Chapter 1

Legally, Xander was my son.

In reality, he was Margaret Langford's second child.

I buckled him into the car seat, the back stocked with snacks for the trip.

“Mom, where are we going?” he asked, his bright little face turned toward me.

“Be good, sweetheart. We’re going to Montauk Point State Park today,” I replied with a soft smile.

He cheered in excitement, his tiny voice echoing inside the car. Watching his innocent joy, a pang of guilt flickered in my heart.

How could a three-year-old ever imagine that today, my sole purpose was to abandon him?

Everything went as planned. Every detail unfolded exactly as I had envisioned.

Hours later, I stumbled back into the Langford Estate, disheveled and teary-eyed.

The moment I stepped through the door, I collapsed to my knees in front of Margaret, sobbing and slapping my own face.

“Mom, I…I lost Xander! I couldn’t find him anywhere!”

She froze for a moment, stunned, before letting out a piercing scream. She lunged at me, her nails raking across my skin as she kicked and slapped me.

“You planned this all along, didn’t you? You useless, barren woman! You can’t bear children, so you want to ruin everyone else’s lives!” she shrieked, her voice filled with venom.

“You’ve destroyed the Langford family’s legacy! I’ll make you pay with your life!”

I curled into a ball, shielding my head, crying hysterically while muttering apologies.

“Mom, I swear, I searched everywhere for him! He must have been taken by someone. The police are already looking for him. They promised me they’d keep searching, even if it takes years. They won’t give up!”

At this, Margaret’s fury only deepened. She screamed in rage, her hands wrapping around my throat as she threw her entire weight on me.

I felt my windpipe tighten, the cracking sound of my throat echoing in my ears as my vision blurred.

She wasn’t just angry—she wanted me dead.

Just as I was on the verge of losing consciousness, Christopher pulled her off me.

He spoke to her in a soothing tone, trying to calm her down. “Mom, the park has cameras everywhere. We’ll find him. We will.”

But Margaret wasn’t having it. Still consumed by rage, she hurled more insults at me, demanding justice for what she believed I had done.

Watching the chaos unfold, I decided to add fuel to the fire.

“Mom, I know Xander isn’t my biological child, but I’ve cared for him for two years. I even gave up my career to raise him…”

My words hit a nerve. Margaret’s face twisted in fury, and she let out an ear-piercing scream. She grabbed a porcelain teacup from the coffee table and flung it at me.

I ducked, but the edge of the cabinet caught my forehead as I moved back. Blood trickled down my face.

For the first time, Christopher, who had always been obedient to his mother, finally snapped. He yelled at Margaret, then rushed to my side. He helped me to my feet, his face pale with worry, and drove me to Southampton Hospital.

The doctors wrapped my head in thick bandages, diagnosing me with a moderate concussion.

Of course, this was all part of my plan.

Lying in the hospital bed, I clutched Christopher’s hand, tears streaming down my face.

“Chris, I truly saw Xander as my own child. Why would Mom…?” I choked out, my voice trembling with emotion.

He wrapped his arms around me, guilt flickering in his eyes.

“I know, Evelyn. I know. These past few years have been so hard on you. I’m sorry,” he murmured softly.

As I looked at his conflicted expression, a cold smile formed in the depths of my mind.

No one would ever know that this entire ordeal was my own carefully orchestrated scheme.

After two years of effort, I had finally begun to pry Christopher away from his mother’s grip.

The first half of my plan was now complete.