Chapter 2
“Hello, Mommy!”
The moment the child’s voice chirped, my mind went blank with a loud buzz, like someone had slammed a bat over my head.
I stood in the doorway, my hand still on the doorknob, unable to let go, completely frozen.
Three years undercover, I had finally completed my mission and returned home. I opened the door with a heart full of joy, only to see this scene.
The house was festively decorated, a red “Welcome Home” banner hanging in the center of the living room, the floor covered with balloons and streamers.
On the sofa sat Julian Thorne, my demon husband, but he was holding a tiny, pink baby boy in his arms, and a little girl, about two years old, was clinging to his hand.
I was utterly speechless.
From the bedroom door, my mother-in-law, Eleanor, smiled, leading out a heavily pregnant woman—my own sister, Willow Hayes.
“Why are you just standing there? Come quickly, listen! Your son is kicking Mommy’s tummy. This six or seven-month-old is just so restless.”
I stood my ground, my voice stuck in my throat, barely managing a sound after a long moment: “Mom, what is going on?”
Eleanor shot me a sidelong glance, a smile in her eyes, then took my hand and led me to the children.
“Come on, say Mommy.”
“Mommy!”
The children’s voices were clear and joyful, but they made my scalp tingle.
I yanked my hand away from Eleanor, seeing the intimate glances between Julian and Willow. I looked at Eleanor in disbelief.
“You know, when an incubus reaches adulthood, he *has* to reproduce, or his body will explode from within. And you haven’t been back for three years. We couldn’t just stand by and watch Julian die, could we?”
Eleanor’s expression was righteous, as if *I* were the one who had done something wrong.
Willow leaned against Julian’s arm, soft as a boneless doll, her large belly prominent, her face glowing. “Sister, Julian and I didn’t dare to tell you… but he was truly on the verge of not being able to hold on.”
My whole body went cold, as if a blunt object had crushed my heart.
Three years undercover, I walked a tightrope, risking my life, taking bullets and blows for the boss, until I finally turned that criminal kingpin around. I fought tooth and nail just to return early and spend my life with my husband.
But now, my husband was entangled with my own sister, had children with her, and was making them call *me* Mommy?
Julian saw the look on my face and carefully helped Willow up. He walked towards me, his seductive demon aura brushing my nose, still as alluring as ever.
“Look at you, getting angry again. Don’t be so serious. Your sister has the same genes as you; even a paternity test wouldn’t show a difference. Isn’t it basically your child? You wouldn’t really be heartless enough to watch me explode and die, would you?”
He spoke as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, as if the children had just appeared out of thin air and I hadn’t been cheated on. I just wanted to throw up.
“Oh, who are you making that gloomy face for?” Eleanor’s expression suddenly turned cold.
“Three years, not a single word. If your sister hadn’t held this family together, do you think you’d still have a home to come back to?”
“Your sister not only fulfilled your filial duties, she even took care of the children for you, arranging everything perfectly. And what do you do? You come back acting like a wronged wife catching her husband cheating. Can’t you have a little conscience?”
“They’re about to get married, really. Why come back and stir up trouble?”
Married?
My mind went blank, yet suddenly, I understood everything.
Willow’s face was like a peach blossom as she stepped forward, excitedly taking my hand. “Sister, you’ll bless us, won’t you?”
“Tomorrow, Julian and I are getting married. Guess what role we’ve specially arranged for you?”
I said nothing, my fingers trembling.
“You’re the one who’ll give the bride away!” She excitedly raised my hand as if announcing a lottery win.
“When you personally give me to Julian, the effect will be truly stunning. You know, you were once the one he cared about most. That’s what makes it so touching~”
She squeezed my hand hard, her nails digging deep into my skin, her eyes full of provocation:
“How memorable! You, crying tears of joy as you hand me over to him in front of everyone. The whole crowd will be weeping! The emotional arc complete, a perfect ending to the story! Don’t you agree, Sister?”
Seeing my silence, Eleanor pinched my arm hard. “Like a statue! Learn from your sister! Your sister is so good, she didn’t even mind that you, his *actual* wife, are still alive and well, yet here you are, acting all high and mighty?”
My sister “thoughtfully” slipped a script into my hand:
“Don’t worry, I’ve written the script for you. Just read it on stage. The first line is: ‘Today, I give my dearest sister to the man I love most…’”
I could barely breathe.
Willow continued to ramble on, oblivious: “Oh, by the way, Sister, you know how to take photos, right? Tomorrow morning, you can come help us with our wedding photos first. These are the most touching moments, the greatest witness to our love! If you post them online, you might even ride our coattails and go viral! I’ve even thought of the title: ‘How *Liberated* is a Woman Who Gives Her Own Husband Away?’”
I stood there stiffly, my heart feeling like it was being carved out inch by agonizing inch.