From His Lover to His Stepmother

I foolishly endured five rounds of IVF, suffered through endless pain, and nearly died from severe prenatal hemorrhaging before finally giving birth to the first grandson of the Newton family, all because Bryce told me that we would get married once the baby was born.

However, Bryce publicly took his first love, Selina, by the hand on the day of the baby shower and announced with a smile, "Thank you all for coming for Selina and my child."

At that moment, I froze at the top of the staircase.

When he spotted me, he walked over with a smile and said, "I knew I couldn't keep this hidden forever, so I thought it would be better to tell you now while the baby's still young."

Then, he raised his glass toward me as if he were negotiating a business deal.

"You got pregnant before marriage, so everyone looks down on you. Plus, your parents have disowned you. You have nowhere else to go. Don't worry. You can keep raising the child, but Selina would be the child's legal guardian.

"You'll come with me to the City Hall to handle the registration tomorrow."

He thought I would lose my mind and swallow my pride for the sake of my child.

Instead, I quietly left and sought out the true heir of the Newton family, who had just returned from abroad.

A few days later, my child and I were officially become members of Newton family.

I became Bryce's stepmother on that same day. Naturally, my child became his younger brother.

I had sole custody over my child, and that wasn't all. No, the best part of this deal was that the Newton family inheritance would eventually belong to me as well.

###CONTENT

####CHAPTER-NAME:

A Change of Identity

Bryce returned in the afternoon.

I immediately rushed downstairs, my eyes never leaving the baby sleeping in the nanny's arms.

The nanny hesitated and glanced at Bryce for permission. Only after he gave a slight nod did she hand the baby over to me.

I couldn't help but feel relieved as he still allowed me to hold my child.

"You win." Selina suddenly spoke up. She burst into laughter and continued, "We made a bet. I told them that the proud heiress of the Hawthorn family would never tolerate the man you loved cheating on you. Initially, I thought you'd storm out in a rage.

"However, Bryce said you were hopelessly in love with him. He bet that you would never leave him even if he brought women home."

As she spoke, Bryce crouched down and personally helped her out of her high heels and into a pair of slippers.

His voice was gentle and soft as he spoke. "I'm not going to look for other women. All I need is you."

Selina shot me a sidelong glance upon hearing his answer, her lips curling into a smug smile.

Only then did I recognize the slippers she was wearing.

They were the custom-made pair Bryce had ordered. He had written six words on the box, and that was "For the Mother of My Child."

I had assumed it was a present for me. I had even looked forward to him opening the box himself and placing it in my hands after the full-month banquet.

Yet, I was never the mother of his child in his eyes, was I?

"Jessica, pack your things and move into the nursery."

Bryce tilted his chin toward the hallway, his arm languidly draping around Selina's shoulders.

"We'll tell everyone that you're the nanny of our family. Your main responsibility is to take care of Thomas."

Selina smiled sweetly and added, "Ms. Hawthorn, the sterilization team Bryce hired will be here soon, so you'd better hurry. Make sure you take everything with you since I'm a bit of a germaphobe. I'll get nauseous if you leave behind even a single strand of hair."

They spoke as though it were the most natural thing in the world. The other staff stood nearby and watched me with undisguised curiosity.

After all, everyone in the house knew how Bryce used to treat me.

I had been the center of his world. He became more distressed than I was if I got so much as a scratch. He would practically beg for forgiveness whenever I threw a tantrum.

Bryce wasn't good at raking in money, but he excelled at spending the money. So, anything I mentioned that morning would be promptly delivered to me by noon. He would even get me the best quality items out there.

I had thought those idyllic days would last forever. Yet, who could have imagined that another woman would become the new mistress of this house after a single full-month banquet?

I had fallen from a treasured sweetheart to a hired nanny in just one night. I even had to give up my bedroom.

Anyone would have been devastated by such a brutal fall.

However, I neither cried nor protested. I simply tucked the blanket more securely around my baby and murmured, "Okay." Then, I turned and walked calmly upstairs.

Bryce's voice drifted through the air, thick with lustful anticipation. "I won the bet. So, you'd better make it worth my while tonight."

####CHAPTER-NAME: