Chapter 1Five years of hell. I finally paid off the last cent of the $2 million in debt my "dead" husband stuck me with.
I posted at their grave, tears streaming down my face:
[Paxton, I'm so tired. Why won't you and Star visit me? Just once?]
Then this account with a star avatar commented:
[Who are you? Why'd you use pictures of me and my dad?]
My hands were shaking so bad as I clicked on that profile.
The banner photo showed a family of three.
One look and I swear my heart just stopped.
The man? My husband Paxton Reid. The one I'd mourned for five years.
The woman? My best friend Josie Whitmore. The one who'd been secretly married for years.
And the child? That was MY son Star.
---
I just stood there frozen, fingers trembling as I typed back.
[thats my dead husband and kid. who tf are you??]
Right before I hit send, the comment disappeared.
That star account went private in like two seconds.
Then it hit me—Josie got married right around when Paxton and Star supposedly died five years ago.
No wedding though. She said something about it being some fancy family thing, had to keep it quiet.
I was such a wreck back then, drowning in grief. Didn't even question it.
I checked the time and something just clicked. I drove straight to Riverside Prep—the best private school in Seattle.
On the way there, my brain wouldn't shut up.
When I got pregnant, Paxton straight-up bought a house in this school district. Paid cash.
He even threw a hundred grand at the school for new buildings and a playground.
He'd told me, "When this kid's older, he's going to the best schools. I don't care what it costs."
I got to the gates before school let out. Security stopped me, asking who I was picking up.
I hesitated, then said—bitter as hell:
"I'm here for Star Reid. I'm his parent."
The guard looked me up and down like I was nobody.
"I know all the Star family. Never seen you before."
Some mom nearby jumped in:
"Bet that's their nanny. Mrs. Reid's like stupid hot and super young. No way she's doing her own cleaning."
"Yeah those two are so in love it's almost annoying. Always here together. Where is she today?"
I looked down at my faded shirt and beat-up jeans. Something just twisted inside my chest.
Before I could say anything, the bell rang.
Couple minutes later, this black Maybach pulled up.
Even though I knew what was coming, the guy who got out of that driver's seat made my whole body start shaking.
Paxton Reid. Who was supposed to be six feet under five years ago.
He opened the passenger door, grabbed Josie's bag like it was nothing. Held her hand, and walked toward the school entrance.
I hid behind a tree, listening to all these parents chatting:
"Oh Star's mom and dad are here. Again."
"Ugh that kid's like perfect. Straight A's, never causes trouble. My kid? Total nightmare compared to him."
"Well yeah, his parents are like obsessed with each other. Kids with parents like that always turn out amazing, it's not fair."
I covered my mouth, nails digging into my palm. Couldn't believe what I was seeing.
After they told me he was dead, I spent so many sleepless nights just praying I could see him one more time.
Now that I actually did? I wished to God this was all some nightmare I could wake up from.
Kids started flooding out of school.
This six or seven-year-old boy came bouncing into Paxton's arms.
"Mommy! Daddy! Look! I got another A-plus!"
When I saw that birthmark on his ear, tears just poured out.
That kid right there? That was Star.
The one who was supposed to have died with Paxton in that crash five years ago.
And now my own son was calling my best friend "Mom."
It felt like someone's fist was crushing my heart, squeezing till I couldn't breathe.
I stepped out from behind that tree real slow.
Looked right at Paxton and Josie's shocked-as-hell faces and said quietly:
"Hey there, ghost."
Chapter 2
Paxton just stared at me, didn't say a word.
Five years later, he looked exactly the same—except his eyes? Cold as ice. None of that love I used to see.
Josie snapped out of it first, rushing over to grab my hand.
She looked all panicked, trying to explain.
"Harper, please, we need to talk. This isn't what you—"
I looked at her and just felt sick.
Before I even thought about it, I slapped her across the face.
"Josie, I treated you like a sister and you stole my husband and kid? What the hell is wrong with you?"
Then I turned on Paxton. "Five years. You lied to my face for five goddamn years. Enjoy yourself?"
Paxton stepped right between us.
"You got a problem with someone? Make it me. Don't touch her."
Rage and this pain I can't even describe just hit me all at once.
My eyes went red.
Josie and I go way back—like, since we were kids.
She came from hell at home—mom was a drunk, dad gambled and beat the crap out of her constantly.
I'd always bring her to my place for dinner, homework, whatever.
One time her dad was about to hit her again, and I jumped in front and took it instead.
When I woke up, I was in the hospital with her crying over me:
"Harper, you saved my life. You'll always be my best friend."
And now? My best friend stole my husband and son. Stole my whole damn marriage.
My voice got loud enough that parents started gathering around.
Paxton frowned, reaching for me.
"We can't do this here. Come on, let's go somewhere."
My throat hurt so bad I could barely speak. Started to say no but then—
Star pushed me with both hands.
"Leave my mommy alone! Bad lady!"
He looked at me like I was the worst person in the world.
"Say sorry to my mom! Say it! Or I'll push you again!"
I just stared at this kid I nearly died giving birth to. Heart full of nothing but bitter pain.
Five years ago when Star was barely one, he already knew to protect his mama.
One time I cut my finger cleaning up broken glass.
Star toddled over and grabbed my hand with both of his. "Mama boo-boo," he said, bottom lip sticking out.
Then he leaned down real serious. "Me blow blow."
Paxton had gently scolded me for being careless while getting a bandaid for my finger.
Back then I thought I was the luckiest person alive.
And now? My husband came back from the dead to be with my best friend.
The son I suffered to bring into this world calls Josie his mother.
Nobody said shit for a minute. Then Paxton spoke up.
"Harper, look, I'm just gonna say it straight. I'm in love with Josie."
"You and me? We're done. Got nothing to talk about."
"I need Josie for my business. And Star needs a real mom—someone smart, someone with a degree. Not... you know."
"I know these past five years sucked for you. So just name your price. What do you need?"
Every word felt like he was twisting a knife in my chest.
I laughed. Couldn't stop myself. It sounded insane.
"Paxton, you seriously not worried karma's gonna fuck you up for this?"
I first met Paxton back in middle school—he was some scholarship kid my dad sponsored.
Orphan kid with crazy good grades who'd tutor me after school.
Senior year, Dad's business collapsed, he went to prison, Mom got sick. I fell from the top straight into the dirt.
Paxton wanted to drop out and pay us back. I said no.
"You're gonna get into Harvard or Stanford or whatever. Me? I'm basically failing out. College doesn't really matter for me."
"Mom's my problem. You just study. I'll deal with paying for stuff."
I worked every crap job I could find. When I handed him that first tuition payment, he rubbed my rough, calloused hands so gently.
"Harper, when I graduate we're getting married. Then it's my turn to take care of you, okay?"
Before he finished undergrad, his advisor asked if he wanted to do a PhD.
He wanted to refuse, but I got pissed:
"No way. Dad's whole dream was watching you succeed. Just go. I'll wait however long."
After that, I worked even harder.
After his PhD, he started a company with classmates. It grew huge.
Eventually Paxton and I had less and less to talk about.
High school dropout me didn't understand his tech jargon.
And he didn't give a damn that groceries were ten cents cheaper.
But even then, when people gave us weird looks, he stayed firm.
"Harper gave up her entire future for me. I owe her everything. I'll be grateful till I die."
When word came that he and our son died in that crash, loan sharks showed up.
That's when I found out Paxton borrowed two million from sharks to start his business.
I almost couldn't handle it. Seriously considered just... ending everything.
But he deserved better. Deserved to be remembered right.
So I worked whatever I could. Hauled cement. Washed dishes. Delivered food. Drove a cab.
Sleeping three hours a night, I finally paid off that two million.
Turns out the whole thing was a lie. Every sacrifice I made—for nothing.
Chapter 3
Snapping back, I looked at these two and let out a cold laugh.
"Josie, you stabbed me in the back, helped my husband fake his death, stole my son, made him call you Mom."
"Fraud. Cheating. Kidnapping. And what—you think money fixes that?"
Everyone around us went quiet.
Josie's face drained of color. Looked like she might drop.
"Harper, shut your mouth!" Paxton got in my face. "What do you even do? Cook and clean—that's it!"
"I need real help running my company. Star needs a mom who's actually successful!"
"Josie's got a Stanford PhD. You didn't even finish high school. No comparison."
Parents nearby slowed down, started whispering.
"God she looks so rough. He cheated with THAT?"
My heart was pounding. I pulled out our marriage certificate, held it up.
"I'm NOT the mistress! She is! Paxton and I are still legally married—"
Before I finished, sharp pain exploded in the back of my head. Something warm ran down my neck.
Star stood there with a rock, eyes full of hate.
"You're mean! Leave my mom alone! I wish you'd die!"
He grabbed the certificate, tore it up, threw it down the drain.
Paxton's face changed. He came over all worried.
"Harper, you okay?"
He was about to drag me to the hospital when Star started crying behind us.
"Daddy! Mommy fell! That lady hurt her!"
Paxton stopped dead, then immediately picked up Josie and drove off without looking back.
The crowd slowly left. Just me standing there alone.
I wrapped my head up quick and went home. Soon as I got to my apartment building, two huge guys rushed out and kicked me to the ground.
"There you are, bitch! Where's Benny's fifty grand?!"
My stomach twisted. Metal taste filled my mouth. I curled up, could barely whisper:
"I paid—paid it all last month. Look, here's the receipt..."
Guy snatched it, tore it up, laughed like a psycho.
"I didn't see shit! You paid or not? That ain't up to you!"
Then they just started wailing on me. Fists everywhere.
Heard my ribs crack. Everything hurt—couldn't even scream.
Finally, I couldn't take it and coughed up blood.
The punches stopped. Then I heard a belt unbuckling.
"Heh, this bitch is still pretty under all that dirt. Let's have some fun, call that fifty grand even."
I tried fighting back—shaking, couldn't breathe right—then saw someone pass by.
Paxton.
"Paxton! Help me—"
The thug covered my mouth, lunged to rip my clothes.
Through the struggle I heard a phone ring from behind the tree.
"Hey Star. Yeah? Mom wants cake? Alright, coming home now."
He glanced back at me for maybe a second, then turned and walked off.
I stared hard at him leaving.
Whatever I'd felt for him—for us—died right then.
Then a hand covered my mouth and nose. Couldn't breathe. Everything went dark.
