I kept our marriage a secret for three years, enduring every sneer as her VP while helping her build her empire.

Tanya Cox rose from a scorned, illegitimate daughter to a revered CEO.

She once nestled in my embrace and promised to be open about our relationship when the company went public.

I waited year after year. Even when our child was born, she still hadn’t made good on her word.

One day, I pressed for a timeline. However, Tanya simply put the baby in my arms.

“Callum, things are complicated at the moment. The disclosure will only hurt the stock price. I gave you a child. Isn’t that enough?”

Alas, when her childhood friend, Gavin Nolan, returned from abroad on New Year’s Day, he took the seat of honor during our newborn’s sip and see event.

Gavin, cradling my baby girl, accepted well-wishes from friends and family with a smile.

“Don’t take things the wrong way. The right etiquette probably slipped his mind since he’s been away for so long. He’s only sitting there to keep the baby entertained. That’s all. Don’t read too much into it.

“We’ve always been close since childhood. He’s going to be the godfather of our child. Don’t tell me you’re jealous of him.”

Beaming, I raised my glass as a toast to Gavin.

Tanya was wrong.

I wasn’t at all jealous. Heck, I was done with her.

“I get that Gavin is out of touch with the rules since he’s been away for so long, but what’s your excuse?”

I looked up at Gavin Nolan.

Dressed in a white custom suit, Gavin took the seat at the head of the table and cradled the newborn with a tender smile.

I was supposed to be Sarah’s father. Yet, Tanya Cox put me in a corner, away from my child.

It was my cue to approach Tanya. I walked up behind her and asked, “We are here to celebrate our daughter. Why did you assign me to a seat furthest away from her? What’s the meaning of this?”

“Can you just stop, Callum?”

Tanya spoke in hushed tones, the weariness apparent in her eyes.

“Gavin has just gotten back, and he’s a big deal in capital venture. He is incredibly connected.

“He is Sarah’s godfather anyway. It’s not a bad thing for our daughter if he takes the seat of honor. The board is going to call us out on nepotism if they see you up there.

“Besides, your attire isn’t exactly appropriate for hosting the city’s elites here. Callum, I expected you to have better judgment.”

I chose comfort—a cotton tee and khakis—to better care for Sarah.

However, Tanya viewed my choice of apparel as unpresentable.

Staring at the sheer entitlement in Tanya’s face, I clenched my hands.

“I am Sarah’s father. If I don’t deserve to sit out front, what gives him the right?”

Tanya’s eyes flickered in annoyance. Before she could say anything more, Sarah burst into tears.

Gavin bounced the newborn on his lap with ease, his eyes nearly hiding the aggression.

“I should step aside, Tanya. I’d hate to be the reason you two fight.”

With that, he motioned to get up.

Tanya pressed him down on his seat by the shoulders before snapping an angry look at me.

“Sit back down. You have every right to sit here as Sarah’s godfather.

“Callum, are you really going to start when we are all trying to have a good time? Are you trying to make me look bad?

“If you have nothing better to do, you can check on catering. Don’t get in the way here.”

Several business associates approached, wine glasses in hand.

Among them, Nick Gordon eyed Gavin, then Tanya, before his gaze fell on me.

He asked with a smirk, “Ms. Cox, I don’t recognize this handsome young man. Is he with your firm too?”

Even though my marriage wasn’t known to the public, I ran the operations as VP.

Just last week, I closed a business deal with Nick.

There was no way I was a stranger to him.

Nick simply read the room. With Gavin getting the seat of honor and Tanya putting me down, Nick knew I wasn’t worth respecting.

I turned to Tanya, waiting for her response.

It wouldn’t be so bad if she introduced me as the VP or partner.

Nevertheless, all she did was give me a side glance.

“Oh, he’s Callum Hunter, the firm’s VP. He’s helping out with logistics and errands today since we’re short-staffed.

“You’re dismissed, Mr. Hunter. Can you bring my car around, so it’s ready for the guests when they leave?”

Her voice was indifferent and icy.

A server wheeled in a five-tiered cake.

“It’s time to cut the cake.

“Can we have the father cut the first slice?”

A voice boomed from the crowd.

All eyes were on Gavin.

After all, Gavin had been holding the baby, occupying the seat of honor all day.

Gavin expressed hesitation with a smile.

“Um… Tanya. Maybe Mr. Hunter should have the honors since…”

I stared at the celebration cake, a flicker of hope rising within me.

It was Sarah’s sip-and-see.

If Tanya were to assign me to cut the cake, I could let everything else slide.

“No,” Tanya answered right away.

She thrust the knife, adorned with a pink ribbon, into Gavin’s hand.

“Callum works for me. I doubt he can handle the job well. Not to mention, it’s not his place.

“You’re my good friend and Sarah’s godfather, Gavin. The first slice is meant to bless her future with success. It would mean more if you did it.”

After a pause, she added. “Don’t worry. Callum isn’t the type to be petty over something so trivial. He won’t mind.”

“Alright then.”

Gavin gripped the handle with a wide grin while Tanya took her place by his side, cradling Sarah.

They were only inches apart. Under the spotlight, they looked like the perfect couple.

Meanwhile, I stood in the shadowed corner, a clown hidden from view.

My mind flew back to that winter three years ago.

At the time, the Coxes fell into financial ruin. Tanya’s father ran away with the money, and her mother lay dying. Tanya, born of her father’s side piece, was left to shoulder the mounting debt.

It was bad enough that Tanya had a rough childhood, but she had to face the ruin of her family’s legacy as an adult.

When creditors adopted forceful means to collect, Tanya curled into a corner and called me, crying.

“I don’t have a home anymore, Callum. I’ve lost everything…”

Back then, I was the only heir to the city’s prestigious Hunter family.

My parents, Darren and Beth Hunter, never approved of Tanya when we started dating. When the Coxes fell from grace, they were against me being involved with a debt-ridden, unwanted daughter.

To break us up, they cut me off financially.

I had to sell all my fancy sports cars and watches to fund her mother’s surgery.

Even the locket I had worn since I was little had to be pawned.

Darren smashed his cup near my feet and put his finger up my nose.

“Callum, are you throwing away your legacy for that girl? You are no longer my son the moment you walk out that door!”

Crying her eyes out, Mom clutched my hand as if her life depended on it.

“That’s a never-ending, soul-crushing pit you will never fill, Callum. We don’t want you to suffer. That’s not a life for you!”

Sinking to my knees, I hung my head low and pleaded for their understanding.

I said, “Mom, Dad, I am all she has left. She’ll be ruined if I turn my back now.

“We all have our dark days. Tanya didn’t choose to be born into that family. I trust that she is destined for greatness.”

I was terrified that Tanya, left alone, would be broken by the debt collectors.

With my support, Tanya’s mother improved in health.

However, the money was quickly running out.

To get Tanya’s business off the ground and give her a fighting chance, I braved the snow, delivering orders and handing out flyers.

I took on the hardest, most thankless jobs, all for a paycheck.

It was a very brutal winter.

I would come home after a long day, my hands raw, swollen, and infected with frostbite.

It happened to be my birthday.

However, there was no money for a cake, and my hands hurt badly.

Tanya looked at my mangled hands. With tears in her eyes, she made me a peanut butter sandwich.

She handed me the sandwich while sobbing.

“I’m sorry, Callum.

“Just give me more time. One day, I will get you the biggest and baddest cake ever.

“I’m going to make sure you stand at the very top. We’ll shut them all up.

“Just wait for me, okay? Please…”

Her tears burned into my very soul.

True to her word, Tanya bought the biggest cake and reached new heights of success.

I, however, was no longer the man who shared the spotlight with her.

“Bravo!”

The cheering crowd snapped me back to reality.

Gavin took the first slice and offered it, not for the child to smash, but to Tanya’s lips.

“Tanya, you’ve been through so much. This is for you.”

With flushed cheeks, Tanya took a bite in front of everyone.

“Thank you, Gavin.”

“Mr. Nolan and Ms. Cox make a lovely couple. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think they were together.”

The crowd showered them with congratulations.

I felt sick to my stomach.

Way back then, Tanya, an overlooked child, would watch Gavin in the shadows whenever he visited the Coxes.

He was the perfect golden boy—untouchable, unattainable.

Since the fall of the Coxes, Gavin didn’t so much as send a text during his time away.

I was there for Tanya every step of the way. Yet, with newfound confidence and success, she only had eyes for Gavin.

What did that leave me with? What was I doing there, watching them play house?

The door to the venue opened.

A hotel manager entered the room, handling a plush velvet box with utmost care.

“Sorry to bother you, Ms. Cox.

“This was delivered to the front desk. It is a gift for the young lady’s sip-and-see.”

Wiping the buttercream off Gavin’s fingers, Tanya looked up nonchalantly.

“Who is the gift from?”

“The person didn’t leave a name. Only that it’s from a senior family member.” The manager handed the box over with respect.

Tanya took the box in confusion and removed the lid.

A brilliant shimmer blinded the crowd.

A golden locket lay quietly in the box.

The locket captured the intricate design of an angel.

The jewelry piece was adorned with rubies, sparkling under the light. The value was unmistakable.

Gasps filled the room.

“My goodness, look at the craftsmanship. We’re talking about a world-class artisan’s work. It must cost a fortune.”

Tanya was taken aback.

Despite her recent wealth, Tanya hadn’t seen anything of such significance and price tag.

She turned to Gavin and asked blankly, “Is this from you, Gavin?”

Caught off guard, Gavin took a moment to pull himself together.

Still, that didn’t stop Tanya from filling in the blanks. Emotions overwhelmed her.

“You sent the gift anonymously, so I wouldn’t feel bad, right?

“For something so precious, you are too kind, Gavin. You’re more of a father to Sarah than anyone is.”

The crowd stirred with cheers.

“Mr. Nolan sure is generous. Ms. Cox, he deserves a special mention for the thoughtful gift.”

Despite feeling uneasy, Gavin cleared his throat amid the envious looks.

He wrapped his arm around Tanya’s waist and smiled tenderly.

“Nothing is too much for you and the little one.”

There wasn’t a word of denial.

Tanya was nearly moved to tears.

Standing outside the crowd, I stared long and hard at the locket.

The locket was my mother’s handiwork.