Chapter 1

On our fifth wedding anniversary, Julian stood me up again.

I stared at his icy text—[Working late tonight]—and was about to reply when I accidentally tapped into an outdoor livestream on my phone.

The camera panned across a sunny park, and Julian’s face suddenly filled the screen.

My heart stopped. I rewound the stream over and over, desperate to make sure my eyes weren't playing tricks on me.

It wasn't just that Julian had lied about working late.

It was the boy in his arms. The boy looked identical to my son—the one who supposedly died premature five years ago.

My pulse pounded in my ears. I traced the livestream’s location and raced straight there.

Just as I arrived, I heard the boy call the woman standing next to Julian "Mommy."

That woman was Lana, Julian’s foster sister.

Julian had his arm wrapped around her waist, his voice dripping with affection:

"If you hadn't been unable to carry a child and wanted one so badly, I never would've married Chloe. She carried him just for you. When I told her the baby died at birth, that idiot actually believed me."

"Lana, you’re the only woman I’ve ever loved."

I froze in place, feeling like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over my head.

All these years, I was never a wife to him.

I was just a walking incubator.

"Julian Vance!"

My scream shattered the quiet park.

Julian whipped around. When he saw me, the color drained from his face.

He quickly stepped forward, physically blocking me from getting closer.

"How did you find this place? Are you stalking me?"

Tears burned my eyes as I glared at him with pure hatred.

"Why did you lie to me? Why did you tell me Leo was dead?! You knew how much I loved that baby! After I lost him, my postpartum depression almost killed me. I tried to end my life multiple times!"

"Get out of my way! Let me see my son!"

Julian’s brows furrowed deeply. He clamped a hard hand around my wrist and dragged me backward.

"What son? Leo is Lana’s boy now."

"Get the hell home right now, and you can keep your title as Mrs. Vance. Keep throwing a tantrum, and we’re getting a divorce!"

I struggled against his grip, but I couldn't break free.

Staring into his cold, dead eyes, my heart turned to ash.

"Divorce me then!" I screamed. "I’ll sign whatever you want, but I’m taking my son with me! He’s my baby!"

Seeing that I wouldn't let it go, Julian lost all patience.

Without another word, he hoisted me over his shoulder. Ignoring my desperate punches and kicks, he hauled me to his car and shoved me into the back seat.

The engine roared as he sped back to the estate.

Before I could even catch my breath, he dragged me down the stairs and threw me roughly into the dark basement.

"You're hysterical right now. Stay down here and cool off."

"Once you can control your emotions, we’ll talk about Leo."

SLAM!

The heavy iron trapdoor banged shut above me, cutting off every sliver of light.

The space was cramped, pitch-black, and suffocating.

Claustrophobia clawed at my chest like a monster. I hurled myself at the door, pounding against the cold metal until my knuckles bled.

"Let me out, Julian!" I begged, my voice raspy with panic.

"You know I have severe claustrophobia! You can't do this to me! A panic attack will kill me! Please... please open the door!"

My chest felt like an anvil had been dropped on it. Air wouldn't reach my lungs.

I gasped frantically, spots dancing across my vision. My nails scraped painfully against the metal.

"My pills... my medication is upstairs in the bedroom!"

"Julian, I can't breathe..."

Julian’s voice drifted down from the other side of the iron door, completely indifferent to my torment:

"I’ll let you out."

"The second you sign over full custody of Leo and promise to never bring this up again."

Sign him away? Never.

Trembling with pure fury, I gasped out between ragged breaths:

"Julian... in your dreams!"

BAM!

Julian violently kicked the metal door from above.

"Then rot down there until you come to your senses!"

His heavy footsteps faded away.

The absolute silence combined with the crushing walls triggered a full-blown panic attack.

A piercing ringing filled my ears. My limbs twitched uncontrollably.

My skull felt like it was splitting open.

My knees buckled, and I collapsed onto the freezing concrete floor, falling completely into the dark.

...

I didn't know how much time had passed.

A faint scraping noise came from above. Someone was struggling to push open the heavy trapdoor.

I forced my eyes open and looked up toward the thin crack of light.

In that hazy glow, a small, cherubic face peeked down.

Leo was lying on his stomach by the opening, reaching out his tiny hand toward me.

"Ma'am, hurry! Come out!"

I scrambled up the stairs on my hands and knees.

The second I dragged myself into the light, I pulled Leo into a fierce hug, pressing my cheek against his, laughing and sobbing all at once.

"Leo, I’m not just a stranger..."

"I’m your mommy."

Leo looked at me with wide, confused eyes. His little lips parted, trying to form the word.

"Mom...?"

Before he could finish, a woman's shrill shriek tore through the hall:

"You little brat! Who told you to let this bitch out?!"