Wanted 1

Chapter 1 

After my divorce, I walked away with nothing but a bank card. 

I didn’t look back at my six-year-old son. 

Why would I? He loved the other woman, just like his father. 

As I boarded the plane, my phone lit up. It was my ex. He wanted to know what to do with the things I’d left 

behind. 

I glanced at the late-stage stomach cancer diagnosis in my hand and said quietly, “Throw it all away.” 

Since he wanted nothing to do with me, I would never bother him again. 

The day I finally decided to divorce my husband, Brandon Sawyer, just happened to be my son Keegan’s birthday. 

I cooked up a whole spread at home-chicken wings for Keegan, and baked fish for Brandon-they loved those. 

I even put in extra effort to bake a cake my son could eat, since he was allergic to many things. 

But I waited for ages and neither Keegan nor Brandon showed up. 

I stared at the food growing cold on the table, then picked up my phone and called Brandon. 

After calling him repeatedly with no response, I tried Keegan’s smartwatch next. 

At last, my call was answered. 

However, Keegan immediately lashed out at me. “Dad doesn’t want to talk to you, so why do you keep calling? How annoying can you be? Can’t you tell he doesn’t want to talk to you? 

“Do you know what you just did? I was making a wish with Tanya, and you almost ruined it. 

“I’ve never met a mom like you. You’re such a buzzkill.” 

It felt like a giant hand was crushing my heart, leaving me in so much agony I could barely breathe. 

So that was why they weren’t home-they were off with Brandon’s precious Tanya Wells, the love of his life. 

In that instant, it was like all the strength just left my body. 

I opened my mouth, and, like always, my voice came out small, almost pleading. “But… I made you a cake too. I was hoping we could cut it together and make a wish.” 

Keegan scoffed. “Like I’d want your cake anyway. Tanya got me a massive three-layer cake, way better than 

Chapter 1 

yours. I’m hanging up. Stop calling us already. You’re the worst.” 

Staring at my phone as the call ended, I couldn’t hold back the pain in my chest any longer. 

My world spun. I collapsed to the floor and vomited a mouthful of blood. 

I’d got late-stage stomach cancer-got the diagnosis just this morning. 

The doctor said I didn’t have much time left. 

12 55 vouchers 

When I first found out I was dying, I sat in the hospital hallway and cried for what felt like forever. 

I was not afraid of dying. 

What really scared me was having no one to look after Keegan after I died, that he would end up at the mercy of Tanya. 

Brandon loved Tanya so much that he tormented me for years, all because of her. 

Once I was dead, he’d waste no time marrying her. And then what would happen to Keegan? 

I had brought Keegan into this world. I couldn’t just leave him all alone, with no one to rely on. 

I went home like a zombie, numb and lost. After a long time, I finally came up with a plan. 

I would strike a deal with Brandon before I die-trade the last shares I had from the Bennett family for a guarantee that Keegan would be set for life. 

Even though my body felt like it was falling apart, I still dragged myself into the kitchen and cooked up a whole spread for Brandon and Keegan. 

Then I called Brandon, begging him to remember to pick up Keegan from school after work and come home so we could have dinner together for his birthday. 

re Tanya came back, Brandon and I had been stuck in a strange cold war. 

eegan, I would’ve divorced Brandon ages ago. 

Love meant nothing to me anymore. All I wanted was to guarantee Keegan’s future. 

But Keegan’s words just now made it clear that all my efforts were a joke. 

He didn’t need me to worry about him at all. He got along with Tanya just fine. He’d rather have Tanya as his mom than me. 

wondered when everything changed. 

The little boy I brought into this world through a C-section, raising him from a tiny baby into the child he was now, no longer needed me. 

When did things reach this point? 

Chapter 1 

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Looking back, there were signs all along. 

The first time it happened was when I told him to put down his game and rest his eyes. He shot back, “You’re always bossing me around. Tanya is way nicer than you.” 

That was when I realized Brandon had already introduced him to Tanya behind my back. 

Moreover, Tanya and Keegan were already tight, so much so that Keegan actually preferred Tanya over me. 

Keegan was a demanding child with severe allergies. For him, I gave up almost everything-my own life, my dreams. I devoted myself completely to being his mother. 

When he was a baby, he would only let me hold him. 

To keep him comfortable, I held him day and night. 

Even when it gave me severe tendonitis, I never stopped. 

As Keegan grew up, his allergies meant he couldn’t have any takeout or restaurant food at all. 

So I’d recreate all his favorite dishes at home, matching every ingredient with something safe, just so he could enjoy healthy meals like everyone else. 

But Brandon couldn’t care less about any of that. 

And Tanya? She cared even less. 

They’d take Keegan out for burgers and fried chicken-stuff I’d never dare let him eat because of his allergies. 

When I tried to tell Keegan to stop eating junk food and watch his health, he’d snap at me, “Dad’s right— you’re so controlling. You won’t even let me eat a burger. That’s why Dad doesn’t love you. 

“You can’t compare to Tanya. How could I have a mom like you? 

“I hate you. I don’t want you to be my mom anymore!” 

Fine. Since Keegan didn’t want me to be his mom, I won’t be anymore. 

Just as well, since I won’t be around much longer anyway. 

Tears welled up in my eyes, and through the blur, I thought I saw Brandon standing right in front of me. 

I suddenly remembered the promise he made to me when we were young. He had said, “Viola, if you ever cry, I’ll come to you. I can’t bear to see you cry.” 

The memory was beautiful. I didn’t dare to blink, afraid it’d slip away if I did. 

But the moment my tears fell, the magic faded 

away. 

Like bubbles, it was gone in an instant. 

There was no 

going back. Now, neither Keegan nor Brandon needed me anymore.