Chapter 1 The Fracture

When Daniel Shaw finally came home, he wasn’t alone. Vivian Shaw, his parents' adopted daughter and his sister in name only, was with him.

Spotting me standing in the living room, he frowned. "Where's our son? Weren't we supposed to take him to the amusement park today?"

My fingers were still throbbing from lighting candles just moments before. Turning to face him, I asked, "Why has your phone been off all this time?"

Vivian, clinging to his arm, spoke up timidly, her voice dripping with feigned innocence. "Sorry, Sophie, it's all my fault. I had a miscarriage scare and was hospitalized. Daniel stayed with me and didn't realize his phone was off."

I scoffed internally. 'A miscarriage scare—how convenient. How bold mistresses have become. Fifteen days of a dead phone; who'd believe that?'

But I was too drained to argue. I pulled out a suitcase, the wheels scraping against the floor.

"What are you doing now?" Daniel demanded. "Going somewhere with Noah again? Don't you know his health is fragile? He needs rest, not you dragging him around. What kind of mother are you?"

"Fine, go if you want," he added. "But Noah stays here. I won’t have my son dragged around by you."

Vivian chimed in, adding fuel to the fire, "Daniel, maybe Sophie is upset because you've been busy taking care of me. Try explaining to her."

She turned to me with a slight smile. "I'm sorry, Sophie. It's all my fault."

Then, with a tone laced with pity, she added, "She must be exhausted from caring for the child. No wonder she's losing her temper.

"Look at her; she looks a good ten years older now. You should try to understand her more."

Daniel, still frowning, glared at me. "So you're throwing tantrums because you're tired of caring for our son? What's all this drama about?"

I let go of the suitcase. "Son? You remember you have a son? Daniel, do you remember when the bone marrow transplant surgery for our son was scheduled?

"Do you remember the doctor said his condition was worsening, and this was the last chance for a transplant?

"You don't remember, do you? All you care about is the baby in Vivian's womb. Your phone was off, no one could reach you, and Noah missed his only chance to survive! You've cut off his lifeline!"

Daniel's face turned ghastly pale, eyes widening as the realization dawned. He looked up. "I-I didn't mean to. I'll call the best doctors and get the surgery done right away—"

I laughed bitterly, tears streaming down my face. "Too late. Go ahead, call your doctors, and see if they can bring my son back to life."

Daniel stumbled back in shock. "What? What do you mean, bring him back to life?"

Vivian steadied him, her voice tinged with anger. "Sophie, even if you want to get Daniel's attention, you shouldn't curse your own son. What kind of mother does that?"

Daniel snapped back to reality.

He straightened up, glaring daggers at me. "You're lying, aren't you? I've told you not to use our son's illness to manipulate me!

"You did it before to get me home, and now you're doing it again. Aren't you tired of this game?"

He pulled out his phone, his gaze cold. "I'll call the doctor myself. Bring Noah downstairs now, and we'll go straight to the hospital."

Beside him, Vivian smirked, casting me a disapproving look. "Sophie, using a child to play these games… it's no wonder Daniel doesn't love you."

My heart shattered as I watched Daniel dial Noah's attending doctor, Liam Clark.