A few years later, my son achieved what many could only dream of—he was simultaneously admitted to Harvard University and Stanford University.

Meanwhile, the company I had painstakingly rebuilt finally reached a monumental milestone: its public listing.

On the day of the listing, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement. Crowds of people gathered, and reporters swarmed the venue, their cameras capturing every moment.

Voices of admiration echoed through the air:

"Arabella is truly remarkable. After her husband’s tragic death, she took care of her child, paid off massive debts, and even built a thriving business. She worked multiple jobs a day, fainted from exhaustion more than once—what an inspiring woman."

"She and her husband were a well-known loving couple in our community. He gave his life to save hers, and she’s remained devoted to his memory ever since. It’s extraordinary."

"Over the years, so many accomplished men pursued her, yet she turned them all down. At first, I thought she was being foolish, but now I see—it was out of deep love and resilience. Truly admirable!"

"It’s rare to see a woman like this. Her husband’s spirit must be at peace, knowing she’s done so much for their family."

As I stood there, accepting their words of praise with a calm smile, I noticed the very same neighbors who once gossiped about me now looking at me with respect and admiration.

But just when I thought the day couldn’t take a sharper turn, my best friend appeared.

And she wasn’t alone.

Walking confidently beside her, wearing a familiar yet unnervingly composed expression, was my husband.

Everyone at the scene froze in disbelief when Axel stepped forward, alive and well.

"Isn’t that Arabella’s husband, Axel? He—he’s alive?!"

"And isn’t the woman with him Elara Whitestone, her best friend? What’s going on here?"

The murmurs of shock swirled through the crowd, but Elara silenced them by pulling out a document—a paternity test report. She approached me, a smirk playing on her lips.

"Arabella, your husband never died. He’s been with me all along," she declared, her voice dripping with mockery.

"That test-tube baby you had all those years ago? It wasn’t yours and Axel’s—it was mine and Axel’s fertilized egg."

Her words were deliberate, cruel.

"I am Rowan’s biological mother. Letting him call you ‘Mom’ for 18 years was merely my way of repaying you for giving birth to him. Now, it’s time you return him to me."

Gasps rippled through the crowd, followed by outrage.

"This is unthinkable! How could they do something so vile?"

"Cheating was bad enough, but tricking her into raising their child while leaving her to shoulder debts? That’s pure evil!"

"And now they show up after she’s paid it all off and made a success of herself? They’re here to claim the fruits of her labor!"

"How heartless can two people be?"

As the crowd erupted with condemnation, Axel stepped forward, his expression calm, even self-righteous.

"I understand that many of you might have strong opinions about me," he began, feigning sincerity. "Arabella has indeed been good to me and made many sacrifices."

"But a forced relationship is never sweet. Just because someone is good to you doesn’t mean you’re obligated to stay with them forever."

He spoke with conviction, presenting himself as a misunderstood man.

"I simply chose to pursue my true love. Is that such a crime?"

Glancing at the crowd, he added, "I’ve lived happily in hiding all these years, but now that Rowan is grown, he deserves to know the truth. He has the right to choose the family that truly belongs to him."

His audacity left the crowd stunned. He painted himself as a hero breaking free from societal expectations, a martyr for love, and even a selfless father protecting his child.

I didn’t bother addressing his shameless words. Instead, I turned to my son, looking him squarely in the eye.

"What do you think?" I asked, my voice calm but firm.

Rowan hesitated, his gaze flickering to the paternity test in Elara’s hand before settling on me. He took a deep breath and said, his tone steady:

"Mom, this will be the last time I call you that."

The words hung heavy in the air.

"I am now a student of Stanford University and Harvard University," he continued, his expression unreadable. "I believe my success is due not only to my hard work but also to the excellent genes of my biological parents."

"And you," my son said coldly, "are just a nanny who has served me for 18 years. Blood is thicker than water. I hope you won’t stand in the way of our family’s reunion."

His words cut through me like a blade.

Elara smirked triumphantly, stepping forward as if to twist the knife.

"Arabella," she sneered, "if you want a son, why not give birth to one yourself? Stop clinging shamelessly to my child!"

Before I could respond, Axel abruptly pulled out a divorce agreement and tossed it onto the table with a hundred-yuan bill.

"The company is my pre-marital property," he declared with a condescending sneer. "Sign the papers, hand over the company and the boy, and let our family of three reunite. Consider this hundred dollar your compensation for all those years of managing my business and raising my son."

The crowd erupted in outrage.

"Unbelievable! They’re treating her like a servant!"

"A hundred dollars? Does he think that’s enough to cover years of sacrifice and hard work?"

"This isn’t just bullying—this is despicable!"

"Arabella, don’t let them walk over you! Fight back!"

The air was thick with indignation as the onlookers rallied to my defense. Some even stepped forward, offering to help me file a lawsuit and reclaim what was rightfully mine.

But amidst the clamor, Axel and Elara remained unnervingly composed, as if they had anticipated every reaction. They stood there, smug and self-assured, certain of their victory.

I, however, met their arrogance with a calm smile.

"Very well," I said evenly. "I will help your family."

Gasps rippled through the crowd as I picked up the pen and signed the divorce agreement without hesitation. The room fell silent, save for the scratching of the pen on paper.

Both Axel and Elara froze for a moment, visibly startled by my compliance. Then, as if reassured by my apparent capitulation, they exchanged triumphant smiles and eagerly examined the document.

After confirming it was legitimate, their grins widened.

"Finally," Elara said, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "You’ve made the right choice."

As they reveled in their perceived victory, I spoke again, my tone light but laced with something they couldn’t quite place.

"Since you’ve given me such a… wonderful surprise, it’s only right that I return the favor."

Axel frowned, the smugness on his face faltering.

"A big gift?" he echoed warily. "What kind of gift?"

The crowd, still reeling from the drama, now turned their attention to me, curiosity lighting up their faces.

Under the glaring spotlight, I calmly retrieved a pearwood box I had prepared in advance. Its polished surface gleamed faintly, holding the crowd's attention as I held it out to Axel.

"This," I began, my voice steady but laden with emotion, "is a relic left to me by my late mother. She always said it would bring good luck and keep its owner safe."

I paused, glancing briefly at my son, Rowan.

"I had intended to give this to Rowan—after all, he is the child I’ve raised and loved for eighteen years. Even if he no longer recognizes me as his mother, in my heart, he will always be my son."

My words hung heavy in the air as I extended the box toward Axel.

"But now, I am giving it to you. May it bring peace and happiness to your… family."

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Axel's eyes widened in disbelief, his expression a mix of shock and wariness. For a moment, he hesitated, but curiosity got the better of him.

He opened the pearwood box cautiously. Inside, nestled in velvet, was an ancient jade pendant, its intricate carvings a testament to its long history.

The audience collectively froze, struggling to process what they were witnessing.

"Has Arabella completely lost it?!" someone whispered harshly.

"She’s giving her mother’s relic to them? To that adulterous couple?"

"She must be out of her mind! After everything they’ve done to her, and she’s still blessing them?"

"I feel so bad for her. Betrayed by her husband, her son isn’t even hers, and now she’s giving away her most precious heirloom. It’s heartbreaking."

"But this isn’t right! She shouldn’t let them walk all over her like this!"

"Exactly! If it were me, I’d never forgive them. They’d pay for every ounce of pain they caused!"

The murmurs of outrage grew louder.

Elara, emboldened by what she perceived as my humiliation, clapped her hands mockingly.

"Arabella," she said with a smirk, "I always thought you were just a brainless fool."

"But today," Elara sneered, "you’ve really made me see you in a whole new light. You’re not stupid. You’re a born bootlicker—the most servile, spineless person I’ve ever met!"

My son, standing beside her, scowled at me, his disgust clear on his face.

"Thank goodness you’re not my real mother," he said, his tone dripping with disdain. "Otherwise, it would be so embarrassing."

Axel rolled his eyes, his patience clearly worn thin.

"Arabella, marrying you was the biggest mistake of my life," he said flatly. "Don’t ever say you know me again. I can’t afford to be associated with you."

Without another word, he wrapped his arm around Elara and marched off, dragging my son behind them.

As they left, I stood there, the sting of their words digging deep. But I didn’t let it show.

Instead, I was thrust into the eye of the storm—the hot search headlines.

The reporters, still buzzing with energy, broadcasted the entire incident live, and within moments, the story went viral.

Netizens across the country were already fiercely debating my actions online:

"Is this woman out of her mind?"

"Seriously, she was tricked into raising someone else’s child, paying off tens of millions in debt, and in the end, she gets nothing. Not only does she not get angry, but she blesses the very family that betrayed her? Is she even human?"

"I can’t believe how cowardly and weak she is. How can she just accept this and walk away?"

"Why are these absurd stories trending? It's infuriating!"

The internet was ablaze with opinions—some outraged, others sympathetic.

Several people reached out, offering to help "hype" my story, promising to help me earn money through live streaming or selling my tragedy.

But I refused every offer, the thought of profiting from my pain repulsive. Instead, I returned home, seeking solitude.

When I arrived, the sight that greeted me was one of utter betrayal. Elara and Axel were there, dragging my belongings into the street.

And there, in front of my eyes, my son callously tossed my things out like trash.

As I walked in, Axel tilted his head, looking down at me with disdain.

"Arabella," he sneered, "this house is my pre-marital property. Now that we’re divorced, you should take your worthless things and leave!"

"Don’t get in the way of our ‘family reunion.’"

Before everything fell apart, Axel had always been gentle and kind, playing the role of the perfect husband. He never once raised his voice, always considerate and thoughtful. But that was before.

Now, he didn’t bother to pretend anymore. The look in his eyes was nothing but contempt and loathing.

Rowan, standing beside him, also cast a cold glance my way.

"You’re a failure," he muttered, his voice dripping with disdain.

"Get out of here. Don’t dirty my floor."

Gone was the son I had raised for eighteen years. In his place was a stranger, one who no longer hid his contempt for me.

I didn’t argue. I remained silent as I bent down to pick up the scattered luggage. Without a word, I turned and walked out.

The days that followed were different. I found myself in a rundown, dilapidated house, living alone, surrounded by nothing but the bare essentials. It was a life of simplicity, far from the hustle and bustle of the past.

I no longer had to work myself into exhaustion from dawn to dusk. No longer did I have to meticulously care for Rowan or pick up the pieces of the life we once shared.

I woke up when I felt like it, ate when I was hungry, and slept when I was tired. The rhythm of life was easy, and for the first time in a long while, I felt some sense of peace.

But even in this quiet solitude, the whispers followed me.

Every time I went to the market, I could hear the murmurs behind my back.

"Look, that’s Arabella. The woman who raised someone else’s child, paid off their debts, and helped a bankrupt company go public."

"I heard her life’s a mess now. Her husband, her son, her house, her company—she’s lost it all. Now she’s living alone in a tiny, rundown house, barely able to afford two dishes a day."

"I don’t get it. She’s smart enough to turn a bankrupt company into a success. But after everything she’s been through, she says nothing. What is she thinking?"