Chapter 1 My Husband Has Another Wife On her birthday, Athena Hall cooked a full dinner. She waited at the table, checking the clock. Her husband, Lewis Belmont, was supposed to bring their son home. Dion Belmont had been staying with his grandmother, Bridget Belmont. Athena wanted them all together to celebrate. When the meal was ready, her phone rang. "I'm working late tonight. I won't be home," Lewis said flatly on the other end. "Lewis, today is my-" Before she could finish, he hung up. She listened to the beeping sound from the speaker, hurt filling her chest. Athena had only wanted to tell him it was her birthday. She hoped he might take one night off after working six days straight. Just accompanied her for one night. Suddenly, an explosion shook the building. Darkness swallowed her. When she came to, sharp pain tore through her leg. A cabinet had crashed onto her shin. Flames spread quickly around her, thick smoke choking the air. Athena struggled to dial Lewis's number. "The number you have called is unavailable. Please try again later." Why wasn't he answering? By some miracle, firefighters pulled her out. Only then did she learn that a gas leak downstairs had caused the blast. Her body was burned in several places, and her leg was broken. As the medics loaded her onto the ambulance, she heard a furious voice shouting, "My wife is hurt! Get her in the ambulance now!" Wait ... that voice belonged to Lewis. Isn't he supposed to be at work? Athena forced herself up, pain searing every nerve. She saw him outside, frantic, arguing with the medics. In his arms was another woman. His face twisted with worry, his arms clutching her tight. In eight years of marriage, Athena had never seen him get so worked up. Beside him, Dion wiped away tears and cried out, "Please help my mom! She's hurt!" One of the medics explained, "Sir, we're prioritizing based on how serious the injuries are. This lady is in critical condition. She must go first." "Lewis, it hurts!" The woman in his arms buried her face in his chest, her weak voice trembling. Lewis's face darkened. "No one is more important than my wife!" Dion grew panicked with worry; he cried harder. "Please help my mom. Don't be scared, Mom. We're going to the hospital soon." Another medic sighed. "Mr. Belmont, we can make arrangements for you. Which floor do you live on?" "Building Ten, 28th floor." "Sir, the patient inside is from the 20th floor, right under your level. Can you both ride together to the hospital?" Athena froze. Her blood ran cold. Her husband had another home. He lived in the same neighborhood, just eight floors above her. And her son, the boy she carried for nine months and raised all these years, was clinging to another woman and calling her "Mom," as if they were truly mother and son. Athena dragged herself off the stretcher, ignoring the pain. She coldly glanced at the three and said, "Forget it. Give them the ambulance." Lewis and Dion both turned, stunned to see her. They hadn't expected that she was the one who had been in the ambulance. Athena finally saw the woman's face clearly. It was Nina Green, the maid's daughter. Years ago, Lewis's parents had disapproved of her because of her modest background, so they forced them apart. After they broke up, Lewis met Athena and married her instead. Lewis stood silent for a moment, his handsome face hardening. Finally, he said, "Nina's hurt. I'll explain later." Without another glance at Athena, he carried Nina into the ambulance. Dion looked at Athena once, then followed without hesitation. ... Half an hour later, Athena was in the hospital when she overheard the nurses talking about Lewis. Nina only had a few scratches, yet Lewis acted like she was at death's door. He dragged an ER doctor away from other patients and ordered him to treat her immediately. Some nurses whispered how lucky Nina was to have a man who loved her so much. They said they wished they had a boyfriend like that. Athena looked at the cast on her leg and gave a bitter laugh. First her hand was ruined, and now her leg too. She wheeled herself down the hall, looking for her husband and son. But before she reached them, she stopped at a doorway. What she heard inside nearly broke her. "Athena's in the hospital too. Aren't you going to check on her?" Nina asked. Lewis's voice was cold. "Nina, you're Dion's real mother. No one matters more than you. Years ago, I made sure Athena's daughter didn't survive-just so she could raise yours instead. My Nina is a princess. You should live carefree. Athena's still alive, just suffering a minor injury. You're the one who matters most." Then Nina's sweet laugh rang out. "Lewis, I love you." Athena felt her soul ripped out. Her hands clutched the arms of her wheelchair until her knuckles turned white. So Dion i sn't my child. Lewis killed my baby. How could he do that? She was his daughter too. All those nights I stayed awake, rocking Dion, watching over him, loving him like he was mine, and he never was. Eight years. For eight long years I've been nothing more than a nanny-raising the child of the woman Lewis truly loved." Athena didn't even remember how she made it back to her room. She lay on the hospital bed, numb and hollow. My daughter. My little girl, I never even got to see. The door opened. Lewis walked in, his face expressionless. "I just finished everything and came to check on you." Athena let out a faint laugh. Her voice was flat. "You should be checking on Nina, not me." Lewis's brows drew together, annoyed. "Athena, what's with this attitude? I simply brought Nina to the hospital. That's nothing to get worked up over. Why are you so petty? I see her as my little sister. Why are you jealous?" Sister? The same " sister" you had a child with? How shameless could you be? Suddenly, Dion burst through the door. He had overheard. His little face darkened with anger as he glared at Athena. "Mom, why are you fighting with Dad? Nina is my godmother! There's nothing wrong with Dad bringing her here. How dare you be mad at him?" To him, they had done nothing wrong. She was the one who was wrong. "Of course, I don't blame you," Athena said quietly. Then she added, "From now on, you can do whatever you want with Nina. I'll step aside. Let's get divorced." Lewis's face darkened. "What nonsense are you talking about? Just because I brought Nina to the hospital? If that's what upset you, then fine-I'll apologize. Happy now?" But that shallow, empty apology could never bring her daughter back. At the thought of the baby girl she never got to meet, tears slipped from the corners of Athena's eyes. She wished she had never saved Lewis all those years ago. She hated him so much. Athena wanted him to pay with his blood for what she had lost. When Lewis noticed her tears, the coldness on his face softened a little. He stepped closer, gently touched her head, and tried to calm her. "Athena, I know you're upset. "Nina's dad works for our family. I only brought her to the hospital because of him. Don't overthink it, okay?" He gave her a soft smile, as if speaking to a child. "I get that you're upset. Right now, you're just letting off steam. Once you cool down, we'll talk again." Dion, still unhappy, muttered, "Mom, I'm hurt too, but you didn't even care. Instead, you're yelling at Dad. Nina's different-she kept asking if I was in pain." He went on, his voice sharp with complaint. "And now you're mad at Dad, when Nina was just telling him to check on you. You're the one being unreasonable. "And you always poke me with those needles. You even force Dad to drink that awful soup you make. Your cooking is terrible. Not like Nina's-her food is so good!" He stomped his foot. "If only you could be half as good as her!" His words cut deep, dripping with irony. Dion didn't know the truth-that the needle therapy was to control his allergies. Or that what Lewis drank wasn't soup at all, but herbal medicine to treat his stomach problems.