Chapter 1

Entering the late stages of my pregnancy, my belly had grown even larger, and my body felt heavier than ever.

Joshua Jaxson, my husband, insisted I stop working and focus on resting at home.

One day, shortly after he left for work, I heard someone unlock the door. Thinking he’d forgotten something, I waddled over to open it. But instead of my husband, a woman with wavy hair and a bold outfit stood there.

Our eyes met and both of us froze in place.

“Who are you? Why are you in my home?” I asked, assuming she’d made a mistake.

“This is 5-102. Are you looking for someone?”

Before I could fully process the situation, she swung her arm and slapped me across the face. Stumbling from the blow, I nearly lost my balance.

“You’re living in my home and you don’t even know who I am?” she sneered.

“I haven’t been gone long, yet here you are, moving in like the shameless mistress you are."

She didn’t give me a chance to explain before she rolled up her sleeves and struck me repeatedly across the face.

Terrified of hurting the baby, I tried to dodge her blows.

“You’ve got the wrong person! I’m not a mistress—my husband is Joshua Jaxson!” I pleaded.

“Then I’m definitely hitting the right person!” she spat, her strikes growing more vicious. My face burned, swelling red until my cheeks were almost numb.

Hearing the commotion, Mrs. Minerva Granger, my elderly neighbor, came over to intervene, blocking the furious woman.

“How dare you attack a pregnant woman! You have such a wicked heart!” Mrs. Granger said sharply.

“I’m calling the police!”

The crazed woman showed no fear.

“Let me ask you, old lady, what did people do back in the day to homewreckers?” she asked.

Mrs. Granger hesitated, her fingers briefly pausing on her phone.

“Nothing good ever came of women like that,” she replied absentmindedly.

“In my day, they’d be drowned like rats in a cage.”

“Then did you know that the pregnant woman you’re defending here is the one seducing my husband?”

The woman’s voice grew louder, filled with venom.

“She moved right into my home while I was gone! Tell me, should I let her off so easily?”

Hearing this, the sympathy on Mrs. Granger’s face vanished only to be replaced by a look of utter disgust.

After sizing me up from head to toe, she sneered dismissively.

Undeterred, I turned to her, desperately trying to explain. “I’ve lived here for a year, Mrs. Granger! This woman just came in claiming I’m a mistress and saying this is her home! You know I’m Joshua’s wife. We even brought you gifts when we got married!”

Mrs. Granger’s gaze wavered for a moment as she looked between me and the furious woman, her eyes lowered in thought.

The crazed woman crossed her arms defiantly. “You look familiar. Is your son George Granger?”

Mrs. Granger jumped in surprise. “How do you know that? Do you know my son?”

“Not just know him, I visited your home with Josh! By the way, George said you love the walnut cake I make. I’ll bring you some when I make them in a few days.”

Mrs. Granger smacked her thigh in recognition. “Yes, yes, I remember you! You’re little Josh’s wife!”

“Mrs. Granger?” I looked at her uncertainly.

Mrs. Granger spat at me, her expression filled with disdain. “Who do you think you are?

“You go ahead and keep hitting her! My eyesight is too poor to see anything anyway!”

With that, she turned her back and sauntered away.

I finally sensed something was off and turned to the woman before me.

“Who exactly are you?” I asked in a low voice.

“Oh, so now you’re afraid?” she taunted.

“Fine, I’ll be merciful and help you and your son understand what’s going on.

“Listen carefully. My name is Olivia Wylde, and I’m Joshua’s wife!”

Shock coursed through me, quickly followed by a wave of nausea.

Olivia was Joshua’s wife?