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.

I wiped my tears, straightened my back. "Aster, I will never kneel to your mistress and say sorry. Unless I die."

Aster narrowed her eyes. With a wave of her hand, bodyguards came forward and pushed down on my shoulders.

A hard kick struck my leg and made me drop to my knees before Sean.

Before they shoved my head lower, voices broke out around us.

"Wow, the once proud heir of the Lawson family kneels to a third party. Shame on him."

"Yeah. Better off dead, living like this is a stain. Old Benjamin Lawson, in his tomb, would jump with anger."

I forced my head up, muscles shaking, veins burning red as I looked at Aster. "Aster, how can you lose the vow under the sycamore tree?"

Her look turned cold like metal.

She caught my chin. "Finley, I never once lost it. You keep pushing, wanting Sean and the babies gone. Today, you need to learn a lesson."

She pushed my head down and drove it toward the ground. Blood ran from my brow into my eyes, turning everything blurry.

Right when she aimed to push me down again, a slim figure dashed over.

A fist struck her face hard.

"Don’t bully my brother!"

Through my blurred sight, I saw my little sister Cassandra Lawson shaking, holding her arms wide in front of me.

Aster steadied herself, brushed blood from her mouth, voice cold, "Move.”

"No!"

"Sister Aster, you can’t treat my brother like this. You promised you’d care for him forever, so why make him bow to that scumbag?"

Aster’s eyes narrowed with danger. "Cassandra, you’re still young, you don’t get it. I’m doing this for your brother, so he won’t lash out at others carelessly."

"You’re lying! Brother would never harm anyone. You’re the one who wronged him!"

"Aster, I’m already eighteen, not a kid. If you won’t stand by my brother, then I will."

Her young face turned with pain and anger. She caught me and tried to pull me aside.

Aster lifted her hand. Bodyguards stopped us.

"Finley, you made a wrong move; you must bear responsibility. You haven’t apologized to Sean.”

My sister tried pushing through the guards but was held in place.

Watching them seize me, she screamed, voice breaking. "Don’t lay a hand on my brother! I’ll say sorry for him. Hit me, yell at me, I’ll accept it!"

With a dull sound, she knelt.

She lowered herself toward Sean again and again. "I kneel to you to make up for it, just don’t shame my brother! He’s a man, don’t force him like this, please, please…"

Her tears hit the floor. My chest tightened in pain.

I kicked a guard's legs, rushed forward, and pulled Cassandra into my embrace.

"Cassandra… forgive me. I caused this… your brother is worthless… forgive me…"

Her crying ran down my neck, hot, like sparks.

Her rough voice shook through sobs. "Brother, I'm only hurting you. I don’t want to go to school anymore. Let’s leave."

Faces around us changed, pity, shock, unease.

The wealthy were clever and guarded; everyone knew about the Lawsons, but stayed quiet. No one dared offend a business partner.

As the tension grew tight, Dad walked forward, voice booming. “What a shame! A good day spoiled by jealousy!”

He lifted his hand and struck Cassandra on the head.

"You are a girl, yet instead of calming your brother, you add to his chaos. How will the Lawson Group pass to the next generation one day?"

"If you had even half your brother’s sense, I could die peacefully."

Seeing Dad lift his hand again, my mother-in-law walked up, voice coated in fake comfort, "Arthur, stop hitting them. Growing up without a mother’s care, of course, they don’t know right from wrong. You can teach her later."

Then she faced Aster. "Hurry and take Nikolai to the clinic for a check, don’t let his head get worse."

Sean hurried forward. "Mom, the guests are all present. I’ll take him. You stay with Aster and talk to everyone so we don’t delay any business."

He held the baby tighter and turned to leave.

Aster instantly wrapped her arms around him, guilt flashing in her eyes. "Sean, you’re always so thoughtful and kind. Thank you for your hard work.”

Sean gently smiled. "As your lover, this is what I should do. You welcome the guests, I’ll message you if something happens."

Carrying the baby, he walked out.

Dad then took Aster by the arm, faced the guests, and loudly announced the cooperation.

Aster even raised the microphone, stating that both families would stay united and support each other in the future.

Cheers and laughter filled the banquet hall.

I stayed alone near the side, chest aching with dull bitterness. Pulled by Cassandra, I ended up at the hospital.

Just turning past the corner, Sean walked toward us. When he saw the wrap on my forehead, every bit of softness vanished.

Lifting his chin with arrogance, he said, "Finley, now you see who Aster truly loves, right?"

He leaned in, lowering his tone, "Aster and I were never an accident. We were together one year before your wedding. She married you out of sympathy."

"Do you know why she got sterilized? I told her to. She could be married, but she must never give you a child, or I’d leave. To keep me, she knelt and vowed she’d never carry your baby, then went right away to get sterilized.”

After saying that, he clicked his tongue, stepped back, eyes cold. "Finley, the Olson Corporation will one day be my son's. If you know what’s good for you, get lost. If not, I’ll make sure you and your sister die with no burial."

Laughing hard, he walked away.

As I watched the girl hurry over with medicine, I took out my phone and called a number I knew well.

"Gretta Acosta, I agree to go to Canada. My request is simple: make sure Cassandra’s future is settled for good."

The answer came excitedly. "Finley, you finally understand. I’ll handle it at once; someone will pick you up tomorrow."