Chapter 1

In the third year of our marriage, my husband brought home a heavily pregnant woman.

She wore a cheap, frayed tank top, her belly swelling proudly.

Ethan had a smug grin plastered across his face.

"She's carrying my baby boy. Starting tomorrow, quit your job to take care of her. And hand-wash her underwear every day."

Fury surged through my veins. I stormed into the kitchen, grabbed a heavy chef's knife, and marched back out.

"In your fucking dreams! I'll chop both of you cheating bastards into pieces right now!"

The moment the words left my mouth, glowing lines of text suddenly floated across my vision like live comments:

[Girl, don't be reckless! That baby belongs to the billionaire CEO of the Sterling Group! She took his money and ran!]

[Next month, Mr. Sterling will track her down. To thank you for protecting his only heir, he'll write you a check for fifty million dollars!]

[Your husband is taking the fall for another man's kid—and he's going to end up completely broke!]

My eyes flicked back to the woman's protruding belly. Something truly didn't add up.

I lowered the knife, plastering on the sweetest, most flattering smile I could muster.

"Why didn't you just say so? A new addition to our family is a blessing! The more, the merrier!"

I snatched the suitcase right out of Ethan's hand, smiling brighter than the midday sun.

"She’s carrying the heir to your legacy! She’s our family’s greatest hero."

"Please, don't just stand there, sweetie. We can’t have my precious little nephew getting tired."

I stepped forward and gently took her arm, my fingers grazing the cheap, pilled fabric of her tank top.

The woman froze.

Ethan froze, too.

He had braced himself for a screaming match, the veins in his neck already bulging with anticipation.

Now, he looked like a popped balloon, completely deflated and caught off guard.

"Chloe, did you lose your mind?"

Ethan eyed me with deep suspicion, his guard fully up.

"What do you know?"

I rolled my eyes playfully at him, carefully guiding the woman over to the couch.

"I’m just being practical."

"Three years of marriage and I haven't given you a baby. Now that someone else is willing to do the heavy lifting, I couldn't be happier!"

The floating comments drifted past again:

[Brilliant acting!]

[Yes! Play the long game, queen!]

I eased the woman down onto the sofa and turned to pour her a glass of water.

"By the way, sweetie, what's your name?"

She stroked her belly, tilting her chin up with pure arrogance.

"I'm Amber."

"Ethan told me that once I give birth to his son, you'll be out on the street."

Taking the glass, she deliberately flashed the thick gold band on her ring finger.

Ethan had just bought it for her a few days ago, blowing half his monthly salary on it.

I sneered inwardly, but forced a look of flustered concern onto my face.

"Oh, goodness, no! That won't do."

"Amber, darling, you're eating for two now. You shouldn't stress your pretty little head over petty household drama."

"Just relax and focus on the baby. I promise to pamper you like royalty."

Seeing how submissive I was, Ethan finally let his guard down.

He sprawled across the armchair like a king, yanking his tie loose.

"Glad to see you finally know your place."

"Chloe, hand in your two weeks' notice tomorrow."

"Amber can't stomach takeout. You need to buy fresh organic chicken every morning to make slow-cooked bone broth for her."

"And her delicates must be hand-washed. Don't you dare throw them in the machine."

I nodded eagerly.

"Of course, whatever she needs."

I turned my gaze to Ethan.

"Though, now that I think about it, Amber is practically royalty in this house now. We can’t treat her like a pauper."

"Look at this top—it's completely worn out. What if the scratchy fabric irritates that million-dollar belly?"

Ethan started to glare at me, but Amber pouted pitifully. "Ethan, babe, see? I told you this cheap top was itchy!"

Hypnotized by her whining, Ethan completely forgot to snap at me. He waved his hand with grand generosity.

"We'll go shopping! Take my card to the mall tomorrow. Swipe whatever you want!"

I lowered my head to hide the cold mockery in my eyes.

Swipe whatever she wants?

When that credit limit explodes, I can't wait to see how you pay it off!

Early the next morning, I took Amber straight to the city's most upscale luxury mall.

Ethan had only handed over a credit card with a five-thousand-dollar limit.

I marched her right into Chanel.

"Amber, look at this bag. It complements your aristocratic aura so well."

I pointed at an eight-thousand-dollar limited-edition purse behind the glass.

Amber's eyes widened with raw greed.

"But... Ethan's card only has five grand on it."

"What are you worried about?"

I patted my chest boldly.

"I'll cover the difference!"

"Once you deliver his son, everything Ethan owns will belong to you anyway, right?"

Flattered into complete delusion, Amber nodded vigorously.

I put three thousand on my personal debit card and charged the remaining five thousand to Ethan's card.

Of course, the three thousand from my card came straight out of Ethan’s business petty cash.

With his brain consumed by visions of a "baby boy," he wasn't checking the company books anyway.

Over the next few days, I played the part of Amber’s dedicated maid to perfection.

Up at six in the morning to prepare fresh bone broth.

Hand-washing her underwear every night.

Whenever Ethan came home from work and saw this picture-perfect domestic bliss, he grinned from ear to ear.

"See, Chloe? Wasn't it easier to just be obedient from the start?"

He pinched Amber’s cheek, his eyes casting a condescending glance in my direction.

"That's how it is for women. If you can't have a baby, you just have to accept your place!"

I didn't utter a single word in protest.