Chapter 2

I clutched my mother’s rapidly stiffening body, my own blood turning to ice. My mouth hung open, but no sound escaped.

Liam Blackwood’s phone rang, a frantic sound. I answered it instinctively.

His lazy voice drifted through the line. “Ava, it’s Skylar’s and my wedding night. We’re out of protection at the house. Go buy a box and bring it back.”

My fingers trembled, ready to hang up, but his voice came again. “Oh, right. And grab a box of milk candies. My little one’s afraid of pain, I’ll just sweet-talk her.”

My mind flashed back to the night Liam Blackwood came to pick up my mother and me from our run-down apartment.

He gently slid a ring onto my finger. “Trying to hide from me? You had me looking for so long.”

“Even if you’re not the Thorne family’s eldest daughter, you’re still my wife, Ava. I’ll give you a perfect wedding.”

On our first night, I was in so much pain I teared up. He slipped a milk candy into my mouth and murmured tenderly, “My little one, will sweetening you up with a milk candy make you forgive me?”

Even though I knew about Liam Blackwood’s notorious playboy reputation, I still greedily fell in love with him.

I never cared about those kept women. I knew he was just putting on a show.

But Skylar Thorne was different. He allowed her to carry his child.

In our five years of marriage, no matter how passionate Liam got, he always made sure to use protection.

My greed finally met its punishment. His one exception was the person I hated most.

If not for Skylar Thorne, my mother wouldn’t have lost her husband, and I wouldn’t have lost my father.

He hung up first, as always. I stared blankly as the funeral home staff took my mother away.

When they handed me a small box, I finally lost control, sobbing uncontrollably.

After getting the death certificate, a call came in. “Miss Sterling, the DNA report shows that your mother was Mr. Sterling Senior’s biological daughter, lost years ago.”

“Your plane tickets are booked. Would you like to meet your grandfather? Don’t worry, the old man isn’t as terrifying as rumors suggest.”

I clutched my mother’s urn tightly, tears streaming down my face. “Yes.”

“Then in three days, bring your identification. Someone will pick you up.”

I returned home numbly, only to hear a group of drunken playboys loudly discussing.

“Liam, Skylar Thorne is your wife’s half-sister. Didn’t you hate her the most? How did she suddenly become the bride for today’s wedding?”

Liam Blackwood slowly swirled his red wine, chuckling softly. “Can’t help it. The mother of my child needs to have noble origins.”

After the guys cheered, someone cautiously asked, “So, Liam, what about your wife?”

Liam’s smile turned wicked. “Ava? Oh, she’s very obedient. I’ve been with other women right in front of her, and she’d still obediently hand me protection. It’s just a wedding. I can always give her another one later, right?”

The group burst into laughter. “Liam, aren’t you worried your wife will actually get angry and leave? After all, if not for Skylar Thorne, your wife would still be the Thorne family’s eldest daughter!”

Liam replied indifferently, “No way. Even if I kick her out, she’ll still kneel on the ground, crying and begging me not to abandon her.”

“After all, her frail mother still depended on me to keep her alive.”

I staggered backward, bumping into someone who had silently appeared behind me.

“Sister, you’re back.”

I turned, my eyes darkening as I saw Skylar Thorne’s face. “I don’t have a sister.”

I turned to walk out the side door, but Skylar suddenly shrieked.

“Ah!”

Instantly, the chatter in the living room ceased.