Chapter 1

Stanley's moment of confusion vanished instantly, his voice now filled with excitement.

"Really, Jeremy? You're willing to let Cindy bear Duncan's child? You're not sleepwalking, are you? Oh, it's great that you've come to your senses! I'll agree to anything you want. No, not just one thing, but a hundred!"

I hugged my shivering body, tears streaming down my face.

A year ago, my father-in-law, Stanley Johnson, proposed to let Cindy be a surrogate mother in order to leave an heir for his deceased eldest daughter. I was so angry that I made a huge scene at the family gathering.

The truth was, they just wanted to use the child to tie down Duncan Woods and make him work for the Johnson family.

How could I, as a man, accept sending my wife to another man's bed?

But now, my wife, who would never let me touch her, was indulging in pleasure with her brother-in-law. Their affair had clearly been going on for a long time.

What was the point of me guarding this marriage then? It was a marriage in name only.

She actually called me filthy when she threw me into the pool. How ridiculous. She committed adultery with her brother-in-law in our bed!

I chuckled self-deprecatingly. "I'm not sleepwalking, Stanley. As long as Cindy signs the document, I'll do as you say."

Stanley was overjoyed. "I knew from the first time I met you that you're an understanding and sensible man who's willing to make sacrifices. Don't worry, Cindy is just having a baby. You two will still be a loving couple after she gives birth. That will never change!"

A loving couple was the persona we had maintained without fail since our marriage.

Cindy played the role so well that even I believed the reason she wouldn't let me touch her was because she wanted to focus on her career.

But the moans from upstairs, which got increasingly louder, were like a rusty knife that was slowly cutting open the lie that had been maintained for three years.

Our marriage was a complete joke!

I tried to suppress the pain in my heart and fell asleep with my mind in chaos.

In my dream, I saw Cindy, vibrant and beautiful.

It was the first time I saw her.

At the company's annual party, she danced in a red dress, looking like a burning flame.

I fell in love at first sight.

But I knew she was the daughter of the company's owner, and I was merely a senior technical staff member. I wasn't worthy of her.

However, one late night half a year later, she grabbed my tie with drunken eyes.

"I know you like me. Let's get married."

We got married without a ceremony and without a ring. I quit my job and became her full-time husband.

After marriage, we treated each other with respect.

When I suggested intimacy, she gently kissed my cheek and said, "Jeremy, the company is at a critical juncture. I need to focus on my career. You understand, don't you?"

I did not understand. "We don't need to have a baby. It won't be a problem."

She reasoned, "Condoms aren't 100% effective. What if there's an accident? I would have to go through the pain of having an abortion. Could you bear to see me suffer?"

I loved her, and I couldn't bear to see her suffer.

I naively thought that once her career had stabilized, we would have a happier life.

But reality dealt me a heavy blow.

The reason she refused my intimacy was actually to preserve her body for Duncan.

The reason she was afraid of getting pregnant was because she wanted to save her womb for Duncan's seed.

I should have noticed the clues earlier.

She was always praising Duncan. Every time Duncan came to the house, she would dress up meticulously. Occasionally, when she met Duncan's eyes, her ears would turn red...

The surgery wound was excruciating, and my broken heart was also in pain.

With my last strength, I finished the divorce agreement, then called for an ambulance before losing consciousness.