As soon as Danielle Bradford has recovered from her postpartum period, she brings her baby to the county clerk's office to register for the baby's birth certificate.

"My baby's full name is Taylor Gardner. Her father is Matthew Gardner."

The employee types on the keyboard, but his brows draw tighter afterward.

"The system has flagged another child with the same name under the same father."

His words leave Danielle momentarily stunned. Thinking that her ears have deceived her, she blurts out, "That's impossible! Our baby has just turned one month old!"

But Danielle feels her phone buzzing in her pocket before she can finish speaking. She taps on the screen, only to see a photo sent by Matthew's assistant, Meghan Landry.

In the photo, Matthew has his left arm wrapped around Meghan's waist while carrying a five-year-old boy with his right arm. The three of them stand in front of a kindergarten's entrance with smiles so bright that they practically sting Danielle's eyes.

On the boy's chest is a nametag that clearly says "Taylor Gardner".

A message popped up on the screen.

"How does it feel to be the mistress, Ms. Bradford? You'll spend the rest of your life living in my shadow as the legal wife."

Danielle Bradford's heart tightened in a suffocating grip. With trembling fingers, she looked at the clerk and whispered, "Could you please… check Matthew's marriage record as well?"

The printer spat out a sheet of paper. It looked so light, yet holding it in her palm felt unbearably heavy. The record clearly listed Meghan Landry as Matthew's spouse, with a marriage date from seven years ago.

"Ma'am, do you still want to proceed with the birth certificate registration?"

The clerk's voice felt distant, barely registering as Danielle struggled to process what she had just seen.

She gazed down at her daughter's sleeping face and forced a bitter smile. "I'd like to change both her first name and last name. She'll be taking my last name."

…

When Danielle walked out of the county clerk's office, her steps felt unsteady, as if she were treading on clouds.

Her phone buzzed with a message from Matthew. "Honey, I'm in a meeting at the office. I'll be home later to see you and the baby."

Danielle found it ridiculous that he called her honey.

Throughout their years together, Matthew had used that pet name every day. He would always let her know whenever he went out and demand a hug the moment he walked through the door. All those little moments of tenderness now felt like nothing but a cruel joke.

She got into the car, her hands shaking so violently she could barely fit the key into the ignition.

Danielle understood the unspoken rules of high society. Wealthy couples often lived separate lives, but Matthew had once been the exception.

Once, at a gala, a socialite insulted her publicly. By the next day, Matthew had dismantled that woman's family business, forcing them into bankruptcy and out of the city in disgrace.

If she casually mentioned wanting a limited-edition item, he would fly halfway across the globe overnight just to get it and see her smile.

What stood out most in her mind was a scare during a medical checkup. A nurse mixed up the reports and told them that she was suffering from kidney failure.

Matthew's eyes welled with tears. He clutched the doctor's coat and shouted, "Give her my kidney! Take both if you have to! If I lose her, I don't want to live anymore!"

Once they realized it was a mistake, the man who ruled the boardroom with a cold heart crouched in the hospital hallway, sobbing like a child. "Thank God, Danielle. I'm so glad you're okay."

People around her often warned that as Matthew's empire grew, he would inevitably attract countless admirers. Yet he treated her so well that she couldn't muster even a trace of suspicion.

Danielle couldn't understand why Matthew chose Meghan, especially since he had once regarded her with utter contempt.

Meghan used to work as a housekeeper for the Bradford family. One day, she deliberately wore a low-cut dress while bringing Matthew his coffee.

He smashed the cup on the spot and snapped at her, "Don't pull these cheap tricks in front of me! Don't bother coming back tomorrow!"

He then pulled Danielle into a tight embrace, his gaze burning with intensity. "Honey, you're the only one for me. I'll kick out anyone who tries those shameless stunts."

Meghan had dropped to her knees, sobbing and begging for mercy, but Matthew hadn't even spared her a glance.

"I only love Dani," he had said. "I can't stand anyone else in my eyes. Don't you dare show yourself in front of me again, you filthy thing!"

Meghan had scrambled to her feet, her face drained of color. She had packed her things and left that same day.

When Matthew eventually hired her as his personal assistant, he offered Danielle a logical explanation.

"Danielle, after she lost her job, her family tried to marry her off to some old widower. She was in such despair, talking about ending it all every day. I'm afraid she'd run her mouth about us, so I keep her right under my watch."

Danielle believed him at the time. She never imagined that they had been together right under her nose for so long, and that their child was already six years old.

She clenched her teeth, fighting back the tears welling in her eyes, and contacted a private investigator.

Half an hour later, a video arrived along with a GPS location. She drove straight to the coordinates provided.

Matthew wasn't at the office. He had just finished attending Taylor Gardner's kindergarten parent-teacher meeting.

He held Meghan's hand while carrying Taylor in his other arm. As the three of them crossed the street together, the genuine warmth in his smile surpassed any expression Danielle had ever seen in their own family photos. The sight struck her like a blow to the chest.

Danielle sped after them, following their car all the way to an upscale neighborhood on the outskirts of the city. They stopped in front of a villa.

She watched Matthew step out of the car first and retrieve a massive box of toys from the trunk. Taylor cheered as he ran off, clutching the toys.

Meghan leaned into Matthew's chest and said, "You spoil him too much."

"He's my son. Who else am I supposed to spoil?" Matthew replied.

He leaned down to kiss her. "Besides, he earned the most gold stars today, and it made me proud."

Meghan looked up at him with misty eyes. "Matt, thank you for getting Taylor into the most prestigious private elementary school.

"Honestly… his birth was an accident. I never meant to intrude on your life. Just seeing you from afar was enough. We never wanted to get between you and Ms. Bradford."

"Don't be ridiculous," Matthew said, pinching her cheek.

His voice was soft, yet every word came through clearly. "She'll never find out. Besides, you're the woman I'm legally married to. It's only right that I take care of my wife and son."

Meghan smiled through her tears. Matthew leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Since we are husband and wife, isn't it time we attended to certain marital duties?"

Meghan's face flushed crimson as he swept her off her feet and carried her into the villa.

Danielle remained in the car, her heart aching, then drove home in a daze.

…

When Matthew walked through the front door that evening, he acted perfectly normal, opening his arms for a hug.

"Did you wait long, honey? Was it a long day with the baby?" he asked.

Danielle subtly stepped aside. "About our daughter's birth certificate—"

"I'll handle the paperwork another day. Stop worrying about it!" Matthew's tone suddenly turned sharp.

However, upon seeing her pale face, he quickly softened his voice and coaxed her. "The bureaucracy is a nightmare right now. You just finished your postpartum recovery, so stay home and rest. I'll take care of everything."

Danielle lowered her eyes and nodded, never mentioning that she had already changed their daughter's last name to her own. She also didn't mention the phone call she had made to Matthew's most hated rival, Stefan Weaver, on her way home.

She had gripped her phone, speaking with calm resolve. "Legally, I'm still single. If you're still interested, I'll marry you in seven days."

Matthew let out a sigh of relief and leaned toward Danielle, a teasing pout on his face. "We haven't been intimate since you finished your postpartum recovery. Tonight—"

A wave of nausea hit Danielle, and just as she was about to speak, his phone rang.

Matthew shot her a guilty look and turned away to answer. After hanging up, he sounded anxious. "Honey, there's an emergency at the office. I need to head over right now."

He grabbed his coat and rushed out. Danielle's chest tightened, and she quietly followed him in her car.

Matthew's car slowly stopped in front of the secluded villa. Minutes later, Meghan walked out and climbed into the passenger seat, swaying her hips with every step. The car began to rock violently, leaving no doubt of what occurred inside.

Danielle opened the surveillance app on her phone. The irony hit her sharply.

She had originally installed the listening device to ensure his safety during business outings. Now it served as a tool to witness his betrayal.

Matthew's voice drifted through, low and breathless. "Good thing you faked a stomachache to lure me here, or I'd still be stuck at home putting on an act. You've kept yourself in much better shape. Danielle has so many stretch marks now. It actually makes my stomach turn."

Meghan whimpered softly. "Then don't go back tonight. Stay here with me."

Matthew grew more frantic in his movements. Before long, he carried Meghan into the villa, clearly unsatisfied by the confines of the car.

Danielle sat motionless behind the wheel all night, unable to comprehend how the man who once said he loved her more than anything could stoop this low.

…

The next morning, Danielle pretended to just wake up as Matthew returned with damp hair, clearly fresh from a shower.

"Wake up, Danielle. I'm taking you to an auction today. They have some antiques you'll love."

He leaned down, kissed her forehead, and spoke in the same gentle tone he had always used. Danielle hesitated for a moment but decided to go along.

Inside the auction house, Meghan approached them in a red dress with a high slit, drawing every eye to her flawless legs. "Mr. Gardner, let me take your coat for you."

Matthew sidestepped her with visible disgust, his voice cold. "I'm here with my wife today. Why are you here?"

The guests' attention instantly shifted toward them.

Meghan bit her lip and looked at Danielle with a wounded expression. "But someone needs to attend to you…"

Everyone knew how much Matthew adored Danielle. Their wedding had been a legendary affair, attended by every notable figure in the city.

Whispers erupted around them at once.

Matthew tightened his grip on Danielle's waist and frowned. "Ms. Landry, you're not needed here. Go back to the office."

Meghan ran off in tears under the judgmental glares of the guests.

Matthew gave Danielle a gentle kiss on her forehead and guided her to their seats, but she could clearly sense his irritation. As several items went under the hammer, his gaze drifted, and his leg bounced restlessly beneath the table.

When the gem known as Radiant Heart appeared, Matthew raised his paddle and placed an aggressive bid. He then stood up to excuse himself. "Danielle, I'm going to the restroom. If there's anything you like, just bid on it."

All eyes turned to Danielle with envy.

"Mr. Gardner really spoils his wife. He even placed a high bid for her."

"Well, she is the heiress of the Bradford family. She probably wouldn't settle for anything less."

Danielle ignored the chatter. As soon as Matthew left, she went after him. When she reached the door of the women's restroom, scandalous noises drifted from one of the stalls.

Matthew's voice was breathless. "You little minx, who told you to come dressed like this? Weren't three times this morning enough?"

"You're the one who was mean to me first," Meghan said, pouting seductively. "Didn't it occur to you when you kicked me out earlier?"

He sighed. "Be good. After all, she's my wife in name, and the influential people here all respect the Bradford family. You know that."

She let out a soft whimper, her voice trembling. "But I'm your legal wife. When will I finally be able to stand by your side in public?"

Matthew's voice turned stern. "Stop it. We agreed to keep our marriage hidden. Don't cross the line."

He paused for a moment, his tone softened. "That gem I just bought is for you. Consider it a peace offering."

"I want a wedding too! One even bigger than Danielle's!"

Meghan's remaining words were drowned out by the sound of wet kisses.

Danielle's stomach lurched. She stumbled out of the auction house and pressed herself against a wall, retching violently.

She finally saw Matthew for who he truly was. He called her his wife in public, but his heart belonged to Meghan and Taylor.

The carefully maintained public facade of their love had been nothing but him playing her for a fool. That fake marriage certificate and the grand wedding now seemed like a pathetic joke.

Danielle closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and comforted herself. "Six more days. Just get through these six days, and it'll be over."

She immediately called her assistant, Cindy Brown. "Audit all my shares and projects within Gardner Group as soon as possible and prepare the transfer agreements."

The next second, Cindy's words made her blood run cold. "Ms. Bradford, the Escort Project you were in charge of was transferred to Ms. Landry last month!"

The Escort Project was the smart bionic prosthetics project that Danielle's father, James Bradford, had valued most during his lifetime.

James had dedicated his life to philanthropy, and it was his lifelong dream to complete this project to benefit more people with disabilities.

Danielle had pushed through her pregnancy to oversee the project for several months. She had only stepped back once it started to take shape just before she gave birth.

By the time she arrived at the office, Cindy was already panicking. "Ms. Bradford, Mr. Gardner has entrusted everything to Ms. Landry. We have no idea what's really going on."

Danielle remained composed. "It's fine. Let's go to the CEO's office. I know Matthew's computer password."

Before they reached the office, Meghan rushed over and blocked her path. "Hold on, Mrs. Gardner."

Her lips were swollen, hickeys marked her neck, and her face radiated arrogance. "You can't go in without Mr. Gardner's permission."

Danielle shoved her aside with a cold expression. "Move. I personally oversaw this project, so I have the right to review it."

"You stopped managing this project when you got pregnant, and now you want to waltz in and steal someone else's achievements? It doesn't work that way."

Unable to stop Danielle, Meghan was so furious that she blurted out whatever came to mind.

At that moment, Matthew rushed over, his voice tinged with panic. "Danielle, why did you leave early? You didn't even wait for me."

Danielle scoffed internally. He had been too busy being intimate with Meghan to bother leaving with her.

She handed him a set of documents. "Matthew, look at these figures! The prosthetic materials were supposed to be imported. Why were they replaced with substandard parts? Who switched the suppliers and pocketed the difference?"

Meghan had substituted inferior materials for quality ones, cut corners, and pocketed the price difference.

Matthew frowned, finally realizing something was wrong.

Meghan's face drained of color, and she rushed to speak. "This has nothing to do with Mr. Gardner. I'm sorry, Mrs. Gardner. I only wanted to make more money to support my son. If anyone is to blame, let it be me alone."

She wept pitifully, which made Matthew's heart ache with sympathy.

Danielle scoffed. "Apologies are useless. This is criminal behavior, and I'm calling the police."

As soon as she finished speaking, a small figure lunged forward and slammed into her.

"Mean lady! Don't bully my mommy! Daddy, hit her!"

Taylor's shrill voice echoed through the workspace.

Danielle let out a muffled groan from the impact, her face instantly going pale. The surrounding employees watched the scene with visible shock.

Matthew rushed to her side at once. "Danielle, are you alright?"

Meghan hurriedly pulled Taylor to her side, pretending to scold him. "Taylor, where are your manners? Apologize to Ms. Bradford right now!"

She then turned to Danielle. "Mrs. Gardner, take your anger out on me. Please don't hold it against a child."

Despite her words, a look of triumph flickered in her eyes.

Before Danielle could speak, Matthew cut in. "Don't be so hard on him. He's just a kid. He doesn't know any better."

He then turned to Meghan. "Taylor didn't mean it. Take him home first. I'll explain things to Danielle."

Danielle locked eyes with Matthew and spoke slowly. "What is there to explain? Are you going to explain why he calls me a 'mean lady'? Or are you going to explain why he calls you 'Daddy'?"

She refused to endure another second of their pathetic performance and turned to leave the office.

Matthew chased after her. "Danielle, Ms. Landry's son is only six years old. Why are you picking a fight with a kid?"

Danielle clenched her fists. "How can a kid be so vicious at such a young age? That's clearly the parents' failure. Why shouldn't I hold him accountable? Is he your kid?"

Matthew's expression shifted instantly as he pretended to be angry. "Danielle, what nonsense are you talking about? How could he be mine? Our daughter is my only child."

Even at this point, he continued to lie through his teeth.

Danielle smiled bitterly and looked up at Matthew. "Then what is our daughter's name? You haven't even given her a name to this day."