Chapter 4

Yes, I too, was a man. But I could not sympathize with Yarden. At the end of the day, he was still the outsider who had intruded on another marriage.

“Zayden… Xeno’s surgery is scheduled for next week.” Natalie joined the conversation with a tense voice. “The surgery and the follow-up treatment will cost a lot, but all of the company’s liquid funds are tied up in your new project.”

I looked at her. “So?”

“I want to put your project on hold and… pull the funds out to pay for Xeno’s treatment.” She did not meet my eyes. “This is a matter of life and death.”

That project was my work. I had spent three months pushing myself to the limit to secure it, all to help Moore Corp open up a new market.

“Natalie, do you even understand what it means to stop that project?” I started shaking in anger. “It means that the tens of millions that are already invested will go to waste. It means Moore Corp will lose all credibility.”

“Money can be earned again, but I can’t just watch Xeno die!” Natalie shouted.

“That’s enough!”

My vision went dark. The pain in my stomach was so sharp that I could barely stay on my feet.

Natalie’s phone rang a few times. It was the hospital. She answered, and her expression immediately changed. Then a bright smile spread across her face.

She hung up, ran over, and grabbed my arm.

“Zayden, the hospital just called. My checkup is in! I’m pregnant! I’m already six weeks along!”

I froze.

“The doctor said that it’s a miracle!”

Her eyes were teary, and her voice trembled. She reached for my hand.

“We’ve been trying for five years with no luck. I didn’t expect it to happen now. It’s a gift from heaven, Zayden. We’re going to have our own child!”

She wanted to hug me in her excitement.

“If Grandpa knew, he would be overjoyed!”

Watching her this happy, I felt nothing but bitter irony.

“Natalie, are you happy?” I asked coldly.

“Of course I am! It’s our child! The rightful heir of the Moore family!”

“I’m not happy, though.”

I pulled my hand away from hers and stared at her sternly.

“This child came at the worst possible time.”

I pointed toward the door where Yarden was holding the boy.

“I’d rather end the pregnancy rather than let the child be born to a biased mother and grow up with an illegitimate brother that could come back to claim his inheritance at any time.”

“What did you say?!” Natalie screamed. Her eyes were red and filled with rage. “This is my child! Who are you to decide whether to keep it or not? I won’t allow it!”

“You won’t allow it?”

I straightened my tie and smiled, though my eyes were cold.

“Do you want me to acknowledge this child and keep this marriage, Natalie? Fine. You have a choice. Either you send Yarden and that child back overseas. They leave for good, cut off all contact, and receive no financial support. Or I draft the divorce papers today and take your affair, along with the return of your illegitimate child, straight to the media. If that happens, Moore Corp’s stock will collapse. We’ll see whether you can still keep your seat as chairperson, and we’ll see whether this child will still be born with a silver spoon in its mouth.”