Chapter 1

The day my ex-boyfriend, Spencer Drayton, became the world boxing champion was the same day I, Madeleine Ford, got my terminal diagnosis.

During the live broadcast interview, the host asked Spencer who'd been his rock during the hardest times. He called my number.

"Back then, you dumped me because you thought I was a nobody, got rid of our kid, and ran off with someone else. Any regrets now?"

I glanced at the date the doctors predicted I'd die and laughed, a wild, almost freeing sound. "Maybe we should just get back together. I get a champion boxer boyfriend. You get a five-year-old son. Win-win."

He hung up instantly. On the broadcast, Spencer's laugh was ice-cold.

"Thanks to my ex for giving me this humiliation. It's what drove me to where I am today."

I smiled through my tears, wiping them away. He had no idea. If I hadn't walked away, he would have died in that ring.

A friend request popped up on my phone. The profile picture was of my ex, Spencer.

After a moment's hesitation, I hit accept.

Instantly, a fifty-thousand-dollar transfer notification followed.

The message attached: [I want to see the child.]

It took me a long moment to process what he meant.

A knot of complicated feelings tightened in my chest. I accepted the money, then typed back: [Okay. Where are you?]

He dropped a pin, a private, members-only club.

I transferred the funds straight to my adopted son Theo Ford's account, pulled myself together, grabbed my purse, and headed for the club.

As I approached the private room, a familiar voice drifted out.

Peeking through the door crack, I saw Spencer standing tall and straight.

Seven years had passed. He looked more mature, more grounded, though his features were fundamentally unchanged.

But the woman beside him wasn't me anymore.

From the way he was dressed, it was clear he'd just finished a livestream and rushed straight here.

His new girlfriend, Tessa Sutton, had thrown him a victory party here, celebrating him becoming the youngest champion ever.

Spencer cradled Tessa's face, brushing a tender kiss across her forehead.

I snapped my head away, a sharp pain lancing through my heart. All I wanted was to leave right then and there.

Suddenly, the door was yanked open.

Startled, I looked up. Spencer stood there, his face a mask of indifference.

His cold gaze swept over me, head to toe, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"After all this time, not even a hello before leaving? That's a bit rude, don't you think?"

I stared at him, a thousand unspoken words catching in my throat. I swallowed them down. What came out was, "You wanted to see the child, right? Can you come with me now?"

Spencer froze. Then raw fury ignited in his icy eyes.

He slammed me against the wall, his hands digging into my shoulders as he growled, his voice low and furious, "Seven years ago, you vanished without a word, and now this is the first thing you say to me?"

A sharp, throbbing ache radiated from where his fingers pressed into a bruise on my shoulder. I gasped against the pain but showed a brittle laugh.

"Mr. Drayton, are you afraid Ms. Sutton might get jealous? I'm sure she would be delighted to hear I have a child, wouldn't she?"

I aimed the last words at Tessa, who had followed him out and now stood possessively in the doorway.

Shock registered on both their faces.

Pain flickered in Spencer's eyes, mixed with something unreadable. Before he could speak, Tessa glided to his side, looping her arm through his, staking her claim.

She shot me a sharp look, her voice dripping with mockery and pity.

"Darling, I heard Ms. Ford has been all alone, you know.

"Raising a child by herself all these years... it must have been terribly difficult. Perhaps the poor boy's never even met his father. Her asking... She's probably just trying to keep the child happy, don't you think?

"After all, she's not like me. I have a man to take care of me, time for shopping, trips... living life to the fullest.

"Which reminds me. I suppose I owe Ms. Ford a thank you for being so cruel back then. If she hadn't been, I never would have met such a wonderful man, would I?"

Faced with Tessa's smug display, I said nothing and offered no defense. My mind flashed back seven years.

Spencer was just a hungry young fighter then, fresh off a win, heading into the finals.

And me, on the eve of his biggest fight, leaving him with nothing but a note and a medical report from my abortion.

He was crushed, lost the finals, and spiraled into a year of self-doubt. He almost got kicked out of the gym.