Chapter 1

Tags: Stolen School Spot, Secret Family, Cheating Husband, Divorce Revenge

Getting into a top school district was brutal. That was why I shelled out 1.2 million dollars for a house in the best school zone in town.

Today, I took my six-year-old daughter to register for first grade.

The clerk looked at her computer screen, frowning in confusion.

"Ma'am, the school district enrollment spot tied to this address has already been claimed."

I stood there in complete shock.

"What?"

This was a brand-new home. The official property registry and residency papers only had three names on them: mine, my husband's, and our daughter's.

How could it already be used?!

Fuming, I rushed back home to dig out our family residency documents and deed to demand an explanation from the school board.

When I flipped open the registry booklet, my jaw dropped.

Two completely random names had been added right onto our family record.

A woman and a young boy.

The woman was named Sarah Hall, thirty years old. The boy was Leo Hall, six years old—the exact same age as my daughter.

For some reason, those names sounded vaguely familiar.

Just as I was racking my brain, the front door clicked open. My husband, Mark Miller, walked inside.

"Babe, I can't drive you to work tomorrow," he said casually.

"I promised my coworker, Sarah, that I'd help her out. I'm taking her son, Leo, to his elementary school orientation."

My mind went blank for a second before the realization hit me like a bucket of ice water.

Mark was the head of household on our home's title and legal residency file.

Without his explicit signature and consent, how could this mother and son ever be registered under our roof?!

I shoved the paperwork in his face, pointing directly at the last two lines.

"Mark, what the hell is this?" I demanded.

"Why are Sarah Hall and Leo Hall registered as residents of our house?"

Mark put on a totally blank look.

He took the documents from my hand, pretending to be utterly shocked.

"Wait... what? There are other people on our file? I had no idea!"

He frowned at me. "Why were you suddenly going through our family papers anyway?"

Hearing him play dumb only fueled the rage boiling inside my chest.

"Cut the crap, Mark!"

"You're the primary holder on the title. If you didn't personally sign off on this, how could they possibly transfer their residency here?"

Seeing that he couldn't play innocent, a flash of guilt flickered across his face.

Then, pretending to have just remembered, he gave me an apologetic smile.

"Oh! Now that you mention it, I remember!"

"Sarah has been going through a nasty divorce lately. Her ex kicked her off their home lease, along with the kid's papers. She was in a bind, so I let her temporarily park their residency under our address. She's moving it out soon anyway."

He waved his hand dismissively. "Don't worry, it's really not a big deal."

Looking at his smug, grinning face, my knuckles turned white.

"Not a big deal?" I snapped.

"I went to register Mia for elementary school today. The administration told me our address's spot was already taken! Was it taken by that little boy, Leo? We spent 1.2 million dollars on this house specifically so Mia could attend the best school in the district!"

"Now all that money is down the drain, and our daughter has nowhere to go. And you're telling me it's not a big deal?!"

Seeing how furious I was, the smile melted off Mark's face.

He fumbled through his briefcase, pulled out a few glossy brochures, and shoved them into my hands.

"Honey, calm down. It's bad for your health to get this worked up," he said soothingly.

"Mia is my daughter too. Do you really think I wouldn't plan ahead for her? Look, I've already taken care of everything."

Mark tapped his finger on one of the brochures.

"See? She doesn't have to go to Oakridge Elementary. This private academy is great too. Amazing teachers, beautiful campus, and top college acceptance rates!"

"Since Leo already used our district spot, let's just let it go. It's just elementary school, there's really no need to—"

Before he could even finish his excuse, I saw right through his pathetic scheme.

Enraged, I slapped the brochures right across his face.

"Let it go? Like hell I will!"

"Oakridge Elementary is one of the top three public schools in the entire state! Parents kill to get their kids in there! Instead of giving that elite spot to your own daughter, you gave it to a coworker's kid? Do you even hear yourself?!"

I was sick and tired of arguing in circles with him.

I gave him a direct, cold ultimatum:

"Let me tell you something, Mark. I don't care what kind of relationship you have with this Sarah woman—whether you're just 'helpful coworkers' or sleeping behind my back. That school spot belongs to my daughter, Mia!"

"I don't care how you do it. Get that spot back."

I took a deep breath, leaving no room for negotiation.

"If you don't fix this, we're getting a divorce!"