After I was burned and disfigured saving my husband.

Julian Astor held me, sobbing, promising he'd always be good to me.

But on our wedding anniversary, his secretary showed up with a baby bump and a diamond ring, demanding I step aside.

Julian sent the secretary away and voluntarily got a vasectomy.

He even took me to do IVF.

Everyone in the city praised Julian as a devoted man who had seen the error of his ways and returned to his love.

But on the day our child was set to inherit the family business, the secretary ran in, claiming she was the child's biological mother.

I calmly took a sip of my tea, smiling faintly. "Oh, really? I'm curious to hear how you plan to argue that my son is actually yours."

1.

It was the second year after I was burned and disfigured saving my husband.

His secretary, Bianca Thorne, chose Valentine's Day to flaunt her pregnancy and a diamond ring, trying to force me out.

Overwhelmed with despair, I stood on the hospital rooftop, ready to jump. Julian grabbed me, holding me tight. "Chloe! I'll make Bianca get an abortion immediately and fire her. I'll never see her again, I swear. Please, don't leave me!"

I looked at him, my voice filled with sorrow. "Julian, your love was the only thing keeping me going. But you don't love me anymore. I can't hold on."

"Chloe, you're the only one I've ever truly loved!"

Julian knelt before me, tears streaming down his face. "I'll get a vasectomy tomorrow. Please, give me a chance to make it up to you!"

Persuaded by everyone around us, I finally decided to give Julian one more chance.

He was ecstatic, hugging me tightly, unwilling to let go. "Chloe, I'll spend the rest of my life making amends, atoning for what I did. I'll never betray you again!"

"If I ever do, you won't have to lift a finger—I'll end it myself!"

True to his word, Julian had the vasectomy the next day.

He also transferred 10% of the Astor Corp. shares to me as compensation.

Then, he took me to start the IVF process.

He announced that this child would be the heir to the Astor fortune.

Eighteen years flew by. Julian spoiled me rotten, making me the envy of the city's elite social circle.

I thought life would continue like this forever. But the unexpected arrived.

On the day our son, Ethan, was to inherit the family business, my husband Julian threw a grand succession ceremony for him.

The lawyer read out the share transfer agreement from the board of directors.

Julian solemnly handed the corporate seal to Ethan, his eyes full of pride. "Son, the Astor family legacy is in your hands now. You are my only child, my greatest pride!"

"Do well. Dad believes in you!"

Ethan bowed respectfully to Julian, then looked at me. "Mom, thank you for raising me, for all your effort and sacrifice. I've decided to transfer 5% of the company's shares to you as your birthday gift."

"Quick, come up and sign."

The room erupted in applause. Astor relatives praised me for raising such a filial son.

Just as I was about to step onto the stage.

A figure rushed past me, grabbing Ethan's hand, crying hysterically. "Ethan, I'm your real mother! The woman beside you, Chloe Fang, she's an imposter!"

"I'm Bianca Thorne, your father's secretary. Back then..."

Her words hung in the air, and Mr. Astor Sr.'s face turned to ice.

Julian hurried to my side, his voice trembling. "Chloe, I haven't seen Bianca since that incident, believe me!"

Ethan, standing on the stage, instantly understood who Bianca was.

His face flushed with anger, he slapped Bianca hard across the face. "You shameless, despicable homewrecker! Wasn't it enough that you tried to destroy my parents' marriage back then? Now you show up claiming to be my mother?"

"Who gave you the nerve, huh?"

"My mother is Chloe Fang, from the Fang family!"

Bianca clutched her swelling cheek, heartbroken. "Ethan, how could you hit your own mother?"

"I really am your mom!"

Julian strode forward, pulling the woman away from Ethan, his voice furious. "Bianca, if you've lost your mind, go see a doctor! Don't embarrass yourself here!"

"Security! Get her out of..."

Julian stopped mid-sentence, staring in shock at the documents Bianca held up. "You... how could you be so vicious... You!"

He clutched his chest, collapsing to the ground in pain.

"Dad!"

Ethan's expression changed drastically. He rushed to perform first aid. "Dad, what's wrong? Wake up!"

"Don't worry, sweetie. Your father just needs some time to accept that I'm your mother. He'll come around," Bianca said, then shot me a provocative smile. "Chloe Fang, how does it feel? Raising my son for eighteen years, only for me to reap the rewards?"

"With the son comes the status. I'll be the rightful Mrs. Astor now!"

"And you? Get ready to be kicked out of the Astor family!"

Ethan picked up the scattered documents, his lips trembling violently. "How could this be?"

"Bianca secretly swapped my mother's egg during the IVF?"

"My mother is Chloe Fang..."

I walked up and took my son's hand, my voice firm. "Ethan, I am absolutely certain you are my son. The documents Bianca provided..."

"The proof is right in front of you, and you still don't believe it?" Bianca glanced at me scornfully, her tone dripping with mockery. "You got burned saving Julian, had to give up your acting career to be a housewife. Then you schemed to have his child to secure the inheritance. Too bad you were just paving the way for me."

"I almost feel sorry for you. Feel like crying yet?"

2.

Bianca's words caused an uproar.

Julian's sister-in-law looked at me sympathetically. "Oh, Chloe, dear, your luck is just terrible. Raised Ethan all these years just for the mistress to benefit. And those company shares you were about to get... gone just like that."

"The dividends alone are worth millions every year. Such a pity!"

"Indeed, a pity," her husband chimed in. "My brother Julian only has this one son. That 5% stake should obviously go to the biological mother. You..."

"Ethan," an elderly relative, Uncle Harrison, spoke up. "Chloe Fang hasn't given our Astor family any children, and your father had a vasectomy. Logically and emotionally, it's inappropriate for her to continue living in the Astor mansion. I suggest she move out as soon as possible."

"We don't want outsiders gossiping about a cuckoo in the nest."

Bianca's eyes lit up.

She nodded at the old man. "I've always heard that Uncle Harrison is reasonable and fair. Meeting you today truly impresses me."

"It's only right," Uncle Harrison said, turning to Julian, who was slowly coming around. "Julian, since Bianca is Ethan's biological mother, let's take care of the family recognition ceremony today while everyone's here!"

With him taking the lead, others quickly agreed.

A servant brought a chair for Bianca, practically fawning over her.

"Don't even think about it!" Ethan gripped my wrist tightly, scanning the room. "I only recognize Chloe Fang as my mother. As for Bianca trying to get into the Astor family? Not while I'm here!"

"Dad, what about you?"

I looked at Julian, waiting for his answer.

He avoided my gaze, his eyes settling on Bianca with a complicated expression.

After a long pause, he said, "Ethan, don't be so impulsive..."

A sharp pain shot through my heart. Tears welled up. "Julian, you instructed Bianca to switch my egg back then, didn't you?"

"I risked my life, got burned and disfigured for you, and you not only betrayed me, but you also..."

"Chloe, absolutely not!" Julian retorted coldly. "I deeply regret cheating back then and causing this mess."

"All these years, I've searched for treatments to restore your looks, I reopened a film company for you, supported you until you won Best Actress again. I've been doing everything I can to make it up to you. You feel that, don't you?"

"You're the only one I've ever loved!"

"Bianca was just... a tool for physical release!"

"A tool for physical release?" Bianca looked at Julian, disappointed, her doe eyes filling with tears. "That's not what you said when you were on your knees proposing to me!"

"You said meeting me made you understand what true love was..."

"Slap!"

Julian struck Bianca across the face, gritting his teeth. "If you keep slandering me, don't blame me for disregarding your connection to Ethan and sending you to prison!"

"You're so cruel! Just like that, you turn on me and want to send me to prison?"

Bianca was utterly devastated, collapsing into tears and lunging at him, hitting him. "I carried a child for you too! Why are you doing this to me?"

"It was a boy, four months along, already kicking, sob..."

"And you forced me to abort him, sob sob..."

People rushed to break up the fight.

Ignoring the chaos, I took a report from my purse and handed it to Ethan. "Son, I am 100% certain you are mine. Because I have the DNA test results."

"DNA test results?"

Bianca snatched the report from my hand. After reading it, she gasped, "How is this possible? I clearly swapped your egg with mine! Afterwards, I even paid that Dr. Evans $50,000!"

"Why wouldn't it be possible?" I watched her frantic state with a cold smile. "I paid him $100,000. Naturally, he'd do double the work for me."

"What do you mean?" Julian frowned at me. "What else did you have Dr. Evans do?"

3.

I took a sip of tea, my voice nonchalant. "Nothing much. I just instructed him to carefully cultivate the embryo, ensuring it would successfully survive."

"The fact that our Ethan turned out so intelligent, capable, and handsome... we really should thank Dr. Evans."

Mentioning his son, Julian's face filled with pride. "I'll have someone send Dr. Evans a generous gift later to thank him properly."

"I declare the succession ceremony back on!"

"Chloe, come up and sign."

I walked onto the stage, signed the share transfer agreement with a flourish, and gave my son a hug.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Bianca being dragged out by security.

Her face was ashen as she stared at me, then suddenly, a chilling smile spread across her lips. "Chloe Fang, you think Julian really loves you? What a joke!"

"He once tried to..."

Before Bianca could finish, security threw her out.

Julian blocked my view. "Chloe, don't listen to Bianca's attempts to drive us apart. You know how I've treated you all these years, right?"

I returned his gaze with a faint smile. "Yes, I understand perfectly."

Julian's tense brow relaxed. He opened his arms to embrace Ethan and me. "Photographer, take a picture of our family of three!"

"Mr. Astor, taking a family photo without me wouldn't be quite right, would it?"

A male voice cut in, followed by Julian's sister-in-law's surprised gasp. "Isn't that Liam Hayes? Chloe's childhood friend?"

"He's always been at odds with our Astor family. Is he here deliberately to cause trouble?"

"I have no interest in causing trouble. I'm here to claim my son," Liam Hayes said, raising a hand in greeting to the crowd.

He strode confidently towards Ethan and held out his arms. "Ethan, come to Dad."

A collective gasp went through the room.

First, a fake mother claiming the son.

Now, a fake father jumping into the fray.

This was explosive!

"Liam Hayes, what the hell is wrong with you?"

Julian grabbed Liam's collar, teeth clenched. "Ethan is the son I worked hard to raise! What are you doing, showing up and claiming him?"

"Mr. Astor, are you sure he's your son?"

Liam gave a wicked smile, turning to the crowd. "Uncles, aunts, take a good look. Whose son does Ethan really look like?"

His words ignited the room.

Julian's sister-in-law covered her mouth, exclaiming, "Oh my god! Ethan's eyes are exactly like Liam Hayes'—those same distinct eyes! And they both have that little skin tag in front of their ears... This... how is this possible?"

"Tsk tsk, besides the eyes, their mouths are very similar too. Look, Julian has thin lips, but Ethan's are fuller. I thought he took after his mother, Chloe, but now..."

Mr. Astor Sr. shuffled forward unsteadily, pulling Ethan closer for a detailed look.

He shot me a look filled with resentment. "Chloe Fang, quite the schemer! Our Astor family treated you well! How could you do this? Where is your conscience?"

"Julian already had a vasectomy, this was his precious only son! You're twisting a knife in his heart!"

"You venomous woman!"

"You're all talking nonsense!" Julian's face changed drastically. He let go of Liam and cupped Ethan's face, yelling, "Look! Ethan's eyebrows are low like mine, he has cavities like me, stomach problems like me! He's clearly my son!"

"Julian, the paternity test is right here. See for yourself."

Liam tossed the document at him, smiling slightly. "Now, your son is mine. And soon, your company will be mine too!"

"I don't believe it!"

Julian stumbled towards me, his voice urgent. "Chloe, you love me so much, you would never betray me like this, right?"

"Tell everyone! Who is Ethan's real father?"

"Tell that Hayes guy to get lost, now!"

I put down my teacup, my voice flat. "Julian, earlier you asked what 'double the work' I had Dr. Evans do. Now you see the answer."

"I secretly had him replace your sperm with Liam Hayes'. Surprise, surprise?"

"Impossible!" Julian roared. "You were recovering in the hospital from your burns back then, under tight security by my people! You had no chance to see Hayes! You must be lying!"