Chapter 1
After giving birth to twins, a boy and a girl, I turned around and knelt before my in-laws to request a divorce.
In my previous life, my husband, Caedric Arclayne, attempted to swap the heir of our family with his first love's son to inherit the family assets.
When the truth was exposed, my in-laws were furious and sent the mother and child overseas, but they died in a tragic accident.
Caedric was furious when he found out and he personally sent me and the twins to an illegal black-market clinic, where he watched us die as our organs were harvested.
"Sandra was born with nothing. All I wanted was to give her and her baby a name, but you cruelly took their lives."
"You were so obsessed with my wealth, vicious woman. Go to hell and apologize to Sandra yourself."
When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day I gave birth. I swapped the babies back, held my child tightly in my arms and asked for a divorce.
Caedric Arclayne, this time, I want to witness you destroy your precious first love and your child with your own hands.
——
"Giselle, this is our baby. Look how beautiful he is."
"He will be the heir of the Arclayne Group one day. You must raise him well. Don’t give him formula and breastfeed him."
Caedric looked down fondly at the baby in his arms, his eyes filled with uncontainable fatherly tenderness.
In the crib beside him, our daughter was wailing loudly, but he did not seem to hear her at all.
I stared at Caedric, who was dressed immaculately in his tailored suit, looking full of joy and his constant stream of instructions echoed in my ears.
The wounds on my body throbbed in pain, but the room was lightly scented with floral fragrance, not tainted with the metallic stench of blood like that horrific black-market clinic.
I was stunned upon realizing I had been reborn, reborn at the moment right after giving birth.
Caedric placed the baby boy in my arms.
"He keeps licking his lips. What a little devil. Feed him already."
He handed over the soft, tiny baby.
Looking down, I saw his skin was dark red and wrinkled. In my memory, my older child had fair skin, double eyelids and big, bright eyes.
"Hurry up and feed the baby. I’m heading out for a bit, I’ll come check on you later."
He left in a rush.
The moment the door slammed shut, I picked up the baby and followed him. Relying on my memory, I found the VIP suite on the third floor.
Through the partially open door, I saw the lavishly decorated room filled with roses, marble furnishings and a full-wall projection playing maternal care videos...
Wrapped in a silk brocade blanket, Sandra’s delicate face was as radiant as a peach blossom, with none of the paleness or exhaustion one would expect after childbirth.
My beloved husband Caedric was gently cradling her in his arms.
"Sandra, thank you for your hard work. The baby is beautiful. I’ve already handed her over to Giselle. He’ll be the legitimate eldest grandson of the Arclayne Group and the future heir of the Arclayne Group."
Tears welled in Sandra’s eyes as she rested against his chest.
"Honey, I can’t bear to part with our son. Just thinking about never seeing him again… I’d rather be dead."
Caedric patted her shoulder tenderly and soothed her, "Sandra, honey, don’t cry. Your tears break my heart."
"Don’t worry. It will only take eighteen years. Once our son inherits the Arclayne Group, I’ll make sure you reunite with him. By then, you’ll be the rightful Mrs. Arclayne."
"What about Giselle? Do you think she’ll ever forgive us?"
A flash of malice crossed Caedric’s face.
"She’s the one who ruined our happiness. If she doesn’t cause trouble, we’ll part peacefully. But if she steps out of line, I won’t hesitate to send her exactly where she belongs."
"No matter how powerful the Mirelin Family is, they won’t be able to trace someone who supposedly committed suicide due to depression."
He then embraced Sandra even more tightly.
"Baby, just hang in there for a little while longer. I still need the Mirelin Family’s support. I have to keep pretending to be the perfect husband. You know I’m doing this for our child. Everything is for our future."
Sandra opened her mouth, asking softly and cautiously.
Chapter 2
"What about this child? I’m afraid I can't take care of him properly. What if something happens..."
Caedric sneered.
"Just do the bare minimum. Don’t wear yourself out. If he dies, then it’s just his own bad luck. I only have one child and that’s our Elion."
Sandra nodded, then lifted her head and kissed Caedric.
The two of them clung to each other with passion, completely disregarding the fact that she had just given birth.
A nurse entered the room and I quickly slipped away.
The couple paused and Caedric helped Sandra up and followed the nurse out of the ward. The moment they turned the corner, I gathered every ounce of my strength, rushed inside, swapped the babies and hurried back to the ward on the second floor.
Lying back on the bed with my son in my arms, I realized I was drenched in sweat and the pain from my wounds was sharp as if freshly torn open.
I clutched my son tightly and burst into tears.
In this life, I had finally held my son again. Once I get my Elion back, I would absolutely seek justice for myself and make that heartless man and that despicable woman pay for everything they had done.
A month later, my in-laws organized a lavish celebration for the twins’ birth.
Caedric held the child with great care in front of the guests, acting as though the baby were made of glass, terrified anyone might touch him.
My in-laws were beaming with joy, completely enchanted by their grandchildren and unwilling to let them go for even a moment.
All the guests praised the Arclayne Group, showering them with compliments and saying they were truly blessed. A pair of heir and heiress twins was surely a sign that the family would rise to even greater heights.
At that moment, Sandra suddenly stepped out from among the crowd, her expression brimming with excitement as she looked at the baby.
"Mr. Arclayne, may I hold the baby?" she asked.
"Of course, Miss Blake."
Yes, Caedric’s beloved first love was also his personal assistant and a distant cousin of the Arclayne Group. In order to allow Sandra Blake to remain by his side openly, he deliberately arranged multiple identities for her.
I had married into the Arclayne Group. Caedric was the only son of the wealthiest man in Javensport and I was the only daughter of an influential hidden family.
My eldest brother held a senior position in government, while my second brother was a prominent figure among the capital’s social and political elite. My father-in-law and my own father shared a bond forged through life-or-death trials. My father-in-law had once saved my father’s life.
My paternal lineage was one of distinction and legacy. My father had been received by the President himself and had served three terms in Congress. Even the cathedral bore his name.
When the Arclayne Group faced bankruptcy, my father stood by them and single-handedly turned the tide, supporting them with everything he had. It was because of that support that the Arclayne Group rose again, step by step and Caedric eventually became the richest man in Javensport.
The ties between our families ran deep and complex, with a loyalty that was hard to sever. It was this bond that forced Caedric to marry me and give up his so-called first love.
However, I never expected him to be so heartless, so ruthless that he would kill his own flesh and blood just for the sake of that woman.
Now that I had been reborn, I knew the Arclayne Group was doomed.
Caedric gently placed the baby into Sandra’s arms, gazing at her with tender affection in his eyes.
"The baby is perfectly fine. Look at how adorable she is."
Tears finally welled up in Sandra’s eyes. She looked up at Caedric, her voice trembling as she said, "Mr. Arclayne, thank you."
"Silly girl. This child is your nephew. What’s there to thank me for?"
Sandra smiled at his words, then gently rubbed the baby’s cheek against hers.
Her every gesture radiated gentle, maternal affection.
I walked over slowly, a subtle smile on my lips and said lightly, "Miss Blake, I heard your baby just turned one month old. Where is the little one? Why didn’t you bring him along to enjoy the celebration?"
Sandra’s public identity was that of a married woman. Her supposed husband worked overseas in a confidential role, which explained why he was rarely seen.
Sandra’s expression turned downcast and she sighed with sorrow.
"My baby’s had a high fever for several days and now it’s spread to his lungs. The doctor prescribed some medication and he finally managed to fall asleep."
I sneered inwardly but kept my tone polite and acted surprised.
"Something that serious in the lungs can be life-threatening for a baby. Why didn’t you bring him to the hospital immediately?"
Tears welled up in Sandra’s eyes again and she looked utterly pitiful.
"I had no choice. The baby’s biological father is missing and can’t be reached and I only earn one thousand and fifty hundred a month. I simply don’t have the money to get him proper treatment."
Chapter 3
As she said this, she ignored the guests around her and collapsed into Caedric’s arms, sobbing softly.
"Caedric, what should I do? I really can’t take care of the child on my own."
A flicker of disgust flashed across Caedric’s face and he responded in a cold and heartless tone, "It’s all the baby's fault for being born into the wrong family."
He gently patted Sandra’s back, offering false comfort.
"There, there. I know it hasn’t been easy for you either. If anything happens, it’s just the child’s fate. Don’t be too upset."
The guests around them looked on in astonishment as the two of them embraced in full view of everyone.
My father-in-law’s expression darkened. He shouted angrily, "Ridiculous! How can you neglect a sick child like that? It’s still a life, after all. Once you’ve given birth, you’re responsible. You can’t just walk away."
Without waiting, he called for the driver and the family doctor to come and pick up the child.
Since there were twins in the house, my father-in-law had hired a top pediatric specialist to be on call around the clock.
Sandra stood reluctantly and spoke with an uncertain expression.
"Thank you for your concern. It’s common for children to catch fevers when they’re young. Their immune systems strengthen over time. But today is Elion’s special day, so let’s not bring Victor over and risk infecting him."
As she said that, she cast a condescending, sarcastic glance in my direction.
When I heard that name, I could not help but sneer. "Heh, Victor. As if he wasn’t doomed from the moment he breathed."
Born to a pair of heartless, despicable people. Victor, of all names.
Disgust briefly crossed my father-in-law’s face.
"If something were to happen, it would bring disgrace to the Arclayne Group. Get going now."
To be fair, my parents-in-law were generally upright and principled people. They treated others with decency and kindness. I truly could not understand how they ended up raising a monster like Caedric.
Was it some kind of genetic mutation?
Caedric left the room with large strides, taking Sandra with him.
The mood in the room visibly lightened, though a subtle tension still lingered in the air. A few moments later, the butler stepped in and announced that my family had arrived. My eldest brother entered with a warm smile.
He first greeted my parents-in-law courteously, then came over to me with clear affection.
"Hey, lil sis, you’ve done a great job."
He affectionately ruffled my hair and handed me a document.
"This is the amusement park I’ve gifted to the baby. It’s already been transferred under Elion’s name."
Then, he took out another folder.
"And this is the deed to the villa I’m giving you. Mooncrest Villa."
Everyone in the room looked on with admiration and whispered in awe.
"Miss Mirelin is incredibly generous. He’s spent hundreds of millions."
My eldest brother said with a smile, "My little sister is the only girl in the Mirelin Family. If I don’t spoil her, who else would I spoil? As long as she’s happy, I’m willing to spend as much as it takes."
Just as he was speaking, the butler came over again and called out, "Welcome, Mr. Mirelin."
My second brother walked in with a confident stride, his laughter hearty and loud.
"Where are my precious niece and nephew? Let their uncle have a look at them now."
The nanny brought the babies over and the two brothers leaned in curiously to touch their tiny hands and feet.
"Oh my God, look! Doesn’t he look just like our little sister when she was a baby?"
"Yes, look at that tiny mouth. It curves up just like hers. You can tell he’s going to be a little foodie."
"Oh, see that? He’s sucking on nothing. He must be hungry already."
The two of them looked at the child with wide smiles, their expressions full of joy and warmth.
Not even half an hour later, Caedric and Sandra returned, carrying the other child. Behind them followed the family doctor, his face grave and serious.
Sandra dropped to her knees with a loud thud in front of her father-in-law.
"Mr. Arclayne, please save this child! He... he’s dying."
The entire hall fell silent in an instant. Everyone turned to look at Sandra and the baby in her arms.
I stepped forward, gently lifted the child’s clothing and froze on the spot. The child’s face was blue and his tiny exposed hands had turned purple.
The family doctor stepped forward, his voice filled with regret as he said,
"Mr. Arclayne, we’ve done everything we could. The child’s high fever caused severe pneumonia and ultimately led to lung failure. He no longer shows any signs of life."