Chapter 1

On our wedding day, my fiancé walked into the church holding the baby his fake heiress had given him—and told me to stop being petty in front of three hundred guests.So I turned around and proposed to his uncle instead.

"You can't have kids, Selena. The Family needs an heir. That's all there is to it."

"Jasmine's your sister. Her baby is basically yours anyway. So stop making a big deal out of it."

"She wrecked her body giving me this baby. I'm flying her to a clinic in Switzerland. We'll have the wedding when she's back on her feet."

Then Julian shoved the baby into my arms and walked back down the aisle with my so-called sister clinging to his arm.

Every made man in New York was in that room. All of them watching the real Sinclair heiress get carved up in white lace.

So I did the last thing anyone expected. I turned to the man in the front pew.

The man nobody ever expected to see in public.

The Godfather himself. Julian's uncle.Damon.

I suddenly grabbed Damon's hand, yanked him to his feet, and kissed him before anyone could react.

Then I turned to the three hundred stunned guests.

"All right. We're switching grooms."

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Three hundred guests stopped breathing.

Damon held my gaze, shrugged off his jacket, and draped it over my shoulders like I was already his.

"You said it, Selena. There's no taking it back now."

Five years later, Damon named MY son the next heir to the entire empire.

Then Jasmine came back the second she heard the news.

My parents, Cheryl and Victor, started blowing up my phone too.

"Come home, Selena. Bring the boy."

...

"Where's the kid? Why the hell are you alone?"

They were lined up on the front steps of the Sinclair townhouse. The second they saw I came empty-handed, every face iced over.

Right on cue, Jasmine started sniffling.

"I know Selena hates me. But he came out of my body. I just wanna see him. Once. That's all."

Julian pulled her into his chest like she was made of glass.

"Selena. What is wrong with you? Keeping a mother from her own son?"

I let the show play out. Then Victor snapped.

"Enough." He turned on me. "If you didn't bring the boy, what the hell are you here for?"

Right. The Sinclairs never wanted me.

I'd been back for five years as their real daughter, and they still couldn't stand the sight of me.

Funny thing is—when Cheryl called, some stupid part of me thought: maybe this time. Maybe they finally want me.

I let out a cold laugh.

"Hunter's with his private tutor this afternoon. That's why he's not here."

Cheryl's face flipped to warm in half a second.

"Oh, he's in class? I heard he's a genius. Winning awards already, that little firecracker."

Julian jumped right in. "Right? Jasmine used to sweep every competition back in school. Kid clearly got her brains."

Jasmine ducked her head, all bashful. "It's the Sinclair-Ferrante bloodline. Best of both."

I couldn't help it.

"Sinclair and Ferrante blood? What does that have to do with you, Jasmine?"

"And the kid is mine. So it's got nothing to do with you either."

Her face went white. Fat tears started rolling.

"I'm sorry. That came out wrong. I'll move out—I swear I will—just please, sis. Give me Hunter."

Cheryl gasped. "Don't be ridiculous! This is your home. Nobody's kicking you out!"

Jasmine cranked it up. Full theater. Gasping like she couldn't breathe.

Julian scooped her up and carried her inside like a Purple Heart widow.

The second I walked in, his tone flipped hard.

"Selena. Fine, you raised him. But Jasmine tore herself apart giving me that son. She's got postpartum depression now. After everything she gave up—how do you sit there and act like he's yours?"

They circled me. Fangs out. All of them pointed at me.

Same script. Different day.

I stopped listening and walked to the dining table.

Cheryl saw the fresh cuts on Jasmine's arm and started tearing up.

"My poor baby. What have you been through?"

She checked the wound. Then noticed the bare wrist.

"Sweetheart—where's the St. Christopher medal mom got blessed for you at the cathedral?"

Jasmine whimpered that she'd lost it after the baby came.

Cheryl marched right at me. Palm out.

"Give her yours. Now."

My hand shot up to my throat. To the silver medal under my collar.

The year they dragged me back to the Sinclair family, Jasmine pretended to be sick for two straight weeks so Cheryl and Victor wouldn't forget she existed.

That's when they went to the cathedral.Got the medal blessed for HER.

Mine was an afterthought. A second one they picked up because they were already there. Had a hairline crack in it, even.

I've worn it every day for twenty years anyway.

"It's mine," I said flat. "She's not getting it."

Cheryl lost it.

"She even let her own son call you 'mommy.' What more do you want from her?"

I stared at the woman who gave birth to me.

Something in my chest just died. Quick. Clean.

I smiled. Reached up. Unclasped the last thing I had left of the Sinclairs.

Dropped it in her palm.

I stared her straight in the eye. "Remember. This is the last time I'll ever show you mercy."

I stood up to leave.

She gave me a cold, dismissive laugh and turned to Jasmine.

"Don't worry, baby. Mama already found out where Hunter's tutor is. We're going to pick him up right now. You'll have your son back in an hour."

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