Chapter 1 After five years working as a nanny . I'd finally saved enough for my son's heart surgery . I rushed back overnight , hoping to surprise them both . Instead , I found Dr. Mitchell from the private hospital paying a personal visit , his smile fawning : " Major Montgomery , Ms. Evans mentioned she'll have the funds ready in a few days . Do you still need us to falsify the medical records ? " Alexander waved dismissively , his expression indifferent : " No need . I appreciate the hospital's help . I'll make sure you're first in line for any future military contracts . Lydia's been through a lot these past few years - last month her back flared up from all the childcare , and she wouldn't even get herself a pain patch . " My bestie Isabella Crawford suddenly appeared , her voice gentle and measured : " Alexander , we need to be more careful here . You're a U.S. Army Major - your position is sensitive . We have to see if she's the type who chases power and money . " " Leo needs time to adjust too . " Six - year - old Leo was sitting on Isabella's lap . At her words , he immediately frowned : " I don't want her as my mom . She smells like grease and cooking all the time . I like Aunt Isabella better . " Alexander hesitated for a moment , glancing at the cozy scene between them , then said slowly . " Alright ... let's observe for another six months " I threw the silver cross necklace I'd bought for my son into the trash . No need to observe any longer . These five years of hard - earned money from caring for other people's children - consider it charity work for the Montgomery family . From now on , the Army Major and the Montgomery's heir have nothing to do with me . The hospital's payment reminder call came right on schedule . " Ms. Evans , your son's surgery still needs another hundred and fifty thousand . Please come in and pay as soon as possible . " I replied calmly : " Got it . " There was a pause on the other end , clearly thrown off by my tone . " The deadline is the day after tomorrow - no extensions this time . We've already prepared all the medications . " I couldn't bring myself to beg for more time , not after six years of pleading countless times in that same loumble voice . Surgery fee ? Medications ready ? It all those medical records were fake , how much of his condition was even real ? Since this whole thing was just a test from the start , why bother asking me for that hundred and fifty grand ? A familiar voice came from behind me . " Lydia , what are you doing back so suddenly ? You didn't even call . " When Alexander opened the door and saw me , there was a flash of panic in his eyes . " Just came to see Leo , " " Next time remember to call ahead so I can pick you up . " I nodded obediently . But there wouldn't be a next time . Following him inside , the excitement I used to feel about seeing my son had turned into the calm that comes with knowing the truth . The hospital room door wasn't fully closed , and I could hear laughter inside . Leo was sitting on Isabella's lap , holding a piece of cake , his eyes crinkled with joy . Isabella was wiping cream from the corner of his mouth , the gesture intimate like a real mother and son . Hearing footsteps , they both looked over . The smile froze on Leo's face instantly , and he muttered under his breath : " Why is she here ? " Hearing those words from the son I hadn't seen in so long . I didn't rush to hug him like I used to . Before , he never liked talking to me , and I thought it was because of his illness . I swore to myself I'd cure him , working ten , fifteen nanny jobs a day just to earn a few more dollars . But instead of gratitude , all I got was his disgust . Seeing that I didn't come closer , Leo unconsciously relaxed . He was still too young to hide his true feelings . I gripped my faded canvas bag tighter , pretending not to notice . 0.2 % und The Sarruts Ton ! But the disappointment felt like a thousand pounds , crushing me until I could barely maintain my smile . " Leo , say hi to mommy . " " I won't !" Lea buried his face in Isabella's arms . " She smells weird . I don't like her . " Isabella laughed it off , but her eyes held a challenge : " Kids don't know any better , Lydia - don't take it personally . Leo's been asking about you all the time , he's just ... a little shy around strangers . " Shy around strangers ? We'd just seen each other ten days ago . I could no longer convince myself this was just childish innocence . Working as a nanny meant being on the road day and night - I couldn't stay by my child's side . Isabella volunteered to help watch him , and I was beyond grateful . I even promised to make her his godmother . To save for Leo's surgery . I took the toughest jobs . No matter how demanding the families were , I could handle it alone . Even when my spine got twisted , I'd just slap on a pain patch and keep going . I always thought that once Leo got better , he'd understand how hard his mom worked . But now I realized he'd been treasured by someone else all along , forgetting about his real mom who supposedly " smells like grease , " Just then , Isabella " accidentally knocked over the fruit bowl while reaching for something , sending fruit rolling everywhere . She just called out softly " Alexander , " and he was already bending down to pick them up . The silent understanding between them was like a sheet of glass , separating me from this " family . " I bit my lip hard to stay calm , tasting the metallic tang of blood . Watching them look like a perfect family of three , I just said quietly : " It's getting late . I should head back . " Alexander insisted on walking me out . Always perceptive , he asked : " Why were you so cold to Leo today ? " I explained softly : " I'm exhausted from rushing back overnight . Plus I probably smell like work - better to keep my D- Cat Tonk 0.3 % Chapter 1 distance from him . " At that , his brow furrowed slightly : " Then go home and get some rest . You look rough - make sure to shower before you sleep . Slow as I was . I finally saw the undisguised disgust in his eyes . It had been so obvious , yet I'd mistaken it for concern every single time , even finding it sweet . Alexander added one more thing : " And next time , be nicer to Isabella . She's been helping with Leo for so long . " " Don't give her attitude like you did today ... " I stood there stunned . His favoritism completely crushed my last bit of hesitation . My gaze fell on his wrist . " Alexander , why aren't you wearing the beaded bracelet I gave you ? " " The chain broke . Sent them out to get fixed . " Still lying . When I threw away that cross necklace , I clearly saw those beaded bracelet at the bottom of the trash can . Guess they were too cheap for him . Not just the beaded bracelet - me too . Maybe seeing my eyes well up , he hugged me with a hint of regret : " I was too harsh just now . Sorry . " I fought back tears and gently pushed him away : " It's fine . I'm leaving . " Alexander looked at me with confusion , as if wondering why I wasn't clinging to him for hand - holding and hugs like usual , or rattling on about my work troubles . He could only chalk it up to exhaustion . Five minutes later , after making sure I was gone , I heard the sound of father and son high - fiving in the hospital room : " Dad , we totally fooled her again ! " "Aunt Isabella , I want you and daddy to sleep with me tonight ! " As my son's voice faded , a sharp pain shot through my back - worn down by six years of lifting and carrying - and spread through my entire body . Through that door , I crouched on the ground as tears fell silently onto the floor . I pulled out a number I hadn't contacted in ages and sent a message : The reply came instantly : " Send me the info . " " Need you to look someone up . " 0.56 Chapter 1 After a pause , my friend called back : Tylla , there's no record of a ' Alexander Brooks . " " That social security number belongs to someone else Alexander Montgomery . " I silently repeated the namie , feeling like I was enduring the ultimate humiliation . My friend sent over detailed records of his entire life - the youngest Major in the US Army , decorated with countless honors , born into privilege . No wonder Dr. Mitchell called him " Major Montgomery " so naturally - that was his real name . So the feelings were fake , the name was fake , and even that marriage certificate was probably fake too . Only this deception was real . My friend asked when I was coming back : " I'll pick you up at the airport . " I sent over my flight info for the day after tomorrow . Back at my place . I dug out the property deed . When Alexander and I got our marriage license , he insisted on putting only my name on the house . He said the house was my greatest security as a married woman . I was stupid enough to think I'd found true love , ignoring my family's objections , even fighting with my parents . Even when working as a nanny meant being looked down on , I endured six years of it for my son's medical bills , thinking it was all worth it . Now I finally understood - Alexander never wanted this house anyway . An eighty - square - meter dump in an old building , far below what a Major like him deserves .