Chapter 4

Chapter 4

After I returned home, my grandparents quickly learned about my situation. They didn't criticize me for a moment. Whenever anyone asked, they simply said that my husband and I had divorced and that I was raising the child on my own. Anyone who tried to spread rumors was promptly shooed away by them.

A few months later, I had a son and named him Brendan. He had striking features-large, bright eyes, a high nose, and fair skin. He was incredibly adorable. Everywhere we went, women gathered around us, eager to hold and pinch him. Brendan had an unusually calm temperament; he was always serene and quiet. My mother often remarked that Brendan was nothing like me, as I had been a handful, always crying and making a scene, exhausting her to no end.

In my heart, I knew he resembled Brenden in every way. Especially when he frowned and thought deeply, he looked exactly like his father. Brendan was very smart; he learned to call me, grandma, and grandpa before he was even six months old. He was well-behaved and charming, often making our entire family laugh heartily. Soon, Brendan became the darling of our family. After my grandfather retired, he gave up playing chess every day, and my grandmother stopped her daily dance classes. They both doted on my son, Brendan, finding their greatest joy in proudly showing him off to everyone.

Since my pregnancy, I had fallen behind significantly in my work. I hadn't worked for nearly six months. When I tried to find a job again, it was extremely difficult. Once potential employers learned that I had a newborn and was a single mother, they all politely declined me. With no other options, I had to take on various small jobs to make ends meet. This went on for a year, during which I kept sending out resumes to numerous companies, only to face rejection each time.

Just when I was feeling disheartened and on the verge of despair, I received an interview invitation from the industry leader. I was overjoyed. I carefully prepared for the interview and put together a portfolio of my award-winning works. After successfully passing the initial HR interview and the creative director's interview, HR suddenly informed me that the CEO wanted to interview me personally. I took a deep breath and walked into the interview room, only to be met with a familiar face. It was him. Brenden.

I had gone back once, hoping maybe he would come looking for me. But when I returned to our old place, I saw a scene on TV. Brenden, dressed in a well-tailored suit, appeared with a stern and serious expression as the son of a mysterious billionaire. Under the reporters' flashing cameras, he was dazzling, like a hidden gem finally revealed. Instinctively, I felt really small. No wonder he had kept it from me. He was the heir to a billion-dollar fortune. And what was I?

In the footage, when reporters asked about his future plans, he smiled faintly at the camera. "I already have someone in my heart." My heart ached. "There are rumors that the famous jewelry tycoon's daughter, Miss Barton, is your fiancée. Is this true?" He remained silent, escorted away by his secretary, seemingly confirming everything.

Even though I had known about his fiancée, I still held onto hope. Maybe he hadn't deceived me in our relationship. But the truth proved me wrong-terribly wrong. No wonder, in his eyes, I was just a fling, a toy for a wealthy young man to play emotional games with.