I foolishly endured five rounds of IVF, suffered through endless pain, and nearly died from severe prenatal hemorrhaging before finally giving birth to the first grandson of the Newton family, all because Bryce told me that we would get married once the baby was born.

However, Bryce publicly took his first love, Selina, by the hand on the day of the baby shower and announced with a smile, "Thank you all for coming for Selina and my child."

At that moment, I froze at the top of the staircase.

When he spotted me, he walked over with a smile and said, "I knew I couldn't keep this hidden forever, so I thought it would be better to tell you now while the baby's still young."

Then, he raised his glass toward me as if he were negotiating a business deal.

"You got pregnant before marriage, so everyone looks down on you. Plus, your parents have disowned you. You have nowhere else to go. Don't worry. You can keep raising the child, but Selina would be the child's legal guardian.

"You'll come with me to the City Hall to handle the registration tomorrow."

He thought I would lose my mind and swallow my pride for the sake of my child.

Instead, I quietly left and sought out the true heir of the Newton family, who had just returned from abroad.

A few days later, my child and I were officially become members of Newton family.

I became Bryce's stepmother on that same day. Naturally, my child became his younger brother.

I had sole custody over my child, and that wasn't all. No, the best part of this deal was that the Newton family inheritance would eventually belong to me as well.

###CONTENT

####CHAPTER-NAME:

A Change of Identity

Bryce returned in the afternoon.

I immediately rushed downstairs, my eyes never leaving the baby sleeping in the nanny's arms.

The nanny hesitated and glanced at Bryce for permission. Only after he gave a slight nod did she hand the baby over to me.

I couldn't help but feel relieved as he still allowed me to hold my child.

"You win." Selina suddenly spoke up. She burst into laughter and continued, "We made a bet. I told them that the proud heiress of the Hawthorn family would never tolerate the man you loved cheating on you. Initially, I thought you'd storm out in a rage.

"However, Bryce said you were hopelessly in love with him. He bet that you would never leave him even if he brought women home."

As she spoke, Bryce crouched down and personally helped her out of her high heels and into a pair of slippers.

His voice was gentle and soft as he spoke. "I'm not going to look for other women. All I need is you."

Selina shot me a sidelong glance upon hearing his answer, her lips curling into a smug smile.

Only then did I recognize the slippers she was wearing.

They were the custom-made pair Bryce had ordered. He had written six words on the box, and that was "For the Mother of My Child."

I had assumed it was a present for me. I had even looked forward to him opening the box himself and placing it in my hands after the full-month banquet.

Yet, I was never the mother of his child in his eyes, was I?

"Jessica, pack your things and move into the nursery."

Bryce tilted his chin toward the hallway, his arm languidly draping around Selina's shoulders.

"We'll tell everyone that you're the nanny of our family. Your main responsibility is to take care of Thomas."

Selina smiled sweetly and added, "Ms. Hawthorn, the sterilization team Bryce hired will be here soon, so you'd better hurry. Make sure you take everything with you since I'm a bit of a germaphobe. I'll get nauseous if you leave behind even a single strand of hair."

They spoke as though it were the most natural thing in the world. The other staff stood nearby and watched me with undisguised curiosity.

After all, everyone in the house knew how Bryce used to treat me.

I had been the center of his world. He became more distressed than I was if I got so much as a scratch. He would practically beg for forgiveness whenever I threw a tantrum.

Bryce wasn't good at raking in money, but he excelled at spending the money. So, anything I mentioned that morning would be promptly delivered to me by noon. He would even get me the best quality items out there.

I had thought those idyllic days would last forever. Yet, who could have imagined that another woman would become the new mistress of this house after a single full-month banquet?

I had fallen from a treasured sweetheart to a hired nanny in just one night. I even had to give up my bedroom.

Anyone would have been devastated by such a brutal fall.

However, I neither cried nor protested. I simply tucked the blanket more securely around my baby and murmured, "Okay." Then, I turned and walked calmly upstairs.

Bryce's voice drifted through the air, thick with lustful anticipation. "I won the bet. So, you'd better make it worth my while tonight."

####CHAPTER-NAME:

A Cruel Truth

Selina pressed herself against Bryce with a coquettish smile. "A bet's a bet. You can do whatever you want to me tonight. Still… Are you really that confident? Aren't you worried she'll take the baby and run away?"

The nannies immediately made themselves scarce the second he lifted the hem of her skirt.

He chuckled and drawled dismissively, "When she chose to be with me, she signed an agreement to cut ties with her family. She won't survive the real world without me."

The sofa creaked beneath them as his breathing grew heavier.

"Besides, everyone knows she's been with me for eight years and got pregnant out of wedlock. The rich kids in our circle look down on her. Nobody wants to take on a second-hand woman. Even if some guy is attracted to her face, he'd have to be brave enough to fight me for the child."

I closed the door to the master bedroom, shutting out the sounds of their wanton moans in the living room.

Fortunately, the baby hadn't heard any of it. I carefully laid him down on the bed and snapped a photo of his sleeping face before sending it through WhatsApp.

"The baby is back with me. Don't forget your promise."

A few seconds later, a reply appeared. "Okay."

I let out a slow breath.

To be honest, Selina had won the bet. I would never tolerate a man who had cheated on me.

That lying scum was going to get it.

That evening, a sterilization team arrived at the house just like Selina had said. I held the child and packed my things in the nursery.

Selina had left, so Bryce had invited his closest friends over for drinks. I could hear their laughter even through the door.

"You're unbelievable, Bryce. The Hawthorn family's heiress was practically guaranteed to inherit the family fortune. Yet, not only did she run off with you, but you also got her to bear a child for you!"

"The best part is that she got pregnant out of wedlock, and the kid can't even call her Mom. Most women would never survive that humiliation. She must be really in love with you!"

The room erupted in jeers.

Amid the clinking of glasses, Bryce sounded completely unconcerned. "Only you guys know the truth. To everyone else, Selina is Thomas's mother. Honestly, who cares if Jessica is the Hawthorn family heiress? She loves me enough to die for me, and she's unbelievably stupid.

"I told her that my family was strict, and that she had to give me a son before I could marry her. I can't believe she actually bought that lie. She went through five rounds of IVF over the years. Her stomach is practically covered in needle marks.

"I wouldn't be able to bear it if Selina had to suffer through something like that."

As I heard his words, my hands tightened around the clothes I was folding.

I was once the cherished daughter of the Hawthorn family. Unfortunately, I had fallen hopelessly in love with Bryce.

At that time, my parents had thought he was unworthy of me and pressured me to break up with him.

When Bryce found out about it, he convinced me to run away with him. He promised he would treat me well and love me for the rest of his life. Yet, he suddenly told me about the Newton family's archaic rule after I had left everything behind for him.

At the time, I loved him too much to question it. Since natural conception had proven difficult, I began IVF treatments.

I endured unimaginable pain in order to bear this child just so I could marry him. I nearly died from a massive hemorrhage before giving birth.

In the end, all that sacrifice had been reduced to a single, "She's unbelievably stupid."

The laughter downstairs continued. Eventually, someone brought up Selina.

"Bryce, I heard the Newton family banquet is in two days. Are you finally taking Selina to meet the family? Your father's back too, right?"

Bryce was clearly in a good mood as he smiled and replied, "Jessica couldn't have picked a better time to have this baby. My dad hardly ever comes back, and he's even hosting the family banquet himself this time.

"Once I show up with Selina and the baby, the inheritance will definitely be mine."

"Of course, it will. The Newton family doesn't have any other heir aside from you and your son. You're the only direct descendant of your generation. Nobody will be able to stake a claim on your inheritance as long as your father doesn't remarry and have another child."

At that moment, the room suddenly fell silent. A long moment passed before Bryce spoke again, irritation creeping into his voice. "Do you even hear yourself? My dad's busy with work. He doesn't have time to remarry."

I slowly unclenched my fingers. Then, I clicked on a song on my phone, letting the music drown out the voices outside.

I hummed under my breath as a breathtakingly vicious smile played on my lips.

####CHAPTER-NAME:

The City Hall

Bryce took me to the Office to register the baby as his son at 10 a.m.

Selina put on a show of motherly affection and reached for the baby as soon as we got out of the car.

Alas, the baby started wailing the moment she took him into her arms. So, she immediately shoved him back at me and whined to Bryce, "Bryce, look at her! Look at how she's been raising him? He drooled all over me!"

Bryce wrapped an arm around her waist and hurried to comfort her. When he turned to me, his expression turned cold as he berated me, "Jessica, I told you that Selina is his legal mother. It's absurd that you've taught him not to recognize her as his mother!"

The baby quieted the minute he returned to my arms.

"He can't stand the smell of perfume," I replied calmly.

Selina's face darkened as she retorted, "Ugh, I've never heard that babies are so delicate that they can't even tolerate perfume. Plus, this is a limited-edition perfume Bryce had specially brought back from overseas. One bottle costs hundreds of thousands.

"It's not something that someone like you could ever afford."

Bryce adored her spoiled behavior as he kissed the corner of her lips and murmured, "Why waste your time arguing with her? I'll have someone get you another bottle if you like it so much."

Only then did Selina reluctantly drop the subject. She glared at me disdainfully before trotting off to touch up her makeup.

The moment she was gone, Bryce said to me in a low voice, "Jessica, I know you're upset, but you need to understand my position. The Newton family is not some run-of-the-mill family, and I'm their only heir. I can't just marry any woman.

"Selina is the second daughter of the Paxen family, so we're a perfect match socially. It'll benefit the child's future too. Besides, I'm allowing you to keep his custody, am I not?" He sounded utterly done with me. The cheek of him!

I met his gaze and said, "Bryce, I cut ties with my family for you."

"I know, but I haven't treated you badly all these years, have I? Besides, you've got nowhere else to go, and nobody wants you. Why not stay here and work as the baby's nanny? You can look after the child whenever you want. Everybody wins."

I never imagined he would say something so shameless.

Just then, Selina returned from fixing her makeup, and we went inside to handle the paperwork. Unfortunately, the staff informed us that the system was down, and any guardianship transfer would have to wait another three days.

Selina was worried that something would go awry if we tarried, so she insisted that I sign the agreement immediately.

I didn't hesitate to sign it.

Bryce and Selina exchanged satisfied glances and planned to see a movie together, leaving me to take the baby home alone.

"Bryce." I stopped him before he could leave.

I wanted to ask him whether all those years of kindness had only been because he needed me to give him a son.

However, Selina suddenly exclaimed before I could say anything, "Look! That bride's veil is gorgeous. I should have worn one when we registered our marriage."

Bryce followed her gaze and smiled.

"Do you like it? I'll buy you an even prettier one when we get married."

She slipped her arm through his and replied, "Okay. Last summer was way too hot anyway. It'd be so uncomfortable if I wore a veil then."

My heart sank when I heard their conversation.

Last summer was when I had just discovered I was pregnant. Bryce had hired an entire team of specialists to protect the pregnancy. He told me we would register our marriage as soon as the baby was born. He had been the personification of the sun throughout my pregnancy.

I thought my suffering was finally over. I thought I was finally going to marry the man I loved.

Only now did I understand that his excitement had never been about my pregnancy. It was because he had succeeded in marrying the woman he truly loved.

Then, Bryce looked at me and snapped with irritation, "Don't tell me you can't even afford a taxi."

I closed my eyes briefly before replying blandly, "Yeah. Give me some money."

Selina immediately tore her eyes away from me in disgust.

Bryce seemed embarrassed by me as well. So, he quickly transferred a few hundred to me before leaving with her without another word.

Shortly after, another car pulled up outside.

I climbed inside with my baby. The man in the back seat took the child from my arms and studied him for a moment. Then, he handed the baby back and instructed the driver to go to the city hall.

By the time we walked out, we had registered our marriage and officially registered the baby.

Then, we returned to the Newton family's manor.

The man was a man of action instead of words, so he had already arranged a room for the baby and me. At the same time, a nanny was also assigned to help me. He had taken care to provide for any necessity for the child, from diapers to formula and everything in between.

####CHAPTER-NAME: