Chapter 2

My stomach churned. I was about to speak when Natalie's phone suddenly rang.

She gave me a guilty glance before answering. When she hung up, anxiety filled her voice. "There's an emergency at the company. I need to go in."

I didn't call her out. I watched her leave, then quietly followed her in my car.

…

Natalie's car slowly pulled up outside a secluded villa.

A few minutes later, Marcus climbed into the passenger seat. The car soon began rocking violently, making it painfully obvious what was happening inside.

I opened the spy app on my phone.

How ironic. I'd installed it because I was afraid something might happen to her while she was out socializing. Now, it had become a tool for catching her cheating.

Natalie's voice came through the phone. "Good thing you lied and said little Ryan had a fever to get me here. Otherwise, I'd have to keep pretending in front of him at home tonight.

"Your abs feel so different. Just looking at Matthew's body makes me sick."

Marcus thrust harder. "Then don't go home tonight."

The car wasn't enough for them. Before long, Marcus carried Natalie into the villa.

I sat motionless in my car all night, unable to understand how the woman who had once claimed she loved me more than life itself could have become like this.

On the way home, I called Natalie's sworn enemy.

"I'm still single. If you're still willing, I'll marry you in seven days."

…

Early the next morning, I went to the company to take stock of my shares and projects at the Fielder Group.

There, I discovered that the Guardian Project, which I'd been in charge of, had been transferred to Marcus' name.

It was the smart bionic prosthetic limb development project Dad had cared about most while he was alive.

While Natalie was pregnant, I'd spent months caring for her day and night while forcing myself to keep the project moving forward.

I had only allowed myself to ease up after the project was finally on track, shortly before Natalie gave birth. I never expected her to strip me of my authority the moment she finished her postpartum recovery.

I went straight to the CEO's office.

Marcus hurried over and blocked my path. "Without Ms. Fielder's permission, you can't go in!"

I held up the documents proving that Marcus had cut corners and used inferior materials in the project's products.

"What you've done may constitute a criminal offense. I'm calling the police."

The moment I finished speaking, a small figure suddenly slammed into me. "You bad guy! Don't bully my daddy! Mommy, hurry up and beat him to death!"

It was Ryan, with Natalie right behind him.

The impact knocked the breath out of me, and my face instantly went pale.

Marcus hurriedly pulled Ryan to his side and pretended to scold him, "Ryan, that's very rude. Apologize to him!"

Before I could say anything, Natalie spoke first. "Don't scold him. Take him home. I'll explain everything to Matthew."

I stared straight into Natalie's eyes. "Explain what? Why he calls you Mommy?"

Natalie reached out as if she wanted to touch my hair. "I-I have to go on a business trip for a few days. When I get back, I'll—"

I couldn't be bothered with the pair of cheaters anymore. I turned and walked straight out of the company.

…

After I got home, I finished taking stock of the resources and shares under my name, then immediately booked a flight to Hartford for three days later.

Suddenly, a heart-wrenching cry came from the nursery.

I rushed into the room and found several razor cuts across Lily's leg.

I frantically scooped her into my arms and rushed her to the hospital.

…

The doctor held up the report, his expression grave. "She has a blood-clotting disorder. She needs a blood transfusion immediately."

My lips trembled. "Doctor, take mine! I'm her father..."

"Parents can't directly donate blood to their children. Your daughter has Rh-negative blood. We need to check the blood bank's inventory first," the doctor said.