At my daughter's one-month celebration, I caught my best friend in my husband's arms. "Edward," she whispered, "your idiot wife still doesn't know I switched our babies?" "Not a chance," he chuckled. "She dotes on our daughter daily. Where's the child she actually bore?" "Got bored after a month," she shrugged. "Drowned it. You're not angry?" "Married her for the money," he scoffed. "Who cares?" I wiped a tear and pretended not to hear. For twenty years, I raised their child as my own. When their daughter returned from abroad, I transferred all my shares and assets to her at a press conference. That's when they approached with a paternity test. "Hospital mistake," my best friend declared. "Shelley is ours. Time to return her." My husband slid divorce papers and a $5,000 debit card toward me. "Sign this so we can be a family." I smiled coldly. "Alright." 1 “Honey, I noticed you had a bit of a cough yesterday, so I woke up early to make you some pear soup. Here, drink it while it’s hot.” Edward, my husband, gently placed the bowl in front of me, his eyes overflowing with what looked like pure, unadulterated love. “Dad, you’re so good to Mom,” our daughter, Shelley, chimed in from the breakfast table. Yes. He was good to me. Everyone could see it. He was always the first to notice when I was down, showering me with comfort and surprises. He’d nurse me devotedly when I was sick. In our most intimate moments, he would hold me tight and whisper that marrying me was the greatest blessing of his life. If I hadn't overheard that conversation all those years ago, I never would have believed this sensitive, caring man was a monster. I took the soup and drank it without a word. Soon, the doorbell rang. “It must be Godmommy!” Shelley squealed, jumping up to answer the door. There stood my best friend, Amelia, laden with shopping bags. Her face lit up when she saw Shelley. “Shelley, darling, it’s getting colder. Godmommy bought you some new winter clothes.” She set the bags down. “And I know how much you love my pastries, so I made some more for you.” Shelley’s eyes curved into crescent moons. “Thank you, Godmommy! You’re the best!” Amelia pulled the girl into a warm embrace. “Of course, I am! You’re my precious little treasure. I’d give you the world if I could.” She led Shelley to the table, then looked at me. “Cassandra, Shelley mentioned her school has a parent-teacher conference today. Do you mind if I go?” Her voice took on a pitiful tone, her eyes flitting between Edward and Shelley. “You know, I’m not as lucky as you. I didn’t marry a wonderful man and have a perfect daughter. A scumbag got me pregnant, and my little… my little one… she drowned in the tub. I’ll never get the chance to go to a parent-teacher conference…” For years, she had used her dead child as an excuse to overstep every boundary. It wasn't just daily visits. She organized Shelley's birthday parties every year. She took her out for holidays, attended her school’s family events. On Mother’s Day, she would take Shelley out for the entire day, plastering their photos all over social media. Her excuse was always the same. “My poor baby died so young, and I don’t think I can ever have another. We’re best friends, Cassandra. I just want to love Shelley as if she were my own.” Before I could even respond, Edward jumped in. “Honey, Amelia’s been through so much. It’s a tragedy. Why not let her experience what it’s like? Just this once.” The three of them stared at me with expectant eyes. I managed a small smile. “Of course. I’m busy today, anyway.” Amelia’s face broke into a satisfied grin. Shelley clapped her hands in delight. After breakfast, Amelia eagerly whisked Shelley off to school, with Edward tagging along, saying he'd give them a ride. I watched the three of them leave, a happy little family, and said nothing at all. 2 Perhaps because I was so easy to fool, so oblivious, Amelia grew bolder. At first, she would only meet Edward in secret when I was at the office. Now, she found excuses to come over even when I was home. “Cassandra, I’ve been teaching myself to cook! I came to show off my new skills.” “Cassandra, I just got back from the countryside and brought you some fresh produce.” “Cassandra, my pipes burst! Can I stay with you for a few days?” … I knew she was only here for Edward and Shelley. But I never refused. I welcomed her politely, agreed to every request. Edward reveled in it. His lips would curl into a smile the moment she walked through the door. Sometimes, he’d exchange flirtatious glances with her right in front of me. Even Shelley grew closer to Amelia, buying her a special pair of slippers to keep at our house for her frequent visits. This continued until Shelley’s college entrance exams. The day the scores were released, Amelia was at our house first thing in the morning. When Shelley’s abysmal scores appeared on the screen, Edward feigned outrage. “How could you score so low?” Shelley shrugged. “We’re rich. Why should I work myself to death studying? Mom can just buy me a degree, can’t she?” Edward shot me a look. When I said nothing, he continued his act. “Even if your mother spoils you, she can’t let you be this reckless! It’s not easy for her to run the company alone. You need to step up! How else will you help her? How can she trust you with the company?” Amelia quickly interjected, “Cassandra is Shelley’s mother. Of course, she’ll take care of her.” “Exactly,” Shelley added. “I’m her only daughter. She’s not going to let me starve with all her companies, is she?” Amelia gave Shelley an appreciative glance, then turned to me. “Cassandra, Shelley is a good girl. You can’t let her go to some diploma mill. What if she gets bullied? Why don’t you make her a general manager at your company? Let her learn the ropes.” The truth was, Shelley, spoiled rotten by Amelia and Edward, was lazy, arrogant, and completely incompetent. She wasn't even qualified for an internship at my company. But I didn't say that. Instead, I said seriously, “General manager isn’t enough. She’s my only child. She deserves to inherit everything.” “I have it all planned out. First, I’ll send her abroad to study. When she returns, I will hand the entire company over to her.” Amelia’s eyes lit up. She laughed heartily. “Yes, yes! A brilliant girl like Shelley deserves to be a CEO, looking down on everyone. I always said she was born for a life of luxury, so much better than that short-lived little brat of mine!” Edward and Shelley nodded enthusiastically, their faces beaming. Watching the three of them laugh, so smug and triumphant, I smiled too. They laughed at my stupidity. I laughed at their naivety. 3 While handling the paperwork for her studies abroad, I brought Shelley to the office every day, patiently teaching her the ins and outs of the business. The day she left, Amelia rushed to the airport, loaded with gifts, fussing over her as if she were her own. The scene was touching, a perfect portrait of a mother’s love. Long after the plane was a tiny speck in the sky, Amelia stood there, tears in her eyes, before reluctantly leaving. With Shelley gone, Amelia’s visits became less frequent. But Edward started going out more. He would come home looking drained, hollowed out. He’d claim he was out with friends, or that he’d joined a gym. When he ran out of excuses, he’d sigh dramatically. “I raised Shelley. She’s never been away from me before. I miss her so much. If I don’t keep busy, I think I’ll fall apart.” I ignored the cloying scent of Amelia’s perfume that clung to him and pretended to comfort him. “She’ll be back soon. Then our family can be together again.” Edward gave a faint, knowing smile. “Yes. Soon, our family of three will finally be reunited.” Three years later, Shelley returned. Amelia, whom I hadn't seen in ages, was at our house early, ready to go to the airport with us. The moment she saw Shelley, she lost all control, rushing forward to pull her into a tight, tearful embrace. After their emotional reunion, Shelley walked straight up to me. “Mom, I’m back. When are you handing over the company?” Seeing her impatience, I smiled faintly. “Let’s go. I’ve already called a press conference. I’m about to give you everything, in front of everyone.” 4 The press conference was packed. Media, journalists, business tycoons—everyone had gathered to witness the transfer of power at the colossal C&S Group. Under the glare of the spotlights, I announced that my daughter, Shelley, would be succeeding me as CEO. With lawyers and cameras as my witnesses, I signed the share transfer agreements, handing over all my personal assets and company shares to her. The room erupted in thunderous applause. People marveled at our mother-daughter bond, their eyes on Shelley filled with envy. And at that precise moment, Amelia, arm in arm with Edward, made her grand entrance. Under the confused and startled gazes of the crowd, she held up a paternity test report and announced, “Cassandra, Edward and I have been in love for a long time. We had our daughters at the same time. There was a mix-up at the hospital. Shelley is our biological daughter. You’ve had her for long enough. It’s time to give her back.” The room exploded. “Isn’t that Amelia, Cassandra’s best friend? She was sleeping with her husband? And they have a child?” “Wait, Amelia’s baby died after a month! If there was a mix-up, doesn’t that mean… Cassandra’s real daughter is the one who died?” “That’s monstrous! She steals her husband, and lets her real daughter die? What kind of monster is she?” “And she reveals this right after Cassandra gave her daughter all her money? Is she even human?” Amid the outrage, Edward spoke up, his voice ringing with self-righteousness. “For years, I was trapped in a loveless marriage. I tried to be a responsible husband. But I’m a human being! Night after night, I asked myself, is this the life I want? Cassandra has been good to me and Shelley, but Amelia is the one I truly love. All I want is to pursue my true love. Is that so wrong? Marriage is for happiness, and so is divorce. It shouldn't be a cage. I hope you can all wish us well!” He sounded like a tragic hero, breaking free from the chains of a miserable marriage. I ignored him. I looked straight at Shelley. “What do you think?” Shelley glanced at the share transfer agreement in her hand, then looked at me calmly. “Mom… this is the last time I’ll call you that. You raised me for twenty years, but you’re not my real mother. Blood is thicker than water. Please, don’t stand in the way of our family’s reunion.” Amelia smirked. “Have some dignity, Cassandra. Just because your own daughter died young, don’t cling to someone else’s.” Edward slapped a divorce agreement and a debit card on the table. “Let’s get this over with while everyone’s here. There’s five thousand dollars on the card. A little something for your years of service and the divorce settlement.” The crowd was incensed. “Like father, like daughter, like mistress. What a disgusting family.” “After everything Cassandra did for her? Raised her like a princess, gave her billions, and she just ditches her for her real mom?” “Five thousand dollars? Is he serious? That’s an insult!” “I can’t even watch this! Cassandra, don’t listen to these animals!” “They’ve gone too far!” Everyone was on my side, some even offering legal help to get my assets back. Through it all, Amelia and Edward remained calm, as if they were prepared for anything. But amid the storm of outrage, a dark, knowing smile touched my lips. “Alright.” As the entire room stared in disbelief, I signed the divorce papers. Amelia and Edward looked stunned, not expecting me to agree so easily. They snatched up the documents, checked them carefully, and only then did they relax, their faces breaking into triumphant smiles. As they were basking in their victory, I spoke again. “Since you’ve given me such a big surprise,” I said, my voice carrying across the silent room, “I have a gift for you in return.” 5 Edward looked baffled. “A gift? What gift?” Everyone’s eyes turned to me. Under the intense scrutiny of the crowd, I produced a box made of exquisite golden nanmu wood. I handed it to Edward. “Even though Shelley disowns me as a mother, I raised her for twenty years. In my heart, she will always be my only heir. This is my family’s heirloom. I give it to you. May your family live in harmony forever.” Edward’s eyes widened. He took the box, opened it cautiously, and pulled out an ancient, priceless jade archer’s ring. The crowd was dumbfounded. “Is that really the C&S family heirloom? Is Cassandra insane? Giving it to these scumbags?” “She must have snapped. The shock was too much.” “It’s tragic. The husband and daughter she loved for years… one betrayed her, the other wasn't even hers and took all her money. And her real daughter is dead. Who could handle that?” “But that’s no reason to enable them! If it were me, I’d want to kill Amelia!” The crowd looked at me with a mixture of pity and contempt. Amelia started clapping. “Cassandra, I always thought you were just a rich fool. But today, you’ve truly impressed me. You’re not just a fool. You’re a born doormat. The most pathetic, groveling woman I have ever seen.” Shelley wrinkled her nose in disgust. “Thank God you’re not my real mother. I would die of embarrassment.” Edward rolled his eyes. “Being married to you, Cassandra, is the greatest shame of my life. Don’t you ever say you know me again. I can’t afford the humiliation.” With that, he wrapped his arm around Amelia, and the three of them strode out of the press conference. I became an instant headline. The entire event had been live-streamed. The whole country had witnessed what happened. The internet exploded. “Is there something wrong with this woman’s brain?” “Her own daughter is dead, and she’s giving her blessing to this family of vipers? Is that something a human being does?!” “I’m so frustrated I could scream! How can such a spineless, stupid woman exist in this world?” “Can we please stop trending these infuriating stories? It’s bad for my health!” The internet seethed. There was outrage, there was pity. Some well-meaning people even contacted me, offering to help me capitalize on the drama, to do livestreams, play the victim, and earn some money back. I refused them all and went home. When I arrived, Amelia was moving her luggage in. Edward and Shelley were throwing my belongings out like trash. Seeing me, Edward tilted his chin up, his eyes full of loathing. “Cassandra, this house belongs to Shelley now. We’re divorced. Take your junk and get out. Don’t interrupt our family reunion.”
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