Chapter 3

Alex worked fast. A few days later, he took me to the orphanage.

Looking at the newborn baby, barely a month old, I couldn't help but sneer internally. Alex, this child will drag you straight to hell.

Three days after bringing the baby home, I called Daisy.

"Daisy, I just adopted a little baby. If you're not too busy, could you come help me out? I don't really trust nannies."

Even through the phone, I could hear Daisy's barely contained euphoria.

"Nancy, I'd love to! You treat me like a sister, it's only right that I help care for my little nephew."

Before I could say another word, Daisy quickly added,

"Nancy, I'll be right over. You can leave our little nephew to me from now on. You just focus on the company."

The call ended with a snap. I smiled, poking the baby's cheek with a sigh.

"Don't blame me for putting you through this, kid. Your birth is a sin."

Daisy arrived swiftly. As soon as she walked in, she snatched the wailing baby from me, her brows furrowing in genuine concern.

"Nancy, why is the baby crying so hard? Is he hungry?"

I immediately took the baby back. "He just ate," I said nonchalantly, "He had seven ounces of formula, and Martha just changed his diaper."

With that, I placed the baby on the sofa.

Daisy's eyes welled up instantly, and she lunged forward, trying to pick up the child.

I grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the master bedroom.

"Daisy, come see the room I've prepared for you. Oh, and you can't spoil the baby. If he misbehaves, just give him a few taps. An heir to Thorne Corporation can't be a spoiled brat. He needs to be tough and disciplined from day one."

"Nancy, Star is still so small. You should wait until he's older to train him, or he might get sick," Daisy stammered awkwardly.

Star?

My head buzzed.

Star. That was the name Alex and I picked for our future child right after we got engaged.

That night, after our engagement party, Alex and I watched the stars on the rooftop.

He said if we ever had a son, we'd name him Star.

Back then, at eighteen, Alex must have loved me.

But with Daisy's appearance, he gave all our hopes and promises to her.

How could you, Alex, give the beautiful name I chose for our child to that woman's bastard child?

You truly are cold-blooded and heartless.

My hand slipped. With a splash, the baby fell into the basin, choking and wailing instantly.

Daisy completely lost it. She snatched the baby, screaming "Baby, baby!" and bolted out of the bathroom.

Alex returned quickly. Seeing Daisy trembling and clutching the baby, her face etched with pain, he immediately rushed to put his arm around her.

But then he saw me walking out of the bathroom with a mocking smirk, and he quickly dropped his hand.

"Nancy, how could you be so careless? You were giving him a bath, and you let him fall into the water? How can you be a mother like this? If you can't handle it, let Daisy take care of him. She's more attentive."

I stared at Alex's furious face, tossing the towel aside. My voice was chilling.

"Alex, this child isn't even mine biologically. If I don't personally raise him, how could I ever develop any affection for him?"

I cast a scornful glance at Daisy.

Go ahead, throw a tantrum now. I bet Alex and Daisy wouldn't dare. My family's freely provided patents and massive funding? He wouldn't give that up.

We'd signed an agreement back during our engagement: if he ever betrayed me, the Davies family could withdraw funding and reclaim patent usage rights at any time, with all profits going to me.

Alex frowned at me, his eyes filled with disgust. He was about to speak when Daisy shrieked.

"Alex, look at Star, what's wrong with him? His forehead is burning hot!"

Only then did I notice the baby's face was beet red, his body convulsing.

Alex's expression turned to panic. He no longer cared about arguing with me. He rushed out, clutching Daisy and the baby. His urgent shouts echoed in the yard.

"Robert, get the car ready, quick! The little master is sick, we need to get to the hospital immediately!"