Chapter 1

"Caleb needs to have a child," Madeline Brown sobbed as she wiped her tears. "Simone, I'm begging you. Do this for me and Sylvia. Just turn a blind eye and let Sylvia have a child!" Simone Johnston went pale. Before she could say a word, her mother, Hazel Nelson, broke down in tears and spoke up as well. "Simone, ever since Caleb passed, Sylvia has been completely lost. It's like she's not even living anymore. I'm really afraid she won't survive this if something doesn't change," Hazel said through tears. "Please, I'm begging you. Let Cameron give her a child. If she has a baby, she'll have something to hold on to." The way they spoke made it feel like if Simone refused, she'd be the one responsible for Sylvia's breakdown, like she was the heartless one driving Sylvia to despair. Simone clenched her jaw and bit down on her lip, refusing to speak. She had grown up in a home where her mother always favored her sister, so she was used to this kind of pressure. But what mattered most to her now wasn't her mother's guilt trips or her sister's grief. It was what her husband thought. Simone was the middle child in her family, with an older sister and a younger brother. All her life, she had been the one who received the least affection. She had never known what it felt like to be loved—until she met Cameron Kirk. Cameron was unlike anyone she had ever known. He always made her feel like she came first. When she got sick, her parents barely showed concern and just told her to go to the clinic herself, but Cameron would drop everything, no matter how busy he was, and rush to be with her. Even if it was just a cold, he'd sit by her side and take care of her. When they went shopping, he always paid attention to what she liked. If she glanced a little longer at something in a store, it would be waiting by her bedside the next morning. Even when she craved one of those trendy, hard-to-find snacks, Cameron would get up at dawn and wait in line just to bring it back for her. He came from a wealthy and powerful family and didn't need to cater to anyone, but he was always willing to make the effort for her. Everything that had to do with her, Cameron handled personally. He even designed her engagement ring himself. On the day he proposed, he had looked straight into her eyes and said with deep sincerity, "Mona, maybe your parents didn't love you the way they should have, but from now on, I will. I know how much you've been hurt, and I understand all the fears you carry inside. "I promise you that once we're married, I'll always put you first. No one will ever take your place in my heart, no matter what." Simone had been so moved that she said yes on the spot. Before they got married, no matter what happened, Cameron always stood in front of her and protected her like a shield. And now, he was doing it again. "Mom, Dad, stop pressuring Mona," he said firmly. "This whole idea is completely insane. Mona is not the only one who disagrees. I don't agree with it either!" As he spoke, Cameron dropped to his knees in front of his parents. "I know Caleb gave his life to save mine, and I owe him more than I can say. I'll take care of Sylvia as much as I can, but I can't betray Mona. I'll help her in any way she needs, but not by giving her a child. That's where I draw the line." Madeline cried until her eyes were swollen and red, but Cameron didn't move. He stayed silent and kneeled at his brother's grave the entire day. Simone felt her eyes fill with tears. At that moment, she knew she had married the right man. Cameron was the kind of husband any woman could trust with her life. But late that night, when the house was quiet and everyone was supposed to be asleep, Simone suddenly heard faint moans coming from upstairs. She froze. Her first instinct was confusion. Was Sylvia seeing someone? Had Madeline secretly found someone else to give Sylvia a child? The moaning continued, and it tugged at Simone's curiosity. She couldn't resist any longer. She grabbed a sweater and tiptoed up the stairs. Upstairs, Sylvia's bedroom door was slightly open, and the room inside was a mess. A tall man was on top of Sylvia. His toned body was moving forcefully against hers as he plunged into her over and over again. His face was in shadow, but something about him looked disturbingly familiar. Simone's stomach turned with dread. Just then, the moonlight slipped through the curtain and lit up the man's face. And in that instant, everything shattered. The man lying on top of her sister—the one thrusting into her with so much effort—was none other than her husband.