Chapter 1

I caught my husband cheating and asked for a divorce, but he beat me to the punch.

He turned the tables, painting me as the town's notorious, cheating monster. Whispers and pointed glares followed me everywhere I went.

Even my son, whom I had poured my heart and soul into raising, became his willing accomplice.

With a smirk, the boy mocked me. "Mom, without Dad, nobody would ever want you."

I let out a bitter laugh and slapped him across the face. If my life was going to be hell, they weren't getting out unscathed either.

I was walking my son to school just like any other morning, but a prickle of unease crawled over my skin. It felt like eyes were locked on me, though every time I glanced around, nothing seemed out of place.

Feeling unnerved, I looked down at my son.

"Leo, do I look weird today? Why does it feel like everyone is staring at me?"

The boy rolled his eyes and sneered, his high-pitched voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Mom, you’re so ugly. It’s no wonder people are laughing at you."

"..." I froze, staring down at the child I had raised with every ounce of my love. In that instant, he felt like a total stranger.

Hiding the sting of his words, I grabbed his arm, my tone stern.

"Leo Miller, talking to your own mother like that is completely unacceptable. Who taught you to speak to me that way?"

Leo jerked his arm away in annoyance. "I’m not lying! You’re so annoying."

He scoffed and stomped ahead.

This wasn't the first time he had spoken to me like this. Ever since I caught my husband, Tyler, cheating, asked for a divorce, and took up a job, my seven-year-old son had transformed into someone else entirely. He sided with Tyler, constantly putting me down, treating me like an enemy.

Whenever I tried to discipline him, he would storm off just like this.

He never used to be this way. He used to be too gentle to utter a single mean word. Now, cruelty rolled off his tongue with practiced ease.

Lost in bitter disappointment, a vulgar whistle shattered my thoughts.

A shirtless man with an obnoxious cartoon character tattooed across his chest swaggered toward me, wearing a greasy grin. Two of his flunkies trailed behind him.

"Well, well, look who it is. If it isn't our town's famous cheating freak. Out hunting for more men, huh?"

The tattooed thug raked his lewd gaze up and down my body.

"What do you think of me, babe? Am I your type?"

One of his lackeys snickered. "Damn, boss, you really got a strong stomach."

"What do you know? Just throw a towel over half her face. Lights out, they’re all the same anyway, hahahaha."

As he spoke, his filthy hand reached out, hovering mockingly right over the scar on my cheek.

Panic gripped me, and I stumbled back several steps.

"Stay back! You've got the wrong person. I don't know you." In all the years I had lived in this town, I had never crossed paths with such lowlife thugs.

I spun around to flee, but he lunged forward, closing the distance in two strides and grabbing my wrist tight.

"Where you running off to? You were wild enough in those text messages. What, playing hard to get now?"

What cheating? What text messages?

I stared at him in utter bewilderment, shaking my head violently.

"Let go of me! I don't know who you are! Let go, or I'm calling the cops!"

I cast a desperate, pleading look at the bystanders whispering on the sidewalk.

To my horror, the neighbors who had always been so warm and friendly averted their eyes, coldly looking away.

My eyes widened in disbelief. With no other choice, my final shred of hope landed on my son, who stood watching the scene unfold just a few yards away.

What broke me completely was seeing him turn around without a second glance and march into the school gates.

Panic, terror, heartbreak... a torrent of emotions choked my chest. My lungs seized. I couldn't breathe.

Darkness washed over my vision, and I collapsed onto the pavement, losing consciousness.