Aster Olson was born hating kids, and she brought up being childfree right after we married.

Until our third year together, I came across her sterilization report.

Found beside it were the twin boy and girl she kept outside the marriage. Those little ones were already four.

Like thunder tearing the sky apart, we argued until everything flipped upside down.

Relatives and friends tried to talk me down. “Since Aster wants to have a baby now, why drag this out? The Olson Corporation will need someone to take over sooner or later.”

“The children must have happened by mistake. Aster must have been cornered. Just view them like adopted kids, wouldn’t that work?”

I stared at Aster with pain in my chest. At thirty, she was beautiful and sure of herself, with the authority of a leader.

“As long as you cut ties with them, I can accept not divorcing. This is the most I can step back.”

Aster stood, slowly slipped off her ring, and set it on the coffee table.

“Sean has no title or standing and is looking after those kids outside. I am their mother, and it is my duty to raise them.”

“He will not shake your role as my husband. Why must you push me so harshly?”

Hearing her words that hurt my heart, I finally stopped hoping we could make up.

“In that case, let’s divorce!”

——

A teacup burst beside my toes. My father’s complexion darkened with anger, pointing straight at me.

“You dare divorce! I’ll break your legs!”

“Scandals among wealthy circles happen all the time. Why make such noise over this?”

My mother-in-law rose and steadied his arm. When her eyes turned to me, her voice carried clear displeasure.

“Finley, you came from a noble family. How can you behave like petty husbands who fight over jealousy?”

“Look at this mess you created. If this spreads, even our Olson family’s face will be stained.”

Everyone added in, convincing.

My tears finally dropped onto the back of my hand, and I threw out a question like a blade. “Aster, why did you get sterilized behind my back?”

Back then, we agreed to let chance decide about kids. If she didn’t want it to arrive, I would honor her choice.

I assumed if fate really came one day, maybe it would stir a mother’s longing and shift her heart.

But across three years, not once did it occur.

I believed it was my own body. I visited doctors for two long years, drank all kinds of herbal medicines, yet she had already gotten sterilization done.

A flash of shame crossed Aster’s face. She let out a heavy breath.

“Finley, I had no better option either.”

After saying so, she stepped near and softly held my shoulder, speaking with care, “Sean Obrien was born poor, bullied since young. How could he compare with you, Young Master Lawson? How could his children measure up to yours?”

“I didn’t want the children to face the same pain he did, laughed at and looked down on.”

“Finley, we’ve been childhood lovers for twenty years. You should know me.”

She talked softly about life’s burden, hoping I would accept her choices. However, in my heart, only surprise and crashing emotion remained.

So deep was her attachment that she planned everything carefully. Aster completed her wish.

And I was meant to be the price for her true affection.

I shoved her hand off, stepped away three paces, staring at her with grief. “Aster, you really have no shame!”

“Let’s divorce. I refuse to sleep beside a beast.”

Her face froze, then shifted to humiliation mixed with anger.

“Finley, as people born into noble families, we both live under limits. Why can’t you be more tolerant and broad-minded?”

“You came into wealth Sean could never reach, even in a lifetime. I gave you the title and honor of my husband. He only wants to stay as a simple lover. Will you force me to abandon him?”

As she spoke, she turned toward Dad.

“Dad, I don’t wish these things to ruin cooperation between our families. Bring Finley back and talk some reason into him.”

After saying this, she grabbed the car key and walked out.

Upon leaving, she took my stepmother and everyone else in the room, even gently pulling the door shut.

In the next moment, Dad’s angry shout burst like thunder.

“Rebellious child! Have you not shamed yourself enough? Want me to drag you home and discipline you? How did the Lawson family end up raising someone so rough and lacking manners like you?”

I let out a dry smile. “Probably bad genes. I’m not only rough, but I’m self-centered and cold.”

As a husband, he kept a mistress outside and even had illegitimate children, drove the real wife into depression, and she jumped from a building.

Compared to that, my simple intention to end a marriage was far less wicked.

Dad turned angry with embarrassment. “Finley, you’re just like your mother, small-minded and foolish. With such a bright future ahead, you still insist on creating trouble before being content?”

He stared at me harshly, tone like winter, “Even if you won’t think for yourself, at least think about Cassandra. She’s a senior in high school and earns medals every year. You wouldn’t want her to quit now, right?”

My expression dimmed right away. I sank onto the couch, worn out.

Honestly, I could not risk my sister’s future.

The year Mom jumped, she had only turned one.

Such a small baby, gripping my fingertip and smiling with bright eyes, unaware she would never meet Mom again.

From age one forward, she was given poison three times, attacked by a snake, hit by a vehicle, and broke ribs, nearly died from allergies.

I guarded her through too many near-death moments. How could I destroy her future?

Dad eventually slammed the door and left. When Aster came back, she found me on the ground, drunk and tear-streaked.

Quietly, she lifted me onto the couch and fetched a cloth to clean my face.

She brought a lemon drink, held my arm, helping me drink slowly.

For an instant, it felt like eighteen years earlier, when we still meant the world to one another.

Back then, Mom passed away. Dad married his mistress.

I was ordered to kneel and call that woman “Mom,” then hid in the attic, crying my heart out.

Aster held me exactly like this, wiping my cheeks, letting me drink water.

She hugged me, saying things would be fine, that she was here.

At thirteen, she knelt before her father to seek protection for me, using cooperation to prove I was worth keeping.

How could I not love such a girl?

That short comfort was shattered when she let out a long breath, “Finley, I won’t walk away. That really was only an accident.”

I gripped her neck tightly, voice broken apart, “Aster, you understand I can't accept this. I refuse to suffer like Mom once did.”

“Aster, send them overseas, alright? We can support them for our entire lives.”

“Why didn’t you end it back then? Why didn’t you tell me when you wanted children?”

After a long pause, Aster finally spoke flatly, “The Olson-Lawson clean-energy collaboration cuts the ribbon tomorrow. Get ready. Don’t be absent, it will raise suspicion.”

Seeing her cold back move away, my heart finally dropped to the lowest point.

…

The next day, Aster sent over a fitted suit and that diamond watch shipped from the Netherlands.

The assistant only stared at me nervously.

I put them on quietly and fixed my appearance.

Aster Olson was correct. Cooperation must not collapse, my sister was still young, and I carry the duty to take back everything that belonged to my grandpa.

The ribbon-cutting event was bright and crowded, with wealthy people across Jacksonville gathered.

When I walked inside the villa’s entrance, the first thing I noticed was that Sean was also present.

Wearing a deep-toned, patterned suit, he stood with a cool, proud air and polished grace.

Aster held onto his arm, greeting people.

Sean’s smile carried triumph and happiness.

My mother-in-law held her own biological grandson, talking cheerfully with several rich women.

All praised the boy, with his wide forehead, lucky features, sure to prosper as he grows.

The second I stepped into the hall, chatter went silent at once. Every pair of eyes shifted toward me.

Aster let go of Sean’s arm and walked over smoothly. “Finley, come look at the baby, he’s honestly very sweet.”

Speaking so, she took my hand, guided me to my mother-in-law, and placed the child into my arms.

Staring at the pale, round little one, a bitter ache rose in my chest.

My fingertips brushed his soft face gently. If only he were my child?

Clearly, I could have been.

Many eyes turned to me, pity, laughter, coldness, …

Sean moved past the group in a hurry, steps tense. “Finley, hand Nikolai back to me.”

I stopped, shock crashing through my thoughts. “You said… his name is Nikolai?”

“Nikolai Olson. Aster said it means two souls tied as one.”

“Waaah!!”

He burst into sharp wails.

My hold went loose, and a chill swallowed my whole body.

She even used our future child’s name for another man’s boy. She wished to join hearts with him?

Nikolai. That was the name we chose when I turned eighteen.

That first night together, she wrapped around me in joy, saying if we ever had kids in the future, we’d call him Nikolai, meaning our hearts would stay linked for life.

Before I could get angry, a clear slap rang through the hall.

Only then did I come back to my senses.

The baby lay on the floor, red blood sliding from his small forehead.

Aster held him tight, her eyes full of anger.

Next to her, Sean shouted in hurt. "Brother Finley, even if you don’t like my baby, you shouldn’t throw him in front of everyone! He is Aster’s son, too. How can you be so heartless?"

While saying this, he tried again to take the baby. "Aster, let go. I care about you. I was willing to stay hidden near you. But I can’t watch my child face danger like this."

"How could Brother Finley do that? Just because I have no power, he thinks he can kill Nikolai before all these people?"

His crying sounded heartbreaking.

Aster, scared, held him and the screaming baby tight. "Sean, look at me. Nikolai is our treasure. I won’t let anyone bring him harm. I love you, I love our baby. I will stand before you both, even if it costs me everything."

"Stay calm. I will give you an explanation. I’ll make him drop to his knees and speak sorry to you now. Any promise you ask for, I will agree to it."

Each sentence hit like a cold cut.

She wanted me to kneel and beg the mistress, to hand them confidence?

Then what were all my vows?

Were they just a joke?

Inside my thoughts, again and again, rose the memory of those young, bright eyes.

"Finley, I love you. I will stand by you forever. If anyone tries to bully you, I will fight them back."

Aster grabbed my shirt and, with one strong yank, dragged me down in front of Sean.

"Kneel.”

“Kneel and say sorry to Sean and Nikolai."

"You will promise on your deceased mother that if you ever once more act jealous or bring them harm in any form, may your mother after death be boiled in oil and suffer endlessly, never knowing calm!"

I looked at her, completely stunned.

My mother treated her like a real daughter when she was still alive.

She once knelt at my mother’s grave, calling her "Mom" with deep feeling, yet now, just for the man she cheated with, she cursed my mother so harshly.