Chapter 1

Five years into their marriage, Tyler Stone discovered that his wife, Annaliese Murphy, had been cheating on him since before they were even married. Their son, whom he had doted on wholeheartedly for three years, was the illegitimate child she'd had with someone else. Three days ago, their son, Corey Stone, had fallen seriously ill. His chief physician suggested that Annaliese get the child's father to donate bone marrow. Tyler had just reached the door of the hospital room when he heard Annaliese speaking in a very low voice. "We can get the bone marrow donation, but not from Tyler. He's not the child's biological father." At that moment, Tyler felt as if he had been plunged into ice. The blood in his body seemed to freeze. He could not understand why Annaliese would do this to him. They were childhood friends and had been in love for many years. Tyler had even given up his career to marry her. He had willingly remained by her side to be a full-time father. But this was what he got in the end. Tyler still felt as if he were in a stupor, but he forced himself to collect his thoughts. As he sat in the hospital room, he felt as if a thin string had wrapped itself around his heart, squeezing it tight. It was extremely painful. He didn't dare look at Corey again, afraid that he wouldn't be able to stop himself from taking the boy for a paternity test. He was even more afraid that he was acting crazy—and that he would become an object of ridicule. He suddenly remembered that Annaliese had once said to him, "Ty, I'll never let you down!" She had made such a firm promise, and it still seemed to echo in his ears. However, reality had been a rude awakening. He suppressed the pain he felt in his heart and ran out of the hospital. At the entrance to the hospital, he bumped into his older sister, Amaris Stone, just as she got out of a car. When she saw how panicked he looked, she grabbed hold of him quickly. "Ty, where are you running off to? How's Corey? I'm here to see him." Ever since Corey had gotten sick, the entire Stone family had been beside themselves with worry. Amaris had even declined to attend an international conference and flown straight back to the country that very night. Tyler's eyes were red, and tears threatened to spill out of the corners of his eyes. "Amaris, please help me check something." "What is it?" "Corey…" Tyler looked aggrieved, and his voice was hoarse. "He might not be my child…" … "Ty, where have you been? Corey's been asking for you." Tyler's tears splattered on his phone screen when he saw the message that Annaliese had sent. Every year at the end of the year, she would take Corey up to their hilltop villa to stay for a week. She said that she did it to build up their relationship as mother and son. For four whole years, Tyler had never suspected that there was anything wrong. Now, he felt that he had been a fool. She hadn't been building her relationship with her son. She had obviously been taking Corey to see his biological father. If Tyler hadn't overheard her that day, he would probably still be taken in by her lies. Tyler was scrolling furiously on his phone. Family photos of the three of them flashed past relentlessly. The sun was shining brightly outside the window, but Tyler felt cold all over. He could not stop trembling. Perhaps he should have realized earlier that promises could not be believed. Humans were heartless and indifferent by nature, and Annaliese was someone in a high position. She had many better choices. That was why she had given up on him and their long relationship without a second thought. But she had once said that she would never let him down… Tyler felt as if he was being stabbed with a blunt knife. It hurt so much that he curled up into a ball instinctively. They had been in love for years. Everyone in their social circle knew that she was devoted to him. When he had been bullied in school at the age of 14, she had gone up to the bullies alone just to stand up for him. They had pulled her hair and spilled ink on her favorite skirt, but she had just comforted Tyler and told him that it was alright. At the age of 18, he had forgotten to reply to her message while he was out meeting his friends for a meal. She had been so anxious that she'd practically combed the whole of Berville for him. The moment she found him, she'd sobbed like a child. At the age of 22, she'd asked her father for the Murphy family heirloom, which was a pure gold pocket watch. She had said, "Ty, let's get married. I'll never let you down." The intense look in her eyes had seemed more searing than the sun. Tyler had said yes. Not long after they were married, they welcomed their first child. However, the child never left the operating theater. Instead, Tyler received the devastating news of the child's death. Amidst her grief, Annaliese decided to prepare for another pregnancy. The day she found out that she was pregnant with Corey, her eyes filled with happy tears. She even took a long leave of absence from work to focus on preparing for the baby. She could not let any mistakes happen again. However, the entire Murphy family had objected to her decision. Her father, Craig Murphy, had even brought up the family rules. He had berated her for being an ungrateful daughter who did not put her career first and declared that he would beat her until she came to her senses. Annaliese knelt in front of Craig's study for a whole night. She refused to compromise even when her knees became bruised and battered. She said, "I've already lost my first child with Ty. I can't let anything happen to the second!" Tyler now realized that it hadn't been his child that she couldn't take any chances with. It was her illegitimate son with someone else. A video call popped up on his phone. The name flashing on the screen was "Honey", and it seemed particularly jarring. Tyler answered the call with a cold expression on his face, and a pretty woman's face appeared. "Ty, where are you? Why do you look so grim?" In the past, she would be the first one Tyler told about anything, no matter what it was. However, he no longer wanted to face her. "Ty, where are you? I'll come and pick you up right now!" Annaliese shot to her feet, looking anxious. "I'm fine. I came out to buy a cup of coffee." Tyler had no wish to continue talking to her. He looked weary as he said distractedly, "I'll be back soon." Annaliese breathed a sigh of relief, but her gaze drifted to a point off-screen. After a few seconds of silence, she said softly, "Come back soon. Corey's waiting for you." Tyler grunted dismissively. He was about to hang up when he saw a man's figure flash across the screen and slide an arm around Annaliese's waist. Tyler paused, but before he could react, the video call ended abruptly. Tyler stood rooted to the spot. He slowly raised his fist and pummeled himself over and over on the chest. Despite this, pain flooded him, and he could not stop it. She was with that man in Corey's hospital room. Tyler buried his face in his arms and tried his best to suppress the rage that he felt. However, he could not stop the sobs that escaped him. So, this was what it felt like to be in extreme despair. It hurt too much. He had considered the possibility that Annaliese was the one being pestered by the other party. However, it was now clear that she was perfectly willing. Amaris sensed that something was wrong, and she didn't even pause to get her coffee before running over to him. She was upset to see how much Tyler was suffering. "Ty, Annaliese isn't worth your tears." Tears trickled out of the corners of Tyler's eyes and dripped onto his shirt, forming a large, wet patch. Amaris' heart ached for him. She was at a loss as she patted his shoulder, and her voice began trembling. "Don't worry, Ty. There's good news. I contacted the doctor who delivered the baby back then. She told me that your child didn't die! I'll help you find your child. "As for Annaliese, she'll pay the price for what she's done. But Ty, what are you going to do? Have you decided?" Tyler nodded, feeling choked up. He had decided. He had made a decision the moment he had discovered Annaliese's deception.