Chapter 2

"Gavin, you saw it yourself. Talia won't be able to have children anymore. Just endure it a little longer.

"The Isaacson family has wronged you in this matter, but don't worry. The Isaacson family's son-in-law can only be you."

My lips trembled. I understood what Mrs. Isaacson meant.

She wanted me to keep enduring until the child was born.

Before I could speak, Talia's voice turned tearful.

"Mom, why won't you agree to me being with Evan? How is he worse than Gavin?

"Isn't it just that his family background isn't as good? Gavin's parents are dead anyway. The Sharpe family has already declined!

"If you hadn't forced me and Evan apart back then, why would I have married him?"

Then she pointed at me. The hatred in her eyes made her look like a stranger.

"Gavin, give up already. If you have the nerve, be a cuckold for the rest of your life!"

In the end, Mrs. Isaacson took me away.

When we left, Talia was still crying and throwing a fit. Eleanor looked as if she had aged several years.

She comforted me in a hoarse voice.

"Gavin, you saw it. The Isaacson family must have an heir. Talia is carrying a boy, and nothing can happen to him.

"If you truly love her, can't you endure it a little longer?"

I fell into a daze, my eyes stinging hard.

Talia and I had entered a business marriage. Our parents had arranged our engagement when we were children.

Before Evan appeared, she'd been the one crying and making a fuss about marrying me.

"What about those seventeen children, then? Do they just die without anyone saying a word?"

"There was no other way. Besides, Talia can never get pregnant again because of those abortions. Don't be so calculative."

With one sentence, Mrs. Isaacson brushed everything aside.

My heart gradually went cold.

After Talia laid everything bare, I no longer wanted to stay at home.

For several days in a row, I slept at the company.

But no matter how much I tried to avoid them, I still kept seeing Talia and Evan at work.

Because she was in the late stages of pregnancy, Talia brought Evan into the company to handle business. The two of them were inseparable.

Quite a few employees began gossiping.

"Ms. Isaacson got pregnant seventeen times before. Now she's pregnant again. This time, she should finally be able to give birth, right?"

"You can tell she and Mr. Sharpe are really in love. They must want a child badly."

Soon, someone cut in.

"What do you know? I heard from inside sources that Mr. Sharpe's sperm quality is bad. He's been going all over the place to men's clinics.

"The child in her belly isn't Mr. Sharpe's at all!"

The moment those words came out, the people passing by all looked at me with mockery and pity.

I pretended not to see any of it.

"Mr. Sharpe, the assets under your and Ms. Isaacson's names are tied together. If you want to separate them, Ms. Isaacson must sign.

"You can discuss it with her ahead of time."

The lawyer offered that suggestion while handling the asset division.

I rejected it almost instinctively.

If Talia found out, she'd definitely cause another scene.

I wanted to settle everything properly, not create more accidents before the divorce.

"Is there no way to get her to sign voluntarily?"

"What sign?"

Talia had entered my office at some point.

As soon as she came in, her gaze fell on the contract on my desk. Her brows tightened, and her voice rose sharply.

"Gavin, you're this eager to divide the assets? My child hasn't even been born yet!"

I didn't argue with her. I only met her gaze calmly.

"Talia Isaacson."

It was the first time I'd called her by her full name, and my tone was cold.

"You could do something like that for your first love. Why can't I fight for justice for myself?"