Chapter 1 Chapter 1

Today marked my third Valentine’s Day with my husband, James Smith. He gave his stepsister, Mia Smith, one hundred and eighty thousand dollars and millions in jewelry, but all he gave me was a bouquet of roses. I married James when he was at his lowest. I stood by his side, watching him go from having nothing to becoming the CEO of Smith Group. However, now that he was successful, he spared no expense for his little sister, who wasn’t even related to him by blood, while telling me to keep living frugally. It had never been about the price of the gift for me. Even when he brought me small, cheap trinkets to test me, I happily accepted them. Today, however, was Valentine’s Day, and he couldn’t even be bothered to replace the original packaging that had “complimentary gift” printed on the plastic wrap. When I received that ridiculous “present,” I was in the kitchen, preparing our candlelit dinner for the evening. “James, what is this?” I tried to keep my voice calm, holding up my phone to show him the photo Mia had just posted on social media. I wanted to talk about it like adults. James didn’t even look up from his phone. His tone was impatient. “What?”“One hundred and eighty thousand dollars and a full Dior Exquis set!” I said sharply. My anger flared as I tossed my phone onto the table in front of him. “You give her all that, but to your wife, you hand over some promotional freebie roses?” He finally looked up, frowning. “You’ve been stalking Mia’s social media?” I almost laughed at the absurdity of it. That was his focus? “Do I even need to? The whole company is talking about how much you spoil her!” My voice began to shake. “Three years, James. Three years of handbags, watches, and jewelry for her. And me…”“Why are you making a fuss over this?” he cut in, his voice heavy with that helpless tone you use for a child throwing a tantrum. “Mia was abused by her adoptive family growing up. She’s only just started to open up. Is it wrong for me to take extra care of her?”“Extra care? On Valentine’s Day, you hand her one hundred and eighty thousand dollars and jewels?” I laughed bitterly. “For our wedding anniversary, you couldn’t even bother to do more than post on Instagram.” His face darkened. “Evelyn, when did you become so materialistic?” The words hit me like a knife to the chest. Materialistic? I gave up my guaranteed spot at Harvard Medical School’s PhD program to help him start his business. When he went bankrupt, I worked three jobs to support him, and now I’m being accused of being greedy? The wave of anger and disappointment made my vision blur. I took a deep breath to steady myself, then turned toward the bedroom. “I need to rethink our relationship. I’m staying somewhere else tonight.”“Evelyn!” James strode over, gripping my wrist. “You’re threatening divorce over a gift? Have you lost your mind today?” Suddenly, Mia’s voice came from the doorway. “James, I forgot my keys– Oh my God, are you two fighting?” She hurried over, looking worried. “Evelyn, please don’t fight with my brother because of me. It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have posted my gift on Instagram.” James’ voice immediately softened when he saw her. “It’s not your fault. You’re my sister. You deserve everything I give you.”“That’s enough!” I yanked my hand free and glared at them both. “Three years of watching you two put on this little ‘devoted siblings’ act is enough for me!” Mia’s eyes instantly welled with tears. James stepped protectively in front of her, his tone sharper than mine. “Why are you yelling at her? She’s always treated you like a real sister.”“A real sister?” I gave a sharp, humorless laugh. “James, save that line for the divorce lawyer.” I stormed into the bedroom, grabbed my bag, and headed for the door. “You’re talking nonsense!” James shouted, storming after me. Mia clung to his arm, both of them chasing me out toward the street. “Evelyn, I’m telling you one last time. Go back inside!” His patience had run out, his tone harsh as he reached for me again. “Don’t touch me!” I jerked back. Suddenly, a glare of headlights blinded us. A car, clearly out of control, swerved in our direction. “Mia!” Without hesitation, James wrapped his arms around Mia, who wasn’t even close to the street, and pulled her backward. As he turned, his elbow slammed into my side, sending me stumbling. I lost my balance and fell hard into the middle of the road. As a sickening, heavy thud rang out, pain exploded through me. Before the darkness swallowed me whole, the last thing I saw was James holding Mia tightly without sparing me a single glance. When I woke up, every inch of my body ached. The doctor’s words about a mild concussion and fractured ribs buzzed in my ears. James stood by the bed, brow furrowed. The first thing out of his mouth was, “The medical bills for saving you tonight cost more than Mia’s gift. Are you happy now?” Mia, peeking out from behind him with red, watery eyes, whispered, “It’s all my fault. I’m sorry, Evelyn…” I turned my head slowly toward them—James, dressed immaculately in his suit, and Mia’s jewelry glittering under the hospital lights. Meanwhile, I lay there in pain, disheveled and broken. I could not believe he actually asked me if I was happy. “Let’s get a divorce,” I rasped, my voice hoarse but firm. James froze, then gave a cold laugh. “Over something this small? You’re overreacting.”“The divorce papers are in my bag.” I didn’t want to say another word. I simply pointed toward the purse I’d brought with me. He pulled out the papers, his face darkening as he read. “When did you prepare this?” Mia tugged at his arm, her voice trembling. “James, I’m not trying to come between you two… You’ve worked so hard all these years, and instead of appreciating you, she’s talking about divorce…” James had looked hesitant until she spoke. Then, he grabbed a pen, signed his name, and slapped the document down on my pillow. “As you wish. I can’t wait to see what kind of life you can manage without me.” He dropped the pen, turned, and left with Mia by his side, their footsteps echoing down the hallway. I stared at the signed papers for a long moment. Then, I smiled. I’d always deserved better anyway.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

Seven years later, in the grandest ballroom of Belgrade, I held my daughter Emily’s hand as we stepped into the venue. Her eyes lit up the moment she spotted the dessert table in the distance. “Mommy, that little cake looks sooo yummy!” she said. I crouched down, giving her chubby cheek a gentle pinch. “Only a little, okay? When Daddy and your brother get here, there’s going to be a giant pudding tower waiting.”“Okay!” Emily’s eyes sparkled with excitement. I couldn’t help but smile as I ruffled her hair and led her toward the dessert table. Normally, my husband Daniel would never let me attend an event alone. Even after five years of marriage, his love was still as intense as the day we met. We were rarely apart for more than two hours. Today, however, he had an unexpected international meeting to attend. Considering this was a welcome banquet in our honor, we didn’t expect anything to happen. Since Emily had been talking nonstop about that cake the entire way here, Daniel finally agreed we could come ahead of him. I picked out a piece of mousse for Emily, and she skipped off to share it with her friends. Just as I was about to choose something for myself, a sharp, mocking laugh sounded behind me. “Evelyn? What are you doing here?” I turned and saw James standing there in a perfectly tailored suit, with a bejeweled Mia clinging to his arm. As one of the hosts, he looked every bit the successful businessman. His eyes swept over me, stopping on my simple dress. His brows furrowed deeply. “You… Are you working here as a server? And stealing the guests’ desserts?” On the way here, I’d stopped to rescue a stray cat stuck in a tree. My gown had gotten torn on a branch, so I’d changed into a casual dress. Mia covered her mouth with a light laugh. “Come on, don’t say that, James. Maybe my sister-in-law here– Oh, right, ex–sister-in-law, was just hungry.” The event manager hurried over, taking one look at my plain outfit. His tone was polite but firm. “Ma’am, tonight’s event is a private banquet welcoming Mr. Daniel Howard, the wealthiest man in Alcatraz, along with his family. We can’t allow any unrelated guests. Please show your invitation.” Before I could speak, James raised a hand like he was being magnanimous and gave me a pitying look. “Seven years… I thought you’d at least be living better by now.” He shook his head as if looking at a pathetic, fallen woman. “You divorced me because I wouldn’t buy you luxury goods—because you were jealous of Mia. And now look at you. You can’t even afford a proper meal.” Mia leaned closer to him, her voice falsely innocent. “James, you have to understand. After the divorce, no one’s taking care of poor Evelyn.” I let out a snort. “Mia, not every woman needs to live off a man like you do. Move.” I had no interest in wasting energy arguing. I gestured for them to step aside, planning to wait for Daniel elsewhere. “Wait!” Mia’s voice suddenly rose. Her gaze locked on my wrist, eyes widening. “E-Evelyn, what’s that on your hand?” People nearby began glancing over, curious. Before I could answer, Mia’s voice rang out, full of shock. “Is that… a Patek Philippe Aquanaut Luce? The minute repeater edition? Limited to five pieces worldwide? Three million dollars?” Gasps rippled through the crowd. Under the bright lights, the luxury watch on my wrist shimmered with understated opulence. Mia covered her mouth exaggeratedly, as if she had discovered something terrifying, but her eyes gleamed with malicious excitement. "Evelyn, you are the ex-wife of the CEO of Smith Group. How could you do something so shameful!" Mia clutched her own wrist, drawing attention to her smaller rainbow-series model. “My flyback chronograph here is an authentic thirty-thousand-dollar piece. If you want, I could help you get a cheaper, genuine one. You really didn’t need to–” She trailed off at just the right moment, her face the picture of pity, as if deeply embarrassed for me. The looks from the surrounding guests shifted instantly, from curiosity to open contempt. “It must be fake. I’ve never heard of her…”“Some people just can’t stop pretending.”“How pathetic…” James’s face darkened. In his mind, I was the same “materialistic” woman I had been seven years ago. He grabbed my wrist hard and said, “Evelyn, it’s been years, and you still haven’t changed! Take off this cheap knockoff and throw it away before you embarrass yourself further!” I gave a sharp, humorless laugh, yanking my hand back. “When Daniel gets here, I’ll leave with him.”“Daniel?” James blinked, then scoffed. “You mean Daniel Howard? Evelyn, are you insane? A man like that wouldn’t even know you exist.” The event manager’s polite mask was gone. His voice was impatient now. “Ma’am, please leave immediately. This is an important event, and we can’t have you causing a scene.” I clenched my fists, ready to speak, but before I could, the event manager reached out, clearly intending to drag me out. “Don’t touch my mom!”

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

Emily charged forward like a little lioness, planting herself firmly between me and the event manager. She was wearing a pure white dress that was simple in design but crafted by one of Paris’s top designers for their exclusive children’s line. Clearly, James and Mia didn’t recognize it. James froze when he saw her, his face darkening instantly. “You have a child?” Mia gasped dramatically, covering her mouth. “Oh my gosh, so you’re already a mom, and you’re still so vain to wear a fake watch? Poor kid, she must be so ashamed of you.”“Shut your mouth,” I cut her off sharply, pulling Emily behind me. The event manager’s face was growing uglier by the second. He took another step toward me. “Ma’am, Mr. Howard will be arriving soon. If you don’t leave now, I’ll have to call security.”“That’s enough,” James interrupted, pulling out his phone with an impatient sigh. He tapped the screen a few times before holding it out. “Here’s ten grand. Take it and leave. It’s enough to feed you and your kid for a while.” I shot him a cold look. “No, thanks.” He gave a derisive snort, but when he tried to complete the transfer, his expression shifted. “Transfer failed… What did you do? Did the bank close your account for fraud or something?” Mia gasped again, clutching his arm like she’d just uncovered a scandal. “James, what if she’s involved in money laundering? We should stay far away from her.” In reality, ever since I’d returned to the medical field as a special-appointed professor, most of my finances were handled directly by my research team. However, I wasn’t about to waste my breath explaining that. I simply shook my head calmly. “I said, I don’t need it.” James’s gaze lingered on Emily, and for a moment, his expression faltered. The little girl glared back at him stubbornly, her eyes clear as glass under the lights but strangely familiar. “She…” His brows furrowed, his voice losing some of its anger, replaced by hesitation. “Evelyn, this isn’t my daughter, is it? Can you even afford her school fees right now?” Sensing his hesitation, Mia jumped in immediately. “James, she wasn’t pregnant when she left you. And come on, she’s only in this mess because of herself. She could’ve gone to med school, but she chose to be a housewife.” Then, she turned her faux-sympathetic smile on me. “Remember how much Mom and Dad adored you? They bought you clothes, took you to events… and you just walked away, breaking their hearts.”“Enough!” My voice shook with fury. “It was because I remembered how kind they were that I endured you and James for so many years! I gave up my place at Harvard Medical School to help him build his business and take care of your whole family. I’ve long since repaid every bit of kindness.” James’s face went thunderous. “Evelyn! You–”“Emily, we’re leaving.” I scooped my daughter into my arms, not sparing them another glance as I strode toward the exit. “Stop right there!”

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

James stepped in front of me, blocking my way. “Evelyn,” he said stiffly, his eyes flicking toward Emily again and again, clearly convinced she was his child. “For the kid’s sake, you could come back. There are still plenty of easy jobs on the estate.”“Mr. James,” I met his gaze coldly, enunciating each word as I said, “I’m married.” James let out a short, disbelieving laugh, as if I’d just told the most ridiculous joke. “Your husband? What kind of loser lets you live like this?” His eyes slid over my plain dress before deliberately landing on Mia’s extravagant gown, his meaning obvious. “After all these years, don’t tell me you’ve never even gotten so much as a freebie bouquet.”“Forget her, James.” Mia moved closer, though her attention was fixed on the camellia hair clip in Emily’s hair. Suddenly, her voice shot up several octaves. “Oh my gosh! Is this little one wearing Chanel’s new hair accessory?” She reached out to take it, but Emily shrank back, frightened. “Fake?” Mia’s fingers brushed the smooth, delicate surface, and she immediately raised her voice for the whole room to hear. “Of course. This year’s Chanel limited edition! Evelyn, it’s bad enough you wear knockoffs yourself. Are you trying to teach your kid to do the same?” The crowd didn’t hesitate to pile on. Their pointing and judgmental stares cut into me like knives. “Mommy…” Emily’s eyes welled up, her small body trembling as she buried her face in my chest. “That’s enough!” My patience snapped as I shielded my daughter. “You keep calling what we wear fake, but have you even seen the real thing?” I took off my watch and held it up, turning the back toward them. “Look closely. Here’s Patek Philippe’s custom serial number and the Howard family crest!”“Family crest?” A bystander burst into laughter. “She’s lost it! The Howard family crest? Does she think she’s Daniel Howard’s mother or something?”“She probably had it engraved herself. It’s illegal, by the way.”“Pathetic. Call the cops and have her arrested!” No one even tried to verify it. My fingertips went cold from anger as I clutched my daughter and tried to leave, only to have several people deliberately step into my path. Mia’s greedy eyes locked on my watch, and she suddenly stepped forward. “A fake like that is an insult to tonight’s guests! Take it off and hand it over, or smash it right now! Otherwise, you’re not leaving.”“That’s not happening.” My refusal barely left my lips before Mia lunged for it. Emily screamed and sobbed in my arms, terrified. “Enough!” James’s patience broke under the noise and chaos. He yanked Emily right out of my arms. He clearly wanted to regain control and to get a closer look at the child’s face. Ripped from me and held by a stranger, Emily panicked completely. She kicked and screamed, her cries raw and heart-wrenching. “Mommy! Mommy! Let me go! Bad man!”“Ugh, how annoying!” Mia snapped when one of Emily’s frantic kicks hit her. She grabbed Emily’s arm and gave it a vicious twist. “Emily!” My vision went red. I tried to rush forward, but a server’s firm grip landed on my shoulder, holding me back. “Stay there. I’ll give her back,” James muttered, now struggling to contain the wailing child. He started toward me with Emily in his arms. However, just as I reached out to take my daughter back… “Ah!” Mia shrieked, her heel slipping as she “accidentally” crashed into a passing server carrying an enormous pudding tower. With a loud crash, the towering, rainbow-colored dessert collapsed, dumping its entire sticky, creamy contents over me. I didn’t even have time to move. From head to toe, I was covered in pudding, whipped cream, and fruit, like I’d just crawled out of a trash bin. The cold, sticky, nauseating mess clung to my skin and hair. The ballroom went dead silent. Emily froze at the sight of her mother turned into a human dessert disaster. Her face went chalk-white, her sobs cutting off into stunned silence. “Oh my god…” The quiet was shattered under a wave of laughter and cruel commentary. Mia covered her mouth, feigning pity. “You look like a dessert trash can, Emily. Well, now you can eat all you want.” She snorted into laughter. James, startled by the commotion, lost his grip on Emily. She tumbled to the floor with a dull thud. Her knees and arms turned red and bruised, but she didn’t even seem to feel it. Crying, she scrambled toward me. Then, the server’s voice rang out loud and clear over the chaos. “Please welcome Mr. Daniel Howard and his son!” Every head in the room turned toward the entrance. Dressed in an immaculate white bespoke suit, his striking features framed by a powerful presence that seemed to crush the air out of the room, Daniel Howard walked in, holding the hand of his little boy—a miniature prince. Their cool, aristocratic gazes instantly found the center of the chaos—me, a woman drenched in pudding, standing frozen in humiliation. Emily’s wail broke the heavy silence, raw and desperate. “Daddy!”