“Making such a big show of it! When your nephew had his first birthday banquet, why didn’t you throw such a grand one then?”

“Even if Rocco has money, you can’t squander it like this. And with your brother’s heavy mortgage, if you really have money, shouldn’t you help him first?”

Rocco’s face darkened, but for my sake, he held back his words.

My in-laws, who had been joyfully holding my daughter, suddenly changed expressions at those remarks.

In truth, I had heard countless words like this before, yet every time I chose to endure.

Perhaps growing up under Veda’s constant scolding had numbed me into silence.

But I had already died once, how could I still fear her?

I set my hands firmly on my hips, pointed straight at Veda, and declared loudly, “So what? Just because there’s money in my home, I need to help raise your son’s child? Where does that leave my brother and sister-in-law, should they call me sister, or call me mother in the future?”

This was the first time I had ever talked back to Veda, and for a moment, she stood there, dumbfounded.

Then, with a resentful mutter, she said, “Wasn’t I just joking? Besides, don’t TV dramas always say that if you have a son, then a daughter is only icing on the cake? But if you only have a daughter, then it’s nothing at all!”

I didn’t back down. I still spoke loudly, “To you, a daughter is nothing. But to my in-laws and my husband, she is everything. You yourself are what they call a money-loser, but don’t drag my daughter into it, my daughter is a princess!”

My words lit a fire in Veda’s chest.

She couldn’t even wait for the grab ceremony. She lashed out, screaming, “And you still dare to argue! Rocco and his parents treat you so well, yet you ran around with all sorts of men, making Rocco raise another man’s child! You’re utterly ungrateful!”

3

As soon as Veda’s words ended, the lively birthday banquet turned deathly still. Even the servers and emcees froze in place, scandals like this were not something they stumbled upon every day.

Everyone’s gaze fell on me, branding me as a shameless woman. After all, who would imagine a mother fabricating such filth about her own daughter?

Yet this was Veda’s true nature. Her favorite pastime was making such so-called jokes, no matter the occasion, jokes that cut instead of amused.

I recalled my childhood. While I bathed, she would suddenly scream as though she had fallen, crying for help. In my panic, I would dash out unclothed, only to find her waiting by the door, perfectly fine, phone raised, laughter trembling on her lips.

“Child, why aren’t you wearing clothes? I was just on a video call with my colleagues. Come, say hello to your uncles and aunties!”

I had been so furious I nearly fainted, but she turned to my dad and brother and said with a straight face, “I was only joking, testing to see how much she cared for me. How could I know she’d be so careless, running out without clothes?”

Later, she apologized and even bought me a pretty white dress. But when I wore it out, people’s stares followed me everywhere. Finally, a teacher pulled me aside into the bathroom.

“Andie, your period started, didn’t you notice?”

That was when I discovered the truth. The back of the dress had been deliberately smeared with red paint by Veda.

I ran home in utter breakdown, only to see Veda smiling.

“I saw you were unhappy, so I just wanted to tease you a little. Why are you angry again?”

My dad and my brother laughed so hard they nearly toppled over.

“You can’t blame your mom for that, who told you not to check your clothes before wearing them?”

“Right, Mom meant well. Hurry and apologize to your mother!”

They had no idea that one careless joke of Veda’s had condemned me to endless ridicule throughout middle school.

4

With that thought, I looked at her steadily and asked, “You claim I fooled around with random men, that I betrayed Rocco? Is that your joke, or are you serious?”

The guests, who all knew Veda’s fondness for these cruel jests, quickly echoed my words.

“Veda, your jokes aren’t funny. You should stop.”

The outcome was far from what she expected. She stiffened, her face tense, yet she still snapped back, “I may enjoy joking, but I know well which ones can and cannot be told.”

Rocco’s gaze grew uneasy, but he clasped my hand and stood in front of me, shielding me.

“Mom, I believe Andie. She is not that kind of woman. The child is mine and mine alone.”

The moment Rocco spoke, my in-laws naturally stood on my side to defend me.

With their support, my stance became even more unshakable.

“Exactly. Words need evidence. You’d better explain this clearly, or don’t blame me for no longer acknowledging you as my mother.”

Seeing my firmness, Devon’s face darkened. He rushed forward, raising his hand to strike me, but Rocco caught him firmly, stopping him in his tracks.

Failing to land the blow, he stomped his foot in fury.

“You’ve got some nerve! How could your mom possibly make things up?”

Declan quickly nodded in agreement. “Mom only spoke up because she couldn’t bear to see Rocco wronged. You’d better kneel and apologize to him, beg him for forgiveness, or else he’ll cast you aside!”

I rolled my eyes at the three of them and picked up my phone. “Evidence. If you don’t have it, I’ll call the police.”

Seeing that I wasn’t joking, Veda’s face twisted in fury.

“You claim you didn’t betray Rocco, so what is the meaning of this paternity test report?”

With that, she yanked a file from her bag, flipping straight to the last page without even glancing at the rest.

“According to the test, sample A and sample B exclude a parent-child relationship. Sample A is the baby, and sample B is Rocco. This is conclusive evidence. What else can you possibly say?”

As she spoke, Veda waved the report smugly for everyone nearby to see.

“Actually, you’ve all always thought Andie was good, but only I, her biological mother, know she’s rotten to the core. Back when she was going to college, I deliberately chose a local university for her so she could find a job more easily, but she insisted on going far away. Wasn’t it just to chase after men, afraid I’d stop her?”

5

What Veda said wasn’t entirely wrong. Back then, when choosing a university, I had indeed picked the farthest one. But it was only to escape her control. And it was precisely because of that choice that I met such a good man as Rocco.

The people who had been defending me moments ago fell silent at the sight of the paternity test report. Their voices quickly shifted.

[Come to think of it, who would joke about something like this?]

[Veda must have reached her breaking point; that’s why she exposed it today.]

[Not gonna lie, this child really doesn’t look much like Rocco…]

I was stunned as I turned to Veda, my voice trembling.

“Mom, what are you doing? Do you want to destroy me? You know perfectly well I’ve always been conservative. Rocco is my first love, how could I possibly do something like that?”

But Veda ignored me completely. Instead, she suddenly dropped to her knees before Rocco.

“Rocco, you’re a good child. It’s my fault, I didn’t raise Andie well, which turned her into such an unfaithful woman. But don’t worry, she has already promised me she won’t mess around again. She also swore she would give you a son. Just forgive her this once.”

Rocco and my in-laws exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions clouded with doubt.

6

At last, all three turned to me, their eyes silently demanding an explanation.

I, too, was left speechless. Against Veda’s words, I couldn’t win. So I turned toward Devon and Declan at the side.

“Dad, brother, say something. Don’t you know me?”

They knew me better than anyone. They knew the kind of person I was, and they knew with certainty that I could never do such a thing.

But they only exchanged a glance and instantly understood, if I divorced, it would bring them more benefit.

So, they put on an act of righteous fury, beating their chests and stomping their feet as they cried out.

“Now you remember to call me Dad? Back when we warned you not to fool around, why didn’t you say I was your father then?”

“Rocco, if you can’t accept this, I understand. But let’s be clear, once you divorce, the house, the car, and the money must all be divided. That’s the law!”

“Actually, divorce would be best. If you agree, I can even introduce you to a better match.”

“Andie might have promised not to stray again, but who can tell truth from lies? Such words aren’t worth even a fart!”

…

The two of them spat with every word, even more worked up than Veda herself.

In my past life, I never understood why.

Only after death did I learn that the boss Declan served had divorced three times, and after seeing me, he grew interested. Declan thought that if I divorced and married his boss, it would push his career forward.

And Devon only wanted the house I would split in divorce, already dreaming of it becoming his.

Thinking of this, I felt dead inside toward my so-called father and brother.

I bent down, picked up the paternity test from the floor, and put on a look of shock.

“How could this be?”

“Mom, did you take the wrong report?”

“Why are the names Declan and Devon here?”