Chapter 2

My family is seriously loaded. My parents own properties and investments all over the country, and the passive income alone means we’re set for life. I mean, we could literally just chill and never run out of cash.

When I first met Dean, he *despised* the wealthy. Absolutely loathed them.

He claimed his first love dumped him for a rich life overseas, and ever since, he's sworn off anyone with money.

Which is why I could *never* tell him the truth: I was practically swimming in cash.

To keep up his facade, I wore clothes from the discount racks and only bought generic brand groceries on sale. Anything to seem 'normal.'

He had a ridiculously fragile ego. Unemployed, he’d just lie around the house, drinking daily, whining that there wasn't a single job on earth good enough for him.

To protect his precious ego, I secretly pulled some strings with Mr. Hayes.

I offered a major investment in his company if he’d just give Dean a job.

Mr. Hayes didn't hesitate; he personally called Dean right away, practically begging him to come in.

The very first day he landed the job, he came home with a huge cake.

He kissed me with such force, promising he'd make tons of money to take care of Leo and me.

Now, for a couple million bucks, he's actually trying to team up with the other woman to frame *me* for cheating. The audacity!

He’s pathetic. If he’d ever paid any real attention to me, he would’ve noticed the multiple sets of keys on my nightstand.

The next morning.

As Dean was about to head out, he leaned in for a kiss.

I pretended to look down, just barely dodging him.

He froze for a split second, then chuckled.

"Honey, I’ll pick you up after work tonight. Make sure you look extra gorgeous."

Today was my birthday.

He’d been promising a "big surprise" for me since two weeks ago.

If I hadn’t walked in on them last night, I’d still be clueless that his "surprise" was actually a trap, all set for me.

I gave him a sickeningly sweet smile. "Okay."

You want a show, huh? You just don’t know whose show it’s going to be.

"Leo, come on."

Chloe lifted Leo down from the table, speaking in an unnaturally sweet voice.

"Say goodbye to Mommy."

Leo obediently told me, "Bye, Mommy."

Then Leo took Chloe's hand and walked out the door with Dean.

Leo used to *dread* school.

Mornings were a nightmare:

he’d refuse to get up, wouldn’t eat breakfast, and no amount of patient coaxing from me ever worked. It was always tears and tantrums.

Chloe suggested,

"I go out every morning too. How about I just drop Leo off at school? It's on my way."

And Leo, he’d actually listen to her and go to school without a fuss. It saved me a ton of stress.

A few days later, Dean chimed in, "My office is on the way. I can just take you all."

And ever since, they’d all leave together.

I ate my toast, watching Chloe and Dean, hand-in-hand with Leo, get into the car.

Chloe was in the passenger seat, laughing and chatting with Dean, while my son sat quietly in the back, swinging his feet, looking perfectly happy.

It was like a picture-perfect family.