Chapter 1Sophie, just a month past giving birth, cradled her newborn and headed to the City Registry to get a birth certificate.
"Officer, the baby's name is Joseph Wilson."
The clerk tapped on his keyboard, his frown deepening. "Under Matthew Wilson's file, there's already a child named Joseph Wilson registered. Years ago."
Sophie froze, sure she'd misheard. "No way. Our baby just turned one month old—"
Before Sophie Harris could finish, her phone buzzed.
She glanced at the screen. It was a photo from Monica Moore, Matthew's assistant.
In the picture, Matthew had one arm wrapped snugly around Monica's waist, holding a boy of about five or six in the other. All three stood in front of a preschool, their smiles painfully bright.
The name tag pinned to the boy's shirt clearly read: "Joseph Wilson".
A text popped up right after:
[So, Ms. Harris, how's it feel to be the other woman? Get used to living in my shadow. From the real Mrs. Wilson.]
A cold vise clamped around Sophie's heart. Her fingers trembled as she spoke to the clerk.
"Could you... please check Matthew Wilson's marriage records?"
The paper slid out of the printer, light as a feather, but it landed in her palm like a ton of bricks.
In Matthew Wilson's marriage record, the spouse's name was unmistakable: "Monica Moore." Date of registration: seven years ago.
"Ma'am, do you still want to register this child?" The clerk's voice sounded a million miles away.
Sophie looked down at her daughter's sleeping face, a bitter smile twisting her lips.
"Register her under my name. And while you're at it... change her name!"
...
Leaving the registry, Sophie's steps were unsteady, like walking on clouds.
Her phone buzzed again. A message from Matthew.
[Hey babe, stuck in a meeting. Be home later to see you and our little one.]
Seeing "babe," Sophie almost laughed out loud. What a joke.
For years, he'd called her that every day. He'd text when he was leaving, hug her the second he came home. All that constant, tender attention? Now it just felt like a thousand tiny cuts.
She slid into her car, her hands shaking so badly she couldn't get the key into the ignition.
She knew the rules of their wealthy circle—most power couples lived separate lives. But Matthew... he was supposed to be the exception.
Once, at a charity gala, some socialite mouthed off to her. The next day, Matthew bankrupted her entire family. They were run out of town.
She'd once mentioned offhand that she liked some limited-edition handbag. He flew halfway across the globe overnight just to see her smile.
But the memory that really stuck with her was that health scare.
A nurse mixed up the charts and told her she had kidney failure. Matthew's eyes went red. He grabbed the doctor's lab coat, yelling:
"Take my kidney! Take both of them! If she dies, I die!"
When they realized the mistake, that cutthroat titan of industry crumpled in the hospital hallway, sobbing like a child.
"Thank God, Sophie... you're okay..."
People had always warned her: Matthew's empire was growing, and so were the women trying to get a piece of it.
But he treated her so damn well. How could she ever have doubted him?
But why Monica?
Matthew used to despise her.
Monica had been their housekeeper. Once, she'd served Matthew coffee while wearing a ridiculously low-cut top.
He'd smashed the cup on the floor. "Don't pull these cheap stunts in my house. You're fired."
Then he'd pulled Sophie into a tight embrace, his gaze burning:
"Baby, you're the only one for me. Any trash that tries to get near me, I'll throw them out on the street."
Monica was on her knees, sobbing and begging. Matthew didn't even glance at her.
"I love Sophie. I don't tolerate dirt. Get your trashy self out of my sight."
Monica scrambled to her feet, pale as a ghost, and packed her bags that very day.
When Matthew later hired her as his personal assistant, this was his explanation:
"Sophie, after she lost the job, her family tried to marry her off to some old geezer. She was threatening to kill herself. I figured it's better to keep her close, where I can watch her, than have her spreading rumors about us."
At the time, Sophie had believed him.
Who knew they'd been carrying on right under her nose for over six years, raising a whole other kid.
Sophie gritted her teeth, blinking back the burn in her eyes, and called a private investigator.
Half an hour later, a video with a location pin landed on her phone.
She drove straight to the address.
Matthew wasn't at the office. He'd just left a parent-teacher conference at Joseph's preschool.
He was holding Monica's hand, with the boy, Joseph, in his other arm. As they crossed the street together, the gentle smile on his face looked more genuine than any in their posed family photos, and the sight was a knife to her heart.
She hit the gas and tailed them to a villa in a gated suburban community.
She watched Matthew get out first and pull a massive box of toys from the trunk.
The boy, Joseph, cheered, grabbed the box, and ran off. Monica leaned against Matthew, chiding playfully, "You spoil him rotten."
"He's my son. If I don't spoil him, who will?"
Matthew dipped his head and pecked her on the lips. "Besides, he got the most gold stars in his class today. Made me proud."
Monica looked up at him, her eyes glistening. "Oh, Matthew, thank you for getting Joseph into the best prep school."
"Really... his birth was an accident. I never wanted to bother you. Just seeing you from a distance was enough for me. We would never want to get in the way of you and Ms. Harris..."
"Don't be silly." Matthew pinched her cheek, his voice soft but clear.
"She'll never know. Besides, you're the one on the marriage certificate. It's my duty to take care of you and our son."
Monica's tears turned to laughter. Matthew suddenly leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper in her ear, "And since we're married, shouldn't we be fulfilling some... spousal duties?"
Monica's face flushed crimson as he swept her up into his arms and carried her quickly into the villa.
Sophie sat in her car, a dull blade sawing at her chest. She drove home in a daze.
When Matthew walked in that evening, it was like any other day. He opened his arms for a hug the moment he stepped through the door.
"Hey, babe, did you wait long? Was the baby a lot to handle today?"
Sophie sidestepped him smoothly. "About the baby's registration..."
"I'll handle the registration another day. Don't you worry about it!"
Matthew's tone was suddenly sharp, but seeing her face pale, he softened it instantly, coaxing her.
"It's a huge pain to get it done right now. You just gave birth. You need to rest. Just leave it to me."
Sophie lowered her gaze and nodded faintly. She didn't tell him their daughter was already registered as a Harris.
And she certainly didn't tell him that on the drive home, she'd made a call to Matthew's most hated rival.
On the phone, her voice had been calm, every word certain.
"I'm single. If the offer still stands... I'll marry you in seven days."
Chapter 2
Matthew sighed in relief, leaning against her with a hint of a playful pout.
"We haven't really been... close... since you had the baby. Tonight..."
Sophie's stomach churned. Just as she was about to speak, his phone rang.
Matthew shot her a guilty look, turning his back to answer. When he hung up, his voice was urgent.
"Babe, emergency at the office. I have to go."
He grabbed his coat and rushed out. Sophie's heart seized. She quietly got in her car and followed.
Matthew's car pulled to a stop in front of that hidden villa.
A few minutes later, Monica sauntered over and slid into the passenger seat. The car immediately started rocking violently, leaving no doubt about what was happening inside.
Sophie opened the listening app on her phone.
The irony was sickening. She'd planted the bug years ago, worried about him during business trips. Now, it was her tool for catching a cheater.
"Good thing you faked that stomachache to get me over here. Otherwise, I'd have to spend another night playing the part at home."
Matthew's voice, laced with heavy breathing, came through the speaker. "You've kept yourself in much better shape. Sophie's covered in stretch marks... it just kills the mood for me."
Monica panted back, "Then don't go back tonight. Stay with me."
Matthew's movements grew more intense. Clearly, the car wasn't enough, because a few moments later he was carrying Monica into the villa.
Sophie sat frozen in her car all night, unable to comprehend how the man who had once sworn he loved her more than life itself could have become this person.
The next morning, just as she was pretending to wake up, Matthew walked in, his hair still damp from a recent shower.
"Sophie, get up. I'm taking you to an auction today. They've got some antiques I know you'll love."
He leaned down to kiss her forehead, his voice as gentle as it used to be.
Sophie hesitated, but went with him.
At the auction house, Monica suddenly appeared, wearing a red dress with a slit so high it was blinding.
"Mr. Wilson, let me take your coat for you."
Matthew recoiled as if she were toxic, his voice glacial.
"I'm here with my wife. What are you doing here?"
All eyes immediately turned to them. Monica bit her lip, looking at Sophie with a wounded expression. "But you need an assistant, sir..."
Everyone knew Matthew doted on Sophie. Their wedding had been the event of the year, attended by every major figure in the city.
Whispers immediately started. Matthew tightened his arm around Sophie's waist, frowning. "Monica, you are not needed here. Go back to the office."
Under the scornful gazes of the crowd, Monica fled in tears.
Matthew gently kissed Sophie's forehead and guided her to their seats.
But Sophie could feel the irritation radiating from him.
As several items went up for auction, his eyes were distant, and his foot tapped restlessly under the table.
Then, a gem called the "Heart of Radiance" was presented. Matthew immediately made a sky-lantern bid, signaling he would pay any price, then stood up.
"Sophie, I'll be right back. Bid on anything you like."
Everyone stared at Sophie with envy. "Mr. Wilson truly adores his wife... a sky-lantern bid!"
"Well, she is a Harris. She wouldn't be interested in just anything."
Sophie paid them no mind. She followed him out. As she neared the women's restroom, she heard disgusting noises coming from one of the stalls.
"You little devil," Matthew's breathless voice said. "Who told you to wear that dress? Wasn't three times this morning enough for you?"
"You were the one who was mean to me," Monica purred, a note of pouty hurt in her voice. "Maybe you should have thought about this before you sent me away."
Matthew seemed to sigh. "Behave. She's my wife in name, and all these important people are here because of the Harris family. You know that."
Monica let out a small, tearful moan. "But I'm your legal wife! When do I get to be the one standing by your side?"
"Don't start," Matthew's voice turned cold. "We agreed to keep this quiet. Don't cross the line."
He paused, his tone softening. "The gem I just bought is for you. As compensation."
"I want a wedding too! Bigger than Sophie's!"
The rest of her words were lost in the sound of wet, sloppy kisses.
Sophie's stomach revolted. She staggered out of the auction house, leaning against a wall and gagging.
So this was the real Matthew Wilson.
He gave her the title in public, but saved his real affection for Monica and their son.
His carefully constructed image of a loving husband was just a game to make a fool of her. The fake marriage certificate, the lavish wedding—it was all a sick joke.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, telling herself, "Six more days. Just get through six more days and it's over."
She immediately called her assistant. "Liquidate all my shares and projects at Wilson Corp. Prepare the transfer agreements."
But her assistant's next words made her blood run cold.
"Ms. Harris, the 'Guardian Project' you were heading... it was transferred to Assistant Moore's name last month!"
Chapter 3
The "Guardian Project" was her late father's most cherished initiative: a development project for advanced smart bionic limbs.
Her father had dedicated his life to philanthropy, and his dream was to see this project succeed and benefit countless people with disabilities.
Sophie had pushed herself to oversee it for months, even during her pregnancy. It was only when the project was on stable ground, right before she gave birth, that she finally stepped back.
When Sophie arrived at the company, her assistant was frantic.
"Ms. Harris, Mr. Wilson has handed over everything to Assistant Moore. We're completely in the dark."
Sophie's expression was calm. "It doesn't matter. Let's go to the CEO's office. I know Matthew's password."
Moments later, Monica rushed to block her path.
"Mrs. Wilson, I'm afraid you can't go in."
Her lips were swollen, a clear love bite on her neck, and her face was a mask of smug arrogance.
"You can't enter without the CEO's permission!"
Sophie pushed past her coldly. "Move. I personally managed this project. I have the right to review it."
"You abandoned this project when you were pregnant. Now you want to waltz in and steal someone else's credit? I don't think so."
Unable to stop her, Monica spat out the venomous words.
Just then, Matthew hurried in, a note of panic in his voice. "Why did you leave early? You didn't wait for me."
Sophie laughed bitterly to herself. You were busy with Monica. You had no time to leave with me.
She handed him a file.
"Matthew, look at this data! The prosthetic materials were all supposed to be imported. Why have they been swapped for cheap, shoddy substitutes?"
"Who switched the suppliers to line their own pockets?"
The products had been compromised by Monica, who used inferior materials and cut corners, with the price difference disappearing into thin air.
Matthew's brow furrowed, clearly realizing something was wrong.
Monica's face went white. She stammered, "Mr. Wilson had nothing to do with it! I'm sorry, ma'am, I just wanted to make some extra money for my son..."
"If you're going to blame someone, blame me."
She wept prettily, and Matthew's eyes instantly filled with pity.
Sophie scoffed. "An apology is useless. What you did constitutes fraud. I'm calling the police."
Just as she spoke, a small figure darted out and slammed into her.
"You mean lady, don't you bully my mommy! Daddy, get her!"
The shrill, childish voice echoed through the office.
It was Joseph.
Sophie grunted from the impact, her face instantly turning pale. The nearby employees' expressions shifted in shock.
Matthew rushed forward. "Sophie, are you okay?"
Monica quickly pulled Joseph to her side, feigning a scolding. "Joseph, that's so rude! Apologize to the lady right now!"
Then she turned to Sophie. "Ma'am, hit me, yell at me, do whatever you want, but please, don't take it out on a child."
But Sophie could see the triumph hidden in her eyes.
Before Sophie could respond, Matthew interjected, "Don't yell at him. He's just a kid, he doesn't know any better." He turned to Monica. "He didn't mean it. Take him home. I'll explain things to Sophie."
Sophie stared directly into Matthew's eyes, her words slow and deliberate. "Explain what? That he called me a 'mean lady'? Or that he called you 'Daddy'?"
She was done watching this disgusting soap opera. She turned and walked out.
Matthew hurried after her. "Sophie, her son is only six years old. Why are you picking a fight with a child?"
Sophie clenched her fists. "He's vicious for his age, which is a clear sign of bad parenting. Why shouldn't I care? Unless... is he your son?"
Matthew's expression changed, and he feigned anger. "What are you talking about, Sophie? How could he possibly be my child? Our daughter is my only child."
Even now, he was still lying.
Sophie laughed, a bitter, self-mocking sound, and looked up at him.
"Then what's our daughter's name? It seems... you haven't even bothered to name her yet, have you?"
