Chapter 1

"You've been on a business trip for two months. Now that you're back, you only want to do it once? Is something wrong with you?" said Charlotte Perry. It was early in the morning. After an intense and passionate night, Charlotte felt like she'd died and come back to life. Sweat clung to her skin, her body was sore and weak, and her breathing was still unsteady. Yet, she wrapped her arms around Brian Norman's lean waist, asking the question softly. Brian got off the bed and headed into the bathroom. However, he stopped when he heard her question. He grabbed her chin, his voice low and husky. "What? I didn't satisfy you?" "Of course you did. You gave me more than what I needed. But if something's wrong, we should schedule a check-up. Better to catch it early." Before she could finish, he kissed her fiercely, almost angrily. "Charlotte, you'll pay for what you did." Charlotte knew that Brian liked things to be passionate. Even though he didn't love her, he gave her the illusion that he did with every touch. Still, Charlotte didn't mind. They'd been married for two years, and she was willing to keep trying, hoping she could one day win over his heart. She dreamed of building a family with him and having children together. That thought made her reach up and wrap her arms around his broad shoulders again. It was already four in the afternoon by the time it was all over. Brian had made it very clear that, physically, he was in perfect condition. After showering, he dressed up as usual in a shirt and slacks. His tall, lean frame filled the clothes perfectly, highlighting his broad shoulders and narrow waist. His strikingly perfect features looked like they had been carved by God himself. His beautiful eyes held a depth that could make anyone feel seen, and he carried himself with elegance and power. As Brian buttoned up his shirt, a sudden ringtone broke the silence. He paused and picked up his phone with one hand. He listened for a moment. Whatever the person said, it left him stunned. He hung up a few seconds later, his gaze landing squarely on Charlotte. She was barely clinging to consciousness from exhaustion, but when she saw his expression, she forced herself awake. "What is it? Who was it?" she asked. Brian replied calmly, "It was my mom. She said you're not actually the Perry family's daughter. You and Louis Perry aren't related, and now his real daughter has been found." Charlotte's heart skipped a beat, and her mind snapped to full alert. A month ago, her father, Louis, went in for a routine check-up and discovered that their blood types didn't match. That revelation led the Perry family to launch a public search for their real daughter. Two weeks ago, they found her—Lydia Perry. The night Lydia returned, the Perry family hosted a grand welcome party. But Lydia fell into the pool during the event and accused Charlotte of pushing her. The Perry family was furious. People even accused Charlotte of attempted murder. As the fake daughter, she was cast out without hesitation. Brian had been away on business and clearly hadn't heard of this until now. Charlotte had planned to tell him herself, but she never expected his mother, Estelle Sanders, to break the news first. She nodded slowly, her fingers clenching the bedsheet. "Yeah. It's true. Did your mom say anything else?" Brian's tone remained eerily flat. "She said this marriage was arranged between the Norman and Perry families. Now that the real daughter is back, the engagement should return to its rightful owner." In other words, Estelle wanted Charlotte to give up her marriage to Lydia. Charlotte's face paled. No one expected this identity mistake to happen. She and Brian had already been married for two years, and that wasn't something that could be erased overnight. Still, more than Estelle's cold reaction, what Charlotte cared about most was Brian's. "And you? What do you think?" she asked, her fingers gripping the sheets tightly as she looked at him hopefully. In her mind, she considered herself nearly perfect as a full-time wife for the past two years. She handled his meals, routines, and life with dedication and care. She thought even if Brian didn't love her yet, maybe he at least liked her a little. But his following words hit her like a bucket of cold water. "I haven't really thought about it. It's just a marriage agreement. It doesn't matter who it's with. It doesn't change much for me... I've got a flight tonight. Business trip to a neighboring city. I'll be gone a few days." With that, he grabbed his blazer and left without waiting for her response. As the door clicked shut, Charlotte suddenly felt like she couldn't breathe. It was as if someone had driven a knife straight into her chest. His words kept repeating in her mind. He didn't care who he married. It could be anyone. To Brian, their marriage was nothing more than a disposable accessory. Everything she did was out of her own self-delusion. Only now did Charlotte see how cold and indifferent that man truly was. No matter how much she tried, she could never win over his heart. An hour after Brian left, Estelle showed up at the door with divorce papers in hand. She threw the documents at Charlotte and sneered. "Two years of marriage and not even a single child to show for it. And now it turns out you're not even the real daughter of the Perry family? I knew you didn't have the look of someone wealthy. I was right all along. "And now you've got a shady background, plus an attempted murder accusation? What kind of vile woman are you, trying to stay in the Norman family? Sign the damn papers and get out." Charlotte was already emotionally ruined, and getting a divorce agreement thrown at her left her completely speechless. It took a moment before she found her voice. "Is this what he wants? Or just you?" Estelle didn't hesitate and answered, "It's what we want. You think someone like you belongs in our family? Once the divorce is finalized, Brian will marry Lydia next month. She's worthy of joining the Norman family." Charlotte felt a sharp pain in her chest. Brian just couldn't wait to divorce her. He hadn't even boarded the plane yet and had already sent her their divorce papers. While swallowing the lump in her throat, she opened the file. Her heart ached more when she read that she was to leave with nothing on the divorce agreement. In this day and age, even housekeepers got paid. She had been his wife for years, and in the end, she walked away with less than a housekeeper. Charlotte let out a bitter laugh. Maybe sensing she might protest, Estelle added mockingly, "What, not satisfied? If it weren't for the mix-up, would you have ever gotten to live as a pampered rich wife for two years? Count your blessings. Don't you dare try to ask for more. Sign it now, or I'll have someone make you." Charlotte felt something tighten in her throat. In the end, she said nothing. She picked up the pen and signed her name. She thought that Estelle might be finally satisfied. However, Estelle wasn't finished. She pressed on furiously, "Oh, you have to return your wedding ring. That's a rare blue diamond, custom-designed by a renowned jeweler. It's worth millions. You're not worthy of it! You also have to return the matching necklace set!" Charlotte replied coldly, "They're in the safe. I never wore them." Apart from their wedding day, she hadn't touched them once. Estelle sneered. "At least you have some sense. Just remember, you're not leaving with a single thing that belongs to the Norman family!" Charlotte looked at her and felt nothing but disgust. "Don't worry. I won't take anything that doesn't belong to me," she said calmly. Nothing there had truly belonged to her, not even Brian. Finally satisfied, Estelle ordered someone to pack Charlotte's things and threw her out of the house. … One week later, a fleet of luxury Bentlys sped down the Juxburg expressway toward Marindale. A young man in the car spoke urgently into his phone. "I've found our sister. I'm on my way to get her now. You don't need to come." "Are you kidding me?" came a voice on the other end. "Our precious sister has been missing for 20 years, and now that we've finally found her. Of course, I'm coming! I've already dispatched over a dozen helicopters. She deserves a royal welcome home!" "Lottie is the Howard family's only daughter. The entire family has been waiting for her. A dozen choppers isn't enough. Send more! Line them up in formation to show her our sincerity!" another man said. As the three brothers argued back and forth, the deep voice of a middle-aged man cut in, "All of you shut up! Lottie is my baby girl. This had nothing to do with you kids! None of you are going. Your mom and I will be going ourselves!" The rest shouted back, "Doesn't matter! Whoever gets there first brings her home! I don't care even if you're my father!" … Six years had passed, and Charlotte had just finished a six-hour surgery at Marindale First Hospital. The moment she stepped out of the operating room, her phone lit up with a barrage of messages from her daughter Amber, all the way from Juxburg. "Mommy! So many people came to propose today, saying they want to be my new daddy! Grandpa got so mad that he let the dogs out and chased them away! Uncle Sky asked them where they found the guts. It was so funny! "Those guys really have no shame. My mommy is the most beautiful and amazing woman in the world. She deserves the world's most handsome man! "Don't worry, Mommy. I'll make sure to stop those men! No one's going to bother you!" Charlotte couldn't help but laugh as she read. She could practically picture the chaos unfolding at home. Still chuckling, she typed back, "Thanks, sweetheart." She tucked her phone away and turned to head back to the staff lounge. A few whispers caught her attention as she passed the nurses' station. "That little boy came to find a doctor for his dad. Apparently, whoever can cure him gets to be his stepmom. That kid's from one of the richest families!" "Seriously? Then they'll need the best doctor available. What about Susan? She's skilled, young, and gorgeous!" Charlotte usually had no interest in gossip. However, she had just heard that someone wanted to be her daughter's stepdad—now someone was out there searching for a stepmom? With her curiosity piqued, she slowed her pace and glanced over. In the middle of the crowd, she saw a small child surrounded by hospital staff. He looked to be around four or five years old, his features strikingly delicate. His round, chubby face had an angelic softness to it, and his rosy lips made him look ridiculously adorable. The boy sat on the bench, swinging his feet back and forth. He scanned the crowd with a thoughtful gaze.