Chapter 1

When I held my father's body, which was stiffening in my arms, I felt my blood run cold to the point of freezing. I couldn’t speak, even if I wanted to.

A sharp, shrill phone call snapped me out of it. It was Alice calling.

I answered without thinking.

Her nonchalant voice came through the speaker. “Oliver, I’m getting married to Gregory tonight, and we’re all out of condoms. Bring a box over for me.”

My fingers were shaking. Just as I was about to hang up on her, she spoke again, “Oh, buy a box of candy for me too. The kid has a sweet tooth, and I can win him over with it.”

A memory flashed across my mind. I recalled Alice picking up my father and me from our run-down rental apartment.

She gently slipped the ring onto my finger. “Have you been trying to hide from me? I’ve been searching for you for ages.

“Even if you're not the Barton heir, you’re still my husband. I promise you I’ll give you the perfect wedding.”

The first time we did it, I was very nervous. I remembered how she pressed a piece of candy into my mouth and assured me gently, “Don't be nervous, have a piece of candy. I promise you everything is going to be as sweet as candy from now on.”

Even though I knew Alice had a reputation for being a flirt, I still fell head over heels for her.

I was never bothered by the other men she had around her because I knew she was not serious about them.

As it turned out, it was different with Gregory because she eventually became pregnant with his child.

We had been together for five years by then and had religiously used protection whenever we did it.

It looked like my delusional love had backfired on me at last. To make matters worse, the one man she made exceptions for was the very man I detested.

If it weren't for Gregory Barton, I wouldn’t have lost my mother. My father wouldn’t have lost his wife.

As usual, she hung up on me first. I watched in a dazed state as the staff at the crematorium took my father away.

Later, when they passed a box containing my father’s ashes to me, I broke down crying at last.

After receiving the death certificate, I received a call. “Mr. Clarke, the DNA report is out. We have concrete proof that your father is Master Beckett’s long-lost son.

“We have the plane tickets booked already. Would you like to see your grandfather? Don't be scared, the old man isn't as scary as the rumors say.”

I clutched my father's urn tightly while tears streamed down my face. “Okay.”

“Have the documents ready in three days, we’ll send someone to pick you up.”

I was still feeling numb when I got home. I stepped into the house to the commotion of a group of drunken women.

“Alice, Gregory is your husband's half-brother. Don’t you have all the reasons in the world to hate him? How did he suddenly become your groom?”

Alice slowly swirled her glass of wine while chuckling softly. “Well, there’s no helping it. I want my son to be born to a father of higher status.”

After they elicited their reactions, another girl cautiously asked, “What about your husband?"

Alice smiled coyly. “Oliver? Oh, he’ll play along nicely. Even when I was sleeping with other men, he would bring me the condoms! Besides, it’s just a wedding. I’ll make it up to him after.”

The group burst into laughter. “It doesn’t sound like you’re worried about him getting upset and running off!”