Chapter 1

The son I broke my back raising hated me for eighteen years.

All because his father had been missing for eighteen years, and though I sat on a fortune worth tens of millions, I refused to go looking for him.

He scored a near-perfect result on his SATs, and his only wish was to apply to the National Defense Institute of Technology. Instead I changed his applications and put down an ordinary school for him.

On the very day he was to sit his civil service exam, I locked him in the house, so that his whole life would bend only to the plans I made for him.

Later my son turned strangely obedient, carrying out every task I set for him beautifully, and that put my heart at ease.

Until I fell ill and needed surgery, and he emptied the company accounts to go find his biological father, unwilling to spare a single cent for me.

I couldn't understand why finding his father had such a grip on him. I only begged him to hand over the money first so I could have the operation.

He only smiled, mocking:

"You think giving me a rich life is the same as loving me?"

"Fine, you blocked everything I ever wanted, my dreams, my career. But you wouldn't even help me find my own father."

"Do you have any idea how pitiful it is to grow up without a dad?"

"And you lied to me that he was dead. If that's true, then go down there and keep him company. You've lived long enough anyway. Why waste money on surgery?"

That night I died, because no one treated me in time.

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day of my son's birthday.

Faced with his wish to find his biological father, I smiled and agreed. "Sure!"

Later, though, he came to me in tears, saying he regretted it, begging me to keep him in line.

1.

My son, Austin Matthews, hadn't caught what I said and went on, sullen:

"It's my birthday. Can't you even grant me one wish, to look for my real father?"

Then it registered that I'd already said yes, and his eyes filled with joy.

But he blinked, and what showed through was only impatience and disgust.

"What's your game today?"

"Pretend to agree first, then do everything you can to stop me, is that it?"

"Or are you going to help me find him, and then lie to me that he died years ago?"

I froze for a second, almost thinking Austin had been reborn the way I had.

Then I saw the unhidden edge in him, all the raw sharpness of a teenager, none of the deep, buried cunning that would come later, and I relaxed.

I couldn't blame him for suspecting me, because in my last life that was exactly what I'd done.

At first, when I showed him his father's grave, he wouldn't accept it either. He fought me over it for a long time.

Only much later did he have no choice but to accept the "truth" I'd let him see.

After that Austin turned calm and steady too, and I thought he'd finally understood the pains I'd taken, that he'd grown up.

It was only in the moment I was driven to my death on that hospital bed that I finally understood. He had been acting from start to finish.

All those years, he had never stopped hating me for keeping him from his biological father.

So this time around, I would give him what he wanted. I only hoped he wouldn't come to regret today's decision.

I let a faint smile show. "Of course not. You're my only son. Your wishes are always mine to grant."

"It's just finding your father, not some crime. Of course it's fine."

Hearing that, Austin's expression finally softened a little.

For once he was willing to say a few extra words to me:

"Mom, why couldn't you have been like this from the start?"

"You kept it all so hidden, wouldn't let me look for my dad. Anyone who didn't know might think you'd done something to wrong him."

"Don't worry. Even if you really did wrong my dad, I'll beg him to forgive you. After all, you did put some effort into raising me."

At those words strange looks crossed the guests' faces, and a few even started to murmur.

"It's odd, really. Ms. Matthews dotes on this only son of hers more than anyone. Today, just so she could throw Austin a birthday party, she turned down a deal with Mr. Vance worth tens of millions without so much as a blink."

"But why has she always been so set against Austin finding his real father?"

"Could it be that his father is someone who can't be shown in the light?"

"Surely a powerhouse like Ms. Matthews didn't actually do something bad?"

I paid no mind to their guessing.

As a woman standing at the top of her industry, I'd heard talk like that until my ears were callused.

But hearing Austin's words clearly, I couldn't stop the sting that rose in my chest.

And at the same time, it felt absurd.

In my last life I took a hard line and refused him flatly, and under my authority he had no choice but to accept it.

Now that I'd shown him a little leniency, he took the inch I'd given and grabbed for a mile, and he dared to spin a filthy rumor about me.

Fortunately, I no longer had a shred of feeling left for him.

I looked at Austin and said with a bitter smile, "You overstate it. My contribution wasn't that great."

Thinking I was low, a friend I knew well tried to comfort me.

"There's no grudge between mother and son that lasts overnight. Austin's such a fine young man. He just got anxious and misspoke today."

"He came out of your own belly. How could he really stay angry at you?"

I gave a faint smile and shook my head, saying nothing.

The friend went on, regretful:

"Still, you spoil Austin too much. Mr. Vance was only ten minutes late and you wouldn't give him a chance at the partnership. Instead you came early to set up Austin's birthday party."

"You missed the chance to work with the Vance family. You really don't regret it?"

I shook my head again. "No. I do regret it."

I dialed, and the call connected quickly. "Mr. Vance, any interest in having dinner together?"

I looked at Austin, the center of every eye in the crowd.

He wanted to spread a filthy rumor about me, didn't he? Fine, I'd give him the chance. I just wondered whether he could handle it.