Chapter 1

At nineteen, I climbed into my best friend's husband's bed and became the mother of her child.

It all started when Lucas was rescued by my best friend, and he vowed to marry only her.

After my best friend died in childbirth, Lucas used his family's influence to force me to marry him and impersonate her.

I had to match not only her makeup, clothes, and way of speaking, but even her hobbies and interests.

In our most intimate moments, Lucas would call out her name.

One day, I was simply trying on my own clothes in front of the mirror.

When Lucas discovered this, he frowned and ordered me to change back.

Ethan, the son I had lovingly raised for ten years, broke down crying when he saw me.

"You're not my mom! My mom isn't like this!"

I silently took out the divorce papers, determined to break free from my cage.

Lucas didn't know that the person who saved him back then wasn't my best friend, but me.

Lucas's long fingers gripped the divorce papers, his expression unreadable.

"You want a divorce just because of some clothes?"

I didn't answer, only handing him a pen. "Just sign it."

"What about Ethan? Are you abandoning our son?"

"Ethan was never my child. My presence or absence makes no difference to him."

Lucas's usually impassive face showed a hint of surprise.

After all, I had cherished and loved Ethan like the apple of my eye for the past decade.

He rubbed his temples, seeming agitated.

"If we divorce, I'll immediately terminate all business cooperation with your family. You'd better reconsider."

The same old trick.

Ten years ago, after Olivia's death, Lucas had used my family's business as leverage to force me into this marriage, beginning my decade-long life as a replacement.

This time, I just wanted to live for myself.

I handed him the pen once more, my tone calm but firm: "Sign it."

Lucas, proud as he was, would never allow a woman to pressure him.

I took the signed divorce papers back to my room.

Lucas watched me emerge with just a small suitcase, puzzled. "Is that all you're taking?"

I looked around the lavish bedroom: "None of this belongs to me."

Olivia loved white dresses, so I wore white dresses for ten years.

Olivia loved playing the piano, so I played the piano for ten years.

Lucas was momentarily speechless.

As I was leaving, I ran into Ethan returning home.

The child's smile faded instantly upon seeing me.

"If you don't change back into your usual clothes, you can't be my mom anymore."

Yesterday, when I had changed into casual wear, Ethan had just brought some classmates home.

He felt I had embarrassed him and angrily called me a liar.

I gently patted his head: "Don't worry, I won't be your mom anymore."

Lucas came out, his face dark: "Why are you saying this in front of the child?"

I ignored him and continued walking out.

Lucas followed, saying, "It's late, and you have nowhere to go. Why don't you leave tomorrow?"

"No need."

Less than ten minutes after leaving the Shaw house, my mother called.

"Why are you divorcing? Don't you know the Song family owes its success to Lucas?"

"Olivia only married into the Shaw family because she saved Lucas. She was unlucky, but now you've got this golden opportunity. How can you not cherish it?"

"Go back home right now and apologize to Lucas, or your father and I will disown you!"

I hung up the phone, a bitter smile on my lips.

Lucas's love for Olivia ran deep, and their story of damsel saving hero became legendary in high society circles.

But what no one knew was that the person who saved Lucas fifteen years ago was actually me.

Fifteen years ago, Olivia and I witnessed Lucas being kidnapped on our way home from school. The kidnappers, fearing we'd talk, took us too.

The kidnappers were rivals of the Shaw Group, out for blood, not money.