After the business marriage, I found myself with a 4-and-a-half-year-old son. Before meeting him, I had resigned myself to a life of indifference—foreseeing a future where my husband would remain cold and distant, and my stepson would ignore me, painting a picture of a “tragic” existence. But the moment I saw that little cutie, his small hand tugging at my clothes and his tentative voice calling me “Mom,” I was utterly undone. In that instant, my hardened resolve crumbled. I turned to my husband, eyes filled with a desperate plea. “After the divorce,” I asked softly, “can I keep the child?” When the company ran into trouble, my father didn’t hesitate to arrange a business marriage for me with a wealthy man who already had a son. I was more than satisfied with this arrangement.. After all, as a devoted singleton, the prospect of avoiding the burdens of motherhood was a blessing. The man was a workaholic CEO, leaving little room for personal involvement, and his son was primarily cared for by a nanny. I figured I could just lay back and relax since my husband is a CEO—I wouldn’t even have to raise the kid. The wedding was a subdued affair, marked by its simplicity and the scant number of guests. As anticipated, the child was nowhere to be seen. The moment the ceremony concluded, my new husband, ever the workaholic, dashed off to his office. He left behind a brief, detached message: “The company is swamped. I won’t be home for a few days.” “Steven is already at home. You should get to know him better when you return.” Steven Zach, that’s the name of my stepson. With my parents divorced and my relationship with my father distant and strained, I left behind almost everything from the house. I took only a pendant necklace—a small, sentimental relic—before stepping into the unknown.
“Mrs. Zach, the young master is waiting for you in the living room.” Miss Flint greeted me cheerfully as soon as I entered. I couldn’t help but bristle at the thinly veiled challenge. So, he’s setting the stage for dominance right from the start? I mused with a steely resolve. Whatever trials awaited, I steeled myself to face them head-on. After all, how daunting could a child possibly be? But… Who is this adorable little cherub sitting on the sofa? So tiny! So precious! So endearing! Lost in a daze of wonder, I watched as the baby wobbled towards me. With a voice as soft as a whisper, he said, “Auntie Clara… this is… a gift from Steven… for Auntie.” He extended a pink teddy bear towards me, its softness almost overwhelming in its contrast to his tiny form. Despite being larger than him, he clutched it with all his might, determined to give it to me. “Wow! Thank you, sweetie! I love it! Your name is Steven, right? I’m your mom now, so you can call me ‘Mom,’ okay? After all, we’re a family now.” Wow! He’s absolutely irresistible—so precious, so heartwarming! I felt an overwhelming urge to scoop him up and envelop him in a hug. This charming child, who radiated pure sweetness, was clearly neglected by my inattentive husband. The injustice of it all struck me deeply. This little one, my stepson, had been left to navigate a rough world without the care he deserved. In that moment, I made a silent vow: from now on, he would be my son, cherished and protected under my watchful care. Little Steven seemed surprised by my words. His thin little body trembled, his fair little face turned red, and he nervously tugged at his shirt, carefully saying, “M-Mom?” After saying that, he shyly lowered his head, stealing glances at me. Oh my goodness! Forget the father—this precious child is mine to care for! I cleared my throat and seriously nodded. Then I turned to Miss Flint, who had been standing by, and said, “I’ll take care of the child, you can go about your business.” “Yes, Mrs. Zach.” The feeling was nothing short of exhilarating! I suppressed my bubbling joy as I scooped up the little cutie in my arms, the weight of his tiny form a comforting burden. Clutching him securely with one hand, I held the pink teddy bear. I had visited this villa a few times before the wedding, and each visit had left me awestruck. Nial Zach’s residence was nothing short of a masterpiece—a six-story marvel, boasting three elevators and two charming gardens. The grandeur of the decor was almost overwhelming, a testament to both wealth and taste. I took Steven to the room Nial had prepared for me and placed the teddy bear next to the pillow. “Steven, I’m sorry I didn’t prepare a gift for you, but this pendant necklace is very important to me. Can you help me take care of it?” “I’ll watch over it every day,” he promised. I put it on him, and he seemed very happy. “How about tonight you sleep with Mom, and tomorrow Mom will take you to preschool, okay?” I lowered my voice, speaking gently. If my best friend saw me now, tenderly cradling this little one, she might think I’d been possessed by some gentle spirit. “Okay,” he murmured softly, his voice a sweet whisper that melted my heart. Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t notice the brief stiffness on his soft, adorable face. That night. “…And so the little fox lived happily ever after with its mommy.” As I whispered the final line of the story, I gazed down at the tiny angel who had drifted into a peaceful slumber. Just then… the phone rang suddenly. I was so startled I nearly dropped the phone and hurriedly hung up. Hearing Steven’s steady breathing, I finally breathed a sigh of relief. I quietly left the room, found a place where Steven wouldn’t hear me, and called back. “Clara Williams, you dare hang up on me?” Wendy Silver’s voice crackled with fury through the receiver. “I was with my son just now. Besides, it’s my wedding night; why are you calling at this ungodly hour?” I said, exasperated. “Yeah, right. Everyone knows your husband isn’t home—he went to work right after the wedding.” “Wait! What did you just say? Son? When did you have a son?” Wendy sounded shocked. I frowned. “He’s my husband’s son, but now he’s my son too.” It’s normal that she didn’t know; I only found out when I was informed I had to marry Nial Zach. Nial kept this child well-hidden. But now that the news is out… “And stop being so dramatic.” “But you don’t even like kids!” Wendy’s voice dripped with incredulity. “I know you’re all alone on your wedding night, so I was calling to comfort you.” Wendy said casually. How was I supposed to know the little dumpling would be so cute? Though I thought this, I didn’t say it out loud. “Alright, what’s up?” “You have to come to the reunion this Saturday. That little ‘fake sweet’ will be there too. Remember—dress to dazzle and make her fade into the background! Show them who truly shines!” Just hearing Wendy’s tone, I could almost feel the fury seething through the phone. Her voice was a sharp, barely-contained snarl, and I could vividly imagine her face twisted in a mask of pure, unbridled rage. I chuckled, attempting to soothe her simmering anger. “Alright, alright, it’s been years; I’ve long forgotten about all that.” Wendy huffed, her frustration palpable even through the phone. After a few more terse exchanges, we finally ended the call. I stood by the fifth-floor window, gazing out at the sprawling city below, my mind lost in a daze. Suddenly, I remembered that summer after high school graduation. 3 In high school, Wendy Silver, Sarah Payne, and I were particularly close. After the college entrance exams, at a group dinner, the school heartthrob suddenly confessed to me. Everyone was watching and making a fuss, and I got so annoyed that I outright rejected him. But what I didn’t know was that Sarah had been secretly pursuing him for a long time. Because I rejected him, the heartthrob, out of spite, turned around and got together with Sarah. People said she only got with him because of me. And just like that, our relationship deteriorated. I thought we wouldn’t see each other after going to college. But to my surprise, even though we weren’t at the same university, she still spread rumors about me, trying to make me miserable. But she and the heartthrob didn’t last long; he soon cheated on her. I heard she’ll be at the reunion this Saturday too. “Ahh! So annoying!” I ruffled my hair in frustration. But then again… It’s been so long; maybe she’s forgotten. With that thought, I relaxed. The next few days, I stayed home with Steven. Apart from dropping him off and picking him up, I spent my time designing. I’m a renowned fashion designer, and surrendering my career for marriage? That would be a betrayal to my very soul. The vibrant threads of my creativity weave through my life’s fabric, and to abandon it now would be nothing short of an artistic death. Lately, the little cutie has been a wellspring of inspiration, igniting my creativity like never before. Not designing would be a disservice to my identity! 4 That Saturday morning, a serene smile graced my lips as I watched Steven, lost in his world of building blocks. His innocence was a balm for my soul. Yet, the thought of the faces I would encounter that afternoon brought a heavy sigh to my lips, I couldn’t help but sigh. Why am I heading to a class reunion instead of a parent-teacher conference? Steven’s innocent gaze, filled with concern, cut through my brooding thoughts. “Mom, are you unhappy?” I gently rubbed Steven’s chubby little face, “Mom has a reunion to attend this afternoon. Can you stay home by yourself?” After spending the past few days together, Steven had grown closer to me. “Can I come too? I’ll be very good.” Thinking of who would be at the reunion, I declined. His bright eyes dimmed immediately. “Alright, I’ll wait for Mom at home.” A wave of guilt crashed over me. How could I leave him alone when I knew the kind of neglect he faced from his father? Bringing him along shouldn’t be a problem. After all, I could keep an eye on him. It felt like a betrayal to leave him home alone, especially when his father seemed to ignore his needs so often. “You can come. How about Steven keeps Mom company?” “Okay~” The instant I saw his eyes light up with pure joy, I breathed a sigh of relief. Yet, an unsettling feeling crept over me—why did it seem like I had just been outsmarted? The reunion was in full swing by the time we arrived. As soon as we stepped into the private room,, it had already started. “Isn’t this Clara? Why are you so late? Come on, we’ve been waiting for you.” As soon as I entered, I was noticed. So much for quietly sitting in a corner. I smiled and greeted them, seeing Wendy wave at me excitedly. I held Steven and walked over. This caught everyone’s attention. “Clara, who is this…?” After sitting down, I placed Steven on my lap. Seeing the bottles and cans of alcohol on the table, I frowned. “He’s my son.” Then I looked at the waiter and asked softly, “Do you have any drinks suitable for children?” “Yes, we do.” After settling Steven comfortably in my lap, I shot a sharp glance at Wendy. “Stop staring like that; you’ll scare my son,” Wendy chuckled, “Your son is so cute! Does he need a godmother?” She said mischievously. “Get lost.” I looked at her disdainfully. We ate and chatted. Soon, a strong perfume scent wafted over. The next second, Steven let out a sneeze, his tiny body shaking slightly. At that exact moment, a voice pierced through the clamor of the room, sharp and dripping with scorn. “Clara, I heard you recently married a man with a child. Are you really that desperate? You’re not planning to become a—” Though she didn’t finish, I knew what she meant. “Sarah Payne! Who do you think you’re mocking?” Wendy’s temper flared instantly as she glared at Sarah.
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