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00:04My husband, who married into my family 10 years ago, had no idea I'd planned to transfer 15%
00:10of the company's shares to him. That all changed on the day of our physical exam.
00:14As two type O blood types, my husband and I should never have had a son with type A blood.
00:18Staring at the little boy who looked just like a mini version of my husband, I said nothing.
00:22Instead, I calmly did two things. First, I secretly pulled a strand of my son's hair.
00:27My husband, who married into my family 10 years ago, after watching Jack walk into school,
00:32I turned around and headed straight for a paternity testing center.
00:36How soon can I get the expedited results? Regular service takes five working days.
00:41For expedited, it'll be ready by 4 p.m. today, but the fee is triple.
00:45My hands trembled as I submitted the samples, swabbing the inside of my cheek before sitting
00:49in the waiting area. Staring at the clock as each minute dragged by. In the meantime,
00:53I contacted a private detective. I need to investigate my husband, Robert Carter especially
00:58his whereabouts over the past few months. At 3.40 p.m., my phone rang. The results were in.
01:04Based on DNA analysis, the probability of a parent-child relationship between Laura Mitchell
01:08and Jack Carter is 0.0001%. Genetic marker testing does not support Laura Mitchell as Jack Carter's
01:14biological mother. Even though I'd braced for it, panic washed over me for a split second.
01:19I leaned against the wall to study myself. He's not my child. I'd raised a boy who wasn't mine
01:24for 9 years. So where was my real child? I rushed to the maternal and child hospital where I'd given
01:30birth 9 years ago, and asked to see the obstetrician. Who'd delivered my baby, now the department
01:35director. I need to access my delivery records and hospital files. It's been so long, those files
01:40might have been archived. After some hassle, the archivist brought me a folder. I flipped through
01:44it to find barely any details, only admission and discharge dates, delivery method, and the
01:49newborn's weight. No detailed birth process, no nurse handover logs, no pediatrician checkup reports.
01:54That's all? That's everything in the system. Obstetric records are usually kept for 10 years,
01:59and yours is almost expiring. What about the newborn's footprints? The blood test records?
02:04Those should be in the newborn's file, but we can't find it. It was obvious something was wrong.
02:08An overly vague medical record, a missing newborn file, and a son who looked just like my husband
02:14but wasn't biologically mine. My phone rang. It was Robert. Where are you? I picked up Jack
02:19already. I'd completely lost track of time, school had ended hours ago. Luckily, I told the teacher I
02:25might be late. Have you eaten? I'm handling something outside. I'll be home soon. I replied before hanging
02:31up. After dinner, I excused myself to my room early, claiming a headache. Robert stayed in the living room
02:37helping Jack with homework, their voices drifting in faintly. Is mom mad? Mom's just tired. Finish your
02:43homework and go to bed early. Once everyone was asleep, I searched the entire house. Our bedroom,
02:48the living room, Jack's room, but found nothing. As soon as they were gone, I rushed to the study and
02:54turned on the computer. I heard footsteps outside. I quickly closed the document. When Robert pushed
03:00the door open, I was tidying the desk. He glanced at the screen, which had returned to our desktop
03:05wallpaper, a photo of us at the beach three years ago. Aren't you asleep yet? Just organizing some old
03:10files, I replied, shutting off the monitor. Rest early. I sat in the dark, listening to his footsteps
03:15fade away. That night, I didn't open the computer again. I lay in bed, my thoughts in chaos. The next
03:22morning, I still asked Robert to drop Jack off at school. He looked at me, grabbed his car keys,
03:27and left. As soon as they were gone, I rushed to the study and turned on the computer. I tried
03:32our
03:32wedding anniversary as the password, wrong. His birthday, wrong. Jack's birthday, still wrong.
03:38I tried the date we first met, his mother's birthday, the day the company was founded,
03:42all incorrect. The system prompted me to try again in Jack five minutes. I stared at the
03:47login screen. The computer we'd bought together was now locked against me. That evening, Robert
03:52came home from work. I'm going on a business trip to Philadelphia tomorrow. Not sure how long
03:56I'll be gone. I brought dishes out of the kitchen. So sudden? Who are you going with? He set his
04:02briefcase
04:02on the table and turned to me, annoyed. Laura, do you have to ask everything? Can't you just trust me?
04:07It's just work. I turned back to serving rice, my hands trembling. I was just asking casually. He
04:13said nothing and went straight to the bedroom. Dinner was silent. Jack, sensing the tension,
04:19didn't complain about his food for once. After Robert finished showering, he picked up his coat
04:23from the sofa to hang it up. A receipt fell out of his pocket and landed at my feet. I
04:28picked it up.
04:28It was for an expensive bottle of perfume, purchased the afternoon before. I didn't
04:33recognize the brand, but I knew it wasn't for me. In 10 years of marriage, Robert had never given me
04:38another gift. I'd always made excuses for him, he was unromantic, busy with work, just a down-to-earth
04:44guy. Now I realized, it wasn't that he couldn't be romantic. He just reserved that romance for someone
04:49else. Early the next morning, after Robert left for the airport. I called the perfume counter,
04:55I need to check a receipt, from yesterday afternoon. One moment. Found it. The purchaser
05:00was Ms. Chloe Miller. The name rang a bell. Chloe was Robert's secretary, hired 6 months ago,
05:05a divorced woman in her 30s. On my way to the airport, I wondered what I was hoping to confirm.
05:11Maybe the perfume was a gift for a client? Maybe I was overthinking. I waited outside the
05:16international departure hall for half an hour before spotting Robert Carter, with her.
05:20Chloe was wearing a beige trench coat, pulling a small suitcase as she walked beside Robert.
05:24He had a relaxed smile on his face, the kind I hadn't seen in years. At the security checkpoint,
05:29Chloe stopped and naturally adjusted Robert's collar. He didn't pull away. He leaned down and
05:34whispered something in her ear, making her laugh. She then tiptoed and kissed him on the lips,
05:39his hand resting on her waist for a long moment before they pulled apart. It was a gesture of
05:43long familiarity. My last shred of self-dissection vanished. All those late nights working overtime,
05:48all those impatient looks, now I knew why. As I watched their intimate interaction,
05:53a suspicion crept into my mind. Could the child who wasn't mine be related to this woman?
05:58On my drive back, I called the private detective again. I need you to investigate someone else,
06:03Chloe Miller. I want to know everything about her, especially if she has any children.
06:08The detective worked fast. The next afternoon, I received his rapper, Chloe Miller, 32,
06:13divorced five years ago, with a Jack's zero-year-old son named Ethan Miller, who attended a primary
06:19school in the western part of the city. That date hit me like a punch. Chloe's son was only one
06:24week
06:24younger than Jack. Ten years. For the first time, I felt my blood boil. I sat on the sofa, clutching
06:30the detective's report, and a terrible thought took shape. I ran to the study, my fingers hovering over
06:36the keyboard. Slowly, I typed in Chloe's birthday. The desktop unlocked. There was only one folder,
06:42labeled work backups. I opened it to find subfolders organized by year, starting from 10 years ago.
06:48In the oldest folder were scanned old photos. Robert and Chloe, in school uniforms, standing
06:54under a pagoda tree. 19-year-old Robert was smiling, his arm around Chloe's shoulders.
06:58She had a ponytail and was looking up at him. The next photo was from college, they were in the
07:03library. Then a graduation photo, both were in bachelor's gowns, holding hands. That was the same
07:09year Robert had told me the company was in trouble, and we canceled our wedding anniversary
07:12trip. I closed the folder, my stomach churning. Ten years of lies. Staring at our wedding photo on the
07:19desktop, I felt sick to my stomach. At 3 p.m., I drove to the western part of the city.
07:24The primary
07:24school was even older than the detective had described. When the school bell rang, children
07:29poured out of the gate. I sat in the car, gripping the steering wheel. He walked out alone, no one
07:34came
07:34to pick him up. He looked left and right, then walked slowly along the sidewalk. I held my breath.
07:40That child, Ethan Miller. No. That's my son. He walked just like me, with a slight pigeon toe.
07:46When he lifted his hand to brush his hair. I saw a birthmark on his wrist, in the exact same
07:51spot as
07:51mine. His eyelashes had dust on them. His lips were chapped. And his shoes were scuffed at the toes,
07:57the saws peeling. His eyes were empty, nothing like a 10-year-old's. I covered my mouth to muffle a
08:02sob.
08:03He walked farther away, disappearing around a corner. I laid my head on the steering wheel and cried,
08:08for the little boy walking home alone. For the 10 years of my life that had been a lie.
08:12For the fool I'd been, living in someone else's script. Then I wiped my tears and started the car.
08:18At the law firm, I placed a USB drive in front of Mr. Thompson. It has backups of all the
08:22photos,
08:23the paternity test report, scanned copies of the hospital records, the perfume receipt,
08:27and information on Chloe Miller and Ethan Miller. I want a divorce. I want him to leave with nothing.
08:33I want custody of my child, and I want him to pay for what he's done.
08:36As I walked out of the law firm, I remembered Robert's words when he proposed 10 years ago.
08:41Laura, I'll give you a lifetime of stability.
08:43Turns out his lifetime was only 10 years. No, maybe not even that. I took out my phone and
08:48called the company's second largest shareholder, Mr. Peterson, an old colleague of my father.
08:52Robert had apparently forgotten, this company bore the Mitchell name. He'd become general manager
08:57only because I'd begged my father to give him a chance. I'd lifted him up, and I could just as
09:02easily tear him down. I liquidated all my assets that could be converted to cash.
09:06Every afternoon these days, I went to wait near Nicewa Primary School in the West.
09:10Once, it rained. He didn't have an umbrella, so he stood under the eaves of a small shop at the
09:15school gate for half an hour before running home in the rain. I sat in the car, watching as the
09:19rain
09:19blurred the windows. On Friday afternoon, I arrived early. When Ethan came out, I got out of the car and
09:25pretended to be a passerby. I accidentally dropped my folder in front of him. He froze for a moment,
09:31then bent down to pick it up. Thank you, little guy. Where's your mom? He shook his head.
09:36Mom's working overtime today. How are you getting home?
09:39Bye, boss. I pulled an unopened bottle of mineral water from my bag and handed it to him.
09:44Have some water. He hesitated, then took it and whispered.
09:48Thank you. I noticed he had a habit of pursing his lips when he spoke, just like me. His eyes
09:52were
09:53the same shape, too. He nodded, then shook his head. Does your mom work overtime often?
09:58Sometimes.
09:59What about your dad? He didn't answer, just stared at his shoes. The sneakers had peeling
10:04sawls. I didn't ask more. I pulled 200 yuan from my wallet and stuffed it into his school bag.
10:10Buy yourself a new pair of shoes. He stepped back.
10:13No, I can't take this.
10:14It's a thank you for helping me pick up my folder. I tucked the money into the side pocket and
10:19walked
10:19away. After a few steps, I glanced back. He was staring at the money, looking confused.
10:25That night, I stood at Jack's bedroom door. He was playing with a new Lego set Robert had bought
10:29him, a limited edition space shuttle, expensive. Mom, what's wrong?
10:33I walked in and touched his hair. Finished your homework?
10:36Yep, ages ago. He showed me the model.
10:39Dad said if I get top 10 in the midterm exam, he'll take me to Disneyland.
10:42I forced a smile. That's nice. As I turned to leave, my smile faded. Robert's double standards
10:48for the two boys felt like a knife twisting in my heart. My biological son was wearing peeling
10:52shoes and taking the bus alone. While this child had everything. Two weeks later, Robert finally
10:58came home from his business trip. He dropped his suitcase and asked immediately.
11:02Where's Jack? Why is it so quiet?
11:04I signed him up for tutoring, two hours a day.
11:06Why suddenly? He's only in fourth grade.
11:09I didn't answer. I could smell the perfume on him. He reached out to hug me, but I stepped
11:14aside.
11:14Why do you smell like perfume? Who were you dining with?
11:18He froze, then looked annoyed.
11:20Laura, are you being paranoid again? It's just from sitting next to a client at dinner.
11:24Can't you start with this?
11:25I suddenly found it hilarious. How had I never seen through his terrible acting?
11:30I pulled an envelope from the coffee table drawer and slowly took out the photos.
11:34Robert's face darkened. He picked up one photo and threw it back on the table.
11:37You followed me?
11:38Does it matter?
11:39I smiled.
11:40What matters is what would happen if these photos ended up with the board of directors
11:43or your clients. He collapsed onto the opposite sofa, covering his face with his hands.
11:49What do you want?
11:49I stared at him, my voice cold.
11:52First, fire Chloe Miller. Promise never to see her again.
11:56Second, tell me what happened at the hospital 10 years ago. He stood up and raged.
12:00You're crazy. Just because of some photos.
12:03My voice turned icy.
12:04Robert, don't forget this company is Mitchell property. You have everything because of me.
12:09I can give it to you, and I can take it all away.
12:11I almost softened until I remembered Ethan's peeling shoes, the way he'd waited alone in the rain.
12:16For the sake of 10 years of marriage and the child, if you do what I ask, we can keep
12:19going.
12:20I turned and fetched a document from the bedroom, handing it to him.
12:23It was a pregnancy test report showing I was five weeks pregnant.
12:27Robert stared at the report, then looked up at me, shocked.
12:30You are pregnant. I nodded, placing my hand on my stomach. Five weeks. The doctor says this one is
12:36stable. His expression shifted back and forth, his throat bobbing as he looked between me and the
12:41report. So, I continued, as long as you cut ties with Chloe make her leave the company and our lives
12:46I can let the past go. We still have Jack, and now this baby. Robert's gaze lingered on my stomach.
12:53There was obvious conflict in his eyes. I need to think. He said hoarsely, turning to the bedroom.
12:58That night, the light in his room stayed on until late. The next morning, I was drinking coffee when
13:03Robert walked out, dark circles under his eyes. I pushed a glass of water toward him. He took it
13:08silently, avoiding my gas. I've made up my mind, Laura. We. I don't need to hear it. I cut him
13:15off,
13:15pulling a divorce agreement from the folder and slamming it on the table. He looked furious.
13:19What are you doing? We're having another baby. I said coldly. I told you I was pregnant,
13:24and you needed an entire night to decide if you'd break up with her. He stood up.
13:28We have a child on the way. Don't you care about the baby? Or Jack?
13:32Baby. I laughed bitterly. Are you referring to the child I raised for 10 years who turns out to be
13:37yours and Chloe's? Robert's face turned ashen. He stumbled backward, hitting the table.
13:42How did you find out? When? I held up my phone, showing him a photo of the paternity test report.
13:48Thanks to the files on your computer password, Chloe's birthday. You've been using that for 10 years,
13:53haven't you? His breathing quickened, panic setting in. Let me explain.
13:57My voice was calm, laced with mockery. Explain how you swapped our babies at the hospital?
14:02Explain how you got Chloe hired at the company? Or explain how you and her laughed at me behind
14:06my back all these years? I took a step closer. The funniest part is those moments of guilt you'd
14:11sometimes show when looking at Jack. Were you feeling guilty for lying to me? Or for neglecting
14:14your own son? Ethan. Robert suddenly whispered, as if remembering something.
14:19Where is Ethan? He looked furious. It's too late.
14:22What? I said, opening the door. Your son, no, our son, is somewhere you'll never find him.
14:28You and Chloe's son is still upstairs sleeping, unaware of the choices father is facing.
14:32Robert rushed over and grabbed my arm, yelling. Laura, you can't do this. That's my child.
14:37I pulled away. You lost the right to be a father the day you swapped our babies.
14:41Now get out of my house. After closing the door, I heard him pounding on it,
14:45then the sound of a car driving away. I knew where he was going, to find Chloe,
14:49and the son he'd abandoned for 10 years. Three days earlier, when the private detective
14:54had given me Chloe's file, I'd gone to see Ethan again. I told him the truth. He'd been
14:58surprisingly calm, his eyes, so like mine, holding a maturity beyond his years. I'd taken his hand
15:04and said, I'll take you away. We'll start over. He'd been silent for a long time, then nodded softly.
15:10We'd flown abroad the afternoon before, with my assistant accompanying him. There was a good school
15:15there, a house, new friends. Once I wrapped up things here, I joined my son. The divorce agreement
15:20sat on the table for three days before Robert finally showed up. He stood at the door, unshaven
15:25with dark circles under his eyes. I hadn't seen him this disheveled in years.
15:29Laura, can we talk? I leaned against the door frame in my loungewear, not letting him in.
15:35The agreement is clear. There's nothing to talk about. He looked desperate.
15:39I can't get divorced. For the sake of ten years of marriage and the children.
15:43Which children? I cut him off with a sneer. The one on video, or the one upstairs?
15:49Robert's face paled. A week earlier, Chloe had sent me a bunch of files, videos of Ethan crying,
15:55being beaten, locked in a dark room. The email had only one line. Thank you for raising my son
16:00for so many years. I'd watched them all night. By dawn, I'd thrown up three times. He seemed to want
16:07to explain. Those videos, Chloe, she just loses control sometimes. I laughed coldly.
16:13That's your son. You saw him every week. You notice her new perfume and manicure,
16:18but never the bruises on your own child? If you don't sign, we'll go to court. I said.
16:24The evidence of the baby swap, your affair photos, they'll all become part of the record.
16:28He yelled. You're crazy. The company is about to go public.
16:31Before closing the door, I said one last thing.
16:34So sign. Well, I'm still giving you a way out. He stood outside for a long time before leaving.
16:40Three days later, Robert signed the divorce agreement. On the fourth day after the divorce,
16:44photos of Robert and Chloe's wedding popped up on my social media feed. Chloe was wearing a white
16:48wedding dress, Robert's arm around her, but his smile looked forced. The caption read,
16:5310 years of waiting, finally united. I took a screenshot, then turned off my phone.
16:58That afternoon, Mr. Thompson called.
17:00Ms. Mitchell, we have all the evidence. The transfer records of the baby swap,
17:04their communication logs, the abuse videos and medical records. It's enough to press charges.
17:08Thank you. One more thing. He added softly.
17:11Do you really not want to see him one last time? He came to the phone yesterday,
17:15asking me to pass along that is sorry. It's too late.
17:17Early the next morning, my plane took off. My assistant met me at the airport. She said,
17:23Ethan's doing better this week. He's starting to talk more. Yesterday he asked when you'd arrive.
17:28My heart raced. The car pulled up in front of a white house. In the garden, a thin little boy
17:33was
17:34squatting on the ground, watching ants. Ethan. He looked better than in the videos, but still too
17:39skinny. I walked over and knelt down in front of him. I'm mom. He stared at me for a long
17:44time,
17:44then nodded slightly. I gently hugged him. He didn't pull away. I'm sorry I'm late. I whispered.
17:51He trembled in my arms. For the next two weeks, I put work aside to focus on him.
17:55I took him to the park. He clung tightly to the railing on the carousel for the first time.
18:00I took him to the library and discovered he loved books about stars. At night, after he fell asleep,
18:05I'd gently brush his hair. He still didn't talk much, but he'd smile at me occasionally.
18:10At 3 a.m., the bedroom door creaked open slightly. Faint sobs pierced the silence like needles.
18:15I jolted awake, immediately knowing it was Ethan. I pushed open his door. Moonlight filtered through
18:20the sheer curtains, casting dappled shadows on the floor and illuminating his small,
18:24curled-up figure in bed. His hands were clenched tightly around the quilt,
18:27cold sweat on his forehead. He kept muttering.
18:30Mommy, no, don't lock me in the dark room. There are mice.
18:34I rushed over, sitting carefully on the edge of the bed and wrapping my arms around his cold shoulders.
18:38His body stiffened for a moment, then he threw himself into my arms like a frightened fawn,
18:42sobbing quietly but despairingly. His tears soaked through my pajamas instantly.
18:47Mommy, I'm scared of that storage room. It's so dark.
18:49My heart felt like it was being torn apart with a blunt knife, a dull, lingering pain.
18:54I patted his back repeatedly, my voice trembling but steady.
18:57Ethan, it's okay. Mommy's here. No one can hurt you now. Mommy will protect you.
19:03Tears fell silently onto his hair. I thought of the videos Chloe had sent,
19:07of this little boy huddled in the dark, trembling, of the old and new scars covering his body.
19:11I wanted to tear apart everyone who had hurt him.
19:14That night, I held him on the sofa until dawn. I told him about how I'd been afraid of thunder
19:19as
19:19a child, how my dad would hold me, count stars, and sing lullabies. I told him about my first days
19:24running the company, how I'd been bullied by senior employees, cried in the stairwell,
19:28then wiped my tears and went back to negotiate. I told him about the clumsy intern at the company
19:33who'd spilled coffee on an important contract and turned white with fear. He listened quietly,
19:37occasionally looking up at me with his eyes, so like mine, and asking,
19:41Mommy, weren't you scared?
19:42I was. I am touching his hair. But I knew that if I kept going, things would get better.
19:48And now that I have you, Ethan, I can't be scared anymore. He nodded, seemingly understanding,
19:53and quietly squeezed my fingers. A few days later, I took Ethan to an observatory in the suburbs.
19:58We took a bus through endless wheat fields, the air filled with the scent of grain.
20:02Ethan leaned against the bus window, his eyes full of wonder. As night fell, the observatory's dome
20:07slowly opened. The sky was filled with stars, like scattered diamonds across a deep blue canvas.
20:12Too bright to look away from. The guy pointed to Orion and told the story of the hunter Orion.
20:17Ethan's eyes lit up like stars, a faint smile spreading across his face. On the way back,
20:21the bus rocked gently. He leaned his head on my shoulder and whispered,
20:25Mommy, the stars are so far away, but it feels safe to see them.
20:29I squeezed his hand, feeling the warmth of his palm. My heart felt soft and full. I knew the wounds
20:34buried deep in his heart wouldn't disappear overnight, certainly not from one trip to the
20:38observatory. Like old scars. No matter how carefully you tend to them, faint marks remain.
20:43But as long as I was with him, warming him with love and patience, the starlight would eventually
20:47pierce the darkness and light up his future. That afternoon, we were baking cookies in the
20:51kitchen when the doorbell rang. My assistant, Emily, went to answer it. I heard him say,
20:57Mr. Carter. The flower sifter slipped from my hand, spilling onto the table. Through the glass door,
21:02I saw Robert standing at the entrance. His hair was messy, his eyes sunken, and he was holding a
21:07small suitcase. Laura, I've been looking for you for half a month. I wiped my hands and walked out
21:12of the kitchen, closing the door behind me. Now you've found me. You can leave. He glanced at the
21:17thin figure in the kitchen. I want to see the child. Our child. He paused, his voice trembling.
21:23I've been having nightmares these days, about him as a baby, about Chloe hitting him. I never knew.
21:27I cut him off. You knew, you just chose not to see it. He looked at my stomach. Is the
21:33baby still
21:33there? I smiled, the first genuine smile in a long time. Of course. The doctor says it's doing
21:39well. It'll be born next spring. His face turned ugly, and he suddenly grew agitated, lunging toward
21:45me. I stepped aside, and he stumbled, hitting the hallway cabinet. Laura, I want to see my son.
21:51I looked at him coldly and say, What you should be worried about, Robert, isn't seeing my son,
21:55it's whether your own son will be born safely. If you want that to happen, clean up your mess
21:59with Chloe first. Settle your own debts. With that, I kicked him out. Now, just looking at him
22:05made me sick. As I closed the door, I saw Robert collapse to the floor, running his hands through
22:10his hair, desperate and pathetic. Soon after, Mr. Thompson called.
22:14Ms. Mitchell, it's gotten ugly, but the outcome isn't ideal. It turned out Robert and Chloe had
22:19already divorced and were suing each other. In court, Chloe had screamed, exposing how Robert
22:24had embezzled company funds to give her money over the years, how he'd promised to divorce me
22:27and marry her. I gripped the phone, listening calmly. But Robert had shifted all the blame to
22:32Chloe, claiming she coerced him into swapping the babies. In the end, Chloe was convicted of child
22:36abduction, forgery of documents, and commercial fraud. She was sentenced to three years in prison.
22:42Robert, however, had gotten off scot-free. He'd cried bitterly in court, claiming he was also a victim,
22:48manipulated by Chloe for ten years. It sounded absurd, but the judge had believed it. Or perhaps
22:54Robert's lawyer was just that good. Before hanging up, Mr. Thompson said softly,
22:58I'm sorry, Ms. Mitchell, the outcome isn't what we hoped for. If you want, we can plan the next step.
23:03I said, that's enough, at least I have my child back. Ethan was doing his homework at the table.
23:09I walked over to him. Ethan, Mommy made the bad people pay for what they did,
23:13but maybe not enough. Do you blame me? He looked up. Mommy, I know who's good to me and who's
23:19not.
23:20I covered my mouth, tears spilling out. He lowered his head and kept writing, adding quietly.
23:25You look ugly when you cry. I laughed through my tears. These days, I've been trying to make up for
23:30ten years of lost motherly love. I transferred all my company shares to Ethan's name, he's still young,
23:35but I know what the security means. I enrolled him in the best international department of a local
23:40school. After seeing his previous report cards, the principal praised him highly,
23:44Chloe had barely cared about his studies, leaving him to fend for himself. I hired three tutors,
23:49for Chinese, math, and English. Ethan was diligent, studying late into the night every day.
23:55One morning, I brought him a glass of milk and found him asleep at his desk,
23:58a pen still clutched in his hand. I didn't wake him, just gently covered him with a blanket.
24:03On Friday afternoon, I went to pick him up from school. The entrance was crowded with parents.
24:08Ethan ran out with a new school bag, his face flushed from playing sports.
24:12Mom, I passed my math quiz today. I reached for the paper, but out of the corner of my eye,
24:17I saw a figure in the window of the coffee across the street. Robert was sitting in the corner,
24:21a five o'clock shadow on his chin. He looked haggard, nothing like the confident company
24:25executive he'd once been. Ethan followed my gaze. I squeezed his hand. Let's go home.
24:31We just turned around when we heard hurried footsteps. Robert had crossed the street and stood in front of
24:36us. Laura, can we talk? I signaled for Ethan to get in the car first, then faced the man in
24:41front
24:41of me. There's nothing left to say. Chloe is in prison. He rushed to explain, as if trying to
24:47prove something. I've taken care of everything. I've cut ties with her completely. I laughed.
24:52Robert, I'm the one who hired the lawyer to put Chloe in jail. What does that have to do with
24:56you?
24:57Weren't you the one sobbing in court, playing the victim? I know I was wrong, Laura. Forgive me,
25:01for the child's sake. His eyes drifted to my stomach. Our child. Oh, that one? It's fake.
25:08Smoothing the wrinkles in my coat slowly. Robert froze, his eyes widening in shock. I met his gaze
25:13calmly. The pregnancy test report was fake. I just wanted to see what choice you'd make. I stepped
25:19closer, letting him get a clear look at my flat abdomen. If I really was pregnant, wouldn't I be
25:23showing by now? His eyes lingered on my stomach for a long time. It doesn't matter, even without this
25:28baby, we still have Jack. We still have 10 years of shared memories. I cut him off sharply. Robert,
25:34wake up from your dream. Get a grip on reality. He acted as if he hadn't heard me. Suddenly,
25:39as if remembering something, he pulled a velvet box out of his briefcase. Look, this is the gift I
25:44bought you for your 30th birthday, his voice trembling. The company was facing cash flow
25:48problems that year, so I couldn't bring myself to give it to you. Then came a second box, a third.
25:53He laid them all out on the ground in a row. This one's for our seventh wedding anniversary.
25:57This one's from the year we moved into this house. This one's for. The little velvet boxes lined up
26:03on the pavement looked almost absurd. I just never gave them to you. Now I'll give you all of them,
26:07okay? Please, just give me one more chance. He's lifting his head. His eyes red-rimmed. I knelt down
26:13and opened a nearby box. Inside was a diamond necklace, the pendant shaped like an iris, my favorite
26:18flower. Once, I would have been overjoyed by such a gift. I would have worn it, holding his arm at
26:24every dinner party, showing off my happiness. Now, it just made me feel sick. I stood up and
26:29put the necklace back in the box. Robert, the time I loved you most was when I'd stay up worrying
26:33if
26:34you didn't text back when I'd cook soup and bring it to the office while you worked overtime. When
26:37you'd say thank you for your hard work, wife, and I'd think everything was worth it. I set the box
26:42at
26:42his feet. That version of me, who loved you so much, died a long time ago. Now, this necklace is
26:47just
26:48garbage to me. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but no words came out. His shoulders
26:52slumped, as if all the strength had been drained from his body. I didn't look back. I walked toward
26:58the car. For me, none of it mattered anymore. Three years later, in late autumn, Ethan had grown much
27:04taller, now reaching my shoulders. Mom, can you come to the parent-teacher meeting next week? I put my hand
27:09on his shoulder. Of course, son. Nothing could keep me away from your parent-teacher meeting. He turned to
27:14me and smiled. These three years, Ethan had been so sensible it hurt. He'd cook his own noodles when
27:20I worked late, raised his grades from the bottom to the middle of the class, and spoke English better
27:24than some local kids. His teachers praised his resilience, the neighbors called him well-behaved.
27:28But only I knew what lay behind that maturity. On a weekend evening, we were making dumplings
27:33together. Ethan's dumplings were always overly neat, each pleat identical. Ethan, you don't have to be so
27:39good for me. I knelt down and looked into his eyes. You can throw tantrums, be stubborn, say no like
27:45other kids. I don't love you because you're obedient. I love you just because you're you.
27:51He blinked. But what if I do something wrong? Will you stop loving me? I pulled him into my arms.
27:57Never. The best thing I've ever done in my life is find you. He stayed quiet for a long time,
28:02then nodded softly. Ethan's primary school was holding an open house. I left work early and drove to the
28:08school. The autumn sun was warm, filtering through the leaves and casting soft light on the playground.
28:13Ethan was in a relay race, running the final leg. His small figure darted forward like the wind,
28:18giving it his all as he sprinted toward the finish line. When he crossed it, I stood up and cheered.
28:23He looked back just then, saw me, and broke into a bright, clean smile. In that moment,
28:29I knew all my efforts had been worth it. After the race, parents started to leave. I took Ethan's hand,
28:35planning to keep my promise, ice cream at the dessert shop nearby for finishing the race.
28:39Suddenly, a woman rushed over and blocked our way. It was Chloe. She'd been released from prison.
28:45Her hair was dry and yellow, tied messily at the back of her head. She stared at me with a
28:50venomous
28:51glare. Laura! How dare you steal my son from me? Her voice was shrill and grating, like nails scraping
28:57across glass. Instantly, the surrounding parents turned to stare, curiosity written all over their
29:02faces. Some stopped in their tracks, watching us. I instinctively pulled Ethan behind me,
29:08shielding him protectively, and stared back at Chloe coldly. I said sharply,
29:13Ethan was never your son. You only ever abused and neglected him. You never gave him an ounce of
29:18motherly love. You don't deserve to be called his mom. I carried him for 10 months. I gave birth to
29:24him.
29:25He has my blood running through his veins. Thankfully, the school's security guards rushed over just in
29:30time and restrained her. She struggled violently, her hair falling loose around her face, making her
29:35look almost deranged. She shrieked. You've taken everything from me. Robert doesn't want me anymore.
29:41The company's gone. You won't even let me see my own son. Why do you get to live such a
29:46good life?
29:47Ethan peeked out from behind me, his small face showing no fear. He looked at Chloe, his eyes calm
29:53beyond his years. He said clearly and firmly. You're not my mom. You hit me, locked me in the dark
29:59room, never cooked me a meal, never came to pick me up from school. Ms. Mitchell is my mom.
30:04Chloe froze, seemingly shocked that the child she'd given birth to could say such things.
30:08She stared at him for a few seconds, then burst into hysterical tears. She screamed.
30:14I had no choice. Robert only cared about your money. He never cared about us. Raising a child alone,
30:20do you know how much pressure I was under? I only hit him because I had no other way.
30:25Pressure is no excuse for abusing a child. I said, pulling out my phone and opening a folder I'd
30:31prepared in advance. It contained Ethan's old medical records, photos of his injuries, and backups of
30:36the abuse videos. These are all evidence. If you keep harassing us, I'll have my lawyer file charges
30:41immediately. Just then, a familiar figure rushed over. It was Robert. He looked even more haggard than
30:47he had three years ago. When he saw Chloe, his brows furrowed in annoyance. He snapped.
30:53What are you doing here? I told you not to bother them. Chloe shouted, pointing at Ethan.
30:58Robert, look at your son. He's living so well now, new clothes, good food, a mom who loves him.
31:04What about us? Robert's gaze fell on Ethan, his eyes filled with guilt and longing. In the end,
31:09he turned to me. Laura, I'm sorry. I'll take her away. You won't hear from us again.
31:14I said nothing, just stared at him coldly. Mommy, let's go. I don't want to see them.
31:20Okay. I said, kneeling down to smooth his hair gently. We'll go get ice cream. I took Ethan's
31:26hand and turned to leave, not glancing back at Chloe and Robert. Behind us, we could hear Chloe's
31:31sobs, Robert's attempts to calm her, and the whispers of other parents. But none of it mattered
31:36anymore. Ethan held my hand tightly, his steps steady. That afternoon, I took Ethan to eat his
31:42favorite chocolate ice cream. He ate until his face was covered, like a little cat. I pulled
31:47out a tissue and wiped his mouth gently. He said with a smile, Mommy, the ice cream is
31:52so sweet. Every day will be sweet from now on. I told him, looking into his bright eyes. My heart
31:58felt clear and light. The dust of the past might occasionally be stirred up by the wind, but
32:02as long as Ethan and I were together, moving forward side by side, we would surely embrace
32:06a sunnier, warmer future. Those who had hurt us would be left behind in the dust, never
32:11able to affect our lives again. The late autumn rain came suddenly. By school let out, large
32:17raindrops were pounding the ground. The school gate was crowded with parents picking up their
32:21children. I held an umbrella, standing under the old pagoda tree where we'd agreed to meet.
32:25In the distance, I saw Ethan walking out of the school with a classmate, a faint smile on
32:29his face. It was the first time he'd voluntarily walked home with a friend. Just then, a woman
32:35in a red raincoat suddenly rushed over and grabbed Ethan's arm. Ethan Miller, come with
32:39me. Your mom is suffering in jail. How can you be so happy here? It was Chloe Miller's
32:44younger sister, Sarah Miller. The detective's report had mentioned her. She was close to
32:49Chloe Miller, had helped her with various things, and was one of the people who'd known
32:52about the baby swap. Who are you? I don't know you. I'm your aunt. Sarah said, gripping his
32:58arm so tightly her nails dug into his skin. Laura is a liar. She stole you from your real
33:03mom. How can you be so stupid? Come with me, I'll take you to see your mom.
33:08Other parents stared, some reaching out as if to intervene, but Sarah's fierce glare scared
33:12them off. Ethan's classmate froze, unsure what to do. My heart raced. I ran over as fast
33:19as I could. I pried Sarah's hand off Ethan's arm and pulled him behind me, my voice cold
33:23as ice. Let him go. You have no right to touch my child. Sarah stumbled backward, then looked
33:28me up and down, her eyes filled with jealousy and resentment. Laura, you thief. You stole
33:34my sister's man, her money, and now her child. How can you live with yourself? Conscience?
33:39I laughed coldly, pulling out my phone and opening the recordings and files I'd prepared
33:43in advance. I have videos of your sister abusing Ethan, transfer records of her and Robert plotting
33:47to swap the babies, and prove that you took bribes from Robert to keep quiet. Do you really
33:51think it's my conscience that would bother me if we went to the police? Sarah's face turned
33:55pale, her eyes darting nervously. You're lying! Those are all fake! Fake? I took a step forward,
34:02my voice sharp. All this evidence is on file with the court. You're only here making a scene
34:06because you want to extort money from me, aren't you? The whispers around us grew louder. Some
34:11parents pulled out their phones to record, others quietly called the school security guards.
34:15Sarah's face turned red and then white, panic creeping into her eyes as she looked at the
34:18crowd. I'm not extorting money! She insisted, but she took a step back instinctively.
34:24I just want the child to recognize his real family! Recognize his real family? Ethan suddenly stepped
34:29out from behind me, his small body straight with determination. He looked at Sarah firmly.
34:34I don't have an aunt like you, and I don't have a mom like her. Miss Mitchell is my mom.
34:38She doesn't
34:39hit me, doesn't lock me up, cooks for me, takes me to school, protects me. Please leave. I never want
34:44to see you again. Sarah froze, unable to say a word. Just then, Ethan's homeroom teacher rushed over.
34:50When she saw what was happening, she immediately stood in front of us.
34:54Ma'am, please leave the school gate immediately. Otherwise, we'll call the police.
34:59Sarah saw that more and more people were gathering, and realized she wouldn't get anything out of this.
35:03She glared at me angrily, muttering, you haven't seen the last of me, before rushing into the rain
35:08and disappearing around the corner. The rain was still falling. Ethan's hair was damp from the
35:12splashing water, sticking to his forehead. I quickly held the umbrella over him, pulled out a tissue,
35:17and wiped his face gently. Did that scare you? He shook his head, throwing his arms around my waist.
35:23His voice was a little shaky but determined. No, mommy, I knew you'd come to save me.
35:28Silly boy. Mommy will always be here for you. No matter what happens, I'll never let anyone hurt you.
35:34Miss Mitchell, I never expected this to happen. Ethan must be frightened. Shall we take him to the
35:38office for some hot water? Thank you, Miss Davis. I nodded, taking Ethan's hand and walking into the
35:44teaching building. The warmth of the hot water spread from the cup to my palm. Ethan held the
35:50cup and whispered, Mommy, was what that aunt said true? Am I really Chloe's son? I knelt down and
35:55looked him in the eyes, serious. Ethan, you are my biological son. That will never change. You are my
36:02precious baby, the person I want to protect most in this world. He blinked, his eyes a little red,
36:07then nodded firmly. I know, mommy. You're the only mom I'll ever have. That night, Ethan told me about
36:14the times Chloe had brought Sarah to their house. Auntie always called me stupid, said I wasn't as
36:19good as Jack. She'd steal my things when no one was looking. He curled up next to me, his voice
36:25soft.
36:26Back then, I wished I had a mom who really loved me. I held him in my arms, patting his
36:31back gently.
36:31It won't be like that anymore. The rain outside gradually stopped. Moonlight broke through the
36:37clouds, illuminating a corner of the room. I looked at Ethan as he drifted off to sleep,
36:42and made a silent vow, I would give this child a stable, warm future. That determination gave me
36:47the courage to accept a new relationship when I met David Anderson not long after. I wanted to give
36:53Ethan a complete family, and give myself a second chance at happiness. I met David at a community book
36:59club. I'd taken Ethan to borrow books and been drawn to a talk about a woman's memoir.
37:04David was the host, his voice was gentle yet powerful. After the talk, he stopped me at the
37:10door. Your perspective was really interesting. Would you like to get to know each other?
37:14That's how we started talking. David was from Philadelphia, divorced for five years,
37:19with a daughter who lived with her mother. He was a middle school history teacher and volunteered at
37:24the community center in his spare time. Our first official date was at the science museum, with
37:29Ethan. Of course, David didn't try to curry favor with Ethan. In the space exhibition, he naturally
37:35started talking about the Apollo program. Do you know why astronauts bring wrenches to space?
37:40Ethan shook his head. To fix equipment, the most dangerous thing in space is a loose screw.
37:45Ethan laughed, a relaxed, genuine laugh. A year later, in spring, David came to our house for dinner.
37:52Afterward, Ethan did his homework while David Anderson and I drank tea on the balcony. The
37:56night was cool, so he draped his coat over my shoulders. Ethan's made new friends. I saw him
38:01playing basketball with his classmates. I was surprised. My son had always been alone before.
38:07David said gently. He needs time, so do you. That night, I told him everything about the past few
38:13years. David listened quietly, and when I finished, he took my hand softly. You must have been so tired.
38:19Going through all that alone, you must have been exhausted. Those words made my eyes fill with
38:24tears. For so long, all I'd needed was someone to see the weight behind my strength.
38:29Mommy, if you like Uncle David, you can be with him. Ethan said one day, as he assembled a model
38:35airplane. I stared at him, shocked. Why would you say that? Because when you look at him, you smile,
38:41a real smile, not a fake one. I sat down next to him. What do you think about it? I
38:47want someone to
38:48love you, just like you love me. You deserve that. I hugged him tightly. He'd grown up without me
38:54noticing. Dating David was nothing like dating in my 20s, no passion, no anxiety, just a steady,
39:02comfortable intimacy. After dinner, we'd take walks, chatting about my work, Ethan's school,
39:08even the supermarket's special offers. He'd say, holding my hand. Life is made of these little
39:14moments, and I want to be part of yours. Ethan gradually grew used to this new rhythm.
39:19When David helped him with history homework, they'd argue about historical events, then laugh
39:24it off together. One night, I came home late from work to find them playing chess in the living room,
39:29with soup simmering in the kitchen, filling the house with warmth. In that moment,
39:34I realized the happiness I'd once thought was out of reach was already in my hands.
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