The Tycoon's Wife and the Forbidden Heir

I'm a traditional wife.

Raised that way from the start. A good woman listens to her husband, gives him children, keeps the family whole.

So when my husband brought home his first lovehis mistressand informed me they had an illegitimate son together, I made a decision.

I drove out that very night to bring the boy home myself.

Come home with me.

My husband's rich. I'll spend his money raising you.

Why are you being so nice to me?

I want you to like me.

Being a stepmother is never easy.

Then can I kiss you?

I'm a traditional womanI can't say yes to that. But a mother can say yes to her son.

He stared at me. You play it this wild?

Later, I took his hand, walked up to my husband and his first love, and saidAll that matters is the four of us living well together.

We've been married eighteen years, but Patsy Fox is the one I've always loved.

The one who isn't loved is the real other woman.

I looked at the man standing in front of me, Edgar Delgado, and the woman in his arms with that taunting look in her eyes.

I pressed a hand to my chest and let the tears slip down in silence.

Patsy let out a thin scoffWho's that little performance for? A woman your age crying is just ugly. You really think a man's going to feel sorry for you?

I turned and glanced at the mirror beside me.

The woman in the glass was slender, her bare face flawless, her eyes rimmed red, two teardrops still clinging to her long lashes. She looked beautiful.

Patsy really had no taste.

Seeing me drift, Patsy only got angrier. She stepped forward and gripped my shoulders, her voice turning shrill.

Edgar and I were together more than ten years agoyour wedding night, he was in bed with me. One time was all it took and I was pregnant, not like you, all these years and still a hen that can't lay a single egg.

I looked at Edgar, disbelief plain on my face.

He gave a quiet nodYes. That's right. We have a child.

But don't worry. As long as you don't make a scene, the title of Mrs. Delgado is still yours.

I bit down hard on my lip.

Then let out a quiet breathUnderstood.

My husband had been cheating on me. He had an illegitimate son with another woman.

But what was I supposed to do?

I'm a traditional wife.

Everything I'd been taught since childhood was how to be a good one.

Listen to your husband. Whatever he says is right.

Give him children. Keep the family together, complete and whole.

I ran my hand over my flat stomach, the faint lines of muscle still visible beneath my palm.

All these years of marriage, and I was already forty. I still hadn't given Edgar a single child.

I really wasn't a qualified wife.

I'll make it up to you.

Ours was an arranged marriage between powerful families.

To secure his position in the Delgado family, Edgar married me fresh out of college, all so he could tie himself to the Mason name.

As a husband, he'd been nearly impossible to fault over the years.

Paycheck turned over on time every month.

An unlimited black card for me to swipe however I pleased.

Carefully chosen gifts for every anniversary, every holiday, every birthday.

Except for today, when he walked in with another woman and a child.

Until now, everyone who knew us called him the model husband.

I gave a flat mm and went back to my room.

I locked myself in there for the rest of the day.

When Edith came up with my dinner tray, I askedEdith, have I really been that bad a wife?

Her face softened with something she couldn't quite hideMa'am, you mustn't wear yourself out grieving over him.

I shook my head slowly.

What hurt was knowing I'd failed in my duty as a wife.

Just now downstairs, I heard that man and that woman talking. Their illegitimate son refuses to acknowledge the family. He'd rather die than come back to the Delgados.

Ma'am, as long as you have a baby soon, no outsider can take the Delgado family fortune.

The moment I heard Edith's words, I shot to my feet.

The boy won't come back?

That's right. At least he has some self-awareness. He knows his origins aren't exactly respectable.

No. No, that wouldn't do.

I was a traditional wife. Stand by your husband, raise his childrenthat was the job, and the job was mine.

I hadn't given him a single child of my own. I certainly couldn't let his child stay out there on his own.

A family should be whole.

I had to bring him back.

Natalie made some inquiries downstairs and found out the boy was in college.

I sent for my makeup artist straightaway, sat for a full face, then chose something gentlean outfit that said approachable, not intimidating.

I was a traditional wife. A wife's looks were her husband's face to the world.

So for all these years,

I had taken meticulous care of myself.

All so that at every banquet, someone would say,

She's stunning. Edgar Delgado is one lucky man.

A university campus, tens of thousands of people milling around.

Of course I needed to look even more polished than usual.

The Delgado family's image mattered.

I stood outside the university gates comparing faces to the photo on my phone for ages, but I couldn't spot the boy.

The investigator I'd hired said he went to the caf across the street to work a shift at this time every day.

So why hadn't I seen him?

Had I come to the wrong school?

I stepped back a couple of paces and looked up at the sign.

Kingsbridge University.

No, this was right.

After a moment's thought, I headed straight for the building where his class was held.

According to the file, his last class was Engineering Mechanics, in Building Fifteen.

I walked in my heels, poised and elegant, for what felt like forever.

Then I walked for another eternity, faking the poise.

The campus was enormous, and I was exhausted.

But I was a traditional wife. I couldn't complain about being tired, and I absolutely could not look anything less than put-together.

By the time I reached the building, spine stiff and one hand braced against my lower back,

I saw the boy from the photo cornered at the bottom of the stairwell by a group of thugs.

They were bullying my son?

Wait. No.

Bullying my husband's son.

Absolutely not.

I ignored the pain screaming through my feet and swept up those stairs like a woman who had never suffered a day in her life.

I put myself in front of the boy, shielding him behind me.

I'm telling you right now, campus security and the faculty are on their way.

If you know what's good for you, I suggest you leave.

The thugs exchanged a look.

Probably not wanting the trouble, they spat a few curses and left.

I spun around to face him. Are you okay? Are you hurt?

He looked at me strangely.

He stammered, You're the woman they mentioned.

What woman?

Oh.

His father's wife.

That's right.

I reached out, took his arm, and didn't let go. Good. You're coming home with me.

He froze, and both ears flushed cherry-red in an instant.

That fast? That'sisn't that a bit much?

What's wrong with it?

We just met. I mean, you're beautiful, butgoing home together already? Besides, I still have my part-time shift.

Come home with me. I'll provide for you.

For some reason, the shy expression he'd been wearing a second ago vanished, replaced by something dead serious.

His brow furrowed, and his voice dropped a few degrees.

You want to keep me?

The moment he came back to the Delgado family, he'd be Edgar's son. And Edgar's son was my son.

He and his mother, Patsy FoxI was keeping them both.

Mm-hm. I nodded seriously.

You got money? You think you can support a grown man? And you just want to take me home.

My husband's rich. I can spend his money to take care of you.

You want me to be your side piece?!

I tilted my head and looked at him, thinking this kid had gotten knocked around so hard he couldn't even keep his words straight. His mother was the side piece. He wasn't.

Besides, I didn't mind Patsy's existence.

So I nodded again, just as seriously.

Mm-hm. My husband is really, really rich. More money than he could ever spend. Come home with me.

He stared at me for a long time, then spat out a single wordFuck.

And let me pull him along as I walked out.

This kid was Fred Delgado, a top student at Kingsbridge University.

Good-looking, too. He'd inherited the best of both his parents.

His face still had marks from the thugs who'd roughed him up.

I was worried Edgar might see the bruises and assume I'd been the one mistreating his precious son.

So I took Fred to one of the villas under my name first and let him heal up there.

According to him:

His lousy excuse of a fatheralso known as my dear husbandhad cut off every cent of his living expenses to force him to come home.

And every part-time job Fred managed to land, Edgar sabotaged.

Very much in keeping with my husband's usual style.

I looked at the cuts on that handsome face, and it hurt a little just seeing them. I reached over and stroked his hair.

Poor thing. Once we go home, everything will be better.

Let me treat your cuts first.

He was well-behaved, sitting on the sofa with his hands gripping his knees, a little stiff.

The iodine stung his wound and I leaned in without thinking to blow on itbut the more I blew, the redder his face got.

Are you running a fever?

I pressed my forehead against his to check his temperature.

You're getting hotter and hotter. I'm taking you to the hospital.

He shoved me away in a panic and bolted into the bathroomI'm fine.

I knocked on the doorYou really don't need to go to the hospital?

No.

All right then.

Kids these days. So stubborn. He was practically panting and still insisting he was fine.

I dissolved a fever reducer in water and watched him drink every drop before I felt at ease.

When I was about to leave, he seemed almost surprisedYou're just... leaving?

Mm. I'll come see you again tomorrow.

At the door, I glanced back. He was standing alone in front of the sofa. Such a pitiful kid.

While he was recovering, I went to pick him up from class every day, afraid he'd get bullied again.

Also a good chance to build up some mother-son bonding.

Today was a day off. I took him to the mall and dragged him around the whole placeanything he so much as glanced at twice, I had it wrapped up.

Then I spent the whole day with him at an amusement park.

And while I was at it, I stood up for him. Every thug who'd laid a hand on him before ended up in a holding cell.

That evening on the way back, he asked meWhy are you so good to me?

Because I want you to like me.

Something flickered across Fred's face, surprise, and then the flush hit hard.

That's your only wish?

Mm.

A whole family, together, getting along, loving each other. That's the biggest wish a traditional wife could have.

He moved toward me, then pulled back.

After a few seconds of wrestling with himself, he suddenly brought his face close to mine.

So close I could feel the roughness of his breathingThen your wish just came true. I like you.

I quietly stepped back'Sister'? I'm a traditional woman. Given the relationship between us, you should be calling me Mom.

His eyes lit up, excitement practically spilling out of them.

Wow, you really play it that wild.

Then can I kiss you?

Since when did young people talk to their elders like this?

I can't give you what you're asking for. But a mother can grant her son a request.

Can I kiss you? Mom.

Okay.

I nodded.

A kiss landed softly on my forehead. Then my eyelids. Then my cheeks

Hold onwasn't that a few too many?

I knew he was happy with me as a stepmother.

But this was a little much.

At dinner that evening.

Edgar came downstairs with Patsy draped all over him.

I didn't say a word, just waited until he sat down before I started eating.

During the meal, they brought up Fred.

That boy still hasn't come around?

Stubborn as ever.

Patsy looked at me with open prideYou have no idea how amazing our Fred is. Top of his class at Kingsbridge University, and he's got real backbonewon't touch his parents' money. Of course, being that proud can backfire sometimes, right?

I thought of Fred swiping his card at the mall without blinking.

"Principled" was not the word that came to mind.

He's young. It's normal.

You've never had children, so you wouldn't understand. Kids these days are little tyrants, impossible to manage. Honestly, I envy you. Not being able to have kids means you never have to deal with any of it.

Unbidden, what surfaced in my mind was Fred's facethe way it always flushed red, and those wet, earnest eyes whenever he looked at me.

I thought they had the wrong idea about their own child.

Fred was perfectly well-behaved.

After more than a month of looking after him, there was no trace left of the beaten-down boy I'd first taken in. He practically glowed now, and he clung to me a little more each day.

I decided the timing was right.

Today, I would bring him home.

A family couldn't stay scattered forever.

That evening, I waited for Fred outside the school gates.

This time, two friends came out with him.

The moment Fred spotted me, he jogged over and took my hand.

His friends started in from behindNo wonder you've been ditching my sisteryou've been hiding someone like her this whole time.

Fred frownedShe's not your sister.

His friend shook his headIf I had someone this pretty and loaded looking out for me, I'd keep her hidden. No way I'd let you guys anywhere near her.

I had no idea what they were going on about.

I looked up and caught Fred's gaze.

Ready to go home?

He didn't answer. The other boy jumped inHome? What's your deal with him exactly? Do I still have a shot?

I glanced at Fred, unsure how to answer.

I was afraid that blurting out our relationship in front of his friends would put him in an awkward spot.

After all, the whole illegitimate-son thing seemed to bother him.

Fred slung his arm around my shoulders, looked down at me, and raised one browShe's my mom.

I don't know why, but those two words from his mouth turned my knees to water.

Still, seeing that he wasn't ashamed of it put me at ease.

I cleared my throat and turned to his two friendsHi. I'm his mother. Please look after him for me.

Then I took Fred's hand as naturally as breathingCome on. Your dad's been waiting for us.

In the car.

He was quiet for a long time.

I noticed how he kept opening his mouth and stopping himself, so I askedWhat's wrong?

He wasn't having second thoughts, was he?

Nothing. Just turns out I mistook you for someone else.

Hm?

He turned to look at me, a quiet smile surfacingBut that's not so bad either.

By the way, when you said you wanted to come home and see Dad, what did you mean?

Your dad misses you. Let's go back together.

He froze for a second, then scratched his headIsn't that a little fast?

Not at allhe's been waiting a long time for this.

The smile at the corner of Fred's mouth kept growing wider.

My heart finally settled.

See? He wanted to come home too.

It was their approach to the boy that had been all wrong.

Good thing they had me.

Otherwise this family would've fallen apart.

Walking into the villa with Fred at my side,

I felt a strange surge of pride.

Especially when I saw Edgar's eyes glistening with tears. That feeling swelled even more.

We traditional wives really can do anything.

Fred? What are you doing here?

What's going on? Why did you bring me to Edgar's house?

Why are you with my son?

Three faces stared at each other in open shock as I led Fred by the hand, right up to Edgar and Patsy.

Honey, all that matters now is the four of us making this family work.