I knew the countdown to my destruction had begun. I stood there, holding the boy my sister had abandoned seven years ago. Finally, I admitted to the matriarch of the Sterling empire that I wasn't the woman who spent that fateful, passionate night with her son, the billionaire heir Elias Sterling. Vanessa, my sister, had returned. With a cold, gentle smile, she pulled the boy into her arms, claiming the status she had discarded. She looked at me and seethed, "You’ve occupied my spot long enough, Audrey. It’s time you gave Elias and Leo back to me." After a long, suffocating silence, I agreed. I had only one request: "Give me enough cash to disappear. Let me get fully settled abroad before you reveal the truth to Elias." I knew Elias Sterling. He was ruthless and vindictive. If he found out I had successfully deceived him and the entire Sterling family for seven years, being broke would be the least of my worries. He’d probably make sure I was erased. 1 "Mom." Leo stood in the doorway, wearing his prep school uniform, his backpack hanging off one shoulder. "Hey, buddy." I forced a smile and walked over, tousling his hair. "How was second grade today? Tough day?" "I met a lady." He looked at me, confusion swimming in his dark eyes. "She said she’s your sister. My aunt." I froze. My hands stopped moving through his hair. It took me a long moment to find my voice. "She looks like you," Leo continued, clutching the strap of his bag. "I tried to call her 'Auntie,' but she hated it. She said she wasn't my aunt." My fingertips began to tremble. My throat felt seared. "What else did she say, Leo?" He answered obediently, "She said to tell you that, and that you would know how to reach her." I leaned against the wall, dizziness washing over me. Seven years ago. Vanessa had given birth to Leo in a dingy apartment, miles away from Sterling territory. She was determined to leave, refusing to even look at the baby. I had tried to stop her. "You haven't even recovered. Why don't we just go to the Sterlings? It’s his blood. They won't turn him away." Vanessa had cracked. "The baby was a secret, Audrey! You think they’ll respect me? They won't let me through the front gate. Best case scenario, they take the kid and kick me to the curb! It’s 'cash for the baby' at best!" I stared at the tiny creature. "Then what about him?" She was resolute. "Keeping him only drags me down. Take him to a fire station. Safe haven. Do it." Vanessa left that winter. She abandoned me, and she abandoned her son. I was broke that year. I was desperate. But I couldn't leave that tiny, wrinkled thing on a doorstep. So, I picked up the baby and walked to the front gates of the massive Sterling estate. I ignored the judgmental, sneering, and disgusted looks of the security detail and house staff. I simply said, "I need to see Elias Sterling. I have his son." It didn't go the way Vanessa predicted. I wasn't kicked out. I was ushered into a waiting room. Within an hour, a rushed DNA test was administered. By the time Elias arrived home, his mother, Eleanor, was holding the report with an unreadable expression. "It seems we have an heir." Elias was tall, striking, and absolutely frigid. He only spared me one cold, indifferent glance. I lowered my eyes, terrified. I only dared this gamble based on the gritty details Vanessa had shared with me. She told me that during their encounter, Elias had demanded the lights be off. He had never seen her face clearly. But standing before a man with that much crushing presence, my confidence evaporated. I was playing a high-stakes game with no cards. Elias said nothing, but he didn't look at the baby either. Eleanor cleared her throat. "This girl carried him for nine months. It couldn't have been easy..." Elias interrupted, his voice clipped. "I'll marry her." Everyone in the room went stiff. Including me. My wild plan had only gone as far as dropping the baby off. I hadn't thought about my own future past that afternoon. The atmosphere solidified. Elias’s gaze landed on me, casual yet terrifying. "My mistake. I’ll atone for it." Eleanor Sterling thought about it for a few moments, then rubbed her temples. "As you wish. If your mind is made up, start planning the wedding." In that moment, I gripped the fabric of my cheap skirt. I didn't know Elias's angle. He didn't lack options for a wife. Every socialite in the city would have line up to be a stepmother to the Sterling heir. Yet, he was willing to marry a girl who had secretly had his child. Maybe he wanted a "pure" family structure? I couldn't tell. But I was poor, desperate, and this was my chance. Furthermore, this child was Vanessa’s, making him blood family to me. I lifted my eyes, offering Elias a timid smile. "I will do my best to be a good wife. And a good mother." And just like that, the lie began. It lasted seven years. 2 "Why are you so distracted?" Elias had his arm around my waist, pulling me close on the sofa. He cut a calm glance toward me. I snapped out of it, leaning into him, my voice soft. "Leo seems thinner lately. If he loses any more weight, he'll be nothing but bones." Elias frowned, his tone turning icy. "You focus too much of your energy on him." Saying that, he tipped my chin up, kissing me hard, demanding compliance. He only let go when I was completely out of breath. He gripped my waist, pulling me onto his lap. Elias looked down at me. "You have something on your mind." His sharp, predatory intelligence always terrified me. But I had seven years of experience in deflecting. I brought it back to the boy, speaking with concern: "Leo’s teacher called. She said he’s not socializing with the other kids. Do you think we should set up an appointment with a child psychologist? I'm worried..." "Audrey." Elias interrupted me, his eyes black pools. "You need to find your own life." I paused, sighing. "Okay." I sat on his lap, watching his long fingers tap across a laptop keyboard, efficiently handling Sterling Group business. He didn't ask again. I had escaped this time. But Vanessa was back. You can only hide for so long. The second she threw a maternity DNA test on Elias’s desk, my lie would shatter. I, the imposter, would be exposed. It had been days since Leo told me about the "aunt," and I still hadn't contacted Vanessa. I subconsciously twisted my fingers together, breathing in, then breathing out. A visible sigh escaped me again. Elias had reached his limit. He snapped the laptop shut, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "Forget about Leo for a second. Worry about yourself." When he pulled my sleep shirt up, my mind went sharp with panic. I tried to push him away. "Wait, Elias, hold on. I just remembered I have something to do. Seriously. I need to make Leo a snack for tomorrow..." He pinned both my wrists above my head with one hand, looking down at me with a smirk. "You talk too much, honey." I glared at him, huffing. Elias held my waist, his voice sinking low. "Just moan. That's the sound I like." 3 I don't know how much time passed. I lay on the sofa, numb and staring at the ceiling. Elias was already dressed in his bespoke suit, looking calm and expensive. He kissed my forehead. "Going to the office. Don't wait up for dinner." I nodded exhaustedly. My relationship with Elias Sterling was strange. We had more intimacy and closeness than a simple marriage of convenience, but there was definitely no intense, romantic love between us. He was rarely home for meals. He barely asked about Leo. It was only when he wanted me that there was any trace of warmth. But it was only a trace. Aside from that one area of our marriage, we had nothing to talk about. I drifted into a doze on the primary bedroom sofa. I woke up when I heard the front door open downstairs. Leo was home from school. I put on my slippers and went downstairs. "Leo? Why are you home so la—" My voice died in my throat. Vanessa was standing in the foyer, holding Leo’s hand. My lips moved, but it took a long moment for any sound to come out. "Vanessa." Leo offered a bright smile. "Mom! The lady took me to the carnival after school!" I forced my lips into a smile, walking over to him, one agonizing step at a time. I crouched down and pinched his cheek. "Did Nanny and the driver follow you?" He nodded. I smiled again. "Okay, good. But next time, Nanny needs to call Mom first before you go somewhere, okay?" Leo nodded again. Vanessa spoke up, her voice freezing. "Wow. You really do look like a mother." I didn't answer her. Vanessa hadn't changed much in seven years. She was wearing a trench coat and carrying a designer bag. She looked nothing like the broke, desperate girl who fled Los Angeles. She pulled Leo gently into her embrace, then looked directly at me. "You’ve occupied my spot long enough, Audrey. It’s time you gave Elias and Leo back to me." Her voice wasn't loud, so Leo didn't sense anything was wrong. He just blinked in confusion. "What spot?" I went stiff, my fists clenching involuntarily. Vanessa lowered her voice, speaking so only I could hear. "We are sisters, so I won't sue you for impersonating me and taking my place for this long. But if you try to fight me, you won't win." Saying that, she squeezed Leo’s shoulder and smiled down at him. "Leo." My voice sounded hoarse and dry. "Did you have fun today?" Leo’s personality resembled Elias’s; he wasn't a cheerful kid. But he offered a rare grin, looking up at Vanessa. "Yeah." "Then..." I forced the words out. "The parent-teacher conference the day after tomorrow. If both Vanessa and I can go, who would you want to come?" He paused, then hesitantly took hold of Vanessa's hand. I was silent for a long time. Then I patted his back. "Go to your room and do your homework, okay?" After Leo left. Vanessa and I stared at each other for a long time. I let out a self-deprecating laugh. "I’ll leave. Give me a sum of money. Let me get completely settled abroad before you reveal the truth." Knowing Elias Sterling’s vindictive nature, if he found out I had lied to him for seven years... He’d probably ruin me. Vanessa frowned. "How much?" "I raised your son for you this entire time." I took a step back. "One million." She sneered. "And here I was, almost complimenting you. Selling your nephew for cash? Classy." I just looked at her. After a few minutes of silence, she said, "Fine. But I only have two hundred thousand available right now. That’s enough to keep you alive for a while. Once the dust settles and I have access to Sterling assets, I’ll send you the rest." I whispered, "Deal." 4 That evening. Elias texted me: Won’t be home tonight. Okay, hubbie. I replied instantly. Him: ? I stared at the question mark. In the past, to maintain my role as the perfect, adoring wife, I would have replied with endless叮嘱 (mothering). Like: Don't work too hard, Elias. I’ll be waiting up for you. Will you be home tomorrow? That sort of thing. But roles are just roles. Since my time as Mrs. Sterling was up, I couldn't be bothered to act anymore. I stretched, then started packing. As I packed, I realized I didn't want to leave anything behind. The designer dresses, the necklaces, the bags... they were all my precious babies. I ordered the staff to bring up five huge suitcases. I got lost in the packing. So lost that I didn't notice Elias opening the primary bedroom door, watching me with an expressionless face, leaning against the doorframe. It was only after all five huge suitcases were zipped shut that I stretched my sore back. And locked eyes with Elias, whose gaze was deeper than an abyss. I went stiff. "Hi... Elias. Hubbie. Good evening... I thought you weren't coming home?" A corner of his mouth twitched, and he spoke with a terrifying gentleness. "If I didn't come home, where were you planning on going?" "Oh," I forced a cheerful laugh. "I've been so worried about Leo lately, I haven't been sleeping well. I decided to take a little vacation to clear my head..." Elias stared at me for a long moment, then surprisingly, didn't push me. He just nodded. "Fine." I bit my lip. "While I'm gone, spend more time with Leo. He’s quiet, and you two barely talk. Also, make sure the chef makes more steak; he’s a growing boy..." "Audrey," Elias’s voice carried a hint of impatience. "Even if you are gone, nobody in the Sterling family is going to mistreat him." I was stunned. "...Right." Actually, I still wanted to say more. Like how happy I had been in the Sterling family for these seven years. Eleanor hadn't been a difficult mother-in-law, and Leo was actually a good kid. And also. I didn't want to leave Elias Sterling. But the woman who had spent that night with Elias Sterling seven years ago wasn't me, and I wasn't the boy’s biological mother. I had lived as Mrs. Sterling, enjoying the billionaire lifestyle for all these years. That should be enough. It’s just... why was I so sad? Elias turned, his voice flat. "Stay out as long as you need. Don't worry about rushing back." He walked toward his home office, not casting a single glance back. My fingers curled. I whispered, "Okay."
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