My mom couldn't forget about her first love at all, so she switched me with her first love's son when we were born.

Thanks to her, I was forced to suffer during the first 20 years of my life before I finally got to reunite with my actual family and become a rich scion.

When it's time for me to choose a wife, my top priority is to find myself a woman with a romantic history as clean as a sheet. Leah Hudson is that very woman.

She's a police captain who's fearsome, intimidating, and isn't interested in men at all. But when I confess my feelings to her, she goes bright red in embarrassment.

"Melvin, you're the first man I've gotten with, so you must take responsibility for me till the very end."

I lap Leah's words up, thinking that I've finally met my true love.

That is, until Dexter Caldwell, the fake scion, returns to the country. As I stand outside my new marital home, I witness Leah embracing Dexter while wailing.

"Why did you tell me to lie to him? Why did you ask me to marry him? The thing is, Dexter, you're my first love!"

Leah Hudson's last scream ripped through my head.

It wasn't pain.

It was this sharp ringing sound, like a buzzing that spun everything out of control. I collapsed to the floor.

My phone on the table kept vibrating. I stared at it blankly, then swiped to answer. My voice cracked. "Dad?"

There was a brief silence, then a deep sigh from Adam Norton, my father, came through. "Melvin, you saw it, didn't you?"

I froze.

My fingertips turned white as I gripped the phone. I incredulously asked, "Y-You knew?"

Dad let out a mocking chuckle. As if reminiscing, he said, "Yeah. If I didn't let you see it for yourself, you'd never give up. Your mom made you suffer for 20 years out there, all for that bastard. And Leah pretended in front of you all for Dexter. Doesn't that make it clear enough for you? Love is the least important thing."

Upstairs in the master bedroom, the sounds coming through the door were revolting. It was like a filthy confirmation of what Dad had just said.

I choked back sobs, tears flooding my face. I couldn't help but ask like a child, "But Dad, then what really matters?"

"Money." Dad's voice was as cold as steel.

"Come back to the Norton residence. I've already arranged everything. Pack your bags. You'll be on a flight to Vaughan next week to study finance. I've already taken care of the spot and the recommendation letter. Don't stay here and waste your life being the husband of a police captain. That's pathetic. Melvin Norton, feelings are fleeting, but cold, hard cash will never betray you."

I stayed silent for a long time.

I turned to glance at myself in the mirror. My eyes were bloodshot, my hair a mess, and I had hickeys on my neck from Leah last night.

Every detail screamed stupidity and irony.

There was a heart-shaped sticker stuck in the center of the mirror. Leah and I were about to get married.

She lied to me. She cheated on me. She was even in our bed with someone else now.

I suddenly laughed at how naive I had been. I reached out and tore the sticker from the mirror.

The red sticker fell to the floor, and I stepped on it.

I walked out of the villa and spoke to Dad on the other end of the call. "Alright. But I want them to feel the same pain I'm feeling. Only then will I have my revenge."

Dad chuckled softly. "Then show me how you'll do it."

When I got back to the Norton residence, Leah sent me a message. "I'm busy. I can't be with you these two days. Sorry."

I scoffed and blocked her number without a second thought.

How disgusting.

Yeah, right. Busy.

She and Dexter Caldwell were probably busy shaking my bed to pieces by now.

Well, they could have these two days. I'd use the time to pack for my trip abroad.

The next day, the maid hurried in with a report. "Mr. Norton, Ms. Caldwell is here. She's at the gate, insisting on seeing you."

I frowned, feeling like something was off.

My heartless mother never showed up unless she wanted something.

"Did she say what she wanted?" I asked.

The maid shook her head. "No. She just looks anxious. No matter what we say, she refuses to leave until she sees you."

I thought for a moment. Not planning to let my mother, Everly Caldwell, in, I walked out to the estate gate. "What do you want?"

Mom was facing away, arguing fiercely with the security guard.

As soon as she heard my voice, she gripped the iron gates and yelled, "Melvin! You finally came out! Come with me! Something serious has happened!"

I frowned. Instead of opening the gate, I took a step back. "If you need help, you should call the police, not come to me. I can't help you."

Mom shook the gate harder, her voice frantic. "No! Melvin, only you can help me! Please, open the door!"

"What happened?"

She avoided the question, only urging me to come with her.

I was done watching her performance. Just as I was about to turn away, I heard hurried footsteps approaching.

"Melvin!"

It was Leah.

Her voice was rushed, and her panic was real. "Your mom wasn't lying. This is serious, and it's complicated. Come with us, and I'll explain on the way."

I hesitated.

But when my eyes landed on Leah's uniform, I decided to trust her professionalism.

I gestured to the security guard. "Open the gate."

Leah practically wrenched me outside, terrified I might lag behind for even a second.

I stumbled into the car and asked again, "What's going on? Can you tell me now?"

Leah tensed for a moment, then brushed me off. "You'll know once we're there."

My frown deepened.

I quietly sent a few quick texts.

Finally, the car slammed to a halt in front of a run-down, unfinished building.

As I got out, the sight before me took my breath away.

A man wearing a hood was holding Dexter hostage nearby, shouting at us, "Everly Caldwell! You still owe me money! Do you have it now? I'm telling you, don't pull any tricks or I'll kill your son right now! Don't talk to me about trading stuff. I've waited long enough. Give me the money!"

I immediately realized what they planned to do.

I turned to run, but Leah grabbed me, stopping me.

Mom shouted at the kidnapper, "You know about my failed investment. I really can't scrape that much together right now! But I brought Melvin! Look, you can hold him hostage. He's worth more than Dexter. He's my son with Adam Norton. The filthy rich Norton family. His dad is loaded. You can ask for as much as you want! I'll trade him for Dexter. Let Dexter go!"

The kidnapper's eyes lit up at the mention of "the Norton family". He agreed immediately. "Fine! Bring him here. I'll trade!"

I glared at Mom in disbelief. How did she have the nerve to say that?

"Everly Caldwell, you're a fucking monster! Dexter's your son, but I'm not?"

Mom, knowing she was in the wrong, couldn't even look at me.

I turned sharply and looked at Leah, who was holding me back. With a last shred of hope, I asked, "Leah, do you think the same way? You know, if I wanted to leave, you couldn't stop me. I just need your answer."

I looked at her quietly, feeling something inside me snap for good.

Leah turned her face away. Her voice was laced with guilt and conflict as she replied, "I'm sorry, Melvin. This is the best plan I could come up with. Dexter is too scared. The knife had already cut him. He can't take much more. But you're different. You're stronger and calmer."

She paused, as if trying to convince both me and herself. "Trust me. I'm a police captain. I won't let anything happen to you. But we have to keep the kidnapper calm and swap Dexter out first. He really can't handle much more."

As she talked, she pulled me toward the kidnapper.

Something inside me snapped. I tried to pull away, but Leah leveled a dagger at me. "Behave, Melvin. Keep struggling, and this blade might slip."

We stopped a few steps away from the kidnapper. Leah spoke up. "I'll count to three, and we'll switch."

The kidnapper nodded.

Leah pulled me in front of her, pressing her hand to my back. She called out, "Three! Two! One!"

In a flash, a powerful force shoved me forward.

Dexter screamed, stumbling into Leah's arms. At the same time, I felt a grip, reeking of sweat and cheap cigarettes, seize my arm.

The cold gleam of a knife pressed against my neck. The blade sliced my skin, drawing a thin line of blood.

But Leah was too busy soothing Dexter, who was shaken. "It's okay, Dexter. Don't be scared. I'm here."

She never turned to check on me.

When Dexter's eyes scanned my bleeding wound, he raised an eyebrow at me smugly.

Then, he clung to Leah even tighter. "Leah, I'm so scared! This place is filthy. Can you get me out of here?"

Leah steadied Dexter, ready to leave.

The kidnapper barked, "Nobody moves! You think you can just leave? Call that filthy rich guy from the Norton family now. Tell him to get 100 million dollars in cash here in 30 minutes. Otherwise, I'll kill his son!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Dexter grabbed Leah's arm. His voice was trembling as he said, "Leah, let's go. I can't stand it here anymore. He's just trying to scare us. He wouldn't dare actually kill anyone. If he does, he won't get the money!"

The kidnapper's anger flared at the words, and the knife dug deeper into my neck. "Pretty boy, you think I'm a coward? Try to leave, and I'll make good on my threat. You'd better call!"

The cut deepened, and blood dripped from the blade onto the ground.

My face was turning pale from the constant blood loss. When Leah saw that, her eyes were filled with conflict.

Dexter, sensing her hesitation, let out a loud cry. His body went limp as he fainted.

"Dexter!" Leah gasped, pulling him into her arms. Her moment of doubt and struggle crumbled at once.

She clenched her teeth, as if making a decision. Supporting Dexter, she forced out a few words to me. "Melvin, I'm so—"

Just then, a gunshot echoed.

A bullet lodged itself perfectly in the kidnapper's forehead, sending the knife crashing to the ground.

Behind me, I heard a heavy thud, and the grip on me vanished.

I stood frozen, forgetting even how to breathe.

Leah was clearly caught off guard by the gunshot. The shock even caused Dexter, who had been faking unconsciousness in her arms, to snap his eyes open.

Immediately after, the figures of the special forces charged up from the first floor, and Dad was among them.

He immediately rushed to me and pulled me into his arms before shouting to the team, "Medic! Hurry! My son's neck is hurt! Stop the bleeding!"

It was only then that I belatedly realized it was probably the result of the messages I sent from the car earlier.

The wound wasn't deep. A few bandages would do.

Once I was sure it wasn't serious, I gently pushed Dad's hands away and walked toward Leah.

Leah opened her mouth, her eyes darting around, like she was finding the right words to say. "Melvin, I—"

But I didn't want to hear her explain. I slapped her hard across the face.

Her head whipped to the side, and she was dazed.

I raised my hand again and landed another slap.

The second slap was so strong it sent Leah stumbling, crashing to the ground.

Before I could strike again, the stunned special forces members and medical staff finally reacted. They rushed forward to pull me away.

Dad also came over, trying to calm me down. "Melvin, you've still got a wound on your neck. Don't let your emotions get the better of you. Let's go to the hospital for a checkup. The police brass are on their way. They'll make sure we get the answers we deserve."

I shut my eyes, trying to hold back the surge of emotions threatening to break me.

Then, I followed Dad away from the scene.

Shortly after, Leonel Marks, the police chief, looked at Leah's dejected state and pointed a finger right at her face. "Forcing one hostage to trade places with another? This is an absolute disgrace to the force! Leah, you're suspended for investigation!"