on this, don't blame me for being unkind."