Before marrying Oliver, all she could think about was getting revenge against the Morton family. On how much she hated Oliver for what he had done to her and her family.

But now, her plan for vengeance seemed to be in the distant past. After spending this time with her husband, she could no longer even hate him anymore.

Had she finally forgiven him, especially after learning that her son was still alive? Should she tell him about their son? Should she finally reveal her true self?

"How is he?" Sophia anxiously asked, shoulders tensed, eyes uneasy, lips clipped between her teeth, and fingers tightly entwined on her lap as she patiently waited for an answer.

She guessed her other concerns could wait for another time. At the moment, her eyes focused on the doctor, who had just returned to the room with her son’s test results. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Even though she had discovered that there was a chance that she could still reunite with her son, she would never abandon Caleb.

As far as she was concerned, Caleb was hers, even if they never shared the same blood. Even if he didn’t come from her womb.

For her, blood was not thicker than water. Sometimes, even strangers acted more like family than the people who actually came from the same roots.

"Is he doing better?" Even Oliver, who had always been in control, appeared to be agitated as he sat beside her in the Doctor’s clinic, tightly holding her hand.

According to Caleb’s earlier diagnosis, if Caleb responded effectively to his treatment and rehabilitation plan, then his road to recovery might be sooner rather than later.

However, if the therapy and medication failed, then it had a high likelihood that Caleb would have to undergo another course of action.

"Based on the latest examinations we conducted, the results showed significant improvement in his condition." The doctor nodded his head as he skimmed through the file in his hand.

For a minute, she wanted to pinch herself, wondering if she was dreaming. Did she hear the doctor correctly?

"If he continued to respond positively to our treatment plan, then there is every reason to believe that he would soon recover fully from his illness." The doctors assured them.

Seeing the relief in Oliver’s eyes as she turned to him finally confirmed that this was all real. Caleb was alright. At least he would be fine.

"That does mean he could finally live a normal life." She wanted nothing but the best for her son. She would give anything to see Caleb running, smiling, and laughing all day under the sun.

Squeezing her husband’s hand, she waited in anticipation, holding her breath. Afraid that she might be jumping the gun.

But the smile that spread on the doctor’s lips had finally convinced her that she had been worrying for nothing. Caleb would soon be experiencing a regular childhood.

"Did you hear that, Oliver? Caleb is going to be fine." She gasped as the trapped air in her lungs finally escaped.

Through her happiness, her hands wrapped around his shoulders as she pulled him into a tight embrace. Automatically, she also felt his firm arms around her back, as relief washed over them.

It had been a long battle. But Caleb had finally won.

"We should celebrate," Oliver suggested as soon as they left the hospital. "Caleb and I could finally share the things that father and son usually do."

Out of the corner of her eyes, she could see the excitement in her husband’s eyes. She could also imagine the two of them playing across the yard. Catching a ball, playing hoops, biking around the estate, and doing other things.

Of course, she was happy for Oliver and Caleb. But as she watched her husband, she could not help but think of their own son. Once she found him, which she knew in her heart she would, would Oliver love him the same way as he loved Caleb?

"Hey, what’s wrong?" Oliver’s question suddenly penetrated her thoughts. "You have gone awfully quiet." His eyes were laced with concern as he glanced at her. "Are you alright?"

Realizing that she must have zoned out as she thought of their missing son, she quickly smiled and reached out her hand to him. "I was just thinking of Caleb. Of our family."

It was not a complete lie, although she had omitted some truth.

Right now was not the time to confess about her true identity. But when would be the right time, she wondered, afraid that if he finally learned the truth, he would hate her?

Then, she would lose him again and the son that she had learned to love.

No, not yet.

"Maybe we should plan for a family trip." He proposed, acting like he could not contain his excitement as he tapped his fingers on the steering wheel.

Frankly, she also felt the same way.

"Not so fast. Caleb still needs his treatment. We could not rush his recovery." She reminded him.

Even though Caleb showed signs of improvement, he still needed a few more months to complete his medications and rehabilitation.

Then, perhaps in a year or two, Caleb could finally do what a normal child could do.

"Yeah, you’re right." Oliver sighed, feeling a little disappointed. "Baby steps."

Yeah, baby steps.

It was probably for the best.

An hour later, she was back in the office, sitting on her desk, and perusing the documents that Oliver’s secretary had personally handed to her. It was some project that Oliver wanted her to handle.

Oliver had finally decided to trust her with more projects in the company, believing that she was capable of delivering good results.

More than that, "As my wife, I trust you." He told her.

It felt like they were truly man and wife. As if they had wiped out all their past, and were living only for the future.

But could this last? Could they build a family with a foundation of buried emotions, a wall of hidden secrets, and a roof of lies?

"Hmmp!" She stared at the folder, especially at the bold letters written on the front page.

CONFIDENTIAL!

It was exactly the loaded gun she had been looking for. An ammunition she could use to destroy the Morton Group. The means for her revenge.

"But I’m giving him a second chance." She muttered to herself, convincing herself that there was no more need for vengeance.

Once she had found their missing son, she would come clean. She would tell him the truth about her identity, their son, and their past.

Until then, she just had to keep their family together. She just had to build a family with Oliver and Caleb until Edison could reunite with them.

"That’s it." Finally, she decided on her new game plan.

Halfway through the file, she received a message on her phone. Seeing that it was from an unknown number, she quickly ignored it, assuming it was just spam.

She had better things to do with her time than waste it on prank messages.

But a few minutes later, her phone buzzed again with another message. Then, followed by several more from the same number.

"What the heck!" She finally grabbed her phone and opened her inbox. Both curious and annoyed.

But her eyes widened in suspicion as she read the text.

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR SON, I NEED YOU TO GIVE ME A COPY OF YOUR PROPOSED PROJECT WITH THE VICENZO GROUP.

"Damn it!" Who was sending her these prank messages?

Instantly, her eyes landed on the same folder that the text message referred to.

Was that a mere coincidence? Or was somebody watching her?

Hastily, she let her eyes wander around the room, trying to catch anyone who might be looking in her direction at that very moment.

Except for a few people working on their tables, no one seemed to be acting suspiciously. Everyone appeared to be minding their own business.

"What about my son?" Her eyes repeated the words as she carefully studied the text.

Whoever sent her that message was aware of her missing son.

Who?

More importantly, what did that person know?

For a few minutes, all she could do was stare at the message, debating whether to believe the sender or not.

Finally, she opened the reply screen and started typing.

WHO ARE YOU?

Using her common sense, she doubted if the sender would use her own number. If she had to guess, the sender probably used a burner phone.

Still, she wanted to communicate with her prank caller, wishing whoever it was would make a mistake and give her a clue.

Then, another ping.

WHO I AM DOESN’T MATTER.

YOU HAVE WHAT I WANT.

I HAVE WHAT YOU WANT.

For a minute, she just stared at the message, unable to decide on what to do.

Then, another buzz.

DON’T THINK OF GOING TO THE COPS OR TELLING ANYBODY ABOUT OUR DEAL OR ELSE...

YOU WILL NEVER FIND YOUR SON EVER AGAIN.

A jolt of shiver ran down her spine as she read the last line.

If this person was actually telling her the truth, would he actually hurt her son if she didn’t do what he wanted, assuming that he was a man?

Hastily, she tapped on her phone, pressing hard on the keyboard.

I NEED PROOF.

Before she did something that she might regret, she needed evidence that would support this man’s claim.

Seconds passed.

Then, minutes.

Tapping on her table, she almost thought that the man was just another fraud as her phone remained silent.

Until her body jerked when her phone rang again. It was another message.

This time, it was not a text message but a photo.