The Champion I Raised For Revenge - Chapter 1: Chapter 1

My husband thought he was so clever, sneaking off on a romantic getaway with his mistress. But karma had other plans—they both tumbled off a cliff and disappeared without a trace. No bodies, no closure. Just… gone.
And what did I do? Without a second thought, I took in the child they left behind and raised her as my own. For eighteen years, I poured everything into her—my love, my sweat, my relentless drive—until she became a world-class swimming champion.
Then, just when I thought the past was buried for good, my husband and his childhood sweetheart—supposedly dead for twenty years—waltzed back into my life. They had the nerve to demand I acknowledge them as my daughter's real parents.
"You fool," he sneered, oozing arrogance. "Thanks to you, our biological daughter is a world champion now." I just laughed, keeping my true thoughts locked tight behind my smile.
And then? He had the audacity to ask for a divorce so he could play happy family with his long-lost love.
Without missing a beat, I flashed him my brightest, most unshakable grin and said, "Oh, sure. Take her."
Flashback: Eighteen Years Earlier
The days leading up to the swimming competition were brutal. I pushed myself to the limit, training until my muscles screamed. Meanwhile, my husband, Jacob Hamilton, decided to take a little vacation—with his beloved childhood sweetheart—without bothering to tell me.
But fate had a wicked sense of humor. That very night, news broke: they'd plunged off a cliff. Presumed dead.
I stood there, stunned, my mind blank. Then, without warning, tears spilled down my cheeks—not from grief, but from sheer, overwhelming shock.
A sharp knock at the door snapped me back to reality. When I opened it, there stood my mother-in-law, clutching a wailing infant—no more than a few months old.
Without so much as a greeting, she shoved the baby into my arms and said coldly, "This is Jacob's child."
I froze, my arms stiff around the tiny bundle. I didn't need to ask. This was his child—his illegitimate child with her.
My mother-in-law stared at me, her voice dripping with entitlement. "You're Jacob's wife. It's your responsibility to raise his child."
I nearly choked on the absurdity. Was she seriously expecting me to raise my husband's affair baby like some dutiful martyr?
When she saw my hesitation, she doubled down, practically forcing the child into my arms as she hissed, "You will raise this child—or I'll show up at your workplace every single day and make sure everyone knows what kind of woman you really are!"
I knew my mother-in-law well. Shamelessness was her specialty. And in that moment, a dark, delicious idea took root in my mind.
Fine. If she wanted me to take this child, I would. But how I raised her? That would be entirely my choice.
With a serene smile, I met her gaze and said sweetly, "Of course, Mother-in-law. I'll take excellent care of her. I won't let you—or Jacob—down."
A flicker of surprise crossed her face. Clearly, she hadn't expected me to agree so easily. But just as quickly, her usual icy mask slipped back into place.
Game on.