Chapter 1
"Dad, does this mean if Eva has a baby in her tummy, you're going to divorce Mom and marry her instead?"
As soon as Jake Holden said those words, the lively private room fell completely silent.
Lucas Holden might have been a father for five years, but he still had the charm of a man used to getting his way. Holding his glass, he looked every bit the refined gentleman.
On the video, there was no hint of anger on his face. He just smiled, patted Jake's head, and said, "What nonsense are you talking about?"
"I'm not talking nonsense. That's what Mom did before, so why can't Eva do it? My birthday wish this year is for Eva to become my mom!"
After that, Jake closed his eyes and made a serious wish in front of his cake. The candlelight danced across his face.
When he opened his eyes, he turned toward Eva Parker and silently mouthed one word that Miranda Tate couldn't possibly mistake—Mom.
That was where the video ended.
Miranda's friend, Hazel Stone, who sent her the video, was so angry that her voice could've shaken the windows down the street.
"What is wrong with your son? You almost died bringing him into this world! You've raised him all these years, and now he turns around and says stuff like that behind your back!
"How can Lucas throw a birthday party for your son and bring some other woman instead of you? Does he have anything but garbage in his head? I swear, your son takes after him!
"Wasn't Eva just supposed to be his assistant? She's got no shame!"
Even after the voice message ended, Miranda could practically still hear Hazel yelling.
At that moment, she played the video again. In it, Lucas and Eva sat on either side of Jake, looking just like a family.
Eva had been Lucas' assistant for two years. She was a fresh graduate, pretty, and always smiling.
Miranda had met Eva twice—once when Eva drove a drunk Lucas home, and another time around Thanksgiving, when Miranda brought Jake to Lucas' office. Eva had even given her a silk scarf as a gift.
At first, Miranda had actually liked Eva.
Jake liked her, too. Over time, he grew closer to Eva and went from calling her "Ms. Parker" to just "Eva".
"Eva can do everything. She's awesome."
"Why don't you know how, Mom? Eva knows. I'll just go ask her."
"Mom, all you ever do is tell me what not to do! Eva never does that! She's so nice. Why can't she be my mom?"
Miranda tried to talk to Lucas about it, but he brushed her off, acting like she was making a big deal out of nothing. And whenever Miranda pushed back, Lucas' face would turn cold.
"You can't even teach your own kid, yet you're blaming someone else because your son likes her more? Why don't you look at yourself for once?"
That left Miranda furious, so she stopped Jake from seeing Eva. She thought that would be the end of it, but it turned out they'd been meeting behind her back the whole time.
The way Jake looked at Eva and mouthed "Mom" felt like a knife twisting in Miranda's chest. She stared at the birthday cake she'd ordered a week ahead and the present she'd picked out so carefully, feeling a pain she couldn't describe.
She'd gone to pick Jake up from school early that day, only for the teacher to tell her that Lucas had already called him out sick.
When Miranda called Lucas, she found out he'd planned a birthday party for Jake. He hadn't invited her and didn't even tell her where it was, yet Eva was there.
...
It was almost 10:00 pm when Lucas' car finally pulled up to the gate of their house. He got out, walked around the front, and opened the passenger door.
Eva stepped out, carrying a sleeping Jake in her arms. She wore casual clothes, looking young and beautiful. Standing next to Lucas, they looked like a perfect couple.
Miranda, in her plain loungewear, felt dull and invisible by comparison.
Eva smiled as she saw Miranda. "Good evening, Mrs. Holden."
Miranda shot a look at Celine Adams, the housekeeper, who immediately came forward and took Jake upstairs to bed.
Before Miranda could say a word, Lucas told Eva, "You should head home. I'll have the driver take you since you had some drinks tonight. Don't drive."
He turned and told the driver to take Eva home, sounding thoughtful and caring.
Lucas had those eyes that could make one feel special, like they were the only one he cared about. He used to look at Miranda that way, too, saying, "No matter what happens, just tell me. I'll protect you, always. If you keep things from me, I'll... I'll eat all your snacks!"
Remembering how serious he'd been as a teenager just made Miranda feel foolish now.
At the moment, she could see Eva's ears turn red. Before getting into the car, Eva shot her a smug look.
As Lucas walked up the steps, Miranda asked, "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Jake didn't want you at his birthday party," he replied.
"So, whatever Jake wants, you'll just let him have it? If he wants Eva to be his mother, would you go along with that, too?"
Lucas looked surprised and a little angry. "Are you spying on me now?" He let out a cold laugh. "Are you really going to take his joke so seriously? Don't be so petty."
In Lucas' eyes, Jake's wish was nothing more than a joke. It was Lucas' attitude that allowed Jake to act out.
Lucas' eyes grew cold. "Don't forget how Jake came into this world. You'd better know your place. For Jake's sake, you're still my wife."
Miranda could barely breathe. She felt lightheaded, like the world was spinning.
Celine came over just then. "Are you alright, Mrs. Holden?"
Miranda steadied herself. "How's Jake?"
"He's still asleep. He smells like alcohol."
Miranda frowned. "Did he take a bath?"
"He wouldn't let me."
"I'll go check on him."
So, Miranda went to Jake's room. He was fast asleep, his clothes stained with alcohol, which explained the smell. At that, she breathed a sigh of relief.
She'd had Jake when she was 20 years old.
She and Lucas had grown up together. She loved him and had chased after him through all her teenage years and confessed to him more than once.
Eight years ago, Miranda's parents died saving Lucas.
Lucas' mother, Liliana Morris, arranged their marriage, but Lucas resisted, causing their relationship to become strained and distant.
Miranda was ready to give up, but that night, Liliana handed her a glass, asking her to deliver it to Lucas after he'd been drinking.
That was the night Jake was conceived.
Miranda had tried to leave with the baby, but Liliana found out. After that, Miranda and Lucas got married.
From the moment Jake was born, Miranda felt like her life had taken a sharp turn down another path. She became a stay-at-home mother, spending every day waiting in that beautiful house for Lucas and Jake to come home.
Jake looked just like Lucas, especially with those captivating eyes. Every time he said, "Mom, you're the best," Miranda felt it was all worth it. She would have given her life for him.
If not for Jake, she doubted she and Lucas would have lasted this long.
But maybe it was because Jake looked so much like Lucas that sometimes, Miranda wondered if he was really hers. There was nothing in him that reminded her of herself.
Snapping out of her thoughts, Miranda helped Jake out of his dirty clothes. But as soon as she undid a couple of buttons, Jake woke up and refused to let her change him.
She tried to coax him. "Let's get you changed and in the bath, sweetheart. You're all dirty, and the smell is going to give you a headache."
"I don't want to!"
"Come on. Be good."
"I said I don't want to!" Jake suddenly sat up and slapped her across the face.
Miranda froze.
The child glaring at her didn't look like her son at all. Her son was sweet and soft, and even if he acted out sometimes, he was never like this.
She slapped his arm in return—just a light tap, not enough to hurt. However, Jake instantly burst into tears.
Holding back her anger, Miranda told him, "I've told you, you can't just hit people. If you hit someone, you have to be ready for them to hit back."
"Eva said I'm protecting myself! You're mean! I don't want you! Go away!" He pushed Miranda away.
After that, she just stood there, looking at him for a long moment. All the love she had poured into this family and Jake felt wasted. She had never felt so exhausted in her life.
She turned and walked out, then stood on the balcony for a long time. The night felt endless and heavy, much like the darkness and misfortune that shadowed her life.
Taking a deep breath, Miranda grabbed her phone, got in her car, and drove off.
…
The next morning, there was no sign of Miranda at the breakfast table.
Jake complained that his head hurt, so Celine carried him downstairs.
That was when Lucas noticed Jake was still wearing the same dirty, stained clothes from last night. He snapped, "Where's Miranda?"
"Mr. Holden, Mrs. Holden left in the middle of the night," Celine replied.
"Did she really just leave her son behind?"
Celine hesitated. "She didn't seem to be in a good mood last night."
"She's a grown woman. She can't just run off because she's upset! It's so childish!"
Hearing that, Celine went quiet.
Lucas then ordered, "Give Jake a bath, change his clothes, and take him to the doctor."
Celine asked, "Should I call Mrs. Holden?"
She was worried because Miranda went out so late at night.
"She'll be back by noon at the latest. There's no need to call her."
She loved him too much to ever truly leave, no matter how angry she got. Besides, she couldn't even take care of her own son. Where else could she possibly go after leaving the house?
After all these years, he was convinced that when Miranda stormed off, she just wanted him to go after her. He'd spoiled her too much—that was why she still hadn't outgrown these childish games.
However, Celine couldn't shake the feeling that this time was different. She wanted to say something, but in the end, she kept it to herself. After all, this wasn't the first time Miranda had run off like that.