Chapter 2

Serena's POV

I stopped at the edge of the equestrian grounds.

The scene before me included not only my husband and son but also Mia Sterling, dressed in an expensive riding outfit.

Luca was nestled in her arms. Excitedly, he planted a kiss on her cheek.

"You look so pretty today. Way prettier than that woman at home who does nothing but scowl all day."

Mia affectionately ruffled his blond hair before leaning toward Julian and whispering something in his ear.

The next moment, the man who struck terror into the underworld as its second-in-command actually dropped to one knee to wipe mud off her riding boot.

A few wives of other wealthy families happened to pass by and teased them with smiles.

"Mr. Vance, you three make such an enviable family."

Julian didn't deny it. Instead, he stood and kissed Mia on the forehead.

I raised my phone and snapped a series of pictures, making sure I had enough evidence before finally stepping out from behind an oak tree.

"What a lovely little game of house you're playing."

The moment Mia saw me, a flicker of panic crossed her face.

"Serena? What are you doing here?"

"If I hadn't come, I would have missed this entertaining little family drama."

She quickly recovered and hurried over, reaching for my arm.

"Please don't get the wrong idea. I came here to meet a client and just happened to run into them. I only stopped to see Luca."

Julian frowned at me.

"Didn't I tell you to rest at the estate? Why bring all that hostility here? You're going to frighten the boy."

I looked at the three people standing before me, each acting as though they'd done nothing wrong, and let out a cold laugh.

"I'm the head of this family and his biological mother. Do I need to submit a written request to see my own son?"

"And since when does accidentally running into someone involve holding hands and kissing?"

Mia's eyes immediately filled with tears.

Julian stepped in front of her, his voice as cold as a blade.

"She was your best friend. Why do you always assume the worst of people? I think the FBI investigation has left you mentally unstable. Now you're seeing enemies everywhere."

Luca broke free from the bodyguard and rushed to Mia's defense. He scooped up a handful of sand and hurled it at me.

"Get out! I don't want a wicked mother like you!"

As I watched the triumphant glint in Mia's eyes while she hid behind Julian, the fury of betrayal coiled around my heart like a poisonous snake.

Years ago, when her father ran up gambling debts to loan sharks and planned to hand her over as payment, I'd stormed into a casino with a gun and rescued her. I'd given her a respectable identity, wealth, and a place in my world.

And now she'd climbed into my husband's bed and was trying to steal everything I owned.

"Fine. Then let's have the lawyers draw up real divorce papers. I'll make room for her."

Without sparing another glance at the stunned trio behind me, I turned and walked toward my SUV.

Back at the estate, I entered the hidden room and retrieved an encrypted satellite phone Julian had once used.

I tried several ways to crack its security using my hacking skills. Only when I entered Mia's birthday did the screen finally unlock.

The messages had been meticulously erased. Only a few encrypted emails remained in a hidden folder.

They dated back six years, when Mia had claimed she was going to Europe for a vacation to clear her head.

"Your due date is next week. Make sure the doctor in London is ready."

"A boy. He's healthy. Have you arranged the underground doctor for Serena's side?"

The farther I read, the more horrifying the truth became.

Mia had returned home with her figure restored as though she'd never been pregnant. Meanwhile, on the day I'd lost massive amounts of blood during childbirth and fallen unconscious, Julian had taken our baby out of the intensive care unit under the pretense of a security concern.

What happened next was already painfully obvious.

I inserted a micro USB drive into the phone and copied every piece of classified information.

I'd fought tooth and nail to help Julian establish himself in a Mafia family obsessed with bloodlines. I'd gone against the elders and even drawn my gun on them to secure his position.

Yet he'd been conspiring with my best friend to steal my rightful heir.

That night, Julian never came home.

Early the next morning, I seized an opportunity while a maid was brushing Luca's hair and collected a few strands containing his hair follicles.

When I handed the sample to the underground forensic specialist I trusted most, I could barely breathe.

If Luca was the product of their affair, then where was the child I'd nearly died bringing into this world, the one with the family's pure bloodline?