Chapter 1

I had a PhD to finish, a research project that could have changed my field, and a future that belonged to me.

Instead, I spent ten years cooking herbal soups, learning acupuncture, and raising a child who was not mine — until he pushed me off a three-story building for sitting in his real mother's chair.

My spine shattered. I lay in my own blood and begged him to call for help.

But just like his father, he sneered at me.

"You think you deserve to use my mom’s things? Let me tell you—no matter what, you’ll never replace her! You want me to save you? No way. I’m going to watch you become a cripple and then watch Dad throw you out of this house!"

I stared at him in disbelief.

This was the child I had raised since he was a baby, the one I had devoted my life to.

My heart felt as if it were being torn apart, piece by piece.

After being rushed to the hospital, I dialed an overseas number.

"Professor Zane, I’ve changed my mind. I’m willing to go abroad."

——

The moment I hung up, Corvin Hale walked in, accompanied by my parents and Tyler Hale, the boy who had just tried to kill me.

Tyler glared at me with open hostility.

"Why should I apologize to that disgusting woman?" he spat.

"She sat in my mom’s chair first! I only called out to her and she got so scared she fell on her own. She didn’t even bleed! I thought she was just faking it again, like always."

His words grew more and more vicious.

But no one in the room stopped him.

They just stood there, watching me with cold, judgmental expressions.

I didn’t bother explaining myself this time. I simply turned to look out the window, my face devoid of emotion.

But Corvin spoke out and scolded.

"Ellery, the child is speaking to you! How can you ignore him like that? What kind of mother does that?"

A bitter laugh escaped my lips, "What kind of child watches his own mother get hurt and doesn’t show a shred of concern—only keeps insulting her?"

Corvin’s frown deepened, "That’s because you’ve never been good to him. You’re always playing the victim, trying to trick him into pitying you."

Not good enough?

Tyler had been frail since birth, constantly sick. I was the one who stayed up night after night taking care of him.

I learned acupuncture and massage therapy. I spent years perfecting medicinal soups and herbal meals.

The delicate hands that once played the piano turned rough and swollen.

Tyler once said he didn't felt secure, so I stayed by his side for three days and nights without sleep.

But none of that mattered to Corvin. And it never mattered to Tyler, either.

Corvin continued his lecture, "When you married into the Hale Family, I only had one request: take care of Tyler. Was that so difficult?"

"If you can’t even do that, then I—"

"Divorce. Let’s get divorced. I don't want to be this Madam Hale."

Corvin froze, stunned, as if he couldn’t believe what he had just heard.

Of course he was surprised.

After all, this marriage had been arranged by Strand Family, my family.

Back then, my sister, Yvonne Strand, was supposed to marry Corvin. But when her first love came back from abroad, she ran away after giving birth to Tyler.

The Hale Family was furious.

So my parents tricked me into coming home from my PhD studies, drugged me and sent me to Corvin’s bed.

The scandal was impossible to contain.

And with an abandoned infant crying for a mother, Corvin had no choice but to marry me.

Still, he agreed on a period of time, only ten years and when Tyler was old enough, we would divorce.

Over the years, every time we fought, he’d throw that 'divorce' word at me like a weapon.

So fine.

Let’s end it now.

But before Corvin could react, my parents exploded.

"Ellery, what nonsense are you saying? You can’t get a divorce! If you leave, who will take care of Tyler?"

Their disappointed expressions were the same as when I first refused to give up my engagement for Yvonne.

Back then, when my mother was pregnant, the marriage had been arranged for me.

But when Yvonne had her heart broken and decided to marry out of spite, my parents forced me to step aside.

With one word mom and dad made me give up the marriage.

I refused. And now, history repeated itself.

Seeing that I didn't say anything, mom and dad hurriedly said again.