Part 1The Depths of Betrayal

Everyone in New York's elite circle knew that Julian Ford would lie about anything to protect his "godsister," Lily.

At a family gathering, he publicly tore my ultrasound report to shreds.

"I have congenital asthenospermia. If you want to trap me, Sarah, you'll need a better lie than a pregnancy."

Under the mocking gazes of the crowd, he tenderly wiped a tear from Lily's eye.

In that moment, I realized that for the unloved, even pregnancy is a sin.

I touched my slightly swollen belly and turned to jump off the luxury yacht.

"Julian, since you can't have children, consider this one a gift from a ghost."

Five years later, a miniature version of him outbid him for a plot of land he coveted at an auction.

Red-eyed, Julian demanded a DNA test. The child just smiled.

"Uncle, you're sick. You couldn't produce a seed as smart as me."

* * *

Silence fell over the auction hall.

That childish voice was like a slap across everyone's face.

Below the stage, Julian's handsome face twisted. The bidding paddle in his hand crunched into a ball of useless plastic.

He stared deathly at the child in the front row, who was swinging his short legs.

A face identical to his own had become the biggest irony in the room.

Julian moved.

He strode over the seats, radiating murderous intent.

Security didn't dare stop him; guests didn't dare breathe.

He reached out, fingers hooked like claws, aiming straight for the child's collar.

The boy didn't dodge. He just looked up, his eyes—so like mine—filled with cold indifference.

Just as Julian's hand was about to touch the child, a black shadow struck from the side.

A hand wearing a black tactical glove clamped onto Julian's wrist.

I used my full strength.

Veins popped on the back of Julian's hand, bones cracking audibly. He tried to shake me off in pain, but I didn't budge.

He followed the arm up, his gaze colliding with my icy pupils.

Julian's pupils constricted violently.

He stared at my face as if seeing a ghost, squeezing two words through his teeth: "Sarah... Vance?"

Instantly, the guests exploded.

"Sarah Vance? Julian's ex-wife who jumped into the ocean five years ago?"

"Didn't they say no body was found? How is she alive?"

"I heard she was pregnant with a bastard and jumped out of shame..."

The whispers buzzed like flies.

I threw his hand off expressionlessly, with enough force to make him stumble back half a step.

Bending down, I straightened the child's bowtie, then stood up.

I pulled off the glove, revealing a palm roughened by years of seawater.

I looked at Julian coldly. "Mr. Ford, you're mistaken. I'm this child's father, not your ex-wife."

Behind Julian, Lily covered her mouth and screamed. "Ghost! Julian, she's a ghost!"

She shrank behind Julian in terror, trembling.

Julian instinctively shielded her in his arms, a habit carved into his bones.

After comforting Lily, he turned back to me, the shock in his eyes replaced by utter disgust.

Even after five years, his gaze could still sting.

Julian looked me up and down, his eyes scanning my cargo pants and combat boots before landing on the child.

He sneered. "Didn't die but hid for five years? Couldn't make it out there? Came back with a bastard to beg for money?"

His look was like watching a dog wag its tail.

"Sarah, does this outfit even cost fifty bucks? Couldn't your lover afford to keep you?"

A few snickers rippled through the crowd.

I ignored him. I took the Rubik's cube from the child and placed it on the table.

Then, I raised my bidding paddle.

My voice rang clear through the hall. "Fifty million."

The crowd gasped.

That was the land Julian was determined to get. The starting bid was only twenty million.

The mockery froze on Julian's face.

The auctioneer slammed the hammer down in excitement.

A staff member ran over with the card machine.

I rolled up my sleeve, revealing a jagged scar on my wrist.

That was the mark left by deep-sea decompression sickness, proof of my five years risking my life.

I swiped the card and signed, movements fluid.

"Also," I shoved the Black Card back into my pocket and looked straight at Julian, "Mr. Ford, if you're not using your eyes, donate them. Get out of my way."

I took the child's hand and started to walk.

Julian's face was livid. He signaled his bodyguards.

The heavy doors slammed shut.

A dozen men in black blocked the exit.

Julian pushed Lily aside and advanced on me step by step, gritting his teeth. "Trying to leave? Explain yourself. Whose bastard is this?"

He pointed at the child, eyes full of violence. "Here to scam me? I don't mind verifying it right here and making you disappear again."