Chapter 1 12:44 The day my two daughters - in - law - who on the surface appeared to be pining for my sons ' affections bu were in reality master shoppers - decided to fake their deaths , I grabbed them and refused to let go . " Not unless you take me with you . " They told me that the woman returning from abroad wasn't just the one true love of my two sons , but also the daughter of my husband's long - lost flame . The three men in my life were about to conspire to have me adopt her . According to them , I wouldn't discover the truth until I was seventy . But I'm only fifty now . " To hell with that , " I spat . " Why should I suffer for another twenty years ? " I decided to " die " on the very road those three were taking to " rescue " her . Let them live with the guilt forever . In the end , my husband , Howard , lost his mind . My two sons were consumed by regret . And my two daughters - in - law ? They took me on the ride of a lifetime , a life of glorious , unapologetic indulg ence . Ten handsome young masseurs surrounding us , kneading our shoulders and feeding us fruit . 1 I was fifty years old when I overheard it from my two daughters - in - law . The " one true love " returning to the country , a woman named Sienna Crest , was the daughter of my husband Howard's old flame , Serena Crest . My daughters - in - law had decided it was time to bolt . My eldest son's wife , Olivia , was dumping a torrent of diamonds , gold , and precious gems into a suitcase . " refuse to end up like you , Mom , " she said to the other . " I want a divorce . You ? " My younger son's wife , Maya , was tapping away on her phone . " You're leaving , I'm leaving . No way am I havi ng sons who grow up to be obsessed with their father's ex - girlfriend's daughter . Let me just check how much I've managed to siphon off of Jack these last three years … Aha ! A cool nine and a half million in my secre account . That should be enough for the two of us to live a little . " She looked up . " So , how do we do this ? You think Jack and Adrian will just let us divorce them ? " Olivia considered this . " If we ask directly , they'll never agree . They'll probably freeze our credit cards . You'c be sitting on a fortune you couldn't spend a dime of . When Dad's old flame , Serena , came back to town years ago , Mom asked for a divorce . He refused and froze all her accounts . She didn't even have enough money for a rental deposit . Then she found out she was pregnant with the twins . For the boys , she had no choice but to stay . " But what she never knew , " Olivia continued , her voice dropping , " was that five years later , Howard started 12:46 Chapter 1 taking the boys on business trips ' abroad . He said it was to ' cultivate their business acumen from a young age . In reality , he was taking them to play with Serena's daughter . He told our husbands to protect Sienna like she was their own sister . That's why Adrian and Jack have been practically joined at the hip with her since childhood . " And now , according to the script of this ridiculous life , as soon as Sienna returns , the three of them are going to manipulate Mom into adopting her , showering her with affection . Where does that leave us ? Our days of lavish spending and carefree living will be over . I say we fake our own deaths . " Maya instantly agreed . " I'm with you . I'm going to pack my valuables right now . All the jewelry and designer bags I bought with Jack's money over the last three years will fetch a pretty penny . We won't starve . " She turned to leave Olivia's room and walked straight into me . I had been standing outside the door , listeni ng to every word . Maya's face went white . " Mom , " she stammered . " H - how much did you hear ? " A chill ran down my spine , but my chest felt like it was on fire . I was a paradox of ice and flame . I clenched my fists . " Is it true ? Everything you said ? That girl , Sienna … she's really Serena's daughter ? " Maya looked helpless , glancing back at Olivia . " What do we do now ? She's not going to tell Adrian and Jack and ruin our plan , is she ? " I grabbed each of them by the arm , my grip like iron . " Oh , I will , " I said , my voice low and dangerous . " Unless you take me with you . "