Chapter 1

After my adoptive parents found their biological daughter, Tiffany, who had been missing for years, I didn't just lose my family—I lost my fiancé, Ethan Vance, too.

When I came home holding my positive pregnancy test, I caught them sleeping together in the nursery I had carefully decorated for my baby.

While I was hemorrhaging on the operating table during a difficult labor, they were holding a lavish wedding on a private island.

When I finally woke up from surgery, I scrolled through social media and saw the news of their horrific car crash during their honeymoon.

The accident left Ethan completely infertile.

Terrified he would steal my baby away, I fled the city before my surgical wounds had even fully healed.

Five years later, while working as a server at a high-end gala, I ran straight into Ethan.

He stared at the little boy standing by my side, freezing on the spot.

Because Joey's face was the spitting image of Ethan when he was a child.

He grabbed my son's shoulders and asked,

"What's your father's name?"

Joey looked up and replied,

"I don't have a dad. My mommy said my dad died a long time ago."

Five years ago, after fleeing with my son, Joey, I survived by working low-paying service jobs.

When I found out this particular banquet was for Ethan Vance’s mother’s birthday, I wanted to turn it down.

But my manager, Vivian, wouldn't let me take the day off.

I figured as long as I kept my head down and avoided anyone I knew, I'd be fine.

But of course, Tiffany spotted me anyway.

Tiffany walked over, sizing up my cheap, oversized server uniform.

She smiled, her face a mask of smug pity.

"Well, look who it is," she sneered.

"A server? In the outer hall? That must be exhausting."

She grabbed my wrist, pulling me toward the main ballroom with a fake, sweet tone.

"Come on, let me get you a better gig inside. It's much easier."

"And hey, who knows? You might even run into Mom and Dad!"

After taking a couple of steps, she glared back at Vivian and the other supervisors who had been giving me a hard time earlier.

Her expression instantly turned cold and demanding.

"You're all fired."

"Get out of here. I don't want trash ruining this event."

Vivian and her crew went pale, nearly falling to their knees, but they didn't even get a chance to beg.

They didn't dare cross Tiffany, so they threw furious, resentful glares at my back instead.

As expected, the moment we stepped into the inner ballroom, Tiffany turned to me with fake realization.

"Oh, Chloe, I totally forgot. The indoor team is fully staffed. The only things left to clean are the restrooms and the trash bins."

"Do you think you could..."

I knew she was trying to humiliate me.

But honestly, after everything I had survived on my own, this petty bullying was nothing.

"Sure, I'll take care of it," I said calmly, taking the cleaning supplies from her.

While I was clearing a trash can in the corner, the guest of honor—Ethan's mother, Beatrice Vance—made her grand entrance.

Before the guests could even crowd around to flatter her, Beatrice's sharp voice echoed through the hall, lecturing Ethan.

"How am I supposed to live a long, happy life?!"

"Look at the woman you married! She ruined you, and now the Vance family line ends with you!"

I looked up.

Five years hadn't changed Ethan. Time had been incredibly kind to him—he was still so handsome it made your chest ache.

But there was a dark, brooding shadow over his brow now.

Clearly, the infertility had dealt a massive blow to his pride.

Ethan remained silent, while Tiffany tried to placate Beatrice with a timid, fragile smile.

"Beatrice, please don't upset yourself. Think of your health..."

"Don't call me mother!" Beatrice snapped, cutting her off.

"I won't have it! If you hadn't insisted on drag-racing that night, Ethan would never have suffered that injury!"

"What did our family do to deserve this? My perfect son, ruined... ruined because you couldn't give him a single heir!"

Beatrice then turned her fury on my former adoptive parents, Arthur and Eleanor Sterling, who were standing quietly nearby.

"And you two!"

"Bringing back that useless biological daughter of yours. Now she's destroyed my son. Are you happy now?"

Arthur and Eleanor muttered quiet, pathetic apologies.

But Beatrice only grew more heated, years of resentment boiling over.

"Back then, that girl Chloe was perfect! She was quiet, well-behaved, and decent. But Ethan lost his mind and insisted on marrying this curse instead!"

"I regret it every single day!"

Tiffany's face flushed with anger and embarrassment, especially at the mention of my name.

Desperate to deflect, her eyes darted around until she spotted me.

"Mother, what a coincidence," Tiffany chimed in loudly.

"You just mentioned Chloe, and guess who I ran into today? She's right here!"

Before I could even react, Tiffany marched over and dragged me into the center of the ballroom.

Under the brilliant, blinding chandeliers, my rough, cheap uniform and the wet rag in my hand were exposed for everyone to see.

For a moment, a wave of deep shame washed over me. But I forced myself to stay calm and greeted my adoptive parents.

"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Sterling."

Beatrice stared at me, her expression incredibly complex. The praise she had just showered on me hung awkwardly in the air.

Arthur and Eleanor froze, utterly shocked to see me in this state.

After a tense, suffocating silence, someone let out a quiet snicker. Soon, whispers and mockery rippled through the crowd.

"Oh my god... is that really her? The girl who used to follow Ethan around like a lost puppy?"

"Wow. That's the lowest-tier cleaning uniform in the hotel. Look at that dirty rag! And Tiffany called her 'sister'? If I were Tiffany, I'd have security throw her out. She's an eyesore."

"Didn't she get a massive settlement when they broke up? How did she end up like this? She probably spent it all on some boy toy."

Just as the whispers were about to suffocate me—

"Quiet!"

I didn't expect Ethan to speak up for me.

His face was expressionless, but his dark, heavy gaze swept across the room, instantly silencing everyone.

He looked back at me, his tone surprisingly soft, almost pitying.

"Chloe, why are you working as a janitor?"

"I gave you a fortune when we broke up."

Money?

I looked up at him, completely lost.

I had never received a single dime from him.

After giving birth to Joey, I couldn't even afford rent. Before my postpartum recovery was even finished, I was working odd jobs just to buy formula.

I opened my mouth, my voice barely a whisper.

"...What money?"

Those two words were soft, but they struck like a lightning bolt.

Ethan's eyes widened in sheer shock.

He whipped his head around to glare at Tiffany.

"Tiffany. Where is the money?"