Seven years of a passionate, tumultuous love affair with Zachary ended in a breakup so messy it became public knowledge. Five years later, on the third day of the New Year, I walked into a class reunion with my four-year-old son. The moment I stepped into the private room, I was met with a barrage of surprised and confused stares. My old college roommate sidled up to me and whispered, “Amelia, did you really have Zachary’s son? Does he know?” Her question opened the floodgates. “An unwed mother… and he’s married now. Doesn’t that make the kid illegitimate?” “Bringing him here so brazenly… what’s her game? Is she trying to force his hand?” I was about to explain when the door swung open. Zachary walked in, dressed in a sharp suit, radiating an air of success. He offered me a warm smile, but it froze when he saw my son, a flicker of delighted surprise flashing in his eyes. “Amelia, my son is already this big?” “It must have been so hard for you, raising him alone for the past five years.” I curved my lips into a smile. “Not at all. His father is the one who has it hard.” 01 Zachary, who had just sat down, stiffened. The familiar, mocking smirk played on his lips. “Amelia, you haven’t changed a bit. Your words are always sharper than your heart.” “I know you can’t get over me, but you also know I’m married. This child…” I frowned, cutting him off. “Mr. Hayes, I think you’re mistaken. What does this child have to do with you?” He blinked his handsome eyes, a playful look on his face. “With a face that’s a perfect copy of mine, don’t tell me it’s a coincidence.” A few of our former classmates chimed in with a laugh. “We saw it the second you walked in. He’s the spitting image of Zack when he was a kid. Zack and I grew up together; I’d recognize his son anywhere.” “Amelia, just admit it. You and Zack were inseparable from high school through college. We all thought you’d get married right after graduation. No one expected it to end so badly. I really never thought you’d still have his baby.” “Come on, Amelia, don’t be so stubborn. Being a single mom is tough. Look at how you’re struggling. Zack’s a VP at a publicly-traded company now. A little spare change from him would be enough for you and the boy to live comfortably for years.” Following their gazes, I glanced down at my clothes. Our nanny had the day off, and my roommate had practically dragged me out of the house. My son was at that clingy stage, attached to me like a little koala, so I had just thrown on something casual. I found it almost funny. These kids, who once all wore the same school uniform, were now judging people by their appearance. Zachary pulled a checkbook from his briefcase, wrote out a number, and slid it across the table toward me. His tone was a bit commanding. “We were both too impulsive back then. Regardless, the child is innocent. Take this as compensation.” I didn’t move. I didn’t even look at the check. I just stared at him with cold, empty eyes. “Compensation? You think that’s enough?” Zachary was the illegitimate son of a wealthy family, raised amidst scorn and indifference. It gave him a hidden anxiety disorder, a secret only the two of us shared. People thought he was cold and aloof, but in reality, he was deliberately suppressing his impulses, avoiding interaction. A single word, a glance, an unintentional gesture could trigger an episode. At his worst, he had cut me with a knife. Our first baby was lost when he beat me during one of his blackouts. I can’t remember how many times he caused me to miscarry. Five? Six? Maybe more? But I never blamed him. To soothe him, I taught myself psychology. I sold the heirlooms my mother left me to buy him the best medication. But when we broke up, he heartlessly told me to get rid of what was likely my last chance at having a child. Zachary’s gaze was complicated. I knew he understood the meaning behind my words. He pushed the check forward again, an act that felt like both an apology and charity. “Amelia, what’s the point? You’ve already had our son. Why can’t you see reason?” I shot him a look, my voice cool. “See what reason? That I should use our child to force my way back into your life?” “Zachary, I’ll say it one more time. This child…” “Oh, what a lively party!” A sickeningly sweet, familiar voice interrupted me. A beautiful, exquisitely dressed woman in a designer outfit walked in. Zachary’s childhood friend quickly made the introduction. “This is Zack’s wife. She was our high school classmate too, just in a different class. Amelia, do you remember her? She was quite close to you for a while.” I focused on feeding my son a spoonful of dessert, not looking up. My voice was flat. “I remember. Of course, I remember my dear sister, Isabel.” The chatter in the room died instantly. The only sound was the clinking of the spoon against the bowl. The awkward silence didn’t last long. Isabel smiled and took my hand. “Sister, it’s been too long. I’m so surprised you came.” I pulled my hand away and wiped my son’s mouth with a napkin. It was only then that she got a clear look at my son’s face. Her expression changed immediately. “Sister, you… you actually had him?” She looked at Zachary, tears welling up in her eyes. “Zack, she had your son. I can’t let her be a single mother. Let’s… let’s get a divorce…” Zachary gently pulled her into his arms, seating her beside him. “Don’t be silly. You’re about to be a mother yourself, you can’t be so naive. You feel sorry for her, but do you think I have the heart to make you a single mother?” His words were laced with a cruel irony. He seemed to have forgotten how heartless he’d been when I had insisted on keeping my child. “Amelia, I will not acknowledge this child. If you want to be a single mother, that’s your problem. Don’t ever think I’m coming back!” So, he did have a soft spot. It just wasn’t for me. Seven years of shared history, countless lost babies. To him, I was just a stranger. The atmosphere was thick with tension. No one had expected Zachary’s current wife to be my own sister. I stood up to leave, but Isabel raised a glass to the room. “I’m sorry, everyone. I’m pregnant, so I can’t drink. I’ll toast you all with tea instead. Thank you all for taking care of Zack in the years I was away.” “Especially you, sister. Zack told me you taught him how to love someone. Otherwise, he wouldn’t love me so much.” I didn’t say a word, didn’t raise my glass. I just kept feeding my son. Isabel, seemingly unfazed by the awkwardness, quickly mingled with our old classmates. Someone asked how we were sisters. She gave a meaningful smile, her explanation deliberately vague. “We have the same father, but different mothers. She’s the younger sister. I’m sure you understand.” With one sentence, she branded me with the shame of being the illegitimate child of a homewrecker. But was that the truth? Who was the real homewrecker? My father was a junior employee at my grandfather’s company. He was handsome and capable, so my grandfather introduced him to my mother. After my grandfather passed away, my father took over the company, and that’s when Isabel and her mother showed up. That was when my mother learned that before my father had even married her, he had already gotten another woman pregnant. The shock sent my mother into a deep depression, and she took her own life. Isabel and her mother brazenly took my mother’s place, and mine. That happened right after our high school graduation. Besides Zachary, no one knew. Rage galloped through me like a wild horse. I slammed the spoon down into the bowl, splattering dessert everywhere. Just as I was about to retaliate, my son’s soft little hand gripped my finger. His big, dark eyes were filled with fear. “Mommy, are you upset? Noah is eating nicely.” My heart lurched. I had forgotten my son was here. I couldn’t lose my temper in front of him. Bringing him today was a mistake. I couldn’t let someone else’s malice terrify my child. I took a deep, shuddering breath, forcing the anger back down. I managed a weak smile. “No, honey. Noah is being a very good boy. Let’s go home.” I stood to leave, but Isabel called out, “Sister, you haven’t been home in five years. Dad misses you. My mom and I have forgiven you for what happened. You should go see him.” I lifted my eyes, my gaze as sharp as ice. “Isabel, you’ve always had a talent for twisting black into white, for making evil seem righteous. You did it with my mother and me, and you did it with you and Zachary. Do you need me to elaborate?” Her face paled instantly. Zachary’s expression darkened. He tapped his fingers heavily on the table twice. “Alright, let the past be the past. It’s a rare occasion for us all to get together. Don’t ruin the mood.” Another vague dismissal. It was always the same. Whenever we fought, whenever he cheated, he never admitted he was wrong. I was always the one on trial. A chill spread through my chest. I took my son’s hand and stood up to leave. “It’s not convenient for me with a child. I’m heading out. You all have fun.” “Wait.” I turned to look at Zachary, who had called out to me. “Is there something else?” He pointed to the check on the table. “Take the money. Consider it a New Year’s gift for my son.” I let out a cold, humorless laugh and shook my head. “No, thank you. His father already gave him one.” I turned to leave, but my roommate grabbed my sleeve, her face etched with apology. “I’m so sorry, Amelia. I didn’t know it would be like this. Just wait a little longer. It’s snowing heavily outside, it’ll be hard to get a cab. I’ll call one for you…” Just then, my phone buzzed. A message from my husband. 【Darling, the snow is making the roads treacherous. I’ll be there in about half an hour. Wait for me.】 Alright. Another thirty minutes. I could endure it. Seeing me sit back down, Zachary seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, his usual cool smile returning to his face. Isabel’s smile, however, was frozen, her eyes glued to the check on the table. She was a master actress. Even seething with rage, she maintained an image of generosity in front of Zachary. She forced a smile. “Sister, don’t be so stubborn. It hurts me to see you struggling. Take the money. If you ever need anything in the future, just come to your sister and brother-in-law.” She stressed the words “sister” and “brother-in-law,” each one like a sharp slap across my face. She was warning me not to cross the line. But wasn’t she the one who had crossed it first? After my mother died, I had a huge fight with my father. I wanted to just leave. But I couldn’t. If I left, everything my grandfather and my mother had worked for would fall into their hands. I was young and hot-headed back then, no match for the likes of Isabel and her mother. They constantly plotted against me. Once, I was locked in the basement for three days without a scrap of food or a drop of water. Zachary, beaten black and blue by their bodyguards, rescued me. Isabel accused me of stealing her diamond necklace and had me thrown into a hole in the ice in the dead of winter. Zachary, ignoring the danger, smashed the ice with his bare fists to pull me out. For me, he had jeopardized his family’s business dealings, torn ties with my father, and broken with his own family. He knew better than anyone the injustices I had suffered. He hated that mother-daughter pair even more than I did. So, the moment I saw him and Isabel, tangled and half-naked in the bed of what was supposed to be our marital home, every cell in my body died. Zachary’s enraged eyes met mine. “Amelia! Get out, or do you want to join in?” I should have left. I should have done something. But my feet felt rooted to the spot. I should have screamed, I should have gone insane. But I didn't. I just stood there and watched them. My eyes, my heart, my mind were a complete blank. I couldn’t even shed a single tear. In the end, Zachary shoved me forcefully out the door. I stood there, just outside, until they emerged, fully dressed and holding hands. It was then that some switch flipped in my brain, and I launched myself at Isabel. Zachary pulled Isabel behind him, shielding her, and pushed me to the ground with one hand, looking down at me. “Amelia, look at yourself. We’re adults. Can’t you be more dignified?” I screamed at him, “When did it start? Why?” “Does it matter? Amelia, I’m tired of you. Is that answer good enough for you?” He was as cold as a stranger, his words like daggers, finding their mark in my heart. I scrambled up and tried to tear at Isabel, screaming that she was a whore, a homewrecker. Zachary slapped me across the face. “Amelia, have you made enough of a scene? We’re not even married. It’s not clear who the homewrecker is. Your mother is a perfect example, isn’t she?” I froze, feeling as if I’d been struck by lightning. In that moment, my world went silent. It’s true. The person who knows you best knows exactly how to hurt you the most. I refused to break up. I cried, I made scenes, I threatened to kill myself. When he felt a pang of guilt, he would come and comfort me. When he got tired of me, he would go back to Isabel. I went to his office and caused a scene. I posted their chat logs and bed photos online. I did everything a cheated woman could do, but it only pushed Zachary further away. The last time, I held a razor blade to my wrist in front of him. He just watched, his eyes cold, as the blood dripped onto the floor. That icy stare still sends a shiver down my spine. “Amelia, if you die, I’ll feel guilty for a while. But it won’t stop me from falling in love with someone else.” In that moment, I finally woke up. I let go. Lifting my head, my eyes met Zachary’s cool gaze, and an unbidden chill ran through me. I couldn’t stay in this room a moment longer. I shot to my feet and took my son’s hand. “My husband is here to pick me up. I’m leaving.” But Zachary grabbed my arm, a hint of something fragile in his eyes. “Amelia, you married someone else while raising my son?” His words drew a new round of speculative and contemptuous glances from our old classmates. “What is Amelia thinking? Did she run out of money to raise the kid? She actually found a guy to take on her baggage?” “That can’t be right. She’s still a daughter of the Su family. Even if she had a falling out with them, she should have enough money for a child, right?” “She looks so pure on the surface, but she just couldn’t stand being alone. It’s not that surprising. Zachary dumped her, and she’s still young. She can’t just be celibate forever.” “She probably found some old rich guy. What decent man would want a woman pregnant with another man’s child?” The whispers were like a thousand invisible hands, tearing my dignity to shreds. Seeing my distress, my roommate spoke up for me. “Don’t just gossip if you don’t know the whole story. Amelia must have her reasons.” I slowly regained my composure and managed a smile. “There are no reasons. I just got married. Right after we broke up.” Everyone froze. A crack appeared on Zachary’s eternally stoic face.
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