Rachel Reed had just stepped out of school when she rushed straight to the childcare center behind A University. Moments ago, Lily’s teacher had called—Lily had suddenly collapsed.
Lily had a congenital heart defect. Rachel had been scrambling to find a way to cover the surgery costs. The kid had already been through so much—nothing could happen to her now!
“Hi, I’m Lily’s guardian, where is she?”
Barely stopping her feet at the gate, Rachel grabbed the iron bars and peered inside anxiously. She should’ve listened to Ethan Scott earlier and taken Lily abroad for treatment. If only her family hadn’t blocked her...
“You’re Lily’s…?” A woman in a gray work uniform adjusted her thick glasses and gave Rachel a long, cynical look. A single mom, huh? Since when was being a homewrecker about raising kids too?
Rachel was still trying to respond when a teacher came out from inside, carrying Lily in her arms.
“Rachel, thank goodness you’re here! Lily came to, but you should probably take her to the hospital just in case.”
“Thank you, Ms. Lane.” Rachel took Lily gently from Emma Lane’s arms and nodded gratefully. Seeing some color had returned to Lily’s face, she let out a silent sigh of relief. Holding Lily close, she looked over at the director in the uniform and smiled slightly. “Director, do you happen to know criminal law? Because I’d have no problem filing charges against you for attempted murder. And slander, by the way.”
“You! I was trying to be polite because you're young, but clearly you're the type to play dirty! Don’t think giving birth for the so-called main woman makes you some saint. A mistress is a mistress—even if she has a kid!”
“Smart people stay quiet, fools bark loudly. You’ve already violated more than one statute in just five minutes. I’ll let the slander slide this time—it’s on the house. Next time, I hope your luck holds.”
Rachel’s lips curled up with disdain as she glanced at the director, whose face had turned green with fury. She nodded at the teacher who’d brought Lily out and left with her daughter in her arms.
A City.
Bar.
It was early evening, still quiet inside. Rachel sat in a corner, quietly nursing her thoughts. Her makeup was light but elegant, long hair tied into a casual ponytail. The golden hour sun fell across her shoulder, soft and alluring.
“You’re seriously taking Lily and leaving? Does Ethan know?” The girl sitting across from her looked anxious, clearly struggling to wrap her head around the decision. How could someone just dump their boyfriend and a solid future to move abroad with a sick kid?
“Why don’t you just tell your family what happened back then? Someone could help take care of Lily.”
“Let’s not go there. I’ve got work to do.” Rachel picked up the tray next to her, gave a flirty smile to a customer waving her over, and walked in that direction.
Even if she aired out the truth from years ago, what difference would it make? That family would never accept a child they didn’t choose, no matter the reason.
Rachel was the heiress of the Reed Corporation. By all logic, hated or not, she should’ve never ended up slinging drinks in a bar. But it all came down to one thing—a rich girl gone rogue, mysteriously becoming a mom out of nowhere. And no matter how many questions people asked, Lily’s dad was just a blank. Eventually, the whole family just chalked her up as a stain on their name.