My son’s preschool was hosting an event, but I was blocked at the entrance by security. “Kevin’s parents arrived early,” the guard explained. I watched, a knot forming in my stomach, as my son cozied up to his teacher, Serena. He pointed at me, his face twisted in disgust. “Ugly monster! You’re not my mom!” Julian, my husband, stood by, calmly telling the director to call the police on me. It wasn’t until they posted their “family photo” on social media – the two of them kissing Serena’s cheeks, one on each side – that I realized how utterly lost I was. After I vanished, they searched for me like madmen. When I returned home, Serena was directing the household staff to toss my belongings out. Right on top was a framed picture of our family of three. “Who told you to throw those out?!” I demanded, my voice trembling. Serena flashed a sugary smile. “Oh, because I’ve invited the preschool parents and their children over. If they saw your photo, I was afraid they’d misunderstand and think you were Julian’s wife.” My voice dropped to a frigid whisper. “I *am* Julian Sterling’s wife. Have you, a home-wrecker, forgotten your place?” Serena’s eyes instantly glistened, on the verge of tears. She cast Julian a ‘helpless’ look, her voice barely a whisper. “Julian…” Julian’s long legs were crossed, his gaze lifting with a dismissive indifference. “The media snapped photos of Serena and me at the preschool event. Online, people are calling us ‘the most beautiful parents,’ and Sterling Corp’s new mother-and-baby line has gained massive attention.” “For now, Serena will be helping me with public relations.” Seeing Julian’s cold attitude, the staff no longer hesitated. I watched as my life, packed into boxes, was carried out. Our wedding photos. My wedding dress. Everything that bore my mark was loaded into the trash truck. Julian spoke, his voice unnervingly calm. “For the party later, you should make yourself scarce.” But Serena clung to his arm. “Julian, it’s Kevin’s graduation party from preschool, after all. Why don’t we let Audrey stay? She could help out as a staff member.” Julian hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Serena isn’t really familiar with the house anyway. It would be good for you to assist her.” “I don’t agree!” My voice cracked. “Julian Sterling, you can just divorce me!” Julian let out a cynical laugh, as if I’d told a joke. “Audrey, if you leave me, do you really think your mom will survive? Her ICU bills aren’t exactly cheap.” He toyed with the heavy signet ring on his finger. The assistant beside him immediately made a call to the hospital, ordering them to halt my mom’s nutrient drip. My eyes burned with tears, and I screamed, “Julian Sterling, she’s my mother! You promised me when you married me that you’d treat my mother like your own!” Julian’s gaze was utterly devoid of emotion. “Audrey, don’t make me say it again.” He loomed over me, looking down. I’d seen that look many times before. It was the same look he gave disobedient subordinates – the look reserved for those he was about to discard. I knew. If I didn’t give in, he really would let my mother die. I never thought he could be so ruthless, all for a single word from Serena. “Audrey, time’s running out.” I dropped my arms, ceasing my struggle, and let the staff change my clothes. Julian finally looked satisfied when he saw my compliant demeanor. “Audrey, as long as you’re obedient, this house still has a place for you.” Preschool parents and their children started arriving, one by one. Serena had me stationed at the door, greeting guests. One parent, who I knew well, warmly took my hand. “Audrey, why are you standing at the door? Julian actually lets you greet people outside?” She’d been traveling abroad recently and didn’t know about Serena and Julian. Serena, clearly annoyed, interjected, “This is just one of our household staff. She’s not Mrs. Sterling.” The parent froze. “Aren’t you Kevin’s teacher?” “Being a teacher was just a hobby,” Serena said, her eyes accidentally lingering on me. “I just didn’t want to be too high-profile outside. I didn’t expect our housekeeper to impersonate my identity.” The parent immediately let go of my hand, retreating several steps as if I were carrying a contagion. Hearing Serena’s words, the other parents’ scrutinizing stares landed on me. Kevin wriggled through the parents, latching onto Serena’s hand. “*This* is my mommy. She’s just staff.” I whispered his name, a broken sound. “Kevin…” He was the child I’d fought to save, even while battling a serious illness. The child I’d watched over in an incubator for countless nights, praying he’d grow up safe and sound. He used to bring me little handmade treats from preschool, telling me he’d give me all the sweetness in the world. He used to hug me and comfort me when I cried. But now, he was saying I wasn’t his mother! A thousand needles couldn’t have caused more pain. My heart twisted, the agony stealing my breath. I stood there, frozen. Kevin’s small foot connected squarely with my bad knee. “Don’t call me Kevin! You’re just staff, you don’t deserve to use my name.” “Get out of here!” I cried out in pain as I fell to the ground. My knee had an old injury—a comminuted fracture from when Kevin was little and I’d shielded him. It still ached and itched in damp weather. But Kevin was all smiles. He wrapped his arms around Serena, whining, “Mommy, come play with me! Don’t mind this staff member!” Serena shot me a triumphant glance, then led Kevin towards the lawn. I lay on the ground, limp, without the strength to get up. The physical pain and the emotional agony piled on top of each other. I watched, stunned, as Kevin skipped away, tears streaming down my face. Laughter and shouts echoed from the lawn. It was the children playing a parent-child game. Julian was playing a three-legged race with Serena. His clumsy attempts made Serena playfully smack his chest several times. Kevin clapped his hands, cheering, “Mommy, Daddy, hurry up!” A bitter ache spread through my chest. Julian always hated childish games. I remembered when Kevin was one, I wanted him to join me for a parenting class. He’d scolded me coldly, “Audrey, be sensible. I detest these childish things.” Yet now, he patiently played with her. Suddenly, Serena let out a yelp. She’d accidentally twisted her ankle, stepping into the muddy patch beside the grass. Julian quickly swept her into his arms, gently taking off her shoe to check the sprain. Julian had severe mysophobia. I remembered once when I had paint on the back of my hand. When I handed him the scarf I’d spent half a month knitting, he merely glanced at it before disgustedly tossing it into the trash. He’d always been so fastidious, so untouchable, like a pristine statue. Now, he was bending down. Taking off her mud-stained shoe, gently rubbing her ankle. Amidst the envious murmurs of the crowd, my knee suddenly started to swell, the pain radiating from the old injury to every corner of my body.
“I’m fine, just a twisted ankle,” Serena said softly. Julian was still worried, calling a doctor to examine her carefully. Only when the doctor personally confirmed she was alright did his tightly furrowed brows finally relax. “Since the doctor’s here, have them check on the household staff too.” Julian’s gaze swept over me. Serena followed his gaze and then suddenly clutched her chest, dry heaving. “I feel awful.” Someone nearby gasped, “Could Mrs. Sterling be pregnant?” My body went rigid. Julian half-knelt, asking her gently, “What do you want to eat? I’ll have the kitchen prepare it.” “I want pastries from Audrey’s Bistro. Have Audrey go buy them, she knows the place best.” Serena pointed at me. Audrey’s Bistro was a gift from Julian to me. He used to say that the pastries there were only to be made for me. At the time, I laughed, telling him he had no business sense—how could a shop be open if it didn’t serve anyone else? Whispers rose from the crowd. “I heard Audrey’s Bistro never sells to outsiders.” Serena smiled sweetly. “Actually, Julian opened Audrey’s Bistro especially for me. Julian said those pastries are just for me.” Everyone murmured in understanding, praising Serena’s luck and envying Julian’s devotion. Julian looked at me. “Since Serena wants it, have the driver take you.” Serena frowned. “Julian, the driver needs to take guests home later. Audrey is just staff. If she sits in the car, won’t she get it dirty for the guests?” “Audrey, call a taxi yourself.” The Sterling mansion was nestled in the exclusive hillside estates. Taxis never came up here. With Julian’s silent consent, I limped out, dragging my injured leg. Every step felt like a needle piercing my knee. Five hours later, I returned home, clutching a box of pastries from Audrey’s Bistro. The party had long since ended. Serena said flatly, “Took you this long? The pastries are stale now.” She tossed them directly into the trash. I stared at the pastries spilled in the bin, the character “Audrey” on the packaging glaringly obvious. Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face. Julian walked over just as Serena started to cry pitifully. “Julian, she said the pastries from Audrey’s Bistro were made for *her*, and that I wasn’t worthy to eat them. She said she’d rather throw them in the trash than let me have them!” Julian’s face went dark. He immediately ordered his assistant to rename Audrey’s Bistro to Serena’s Bistro. He looked at Serena with tender eyes. “There’s no more Audrey’s Bistro. From now on, Serena’s Bistro is all yours.” Serena’s cheeks flushed red as she leaned into Julian’s embrace. “You’re so good to me.” My vision blurred with tears. The scene before me was blinding. My chest felt stuffed with cotton, and I choked out, “Julian Sterling, let’s get a divorce.”
Julian frowned. “Audrey, don’t be childish.” He let go of Serena, his expression turning serious as he looked at me. “Serena is only Mrs. Sterling in name.” “But you are still my wife.” He rubbed the corner of his eye, sighing. “I promised my parents I’d take care of you.” My heart lurched. So, all these years, our marriage had just been him fulfilling a promise. “And one more thing. The Sterling Corp shares in your name, transfer them to Serena today. Consider it her compensation.” After my family went bankrupt, on the day we got married, Julian transferred over half of his shares to me. “My love, these are your leverage.” “If one day you find me unworthy, just sell all the shares, bring me down, bankrupt me. Make me learn my lesson.” I looked at the share transfer agreement laid out before me. I met Julian’s gaze calmly. “I’ll transfer the shares if we divorce. Sign the papers, and I’ll sign these.” A flicker of displeasure crossed Julian’s eyes. “Audrey, don’t push my limits.” He handed me a video. His lips parted, his voice chilling. “I hear your mom can’t be off her ventilator for more than three minutes.” In the video, my mom’s oxygen mask was removed. Her face instantly turned ashen. “I’ll sign! I’ll sign!” I cried out, signing rapidly. The person in the video still hadn’t put the oxygen mask back on. I screamed, desperate, “Julian Sterling, hurry! I’ve already signed!” Julian let out a cold laugh. “Audrey, this is an AI-generated video Serena made. It’s not real.” “I wouldn’t hurt your mom.” “Even though I’ve taken your shares, I’ve had Serena set up a linked payment account for you. You’ll have a limit of five hundred thousand a month—that should be plenty.” Even though he said the video was fake, a knot of unease remained in my stomach. “Julian Sterling, please, just this once.” Tears streamed down my face without my realizing. Julian’s brow furrowed slightly. “Then I’ll…” “Honey, Kevin wants you to tell him a story! Come on!” Serena’s call echoed, and Julian’s eyes reverted to their usual indifference as he looked at me. He distantly responded to Serena, then his cold gaze returned to me. “Audrey, stop being dramatic.” “Serena is inherently kind. She would never harm your mom.”
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