My husband, Tyler Stone, has been dead for seven years. One day, he suddenly comes back to life.

Not only does he bring another woman home with him, but he even wants me to give up my position as his wife.

"Ruth almost lost her eyes saving me, and I've promised to marry her. Sign the divorce agreement, and I won't kick you out of the house."

I'm briefly silent before saying, "I've actually married someone else."

He rolls his eyes. "As if. Everyone knows you're desperately in love with me!"

But I was no longer the Aurora Lowe from seven years ago—a young woman who hung on his every word and lost sight of herself to be his lapdog.

"There's no need for me to lie to you. I'm married to someone else now," I said.

Tyler shot me a disdainful look and snorted. "Drop the act, Aurora. I'm not here to ask for your permission—I'm informing you that I'm marrying Ruth whether you like it or not."

Ruth Watson tugged on his arm and feigned innocence as she said, "Don't argue with Aurora, Ty. I just don't have the luck of being with you. You can just send me home."

She pretended to leave but didn't take her hands off his arm. She even shot me a taunting look.

Tyler's gaze softened at her words. "Ruth, you said you'd be with me forever. Don't worry, alright? Aurora is desperately in love with me, and she listens to everything I say. I promise you that I'll marry you!"

Seven years had passed, and Tyler was even more thick-skinned than before. Before I could say anything, he glared at me and snarled, "You've been Mrs. Stone for seven years. It's Ruth's turn now! She's suffered far too much, and I won't let you bully her."

I smiled mockingly. "I haven't done anything. Don't try to make me out to be the bad guy."

Tyler's expression darkened as he scanned me. "Do you think you're a big deal? I would've kicked you out of here ages ago if not for you having waited for me for seven years. Do you think I'd still be wasting my breath on you?"

He wanted to kick me out? He wouldn't get the chance.

Besides, what made him think I would've wasted seven years waiting for him? I gave up on that the day he left me behind.

Seven years ago, I'd put on my wedding dress and waited for Tyler to marry me. However, he'd fled and left me jilted. The car he'd run off in had sped off a cliff, and only the driver had made it out alive.

Everyone had thought him dead for the past seven years—I'd picked out his burial spot myself. However, the marriage with the Stone family was something my father had fought hard to get for me. Tyler could disregard his family's reputation, but I couldn't.

It wasn't like he was the only single man in the Stone family anyway.

Over the past seven years, I'd become someone's wife and mother. If not for Tyler suddenly returning, I would've forgotten all about it. And so, I was completely unaffected by this reunion.

I said calmly, "I'll say this once more—you and I are not married, Tyler. Legally speaking, you're dead. That's why it's none of my business who you want to marry."

Tyler snorted. "At least you're not completely dumb. I wouldn't have needed to flee abroad if you hadn't insisted on marrying me back then. I've been in hiding for the past seven years!"

That explained everything. He and the driver had been in the same car, so how could he have died when the driver had gotten out alive? It had just been an excuse for him to make his escape.

He was still the same old scumbag. He thought too much of himself and was utterly irresponsible. His mother, Mary Gould, had fainted on the spot upon learning of his "death" back then. She'd fallen gravely ill and had almost died along with him.

Just then, the butler, Nelson Brown, hurried over and heard the last of Tyler's words. He hurriedly said, "Mr. Tyler, you can't say things like that! Madam Aurora is now the wife of Stone Group's CEO."

"The CEO's wife?" Ruth's eyes widened slightly. She asked, seemingly casually, "Ty, didn't you say that your grandfather would only appoint you as the CEO?"

Tyler stiffened. Then, he looked at me indifferently. "I'm my father's only son. Who else would have the right to inherit the CEO position but me?"

I stared at him incredulously.

I couldn't help wondering whether Tyler had left his brain abroad before returning. Did he realize how stupid he sounded?

Nelson was so alarmed that sweat beaded on his forehead. He wiped it and cried, "What are you saying, Mr. Tyler? Madam Aurora has married Mr. Skyler, and he is now Stone Group's CEO. Have you forgotten about your Uncle Skyler?"

After Tyler had run off back then, I'd stood there dazedly, surrounded by everyone's mocking gazes. That was when his uncle, Skyler Stone, had stepped forward. He'd told everyone that he would marry me.

I'd been lost and helpless at that time. Everyone knew that Tyler and I were supposed to get married on that day, yet he'd died on the way to pick me up.

People had labeled me a symbol of misfortune and a jinx. They'd shamed me for cursing Tyler. Yet, Skyler had stepped forward and announced his willingness to marry me—he would help prove to the world that I wasn't who they said I was.

He would save my family from shame, and he would help me out of the predicament I was in. What reason did I have not to marry him?

Skyler hadn't actually intended on attending my wedding with Tyler, but he'd returned to the country because his father, Philip Stone, had insisted on it. Unexpectedly, he'd ended up becoming my groom.

Tyler looked at me mockingly. "Everyone knows Uncle Skyler stays away from all women. His career is all that matters to him! He wouldn't spare a lapdog like Aurora a glance."

Skyler was known in Jalton for being a genius businessman. Half of the Stone family fortune belonged to him. He was like a god in the Stone family.

To this day, I didn't understand why he'd marry me. There were plenty of women who were prettier and more gentle than I was.

Nelson continued trying to convince Tyler of the truth. "It's true, Mr. Tyler. You can check the news online—ask the household help if you still don't believe me!"

Tyler snorted and asked a gardener and a maid for the truth. When their answers matched up, his expression turned ugly. He glared at me and snapped, "I've underestimated your manipulative ways, Aurora! Look at how you've bought everyone over in the years I was away! They're ganging up to lie to me!"

I remained calm. I didn't want to argue with him over something like this. There was no changing the fact that I'd married Skyler. It didn't matter to me whether or not Tyler believed me.

Tyler had been spoiled while growing up, so Nelson was worried he wouldn't let the matter slide so easily. He hastily told someone to tell Skyler to come home. "Hurry up and call Mr. Skyler's secretary. Tell him to come home as soon as possible!"

Skyler had left for the office early that morning to negotiate an aerospace deal, and neither Philip nor Mary was at home. If not for that, Tyler wouldn't even get the chance to speak to me.

We were at an impasse when my son, Calvin Stone, suddenly ran over. "Mommy, why aren't you back to be with me yet?"

Tyler's eyes bulged in rage when he saw Calvin. I could guess why—Calvin was like a mini version of me, aside from the fact that he was a boy.

Tyler's gaze traveled between Calvin and me. After a long silence, he pointed a trembling finger at me. "How dare you betray me and even give birth to a bastard! Tell me who the father is!"

Calvin had inherited Skyler's personality. He didn't really understand what "bastard" meant, but he could tell it wasn't anything nice.

He rubbed his jaw and asked, "Who are you calling a bastard? Daddy said anyone with a potty mouth deserves a beating."

He was six years old and could recognize everyone at home. He was sure he didn't know who Tyler was, though.

Tyler snapped, "How dare you talk back to me, you bastard!"

That pissed me off. Calvin was my treasure—how dare he call him a bastard!

I growled, "Watch your mouth, Tyler! Otherwise, you can't blame me for getting nasty!"

Ruth looked like she was enjoying the show. "The kid looks like he should be of schooling age. Don't tell me you got knocked up with him before even marrying Ty!"

Her words had been chosen to kill. The moment Tyler heard them, he glared at me like he wanted to murder me. The one thing men couldn't accept was their wives cheating on them, especially when said wives claimed to love them deeply.

I said calmly, "Calvin is six years old."

"You're such a whore, Aurora! You've had a child with someone else when I've only been gone for seven years! How shameless can you be?" Tyler snapped.

"Only" been gone for seven years?

That was almost as long as we'd known each other, and he'd spent most of it missing in action. Besides, he was the one who'd left me.

Nelson hurriedly explained, "Mr. Tyler, this is Mr. Skyler's son."

That pissed Tyler off. "Shut up, you backstabbing asshole! Where are my parents? Who gave this wench the power to act like she owns the place? Can't you hear how upright she sounds even though she's a cheater?"

"Everyone in the Stone family is aware of this," Nelson protested.

Tyler's parents had felt bad about him leaving me jilted, so they hadn't objected to Skyler marrying me.

Nelson's words thoroughly infuriated Tyler. He looked around sharply and asked, "Who the hell is the jerk she's cheated on me with? He must have had a death wish if he dared to screw around with my woman!"

He couldn't find anyone who looked like they fit the bill, no matter how hard he tried.

I laughed mockingly.

Meanwhile, Ruth spoke up, sounding like she meant well for me, "Aurora, just tell Ty the truth. Even I won't be able to help you if you push him too far."

I rolled my eyes at her. "Drop the act, lady. You're not fooling anyone."

Tyler slapped me as soon as the words were out of my mouth. I wasn't even in time to process it.

"Shut up, tramp! You were shameless enough to cheat on me—how dare you talk to Ruth like that!" he barked.

I was caught off guard by his attack. My cheek immediately started swelling.

Calvin lunged at Tyler to hit him when he saw that I'd been slapped. "I'll kill you for hitting my mommy!"

"Calvin!" I cried.

Tyler grabbed him by the back of his collar and lifted him off his feet. My heart raced at the sight, and I snarled, "Let him go, Tyler!"

The household staff hurried forward to save Calvin. One of them cried, "Please put him down, Mr. Tyler! Mr. Skyler won't let this slide if he hears about this!"

Everyone in the Stone family knew Calvin meant more to Skyler than life itself. He doted on Calvin to no end.

Tyler merely scoffed. "Get out of my way if you don't want to get fired. I have to teach these two fools a lesson today!"

My heart clenched. "What are you going to do?"

His gaze turned frosty, as did the atmosphere. "You had an extramarital affair and even gave birth to a child. Per the law, I can make you leave this marriage without a dime to your name. I can even make you compensate me for my losses!"

We hadn't even gotten married, though.

I was so angry that my hands started trembling. "You and I never got married, Tyler! How could I have had an extramarital affair? Put my son down!"

Calvin kicked his legs as he dangled in the air. He didn't look scared, though.

The household staff surrounded Tyler but didn't dare do anything to him because of his status. All they could do was try to convince him to put Calvin down.

Tyler refused to listen. He shot me a look and said, "I'll deal with you after teaching this bastard a lesson."

With that, he turned and headed outside, still holding Calvin. Everyone exchanged looks at that but didn't dare stop him. Ultimately, Nelson was the one who stood in his way.

Tyler's expression darkened. "What? Are you actually going to stop me?"

Nelson wiped the sweat from his brow, keeping his tone respectful as he said, "Let's talk this out, Mr. Tyler. Don't do anything rash, alright? Please let Mr. Calvin go."

I took the opportunity to dart forward to save Calvin, but Ruth grabbed me. She smiled smugly and asked, "What are you doing, Aurora? Don't get yourself into trouble."

I slapped her. "I'll make you and Tyler regret ever being born if anything happens to Calvin!"

She used the slap as a way to pretend to fall against a nearby vase. She even cut her forehead on it, and blood flowed down her face.

Tyler saw red at that and wanted to take his anger out on Calvin. "How dare you hurt Ruth! I'll kill this bastard!"

He raised Calvin higher and made to throw him onto the ground. My heart stopped for a split second, and I lunged at them instinctively. "Calvin!"

Calvin was still a child. He was frightened by Tyler's actions and burst into tears.

Tyler roared, "Get the hell away from me! I'll settle the score with you later!"

I refused to let go of Calvin, no matter how Tyler tried to yank me off. He finally lost his patience and kicked me in the chest, making me feel like I couldn't breathe.

Nelson and the rest of the household staff tried to stop Tyler, but he shook them all off.

"Mr. Tyler, stop! Madam Aurora is your aunt now!" Nelson cried. He wrapped his arms around Tyler's legs, but the latter still tried to kick me.

Just then, an aloof voice came from outside the door, "What's going on here? There'd better be a proper explanation for this."