Chapter 2

The next morning, Leo's school was hosting its annual Parent-Child Field Day.

Julian adjusted his tie and kissed my forehead.

"Audrey, the acquisition deal at the office needs someone to supervise it today. You should go handle that. I can take care of Leo's school event by myself. I don't want you running around and exhausting yourself."

Looking at his supposedly caring face, I sneered inwardly.

Usually, he would make any excuse to skip these school events. Today, he was suddenly the perfect father.

"Okay. Thank you for taking care of it."

I didn't call him out. I took my purse and drove off.

Not long after I left, I glanced at the backseat and noticed Leo's student ID card wedged in the seat gap.

Without it, he wouldn't even be allowed past the school gate.

I immediately turned the car around and sped toward the school.

When I arrived at the sports field, the games hadn't officially started yet.

I spotted Julian near the long jump pit, but my feet instantly froze to the ground.

It wasn't just my husband and son standing there. Chloe was there, too.

She was wearing a tight pink tennis skirt, crouching down to wipe the sweat off Leo's forehead.

Julian stood beside her holding a water bottle, looking at the two of them with absolute tenderness.

"Mommy, I want a drink!"

Leo whined playfully.

I thought my ears were playing tricks on me.

But in the next second, Chloe naturally took the water bottle and held it to Leo's lips.

"Drink slowly, sweetie. I've got you."

Leo gulped it down and wrapped his arms tightly around Chloe's neck.

"Chloe, you smell so good. Not like that mean woman who never plays with me."

Julian laughed, stroking our son's head. He wrapped his arm around Chloe's waist and planted a soft kiss on her cheek.

"Thank you for taking a day off to come here. See? The kid is so much closer to you."

"It's no trouble at all. As long as you and Leo are happy, I don't mind making sacrifices."

Chloe leaned into his chest blushing. The three of them snuggled together, looking exactly like a happy, picture-perfect family.

Standing a short distance away, my knuckles turned white as I clutched Leo's ID card. My chest tightened.

So, in my own son's heart, I was nothing but an outsider.

I took a deep breath, pulled out my phone, and silently snapped over a dozen high-quality photos.

Then, I walked straight over.

Seeing me, Julian's eyes flashed with pure panic.

"Audrey! What are you doing here? Weren't you supposed to be overseeing the merger?"

Chloe quickly shrank behind Julian's back, lowering her head like a frightened rabbit.

"Miss Miller, this is working hours," I said coldly. "The files for the acquisition are waiting for your review, yet here you are, playing stepmother to someone else's child?"

"My company pays you a salary to work, not to act as a nanny."

Chloe's eyes welled up with tears instantly. She bit her lower lip.

"Mrs. Carter, I'm so sorry... I just... I saw how lonely Leo looked."

"You're always so busy with work and have no time for him. Leo was thirsty, and no one was taking care of him. My heart ached for him, so I couldn't help but..."

"I don't want any recognition. I just wanted to give Leo some motherly love to make up for what he's missing. Is that really a crime?"

Hearing this, Julian's heart melted. He protectively pulled Chloe closer by her shoulder and glared at me.

"Audrey, that is enough! Do you have to be so aggressive?"

"You aren't fulfilling your duties as a mother, and now you won't even let others care for our son? Who do you think Chloe did this for? She did it for us!"

"Since you don't want to do your job, you don't have to anymore," I interrupted Julian's shouting, my voice incredibly calm.

"Chloe Miller, since you love babysitting so much, you are off the acquisition project."

"Instead of making you juggle both, I'm firing you effective immediately. You can now focus entirely on your maternal instincts."

"You're firing her?!"

Julian stared at me in disbelief, as if looking at a lunatic.

"Audrey, you are abusing your power! Chloe has been on this project for six months. It's in the final stages. You can't just fire her now!"

"Six months, and she still hasn't even verified the basic financial data. Yet she has plenty of time to wipe sweat and pour water."

I let out a cold laugh, my gaze cutting like a razor across Chloe's tear-stained face.

"Bennett Enterprise does not pay people to do nothing, and we certainly don't keep employees who flirt with the boss's husband. Go to HR tomorrow and sign your termination papers."

With that, I turned to leave.

"Stop right there!"

Julian roared.

He rushed forward, blocking my path, his face dark with rage.

"Audrey Bennett, who do you think runs this family? Who calls the shots in the company?"

"Let me tell you, Chloe is staying! She is my personal assistant and a core member of this project. If you dare fire her, I will pull my investments!"

"And..."

He leaned down, whispering venomously in my ear.

"Leo only loves her now. If you kick her out, I will tell Leo that you are the villain who banished his beloved Chloe. I will make sure he hates you for the rest of his life!"

Looking at my son, who was glaring at me from a distance, my heart ached.

But I forced my voice to remain steady.

"Fine. Let Miss Miller... take good care of Leo."

What I didn't say was that my plan required Chloe to remain exactly where she was.