The birthday banquet was set for ten o'clock in the morning, two days later.

That day, I arrived at the restaurant early. I went over the menu and the event program again and again, determined that not a single detail be overlooked.

Most of the guests were from the Grant family. None of my own relatives came.

Back then, when I defied everyone's objections and insisted on raising the twin sons of my husband, Jeremy Grant, and his mistress, Janey Winston, my parents had been so furious they nearly collapsed from rage. Even after all these years, they still couldn't understand why I had thrown away a good life just to suffer and raise another woman's children.

Supported by relatives, my in-laws entered the hall. They went straight to the main seats and sat down. My husband's elder brother and younger sister, along with their families, filled the seats at either side.

The main table was set for eight. Surrounded by relatives, my two sons were pressed close on either side, leaving no place at all for me.

"Alison, what are you standing there for? Serve Mom and Dad some drink."

Lilian picked up a handful of chips and shot me a glance. She was my husband's younger sister. Her own marriage had been miserable—abused by her husband and scorned for failing to bear a son. But last year, at forty, she finally managed to give birth to one.

Now, with a boy in her arms, her back had straightened, her tone sharpened, and her arrogance swelled.

My two sons tried to rise and help me, but their grandparents pressed them back down.

"My sweet darling grandsons, sit with Grandma. Talk with me. Look at these two fine young men—so tall, so handsome. They look just like their father."

"I'd say they take after Janey more," Jeremy's brother muttered.

My in-laws shot him a glare so sharp he shrank back into silence.

I circled the main table, pouring juice, refilling wine glasses. Finally, unable to bear it, my sons dragged over an extra chair, forcing a space for me between them.

"Mom," one of them said, "our birthday is also the day you suffered the most. Sit. Rest with us."

At that, the table fell silent. Faces shifted; Lilian smirked with mockery. "If Jeremy knew his sons had been raised so well by you, he'd be overjoyed."

My father-in-law cleared his throat, and Lilian instantly shut her mouth.

"Alison," my mother-in-law said then, eyes narrowing with a smile, "since today's such a good day, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."

"Please, go ahead," I replied.

"You see, with Sammy and Scott heading off to university soon, that three-bedroom apartment will be awfully empty with just you living there. Once they leave, why don't Henry and I move in? While you're at work, I can cook for you."

So this was her real intention.

My parents had paid the down payment for my apartment. Originally, the deed was supposed to carry Jeremy's name. But half a year after our marriage, he had taken Janey out for a drive, and the two of them never returned. I received what was left of him in a small urn.

My parents, seeing how hard life was for me, had helped with the mortgage ever since. For that reason, the deed bore only my name.

Now, with the boys nearly grown, my in-laws, Henry Grant and Wendy Alden, had set their eyes on my home.

"Mom, it's not that I don't want you to stay," I said evenly. "But Sammy and Scott will be going abroad for further studies. I've already sold the apartment to prepare. I plan to buy a one-bedroom for myself, and use the rest of the money to support their education."

My father-in-law's face darkened. He slammed the table with his palm.

"You're our daughter-in-law. How could you make such a big decision without consulting us?"

Feigning surprise, I answered, "But I'm doing all these for Jeremy's children."

"The money from the sale… hand it to Wendy. She'll keep it safe. I don't trust you with such large sums. You spend too freely."

Normally, if I had explained it was for the boys' sake, they might not have pressed further. But today, they seemed to treat me as though my role was over now that the children had been admitted to university.

I kept my composure. "I've already arranged everything with a lawyer. The money is locked into a growth trust. From now on, Sammy and Scott will each receive a thousand dollars a month, every month, until they turn forty."

At that, Henry's scowl eased, his brows loosening.

"Now that's better. At least you know enough to leave the money to the boys. Forget about buying another apartment. Just rent something small. No need to waste the money."

Just as the family's chatter refused to die down, the restaurant manager walked over and handed me a microphone.

"Today is both a birthday banquet and a celebration for these two young men's admission to university," he announced. "As their mother, perhaps you could say a few words—share some thoughts on raising them."

I accepted the microphone.

"Thank you all for coming to celebrate my sons, Scott and Sammy. Today—"

"Today my sons got into Corvell, but what kind of occasion is this without their real parents here?" A voice cut me off mid-sentence. A man and a woman entered, hand in hand.

I lifted my head and froze. Even after eighteen years, I knew them instantly. One was my long-dead husband, Jeremy. The other, his mistress, Janey.

The hall erupted into gasps and whispers.

Yet my in-laws, seated in the place of honor, didn't even flinch. Not only were they unshaken by their son's resurrection, but they actually pulled Janey to their side and gave her a seat of honor.

And Jeremy—the man whose ashes I had buried nearly two decades ago—strode right up to me.

"Alison, you were never much of a wife. But as a mother? I'll give you credit. You did well."

At last, Sammy and Scott seemed to grasp what was happening.

"What's going on?" they demanded.

Jeremy pointed at Janey. "She's your real mother. Alison is just a barren hen who couldn't give me children. If it hadn't been for her refusing to divorce me—threatening me with death—our family would never have been torn apart for eighteen years!"

Before I could speak, the Grant family at the main table chimed in, one after another.

"That's right. Back then, Alison refused to let Jeremy go, and that's why you were separated from your true parents all these years."

"Don't be fooled by her raising you well. Her heart has always been twisted."

"But now, everything's worked out. You boys have grown up, and you've made it into Corvell. At last, you can be reunited with your real parents."

My sons stood frozen, confused and dazed, not knowing what to believe.

Janey broke into tears, clutching their hands while fumbling with her phone.

"I am your real mother. Every year, I send you gifts. I even watched you secretly after school."

Then she turned to me with glistening eyes. "Alison, thank you for raising my sons so well."

Jeremy slipped his arm around her shoulders, casting me a mocking glance.

"Now, come with me to finalize the divorce. It's been eighteen years. I'm going to marry Janey. She deserves that."

Everyone expected me to explode, to weep and rail against them. The Grant relatives leaned forward, eager to watch the drama unfold.

Instead, I smiled. "Very well. Tomorrow, I'll divorce you. Then the four of you can finally reunite."

Gasps rippled through the hall. Stunned silence followed. No one could believe it—not the guests, not the Grant family, not even Jeremy and Janey.

Eighteen years of sacrifice—just handed over, like nothing?

Even they stared wide-eyed, at a loss. They had expected tears, screams, and desperate pleading. The last thing they imagined was my calm agreement.

Jeremy's face twisted in disbelief. "Are you out of your damn mind?"

I met his doubt head-on. "Are you not happy with my answer?"

Janey tugged at his sleeve. He caught on immediately, fumbling in his bag and pulling out a contract, rushing as if afraid I'd change my mind.

"Sign the divorce agreement. From now on, the boys have nothing to do with you. You'll never see them again."

I didn't even glance at the pages. I signed my name at the end.

"Mom? You're abandoning us?" My sons' eyes brimmed with hurt. They couldn't understand why I signed so quickly and easily.

Janey tucked the agreement safely away.

"Alison, thank you for making this possible. Without you, we could never have lived so freely all these years."

Grinning triumphantly, she looked at my two tall sons. "Eighteen years, and now they're ours again. You've done your part. You can leave."

My father-in-law waved his hand impatiently, dismissing me like a servant. "That's enough. Leave."

I didn't move. Instead, I drew a slow breath. The moment I had waited for, the truth I had carried for eighteen years, had finally come.

"Since the agreement is signed," I said, "it's time you all learned the truth."

"What do you mean?" Janey frowned.

Relief washed over me as I exhaled. At last, it was ending.

I clapped my hands sharply and turned toward the entrance. "Come in."

A few seconds later, two figures stepped into the hall.