Chapter 2

Looking back over the years, a terrifying realization washed over me: Mason and Chloe were far too intimate.

They had different last names and shared zero biological ties.

Ever since Chloe gave birth, Mason had volunteered to babysit every single weekend.

"Nannies cost a fortune and can't be trusted. You hear about nanny abuse on the news all the time," he had told me.

"I'll take care of them. You can rest easy."

Back then, I had been touched by his generosity and showered him with designer gifts.

Looking at it now, the warning signs were everywhere!

Swallowing my rage, I kept my mouth shut and secretly gathered a few strands of Mason's hair.

The next morning, I sent Mason's hair and my oldest son's hair for a DNA test. The results confirmed my worst nightmare: my oldest son was Mason's biological child.

My hands shook violently with rage.

I wanted to hunt those two down and tear them apart, but my clinical instincts kicked in. I hired a private investigator to dig into Mason and Chloe's past.

What I found was even more sickening.

Mason wasn't her stepbrother at all. He was her first love.

Chloe hadn't just stepped out on our marriage; she had moved her ex into our home and carried on an affair right beneath my nose.

Because of my brutal hospital shifts, I had been oblivious to it all.

A darker thought took root in my mind.

I took DNA samples from the second and third boys and ran them against mine.

Just like the oldest, neither shared a single drop of my blood. All three were Mason's bastards!

Six years. Three children. Not a single one mine. I had been breaking my back for six years raising her lover's kids. I was the biggest fool on the planet!

The sheer shock hit my chest like a sledgehammer, and the room went black.

My physical body collapsed into a coma, but my spirit drifted out, hovering right beside Chloe.

"The hospital just called. Logan collapsed and slipped into an unexpected coma. They said he might not wake up for days."

Hearing that I was fighting for my life, Chloe didn't show an ounce of worry or make any move to visit. Instead, she flashed a flirtatious smile at Mason. "Stay here with me for the next few days. You can spend quality time with me and our boys."

Mason wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.

"The kids are watching," Chloe giggled, playfully wriggling free and calling the three boys over.

"Hi, Mason!"

"What did Mommy tell you? You only call him Mason when Fake Daddy is home. What do you call him when Fake Daddy isn't here?"

"Daddy!"

"Good boys!"

Watching the children I raised for six years call Mason "Daddy" made my blood boil to the verge of explosion.

I poured my heart, soul, and money into this family, only to end up as "Fake Daddy." Disgust churned violently inside me.

Chloe snuggled into Mason's chest, whining playfully, "Mason, I've been so nauseous lately, and my period is days late. What if I'm pregnant again?"

Mason beamed with joy. "That's fantastic! Logan promised you a $50,000 cash bonus for every kid you deliver. Aim for boy-girl twins this time!"

Chloe tapped his chest with a soft fist. "Oh, stop it. I'm not a baby machine."

"Logan couldn't get the job done, but I sure can. Let me help you."

Mason scooped my wife into his arms and carried her straight into my master bedroom.