Ties to Dust, Hearts to Strangers

My mom couldn't forget about her first love at all, so she switched me with her first love's son when we were born.

Thanks to her, I was forced to suffer during the first 20 years of my life before I finally got to reunite with my actual family and become a rich scion.

When it's time for me to choose a wife, my top priority is to find myself a woman with a romantic history as clean as a sheet. Leah Hudson is that very woman.

She's a police captain who's fearsome, intimidating, and isn't interested in men at all. But when I confess my feelings to her, she goes bright red in embarrassment.

"Melvin, you're the first man I've gotten with, so you must take responsibility for me till the very end."

I lap Leah's words up, thinking that I've finally met my true love.

That is, until Dexter Caldwell, the fake scion, returns to the country. As I stand outside my new marital home, I witness Leah embracing Dexter while wailing.

"Why did you tell me to lie to him? Why did you ask me to marry him? The thing is, Dexter, you're my first love!"

Leah Hudson's last scream ripped through my head.

It wasn't pain.

It was this sharp ringing sound, like a buzzing that spun everything out of control. I collapsed to the floor.

My phone on the table kept vibrating. I stared at it blankly, then swiped to answer. My voice cracked. "Dad?"

There was a brief silence, then a deep sigh from Adam Norton, my father, came through. "Melvin, you saw it, didn't you?"

I froze.

My fingertips turned white as I gripped the phone. I incredulously asked, "Y-You knew?"

Dad let out a mocking chuckle. As if reminiscing, he said, "Yeah. If I didn't let you see it for yourself, you'd never give up. Your mom made you suffer for 20 years out there, all for that bastard. And Leah pretended in front of you all for Dexter. Doesn't that make it clear enough for you? Love is the least important thing."

Upstairs in the master bedroom, the sounds coming through the door were revolting. It was like a filthy confirmation of what Dad had just said.

I choked back sobs, tears flooding my face. I couldn't help but ask like a child, "But Dad, then what really matters?"

"Money." Dad's voice was as cold as steel.

"Come back to the Norton residence. I've already arranged everything. Pack your bags. You'll be on a flight to Vaughan next week to study finance. I've already taken care of the spot and the recommendation letter. Don't stay here and waste your life being the husband of a police captain. That's pathetic. Melvin Norton, feelings are fleeting, but cold, hard cash will never betray you."

I stayed silent for a long time.

I turned to glance at myself in the mirror. My eyes were bloodshot, my hair a mess, and I had hickeys on