We're all in love with the perfect shameless step mother.

Chapter One: Knock... knock... "Open the door, Fina!" The loud banging echoed through my tiny apartment. Still rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I hurried to the door and pulled it open. My landlady stood outside with her hands planted on her hips. Her expression was as sour as spoiled milk. "Hmm... hmm... Landlady, what brought you here this early in the morning?" I asked with an awkward smile. She scoffed. "Are you telling me I can't come into my own property?" she snapped, pointing a finger at my face. "Your rent has been overdue for two weeks. You either pay me now or get out of my house." Her words hit harder than the cool morning breeze. I forced another smile and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "Today is the last day, I promise. My office is paying our performance bonus today. Once I receive it, I'll settle everything." I winked playfully. "I'll even give you some extra money. You can use it to buy a few bottles of beer." "Heh!" She slapped my hand away. "You shameless girl! Stop acting smart with me." Her voice echoed through the narrow hallway, making curious neighbors peek through their doors. "If you don't pay before this afternoon, when you come back from work, you'll find your luggage outside." Without another word, she stormed away. The apartment fell silent except for the faint drip of water from the leaking kitchen tap. I rested my forehead against the peeling wooden door. The stale scent of damp walls mixed with the cheap instant coffee I'd made the night before. My stomach twisted—not from hunger anymore, but from fear. One bonus. That was all I needed. One bonus to keep a roof over my head. One bonus to prove that hard work still meant something. I squeezed my eyes shut. Please... just let today go right. I waited until her footsteps disappeared before closing the door. The smile on my face slowly faded. A single bed occupied one corner, while a tiny wooden table served as both my dining table and work desk. The paint on the walls had begun peeling months ago, but fixing them had always been a luxury I couldn't afford. I walked over to the small mirror hanging on the wall. The woman staring back at me smiled. "Come on, Seraphina Vale." I pointed at my reflection. "Today you're getting that bonus." Within thirty minutes, I had changed into my neatly ironed office clothes, grabbed my worn handbag, and rushed outside. The streets of Aurelia City were already alive. Cars honked endlessly. Street vendors shouted to attract customers. Office workers hurried along the sidewalks with steaming coffee cups in their hands. Among the sea of people, I clutched my handbag tightly as hope swelled inside my chest. My phone vibrated. Unknown Number. I frowned. Before I could answer, the call disconnected. "Probably another loan company," I muttered before slipping the phone back into my bag. My phone buzzed again. Unknown Number. I rejected it without thinking. Whoever it was could wait. My future couldn't. Today would change everything. Or so I believed. Vertex Media Agency. The glass doors slid open as I stepped into the modern office building. "Fina!" A cheerful voice called from behind. Before I could turn around, someone linked an arm through mine. It was Evelyn. My best friend. "I knew you'd be early." She grinned from ear to ear. "You worked harder than everyone else on the project. You're definitely winning today's performance bonus." She leaned closer and whispered dramatically. "And when you collect that money..." Her eyes sparkled mischievously. "...don't forget to treat me to barbecue!" I laughed. "Of course I will." I bumped her shoulder playfully. "For a genius like me, nothing is impossible." Lowering my voice, I added proudly, "And honestly... I gave that project everything I had." "I know." She smiled warmly. "You practically lived in this office." We exchanged encouraging smiles before returning to our desks. The office buzzed with quiet conversations. Everyone was waiting. Waiting for the announcement. One hour later... The office suddenly fell silent. Mrs. Linda Brooks, the general manager, walked out carrying a file. She cleared her throat. "Everyone, your attention please." Every employee looked up. Some crossed their fingers. Others silently prayed. Mrs. Brooks opened the file. "This month's Outstanding Performance Award goes to..." She paused. "...Fredric." Silence. No one clapped. Instead, confused glances spread across the room. Fredric? The same Fredric who could barely finish his own assignments? The same Fredric whose mistakes the rest of us constantly cleaned up? Even Fredric looked surprised before a smug smile slowly spread across his face. I stood. "I demand an explanation." Every eye turned toward me. Mrs. Brooks hesitated. Her lips parted. For a brief second, guilt flickered across her face. She couldn't even look at me. "I'm... sorry, Fina." My heart sank. She knew. She had watched me spend countless nights sleeping on the office couch. She had praised every draft. She had promised my hard work wouldn't go unnoticed. Yet today... She looked away. My voice remained calm, but my fists tightened beneath the desk. "I handled that project from beginning to end." She avoided my gaze. "It's a decision from the higher-ups." Without another word, I brushed past her and marched toward the executive floor. Mrs. Brooks frowned. "Fina, don't create trouble." "I'm asking because I deserve an answer." "Fina!" Evelyn called after me. I didn't stop. I pushed open the CEO's office door without knocking. He slowly raised his head. His expression darkened instantly. "Who gave you permission to enter my office like this?" I ignored the question. "My project." I stared directly into his eyes. "Why did you give my credit to Fredric?" He leaned back in his luxurious chair and smiled. Not a guilty smile. A proud one. "You really want the truth?" I remained silent. "Fredric is my son." He folded his hands calmly. "What is wrong with helping my own child?" My heart pounded violently. "I simply wanted him to leave a good impression on the board of directors." He shrugged as though stealing months of hard work meant nothing. "You work because you need money." He opened a drawer and placed a checkbook on the table. "Name your price." "I'll pay you." For a moment... Everything around me became silent. My breathing turned heavy. The anger burning inside my chest spread through every part of my body. "So that's it?" My voice trembled. "You think money can buy everything?" He smirked. "Almost everything." I laughed. A cold, bitter laugh. Then I spat on the floor beside his expensive shoes. "You've got money?" I took one slow step forward. "Then..." "...fuck you and your rubbish money." Pahh! The slap echoed throughout the office. His head snapped sideways. A bright red handprint instantly appeared on his face. "You shameless man." I glared at him. "No wonder your son is shameless." I pointed straight at him. "Looks like shamelessness runs in your family." You're talented, Seraphina." He folded his hands. "That's exactly why people like you stay employees." I frowned. "Excuse me?" "You believe hard work earns success." His smile widened. "People like me know success belongs to those with power." He tapped the file on his desk. "Fredric doesn't need talent." "He has me." Then: "You can scream to the board." "Go to Human Resources." "Call the media if you like." "By tomorrow everyone will remember Fredric's name." "Yours?" "No one will." The office doors burst open. Two security guards entered first. Behind them... Uniformed police officers. Every conversation outside instantly died. Through the glass wall, dozens of employees had gathered. They stared at me as though I were a criminal. Evelyn stood among them. Her face had gone completely pale. She shook her head in disbelief. Several security guards rushed inside. Before I could react, two police officers entered behind them. "Mrs. Seraphina Vale." One officer unfolded an arrest warrant. "You are under arrest for assault, theft of confidential company information, and attempting to leak company secrets." "What?" My eyes widened. "I never—" Before I could finish... My phone suddenly rang. The room became strangely quiet. One officer answered it. Silence swallowed the room. The CEO's smug smile vanished. Color drained from his face. One of the officers instinctively released my arm. Another swallowed hard. "S-Sir..." He lowered his head toward the phone as though speaking to someone far above his rank. Even the CEO stood up. For the first time since I'd entered his office... Fear flashed across his face. My heartbeat thundered. Who... had just called me? "It's for you." Confused, I slowly pressed the phone against my ear. A deep, unfamiliar male voice spoke. "Is this Mrs. Seraphina Vale?" "...Yes." "I'm calling on behalf of my client." I frowned. "What client?" "You have only two choices." His calm voice sent a chill crawling down my spine. "Sign a contract marriage with my employer..." "...or go to jail." I froze. "What nonsense are you talking about?" The man calmly spoke a single name. The moment the police officers heard it... Their expressions changed instantly. The hands gripping my arms loosened. Fear flashed across their faces. One by one... They stepped back.