After that unpleasant encounter, Rita moved in with her in-laws, taking the child with her.

She provocatively sent me a few photos—my mother-in-law holding her grandson, her smile bright enough to sting my eyes.

She used to despise my daughter, Grace, simply because she was a girl and had never helped me take care of her for even a single day.

Now, she even hosted a belated full-month celebration for that child.

On the day of the celebration, Rita brought the child, brazenly showing up in front of all the relatives.

It was as if she couldn't wait to announce to the world that the mistress had borne a son for the White family.

Since they weren't afraid of losing face, why should I care?

As long as they didn't provoke me, whether they acknowledged the grandson was none of my business.

But I underestimated their shamelessness.

A few days later, I received a lawsuit.

Rita was suing me.

She claimed that her illegitimate son had the same right to inherit as any other child and demanded a share of Leo's estate.

When I received the lawsuit, I couldn't help but laugh in anger.

They must have forgotten that I majored in law at university. Did they really think they could scare me off and carve up what's rightfully mine and my daughter's? What a pipe dream.

I'll make them face reality.

When my best friend heard about this, she was furious. "That Leo! If he weren't already dead, I'd twist his head off!"

"He actually dared to cheat on you. Did he forget what he said when pursuing you. And that mistress, how can she have the nerve to fight for the inheritance?"

Jodie, my daughter's godmother, finished cursing and then looked at me with concern. "What are you planning to do?"

I took a deep breath. "There's no way I'm letting them take what's mine."

Jodie slammed the table. "That's the spirit! We can't let that mistress get her way."

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she added, "By the way, do you remember Steven?"

"Steven Hawking?"

He was a legend at our school back in the day, always topping every class. After graduating, he went abroad and apparently did quite well for himself.

Jodie nodded. "I heard he's back in the country recently. Why don't I ask him if he'd be willing to take on your case?"

I hesitated. "Do you think he'd be interested?"

He's been handling major cases abroad, and a small inheritance dispute like this might be beneath him.

But Jodie reassured me, "We can at least ask. If it doesn't work out, we can always look for someone else."

I could only nod in agreement.

But before Jodie could get in touch with Steven, my mother-in-law's family started causing trouble again!

Without my permission, they took my daughter out of kindergarten.

When I heard the news, I rushed to my in-laws' house.

As soon as I got to the door, I heard my daughter crying inside.

Panicked, I kicked the door open.

There, I saw my mother-in-law holding her grandson while Rita was yanking on my daughter's ear.

I was furious. "What do you think you're doing?"

Rita guiltily let go of her. "Why are you shouting? I should be the one asking what kind of daughter you've raised. She dared to push my son when Mom and I weren't around. She has no manners at all."

I know my daughter well. She would never hurt someone for no reason.

Before I could say anything, my daughter ran over and hugged me, crying, "Mommy, I didn't do it. He fell by himself. I didn't do anything. Why won't Grandma believe me?"

Her tears broke my heart.

I held her tightly. She's just a child. Why should she be dragged into adult matters?

But Rita continued to point at my daughter and bark like a dog, "You're still lying! There were only two of you there. If it wasn't you, then who else?"

I couldn't stand it anymore, so I stood up and slapped her.

I used almost all my strength in this slap.

She wasn't prepared for it and fell back onto the couch.

She glared at me, enraged. "How dare you hit me?"

I sneered and slapped her a few more times across the face. "I could tolerate you seducing my husband and giving birth to this illegitimate child, but if you dare to bully my daughter, I won't forgive you."

Rita was too stunned to fight back.

Meanwhile, my mother-in-law was frantically pacing with her grandson in her arms. "Olivia, you're crazy! Let her go! The children are watching!"

Hearing this, I glanced at my daughter.

She was standing there quietly, tears in her eyes.

Once I had let out my anger, I stood up and walked over to her. "Grace, don't be afraid. Mommy won't let anyone hurt you again."

My daughter nodded obediently.

But my mother-in-law was so angry that her face turned red. "Olivia, is this how you raise a child? I think Grace should live with her grandpa and me from now on. That way, she won't be influenced by you."

Influenced by me?

With a father who cheated and parents who welcomed the mistress' child into the house, I couldn't possibly endorse such family values.

I grabbed my daughter and was about to leave when they blocked the door. "She's my granddaughter. You can't take her away."

I finally understood their plan. Since I refused to give a share of the inheritance to Rita's son, they wanted to use my daughter to force my hand.

But they miscalculated. I'm her mother. they took her without my permission, which is grounds for calling the police.

When they refused to move, I raised my hand, threatening to hit the child in my mother-in-law's arms.

They were so scared they immediately shielded him.

Taking advantage of the moment, I shoved them aside and warned, "If you ever try this again, I won't let you off so easily!"

To prevent them from taking Grace again, I sent her to stay with my parents for a while, asking them to take care of her.

Just as I had settled her in, my phone rang.

A deep, pleasant male voice came through the line. "Olivia?"

I was momentarily stunned. "Is this Steven?"