Chapter 2

I fingered the wrapper of the cupcake in my hand.

My heart was a mix of complex emotions.

Twenty minutes ago, Chloe was the person I was most grateful for after giving birth.

If she hadn't come to see me every now and then,

Helped me with the baby, and listened to my complaints about life’s hardships,

I probably would have had a breakdown already.

But the child I had painstakingly cared for was calling *her* Mommy?

It was absurd.

Thinking about it, I suddenly laughed out loud.

"What happy thoughts are you having? Share them with me!"

Chloe, with a smile playing on her lips, looked up.

Our eyes met. Because of the doubts swirling in my mind, I scrutinizingly looked at Chloe and was stunned.

I'd always known Chloe was attractive.

But I only just realized.

At some point, she had acquired an undeniable allure, a radiant glow I couldn't quite place.

I remembered Chloe saying she had been away for training during my pregnancy.

I remembered that when Leo was a few months old, Chloe, who seemed a little fuller than I remembered, finally reappeared.

Despite my unwillingness to admit it, the answer was already obvious.

For a moment, I felt unsteady.

"What are you spacing out about? You haven't gone crazy from taking care of the baby, have you?"

Chloe casually placed Leo onto the carpet.

My gaze followed, and I instinctively held my breath.

But Leo just started playing happily by himself.

Completely different from his usual behavior, where he'd scream for at least ten minutes after being put down.

I took a deep breath, and a wave of helplessness washed over me.

The difference in treatment was so obvious. Why hadn't I noticed it before?

"Maya, what's wrong? I've been talking to you for ages, why aren't you responding?"

There were still many unanswered questions, and I couldn't alert her yet.

I came up with a casual excuse to brush it off.

Then I asked Chloe if she had time tomorrow.

"If you need help with anything, you don't need to be formal with me!"

Seeing Chloe feign anger, I offered an apologetic smile.

"My heart hasn't been feeling right these past few days, and I want to get it checked out at the hospital. If you have time, could you watch Leo for me? I don't trust the nanny to be alone with him."

Though I was almost certain,

I still needed concrete results before deciding my next move.

Until then, I couldn't fully let go of Leo.

So, if I left the house, I needed someone to watch him.

My parents were traveling out of town these days.

My in-laws had always held a grudge against me because of Leo's health issues.

To avoid arguments, unless Julian was home, we hadn't even seen each other for months.

And if Chloe really was Leo's biological mother,

Then she was undoubtedly the best person to care for him.

Fortunately, Chloe agreed without hesitation.

I'd seen online what you needed for a DNA testing.

While chatting with Chloe, I pondered how I could get a sample from her.

Suddenly, I remembered the diamond hairpin Chloe had complimented several times before.

Chloe looked at me, confused, as I suddenly got up and walked to my walk-in closet.

When I returned with a mirror, she asked, puzzled,

"What are you doing?"

I didn't answer, just clipped the hairpin into her hair.

Then I held up the mirror for her to see.

"Don't you like these hairpins? My hair has been falling out so much, I might never get to wear them again. It’d be a waste not to give them to you!"

In the mirror, Chloe unconsciously touched her hair.

A smile on her face, she retorted,

"Your hair will grow back. Giving me such expensive hairpins, you'd be losing out!"

I pretended the hairpin wasn't placed right and used a little force to take it out.

Chloe hissed, and I quickly apologized.

"Oh, look at me! Holding the baby all the time has made my grip stronger! I accidentally pulled out a few of your hairs. Don't be mad!"

I plucked off the few strands of hair caught in the hairpin and casually tossed them into the nearby trash can.

Chloe rubbed the top of her head and laughed,

"Mad about what! This is the price of beauty!"