CHAPTER 1

Cassandra’s POV

“Mommy, you’re always like this—that’s why everyone hates you! It’s getting late and Grandma doesn’t like that.” our 6-year-old daughter Ava cried out impatiently.

I froze, the words hurt me deeply. I never imagined that in Ava’s eyes, this was who I had become.

Today was my mother-in-law Margret’s birthday. She held a party in the luxury mansion.

I looked at my phone. Still, no message from my husband Marcus.

Marcus had promised we’d all go together, but I didn’t know if he had returned from his business trip yet.

Then my phone buzzed in my hand. Finally, Marcus.

But as I glanced at the screen, it was an unknown number.

Ava isn’t your biological daughter.

I frowned, felt shocked, and didn’t understand the exact meaning of the message. Is it a joke? But who would joke like that?

Before I could finish the thought, Ava cried again, “We’ve already wasted too much time. Having a mom like you is so embarrassing!”

I lowered my head. The fact that my daughter felt ashamed of me filled me with both disappointment and grievance.

But true enough, the moment we stepped into the lavish party, the first thing I saw was Margaret Cole’s steely stare directed toward me.

“You’re late, Cassandra,” she said, her tone cold and reprimanding.

The guests around us shifted uncomfortably. Ava shrank behind me, her eyes wide with fear.

“I’m sorry,” I murmured. “We were waiting for —”

“Excuses, always excuses,” Margaret interrupted with irritation. “You couldn’t even manage to be on time for something as important as this. How embarrassing.”

I could feel the heat of every gaze in the room, Ava’s little face flushed with shame and she began to pull away from me.

That hurt even more, witnessing my daughter seemingly ashamed of me.

Margaret turned on her heel and returned to mingling with the guests as if nothing had happened, slipping effortlessly back into the role of gracious host.

From the moment Marcus brought me home, Margaret never approved of me. No wealth, no family name worth mentioning. To her, I was proof that her son had settled for less.

No matter how hard I tried to prove myself, I would always be the outsider. Like at the party, I tried to engage with a few people, but they quickly turned their attention elsewhere.

As I moved around, I could hear bits and pieces of their conversations which mostly centered around my husband — his latest deals, his rising empire.

“So his last stop was London?” I heard someone say, making my heart jump.

“Yes,” the companion answered. “I heard he was invited to speak at his former university there.”

Hearing those words filled me with discomfort. It was where he’d gone to school with Violet Lancaster, a woman whose name always seemed to pop up.

“Did you hear?” one of them said, her voice dipped in excitement. “Violet’s coming back to the States soon. It’s about time, really. She’s been making such waves internationally.”

Someone else chimed in. “Such a good match for Marcus! Wasn’t she his first love?”

Hearing that, I felt a deep sadness fill my heart. Yes, what I had forgot was that she was his first love.

I looked away, but not before I heard someone whisper, “Hey, don’t you think their daughter Ava looks more like Violet than Cassandra?”

“You’re right. I wonder…” Everyone else in their circle agreed.

My heart pumped a lot harder, and I can’t help thinking about that text I received. Was that just a joke, or… I felt extremely confused.

Just as I was lost in thought, though, the door to the banquet hall creaked open, and there he was, Marcus.

But he wasn’t alone.

A beautiful woman stood beside him, her presence exuding a calm confidence that caught the attention of the entire room.

Violet.

Ava’s small feet pitter-pattered across the marble floor, and without hesitation, she flung herself into Marcus’s arms.

“Daddy, we came late because of Mommy,” she said in a sharp voice. “And Grandma got angry because of that! Mommy’s always like this, doing things slowly. I don’t want a mom like her!”

“I was wait—” Feeling hurt, I tried to explain.

But I didn’t have the chance. Marcus barely spared me a glance as he hugged Ava, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “It’s okay, sweetheart.”

Then, Violet bent down, her movements graceful and composed. She gave Ava a warm, friendly smile. “You must be Ava…”

Ava’s breath hitched in delight, her small face lighting up. She nodded eagerly, staring at Violet with wide, admiring eyes.

“Wow… you’re so pretty.”

Ava giggled and then the two of them had started playing—a simple game of peek-a-boo and twirls, Ava’s laughter ringing through the room like a melody.

I watched them, a strange tightness forming in my chest.

They looked… alike.

Too alike.

But Ava grew up under my constant care — she’s never once been out of my sight. How could she possibly not be my biological daughter?

She must be mine. There’s no doubt about it.

I decided to stop dwelling on what people said; that message had to be some kind of annoying prank.

“Cassandra!”

I blinked, shaking off the haze of my thoughts. Margaret was standing across the room, her expression twisted with irritation.

“I’ve called you three times! It’s disgraceful, standing there in a daze while the guests wait!”

“I—I’m sorry,” I stammered.

Before I could gather myself, Ava appeared and tugged at Margaret’s sleeve and whispered loudly, “Grandma, Mommy’s always like this. She forgets things.”

The words hit me like a slap.

Margaret arched an eyebrow, clearly pleased. “See? Even your own daughter notices.”

I looked at Ava, hoping for some kind of apology in her eyes, but she was too busy basking in her grandmother’s approval.

Something tightened in my chest. I turned to Marcus, he stood nearby, silent and unmoved.

The coldness in his attitude stung more than Margaret’s disapproval.

Just as the silence stretched, Arthur stepped in—Marcus’s old friend and business partner. With a few light words, he pulled Margaret away.

Arthur caught my eye as they moved farther, and I threw him a grateful smile.

He did what Marcus never tried to do. Pain and disappointment filled my heart — Marcus, as my husband, had never once taken my side.

As the evening drew to a close, Marcus loosened his tie slightly, then glanced down at his watch with a frown.

I wanted to talk about being late today, but before I could, he was already about to leave.

“I have to go to the office. There’s something I need to take care of.”

Then only Ava and I headed home, hours passed and I found myself in the same situation I was earlier today — waiting in vain for a man.

Ava was about to go to bed, and the silence stretched on. Marcus didn’t come back. I finally couldn’t take it anymore. I grabbed my phone and called him.

The phone rang, and then… a woman’s voice answered.

“Hello?”