Chapter 3

My mind exploded, the world spinning violently around me.

Why did Quinn have to trample my dignity like this?

Not only did she lie to me and make me raise the child she conceived with Miles, but she even planned to use my illness to elevate him in the hospital.

When Quinn came out of the shower, she glanced at her phone and casually suggested, "Our hospital is hosting the launch of a new technology. I want to invite you to attend. You’re the most important part of my achievement."

The moment I remembered their plan, a shiver jolted through me. I stepped back instinctively. "I'm not going. I have things to do."

Quinn's expression darkened instantly.

"What things? You're a grown man staying home all day. Doing what exactly? All these years, you couldn't touch me. Now I've finally managed to get pregnant, and you're giving me attitude? Who do you think you're showing that attitude to?"

Her words stabbed straight into my heart, sharper and colder than any outsider’s mockery.

Well, who turned me into this miserable shell of a man to begin with?

Seeing I wasn’t budging, she snapped with a command, "It's not up to you. Get changed. We're leaving."

She went straight to the closet and pulled out clothes for me. Despite my resistance, she called in the housemaids to assist me in dressing.

The moment they made contact, even through layers of fabric, red welts spread rapidly across my skin, swelling painfully.

Nevertheless, she didn’t care at all. The only thing she cared about was whether Miles could climb higher.

I had no strength left to fight. The bodyguards shoved me roughly into the car, and before long, we arrived at the venue.

Everyone was drinking, chatting, and smiling. It really did look like a harmless promotional event.

I had just begun to relax when Miles walked over with a bright, almost mocking smile.

"Noah, you are one lucky guy. Despite being allergic to women, Quinn still managed to get pregnant."

Every word dripped hostility. Quinn sat on the sofa, her gaze soft and indulgent as she watched him.

The others stifled their laughter as they joined in.

"Hear the rumor? Noah here is supposedly irresistible to women. If he's allergic, he must've been suffering all these years, huh?"

"I heard once men with this kind of condition get the chance, they can't hold it in, just like a male dog in heat. Who knows if it's true?"

They patted my shoulder with fake friendliness, pointing and whispering at me with smug amusement.

Humiliation, helplessness, disorientation… all of it crashed into me at once, drowning me without mercy.

Heat rushed up my chest, and I snapped. I turned my furious gaze to Quinn.

"Quinn, you're my wife. Are you really going to sit there and do nothing?"

Only then did she lift her hand lazily, motioning the others back to their seats.

Miles stepped forward, pretending to be kind as he handed me a glass of water. "Don't take their words to heart, man. They're just joking. Here. Drink some water and cool off."

Hearing the sarcasm woven between every syllable, I couldn’t act like nothing was happening.

"I've shown up. Now, can I go home?"

As soon as the words left my mouth, Quinn slammed her wine glass onto the table with a sharp crack.

The room went dead silent.

"Noah, Miles is trying to help you out here. How can you be so ungrateful? Drink it. Don't embarrass him."

Miles still held the glass out to me, his expression seeming to be friendly. "Yeah, man. Give me a chance. It's just a cup of water."

I looked around and finally realized that everyone in the room was staring at me with anticipation.

My heart sank.

I finally understood. This wasn’t just a launch event.

Quinn had lied to me again.