The day before our engagement party, Bella, my heiress girlfriend, seemed distant as we walked through the city. I bought a cheap sandwich and offered it to her, but she slapped it to the ground. “Cole!” she snapped. “The Lancasters need someone who fits in. This is embarrassing. How can my parents ever accept you?” Humiliated, I tossed the ruined sandwich away. For the sake of our four years together, I just said, “Whatever you say.” The next day, she called off our engagement to marry Spencer Croft. “Cole, Spencer tried to die for me,” she claimed tearfully. “Once he’s stable, I’ll come back to you.” Again, I only replied, “Whatever you say,” and ended it. Four years later, she appeared at my small house, wearing the ring I’d given her. “Cole, Spencer finally agreed to divorce! We can be together now!” she announced, beaming. “I told you I’d return once he let go of his obsession!” I frowned, annoyed by her performance. Of all days to run into her here. Pushing her toward the door, I said, “Move. You’re making me late to pick up my son from school.” 1. Bella followed me out. “I’ve checked, Cole. No other woman has set foot in this house in four years. What son are you talking about?” She softened her tone. “I know you’re angry. I’ll take you home with me right now. I know your family is poor, just scraping by with that chicken farm, but I’ve already convinced my parents. They won’t look down on you anymore.” I turned, my brow furrowed. “I’ve told you before, it’s a free-range poultry business. It spans three mountains.” Bella scoffed. “It’s still just chickens. For heaven’s sake, don’t mention that in front of my parents. It’s so… provincial.” I gave up. There was no getting through to a clueless urbanite like her. She had no concept of the value of a massive, organic, free-range operation. That business had lifted my family out of poverty and made us wealthy long ago. I quickened my pace. I didn’t want to be late picking up Noah. Bella hurried to keep up. “I can take you back to the Lancaster estate right now. The villa is huge. Spencer hasn’t moved out yet, but there’s plenty of room for you. Just… be nice to him. He’s very sensitive, so you’ll have to be the bigger person and not provoke him.” “What the hell?” I stopped dead, staring at her. “You’re not even divorced, and you’re coming on to me, asking me to move in with your current husband? What am I, your side piece? Your kept man?” “Are you insane?” I yanked open my car door and slid in, desperate to get away from her. She, with a familiarity that was both infuriating and chilling, opened the passenger door and got in. “I always told you to lock the doors as soon as you get in. For safety,” she chided, as if no time had passed at all. “Still so careless after all these years.” Seeing her sitting there, so comfortable, so entitled, sent a surge of pure rage through me. “Get out. Now!” She clicked her seatbelt into place, a smug look on her face. “Weren’t you going to pick up your son? You’d better get driving, or you’ll be late.” I glanced at the time. She was right. If all the other kids were gone, Noah would be sad waiting all by himself. I stomped on the gas, peeling out of the driveway. “When you see my son,” I growled, “don’t you dare say anything stupid.” “Fine, I won’t,” she said breezily. “You’re really committed to this act, Cole. Let’s see where you conjure up a son from.” As I drove, I forced myself to calm down. At a red light, staring at the gridlocked traffic ahead, I spoke. “Bella, why were you so sure that after four years, I’d still be waiting for you?” My low, serious tone seemed to finally get through to her. A flicker of unease crossed her face, but it was quickly replaced by her usual arrogance. “After knowing me, what other woman could possibly measure up?” she said with a shrug. “Besides me, what kind of sophisticated people could you possibly meet? If you weren’t waiting for me, who else would there be?” I let out a long sigh. So that was it. In her mind, I wasn't worthy of meeting anyone better. That’s why she could leave without a second thought and come back with such unapologetic entitlement. The light turned green. I hit the gas. As we cleared the intersection, I said quietly, “Bella, I’m not joking. I’m married. I have a child. When I park, you need to get out and leave. I don’t want you interfering with my life.” She frowned slightly. “Cole, do you really think you can fool me with this? I know you’re angry. You can throw whatever tantrum you want. I’ll be right here with you until you’ve gotten it all out of your system and you’re ready to come back to me.” 2. If words wouldn’t work, maybe the truth would. “Daddy! You’re late today!” Noah ran towards me, his arms outstretched, a sweet smile on his face. “Daddy had to go to the old house to get something. Sorry to keep you waiting, buddy. How about I make it up to you with some fries when we get home?” “Okay!” he cheered, hugging me tightly. Bella stared, speechless. She clearly hadn’t expected me to actually have a child. Her face soured. “Cole, there’s a limit to your jokes. You can’t just grab some random kid off the street. This is kidnapping! Do you want to go to jail? Take him back right now.” She grabbed Noah’s arm, intending to drag him back to the school. I slapped her hand away and pulled my son into my arms. “What are you doing?” One of the teachers saw us and walked over. “Oh, you must be Noah’s mom! We see his dad all the time, but we’ve been so eager to finally meet you.” Bella’s jaw dropped. She looked from the teacher to me. “He’s really your son?” “Of course.” I started to leave, but she blocked my path, her eyes fixed on the teacher. “How old is he?” she demanded. “Noah just turned three.” Three years old. Bella looked at Noah, who was a head taller than most of the other kids his age. Her hands shot out and gripped my arms. “Cole, his age… you’re lying, aren’t you? He’s supposed to be four. Our premature baby… he didn’t die, did he? You hid him from me all this time!” I looked at her, my voice flat. “If our child had lived, would you have still married Spencer?” “I…” She was at a loss for words, then her face crumpled. “I had to. Spencer would have died.” I sneered. “You don’t have the right to even mention our child.” “Cole, I’m taking you and our son home. Right now.” Her voice was firm, resolute. “My parents have been hoping for a grandchild for years. If you bring our son home, they won’t care about our families’ status anymore.” I could feel my eyes rolling into the back of my head. “Who wants to go with you? I told you, he’s not your son. Are you deaf?” “Stop this, Cole. I will not allow a Lancaster to be raised out here in the world like this. Why didn’t you tell me sooner? How could you let our son attend a school like this, in such a rundown, crowded area? How is he supposed to get a proper education here?” I looked at the school, then back at her. This was one of the top-rated state schools, a direct feeder for the best magnet programs in the city. What did her snooty, overpriced “elite” private school have on that? Ava had specifically transferred Noah here so he wouldn’t grow up with the arrogant, entitled attitude of kids like Bella. To hear her belittle it like this… I was suddenly profoundly grateful I’d never married someone so shortsighted. “Stay away from us,” I said coldly. “This has nothing to do with you.” “If he’s not my son, then whose is he?” She turned back to the teacher. “You, tell me. Who is listed as the mother on his records?” To protect our privacy, we’d left the mother’s information blank on the school forms. The teacher didn’t know who Noah’s mom was. When Bella heard this, she became even more certain. “Cole, it must have been so hard for you, raising him all alone. You’ve had your fun. Now, come home.” Noah didn’t understand what we were arguing about. He just whispered in my ear, “Daddy, what about my fries?” Bella reacted as if he’d said something monstrous. “Cole, how could you let my son eat that garbage? You were always eating that cheap street food, and now you’re feeding that filth to him? What if he gets sick? Can you take that responsibility? He is the sole heir to the Lancaster family!” My son wanted me to make him fries at home, with our private chef. How was that unhygienic? I ignored her and carried Noah to the car. She blocked the door. “Don’t get into this piece of junk. It’s not good enough for my son.” To keep a low profile, I drove a modest sedan. It wasn’t fancy, but the back seat was completely customized for Noah’s safety and comfort. If Bella had bothered to look inside for even a second, she would have seen that I had a child and that he was cherished. But she never paid attention to any detail about my life. She just pointed to her Mercedes. “Cole, stop pretending. Only I can give you and the boy the life you deserve.” Just then, Spencer walked up, dressed in a ridiculously expensive designer suit that was completely out of place on the bustling street. He picked his way through the crowd with a look of distaste. “Bella, darling, I thought you were picking up Cole. What’s the delay? We have that meeting with the mysterious new CEO of Westwood Corporation, remember?” The moment Bella saw him, her expression softened. “I remember, Spencer, don't worry. I won't forget what's important to you. Cole is being a little difficult, but I’ll handle it and be right with you. You look so handsome today, you’ll definitely charm Ms. Westwood. She’ll be lucky to have you as a husband. The Westwoods are one of the most powerful families in the country, even bigger than ours. You’ll be so happy, Spencer. Just give me a minute, okay?” I stared at them. Were they serious? Spencer was fine with Bella chasing her ex, as long as Bella helped him land a new rich wife? And Ms. Westwood… surely they didn't mean my wife?
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