When my eyes widened in shock, Phoebe looked at me with smug satisfaction.

“See this? We have a child together. Your little ‘wife’ charade is over. Get lost!”

I trembled with rage. The grief I had suppressed deep inside surged up once again.

My younger sister, Lily Grant, had gotten pregnant with some deadbeat’s child. Even after he abandoned her, she stubbornly insisted on keeping the baby. Neither my father nor I could talk any sense into her.

On the day she passed away during childbirth, I was abroad and was rushing to finish the final stage of an experiment. I could have returned home the very next day.

A nurse had even sent me a photo of my nephew. His features strongly resembled my sister’s.

But at that very moment, Tristan specifically asked me to help secure the approval for his relative’s overseas project.

I trusted him and ended up getting delayed for an entire week before I could return.

The day before my flight home, I received the devastating news that my nephew had suddenly died.

Tristan’s intense guilt made him swear he would make it up to me on our anniversary.

I grabbed Tristan’s wrist tightly and confronted him with my shaky voice, “Tristan Wolfe! How could you do this to my family?

“You cheated on me, and you stole my sister’s baby for her? You’re a monster!”

Tristan viciously shook my hand off. “What is your problem? You’re spouting pure nonsense!”

I stumbled back several steps and fell to the floor in a humiliating heap.

Seizing the opportunity, Phoebe stepped forward and kicked me hard in the leg with the pointed toe of her high heel.

“Are you delusional? First, you try to steal my husband, and now my baby?”

Tristan’s face darkened with fury. Even the postpartum center staff who had gathered around rushed to Phoebe’s defense.

“Miss, you need to be very careful about making such claims.”

“Mrs. Wolfe booked with our postpartum center early in her pregnancy. We’ve coordinated every single prenatal appointment. How could this child possibly be your sister’s?”

I pointed a trembling finger at Tristan’s face.

“You were there when my nephew was born! That baby had a mole right by his eye, exactly like this one! You know the truth in your heart!”

Tristan’s eyes darted away, but his voice rose sharply as he feigned indignation.

“How dare you make such baseless claims! A mole doesn’t prove anything! It’s merely a coincidence!

“You will apologize to Fifi and the child right now, or this isn’t over!”

People around us began to murmur in agreement.

“That’s right! Apologize to both of them!”

I scanned the crowd as a wave of bleak despair washed over me.

“Fine. There are more of you. I can’t win this argument.

“But I dare you to call a doctor for a DNA test right now.

“If it proves this child is Phoebe’s, I’ll get on my knees and apologize to all of you right here! But do you even dare?”

Tristan glared at me as guilt flashed in his eyes. “Why should I listen to you? You’re the one who came here causing trouble!”

His coworkers immediately backed him up.

“Exactly! We all saw what happened! You’re the one who’s out of line!”

“Tristan is the Deputy Fire Chief now. He has a massive future ahead! If you mess with him, you can forget about having a peaceful life ever again!”

I let out a cold laugh, pointing a finger directly at Tristan’s face.

“You think you can threaten me with your position? Five years ago, you were just a regular firefighter. You get one promotion and suddenly, you’re untouchable?

“Did you forget who begged my father to open doors for you? Who fixed your performance reviews to get you that deputy chief title in under five years?

“Did you think you earned that luxury car and mansion yourself? Name one thing you have now that wasn’t bought with the Grant family’s influence!”

As I said this, Tristan’s coworkers, who had defended him instantly, changed their expressions.

Someone muttered under their breath, “No wonder he rose so fast. The last deputy chief was nearly forty before he got the position.”

“Every bag Phoebe carries costs more than my car. A month at that postpartum center costs a million dollars! How does a regular deputy chief afford that kind of lifestyle?”

Tristan’s face flushed red with rage. He clenched his fists and retorted, “I earned this position! I’ve always been the first to take on every mission, haven’t I? I built my career with my sweat and blood!

“I’ve always been nothing but sincere to all of you! Whenever there were benefits, did I ever leave anyone out? And now, you’d believe her hysterical accusations?

“She’s just a madwoman! Don’t let her manipulate you!”

Phoebe’s face was also red with rage as she spat her words in defiance. “My family runs a business! And Tristan is my husband. Is it his fault he has such a good marriage now?”

Watching the two of them scrambling to defend themselves like cornered rats made me feel nothing but contempt.

“Fine. Let’s call your ‘dear uncle’ right now.

“Let’s see if he’ll acknowledge you in front of everyone.”

Phoebe’s hand instinctively tightened on Tristan’s sleeve as I dialed my father’s number and made a call. Her forehead beaded with cold sweat.

The line rang repeatedly, but the only response I received was a cold, automated voice. “The number you have dialed is currently unavailable.”

The crowd around us burst into mocking laughter.

“Who are you trying to fool? Do you actually believe you’re the mayor’s daughter?”

“She’s just putting on an act to scare us, and she can’t even get through!”

“Maybe you should try the public hotline instead. Perhaps that one will actually answer!”

A wave of relief washed over Phoebe. She let out a mocking laugh behind her hand. “Enough with the act. Did you really think you could steal my man by making up some fake identity?”

She took out her own phone and announced loudly to everyone, “Since you can’t get through, let me try calling his secretary.”

The moment she made the call, it was answered almost immediately.

Phoebe deliberately put it on speakerphone. “Sam, is Uncle Victor in a meeting? I tried calling him earlier but couldn’t get through.”

I had been so consumed by anger that I forgot my father was in an important meeting at that hour.

Sam, my father’s secretary, said respectfully, “Yes, Ms. Fields. If there’s anything you need, you can let me know first.”

Phoebe deliberately spoke slowly, “I’m here trying to recover from childbirth, and someone decided to cause a scene. She even accused me of pretending to be the mayor’s niece! You have to stand up for me. Everyone here is watching!”

“Who would dare cause trouble for you?”

Sam’s voice immediately turned cold and stern.

“You’re the mayor’s niece. Everyone in this city knows that. Don’t worry, if anyone is harassing you, I’ll send security over right away!”

I seethed in silence. How could such a two-faced liar have wormed her way so deep into my father’s confidence?!

One of the firefighters rushed over to Phoebe with a fawning smile.

“Our sincerest apologies, Mrs. Wolfe! We never meant to cross you!”

Without even a glance his way, Phoebe cooed into the phone. “No need for security. I’ll teach this madwoman a lesson myself!”

Her sheer audacity made me laugh in furious disbelief. I surged forward and snatched the child from the nurse’s arms.

“Fine! I’m going to find my father right now! We can all have a little chat with him!”

Tristan’s face turned pale. He yelled, “Stop her! She’s trying to harm my child!”

Two firefighters rushed over and grabbed me by each arm.

Like a wild animal, Phoebe lunged at me and scratched my face with her nails.

“You lunatic! How dare you try to steal my child?! I should have you locked away in a psych ward!”

Someone in the crowd shouted, “My aunt runs a mental institution! I’m calling them right now to come and take her away.”

The person pulled out a phone and started dialing. “Don’t you worry, Mrs. Wolfe. We’ll make sure she can never cause trouble again!”

I struggled with all my might, but they forced me to the floor and pinned me down.

Someone used a coarse rope and crudely bound my hands and feet.

My voice was raw with fury and defiance. “Tristan, if you dare to lay a hand on me, your life as you know it is over!”

I turned to Phoebe to glare at her. She was smirking in triumph.

“And you! You stole my nephew! My father will make you pay!”

“Shut your mouth!” Phoebe wrinkled her nose in disgust.

Someone promptly pulled out a stun gun and pressed it against me without hesitation.

A jolt numbed my body. My throat seized, and I could no longer make a sound. I could only watch helplessly as they dragged me toward the door.

The mental institution’s vehicle was already waiting outside. Two figures in white coats approached me.

Just as they were about to reach out to grab me, a black sedan pulled up. Its window rolled down.

“Stop! How dare you touch my daughter!”