Chapter 1

Twenty years ago, I unexpectedly gave birth to a daughter for Asher.

Asher's first love left the country in anger because of this.

For five years, Asher tormented me repeatedly for his first love, blaming me for ruining his relationship with her.

So I took the initiative to leave, but he asked me, "You don't want me and the child anymore?"

I coldly replied, "I'm taking the child with me."

Asher, with reddened eyes, asked, "What about me?"

"I don't want you anymore."

1

"Wow, these rich people really know how to play around!"

"You saw it too, right? Who would've thought our stoic Mr. Stratton had a love child."

This morning, the news was everywhere - New York City's most eligible bachelor, Asher, personally took his daughter to school!

"But isn't that the rising starlet Melody next to him? Is she the child's mother?"

"I don't think so. For people in their social class, they'd never reveal the birth mother."

"It's a shame it's a girl. If it were a boy, he might have had a fighting chance."

...Colleagues' discussions were buzzing around me as my keyboard strokes gradually slowed and eventually came to a halt.

" Kerpan, are you alright?"

I've been feeling nauseous and dizzy lately. I wonder if it's because of the hot weather.

I waved my hand dismissively, "It's nothing. What were you guys just talking about?"

My colleague Flora came closer, showing me a photo on her phone. " Kerpan, look, this seems to be our big boss's daughter."

I forced a slight smile.

Of course I knew. Because I was this child's mother.

"Do you think our boss is married? Is it a secret marriage or a pregnancy before marriage?"

I slowly raised my eyes, took a deep breath, and said with a hint of resignation, "Don't worry, the boss definitely isn't married. You all still have a chance."

When I was twenty, I gave birth to Asher's daughter, but he never gave me a proper status.

Looking at the radiant starlet by Asher's side, I recalled the scene from two days ago when she came to see me.

"So you're the one called Kerpan!"I look at Melody, unsure of her intentions. She approaches me and, with a slightly boastful tone, asks, "Are you Mr. Stratton's secret lover?"

I shake my head, eager to distance myself from Asher. "I have no relationship with him whatsoever."

"No relationship? But you're the mother of his child!" Melody jabs my shoulder with her slender finger. "Get out of here! After all these years, he hasn't given you any status. Aren't you ashamed to be clinging to him so desperately?"

Ashamed?

Maybe now I am.

But back then, I truly had feelings for him.

" Kerpan, the boss wants to see you in his office."

I snap out of my reverie and robotically make my way to Asher's office.

"Hello, Mr. Stratton. I'm Kerpan. Pleased to meet you."

At twenty years old, when I first met Asher, I was youthful, radiant, and confident.

Little did I know then that this simple sentence would become my eternal nightmare in the years to come.