Chapter 1

My husband had a low sperm count, so he begged me to do IVF.

Right before the embryos were created, I accidentally overheard him on the phone with his first love.

"Jasmine, I already paid someone off to swap Natalie's eggs with yours."

"There's no way I'd let her have my baby. She's only good for carrying our child."

I didn't cry. I didn't scream.

I just paid someone to swap my eggs back.

And while I was at it, I had the doctor replace my husband's sperm with my ex-boyfriend's.

Twenty-five years later, his supposedly innocent mistress showed up at my front door, grabbing my daughter and crying her eyes out:

"My sweet girl! I'm your real mother!"

My daughter, Chloe, and I walked through the front door after returning from an overseas medical project, only to freeze in our tracks.

The house was an absolute mess. My clothes, shoes, and luxury skincare were tossed all over the floor.

Jasmine was standing there with her hands on her hips, barking orders at our housekeeper.

"I'm the mistress of this estate now. Throw this trash out immediately!"

Julian, my deadbeat husband who barely ever set foot in this house, had his arm around her, looking completely smitten.

"Honey, you must be exhausted from dealing with all this junk. Sit down and rest."

A bunch of distant relatives chimed in right on cue, telling Jasmine not to overwork herself.

I raised an eyebrow, set my suitcase aside, and looked straight at Julian.

"What's the special occasion? Quite a party you've got going on."

Chloe stepped up beside me, folding her arms coldly and glaring at Jasmine with pure disgust.

She had already pieced together who this woman was.

My mother-in-law was sitting at the head of the table, looking deeply uncomfortable, opening her mouth but saying nothing.

Before Julian could even speak, Jasmine burst into tears and lunged straight toward Chloe.

"My sweet baby girl! I'm your real mother!"

Chloe dodged her effortlessly, her face twisting in revulsion as if Jasmine were toxic waste.

Taking a step back, her voice was ice. "My mother's name is Natalie."

I nodded with quiet satisfaction.

That's my girl. I didn't raise her to be a pushover.

Now, it was my turn to teach these clowns a lesson.

I took Chloe's hand, pulled her behind me, and swung my arm.

SLAP!

My hand connected hard with Jasmine's cheek.

The sharp crack echoed through the entire living room.

"Watch who you're calling family," I said coldly, my gaze cutting like a blade.

Julian rushed forward, catching Jasmine as she stumbled, pointing a shaking finger at me as he roared:

"Natalie, are you out of your damn mind?! How dare you lay a hand on Jasmine!"

He raised his hand, moving to hit me.

Chloe didn't hesitate. She stepped right in front of him and slapped him clean across the face.

"You touch my mom and see what happens," Chloe said. Her voice wasn't loud, but it held absolute authority.

Julian froze, completely stunned before his face twisted in pure rage.

"I'm your father! How dare you hit me?!"

He raised his hand again, aiming for Chloe.

Jasmine grabbed his arm in a panic, putting on her best martyr act:

"Julian, don't! Please don't hit her, that's our daughter!"

Seeing her play the devoted mother made me want to gag.

Julian dropped his hand, glaring murderously at Chloe.

"If it weren't for your mother, I'd teach you some damn respect right now!"

Chloe let out a cold laugh. "Try it. I'd love to see you try."

That fierce fire in her eyes was an exact mirror of me when I was young.

I felt a surge of pride. That's my daughter, through and through.