Chapter 1

My hand froze mid-cut as I was slicing her steak.

My brain went numb. My vision blurred.

"What?"

My lips trembled as I forced the word out.

"That night with Ryan five years ago. I got pregnant."

Jessica didn't hold anything back. She even let out a small sigh of relief as she said it. "It's better that you know. I've been tired of hiding it for five years."

I didn't know what to do with myself. I turned to my mother-in-law.

"Mom… come on, don't joke around with Jess like this. It's your birthday. You're messing with me, right?"

But Linda just took a calm sip of her tea. She didn't say a word in response to my question.

My heart sank lower.

Jessica kept talking. "I'm not joking. When I found out, the doctor said terminating the pregnancy would be bad for my health. There was a good chance I'd never get pregnant again."

She rested her hand on her swollen belly. My child was in there—eight months along, almost due.

"Be grateful, Michael. I didn't get rid of it. Otherwise, we'd never have a child of our own."

Even though I didn't want to believe any of it, the way Jessica and her mother were acting made it clear. They weren't lying.

No wonder she had gone on that six‑month business trip back then. She video‑called me every day, but really, she was off having someone else's baby. And for the next five years, she took a weeklong business trip every single month—to go be with Ryan and their son. And I actually bought it.

I forced a smile, but my eyes burned.

"You hid it pretty well. So why tell me today?"

Before Jessica could answer, Linda slammed her spoon down on the table. Her voice shook with emotion. "Because I want to see my grandson!"

She took a deep breath and lowered her voice, as if trying to reason with me. "Michael, I've been good to you, haven't I? I know you're a good kid. But my grandson has been in hiding for five years, and it breaks my heart."

My fingers curled tight beneath the table. My pupils trembled.

So everyone knew. Everyone except me.

Linda pulled a document out of a safe. The contract listed total assets adding up to nearly a million dollars.

"Michael, the Blake family isn't going to shortchange you. All you have to do is accept this child. You don't have to worry about anything else. Jessica promised me she wouldn't have any more contact with Ryan than necessary…"

Linda didn't get to finish. Jessica cut her off.

"If you can't handle it, we can get a divorce."

She pulled a divorce agreement out of her bag. Her name was already signed at the bottom.

I stared at that piece of paper, trying to burn a hole through it with my eyes.

Five years ago, I was the one who wanted a divorce. Jessica begged me not to. She even threatened to kill herself.

And now, after I'd finally started to let go of what happened, she was the one telling me she wanted out.

The room went silent except for the ticking of the clock.

Then the front door opened.

A bright voice rang out. "Mom, I brought Noah to celebrate your birthday…"

Ryan walked in, holding the hand of a five‑year‑old boy. The moment he saw me, the smile on his face froze.

He hesitated. "Michael…"