Chapter 1

I was lounging on the sofa in our villa when I suddenly felt the baby kicking. The sensation was incredible.

Trent and I had endured a strained marriage over the past ten years, and I was finally starting to consider surrendering to the inevitable. After all, he did go so far as to have a reverse vasectomy just to keep me with him.

I gently placed my hand on my rounded belly and resolved to be a good mother, watching my child grow up strong and healthy.

Suddenly, I heard someone screaming outside the villa.

"This is a huge insult to the Bradford family! I won't allow that disgraceful wench to stay here for another moment!

"Trent may have been completely bewitched by her since they married, but I haven't!

"I swear I'm going to tear her apart before kicking her out of the family for good!"

The woman's voice sounded strangely familiar, but it took a moment for me to realize it was Lucy Bradford.

I wondered why Lucy was at the villa, yelling about wanting to expel someone from the Bradford family. Before I could process further, she burst through the front door with a crowd in tow.

"There she is, girls!" Lucy shouted. "She's the one who tricked Trent into cutting ties with me and kicking me out of the family!"

Stunned by her accusation, I sat up angrily. "You're not welcome here. Please leave."

But Lucy stormed toward me and slapped me hard across the face.

"You wench!" she spat. "This is Trent's house—you just live here! Do you think that makes you the one who calls the shots?"

The force of her slap left me reeling, my cheek burning from the impact.

Trent loved me more than anything—so much so that he once shaved my makeup artist bald for accidentally pulling my hair too hard.

I could only imagine what he'd do to Lucy when he found out she had hit me.

To prevent that disaster, I swallowed my anger and said, "You should leave before Trent gets back, or I guarantee he won't let you off easily."

Trent had always been kind to me, but I knew it was a facade. Deep down, he was a possessive, paranoid man. He treated everyone else with an intensity that bordered on cruelty.

Lucy ignored my warning and grabbed a fistful of my hair. "That's my line, witch! He's going to skin you alive when he finds out you've been having an affair behind his back!"

I struggled to break free, enduring the pain as she yanked on my hair.

"That's a bold accusation," I managed through gritted teeth. "Have you forgotten what got you kicked out of this family in the first place?"