Chapter 1

At her son's birthday party, he was calling another woman "mom."

At 6 PM, Evelyn Thomas finally got a message from her husband telling her the birthday party had been moved up to 5 o'clock.

She immediately left the lab and rushed through the pouring rain to pick up the cake.

When she pushed open the banquet hall doors, her long hair was soaked through, making her look rather disheveled.

To her surprise, the hall was buzzing with activity. The guests were already eating. At the center table, between her husband and son, sat another woman, holding her son's hand and laughing as she leaned against her husband.

Evelyn stopped in her tracks. The smile on her face gradually faded, disappeared, leaving only coldness.

She had convinced herself to endure this for five years, but finally, in this moment, all her hopes vanished into thin air, leaving only despair.

She casually tossed the cake she was holding onto a nearby table, grabbed some napkins, and slowly dried her hair.

Evelyn wore an understated black dress with a square neckline—elegant and stylish. Her casually pinned-up hair revealed her beautiful swan neck. Even without makeup, she outshone all the guests.

A few minutes later, someone noticed her.

"Isn't that Mrs. Miller?"

"That shameless woman trying to become part of the Miller family? The one who forced a marriage with a pregnancy? I think Mr. Miller said she's not worthy of being his wife."

Every time Evelyn attended public events with Luke Miller, she heard such comments.

These whispers used to hurt her, but now she was numb to them.

She smiled at the two guests, who immediately looked away awkwardly. Then Evelyn picked up the cake again and walked step by step to her son, Andy Miller.

"Sweetie, happy birthday."

The excruciating pain of that difficult labor was still vivid in her mind. Evelyn crouched down in front of Andy and smiled at him. "I got you a present."

Unexpectedly, the boy who had been so cheerful moments ago now showed disgust on his round face—an expression that didn't belong on someone his age.

He glared at Evelyn and threw the fries he was eating right at her. "Who told you to come! I didn't invite you!"

"Andy." Luke's deep voice followed, tinged with displeasure.

But he was scolding Andy about something else entirely. "Don't throw things around. Mind your manners."

He didn't think Andy had done anything wrong by being disrespectful to Evelyn.

She had patiently taught him using the most scientific parenting methods—why had she still raised a son like this? Evelyn stood up. "Andy, I'm your mother!"

"Evelyn, kids say things without thinking. Don't take it personally." The woman sitting between Andy and Luke stood up.

She wore a red strapless dress, her chestnut hair falling softly by her ears, looking very gentle.

It was Luke's senior assistant at the company, Maggie Smith.

"I was just joking with Andy earlier, telling him to tease you a bit. Don't take it seriously."

Evelyn saw the challenge in her eyes.

"So my son has no manners and disrespects his own mother because you put him up to it." She laughed. "Truly worthy of being a Miller Group employee."

"Evelyn." Luke stood up.

He was unusually wearing a light silver suit that stood out under the lights. His straight shoulders created an imposing presence, and his pale lips and deep eyes both carried a sense of distance.

When Evelyn first came in, she'd seen a hint of gentle smile on his face, but now, facing her, he'd returned to his usual coldness.

"I know you're upset." He spoke. "I was the one who changed the party time, and I forgot to tell you—that's my fault. Don't take it out on others."

Maggie was his assistant and also his childhood friend, who grew up with him.

She always managed his schedule, as if she controlled their lives.

On their wedding night, Maggie had scheduled an international conference for Luke, leaving Evelyn alone in the bridal suite. Luke didn't see anything wrong with that.

If the birthday party time change wasn't Maggie's arrangement, that would be impossible.

But Evelyn didn't care anymore.

"It's fine." She lifted her chin toward Luke. "I just think it's kind of sad."

Luke's brow furrowed slightly. He didn't understand what she meant, but he didn't ask either.

"I don't want this ugly cake!" Suddenly, Andy saw the cake box on the table beside Evelyn and slapped it to the floor.

The ribbon broke, and the cake smashed into a mess.

"I want the cake Maggie bought me!" Andy looked up eagerly.

"That cake is gluten-free." Evelyn glanced at the floor without any heartache, saying flatly, "You'll have an allergic reaction if you eat other cakes."

"It's okay, the cake I bought Andy is all organic. He definitely won't be allergic." Maggie smiled at Evelyn, speaking very considerately.

"Did you even buy me a present? Didn't you promise to get me that limited edition race car?" Andy pushed Evelyn hard again. "If you don't have a present, just leave! You're useless, not as good as Maggie at all!"

Evelyn stumbled from his push. She stepped back, creating distance from this "family of three."

"You're being rude to me, so I'm not giving you any present." Andy's words cut her deeply.

If it weren't for all these people watching, she probably would have disciplined him right then and there.

The next moment, she heard Luke say, "It's Andy's birthday, and you're going to hold this against him? Don't take out your frustrations on the child."

His voice was calm, as if Evelyn was the one in the wrong.

He stepped forward and lowered his voice. "Maggie's family went through something bad. She really needs occasions like this to feel the warmth of family, so I let her spend more time with Andy. Don't be upset about this."

"So you knew this would upset me, but you brought her anyway."

Evelyn's smile was heavy with sarcasm. "Luke, what if I said that if you don't make Maggie leave, we're getting divorced? What would you choose?"

As she asked this question, her eyes locked onto Luke's face, not missing any subtle change in his expression.

The shock on his face appeared for just a fleeting moment, and then his stern features showed a hint of impatience.

"Evelyn, stop joking around. If you have complaints, we'll talk about them at home."

"I'm not joking, Luke. I really do think it's sad." Evelyn looked at him sincerely, finishing what she'd started to say earlier.

"As my husband, I felt proud taking you places. But sadly, we just can't make this relationship work in the end."

She wanted to tell him to find time to discuss the divorce, but Maggie came forward to mediate, her sweet voice making Evelyn feel sick. She turned and left immediately.

Before leaving, she told Andy, "From now on, Maggie will be your mother."

In her purse was the limited edition race car for Andy. Evelyn walked out of the banquet hall step by step, her pace light, but something liquid flowing in her heart—she didn't know if it was tears or blood.

Leaving them felt like carving out a piece of flesh from her heart.

But staying with them would make her rot away in the daily cycle of giving and being ignored.

Since that was the case, they should just let each other go.