Chapter 1

Steven's POV

My daughter, Millie Johnson, excitedly rushed toward the cruise ship the moment she got out of the car, where everyone seemed to be laughing and enjoying themselves.

That was the scene I saw after discreetly following her to this location.

Millie spotted me and innocently called out in surprise, "Daddy!"

Those present instantly fell silent after hearing that, the atmosphere turning terrifyingly tense.

My wife, Sophie Johnson, was dressed in a couture evening gown and had her arm linked with the man beside her. She instinctively withdrew her arm and asked, "W-What are you doing here, Steven?"

She paid no attention to the people whispering around her and rushed over to grab my hand, her whole body trembling. "It's not what you think, so please don't get the wrong idea, Steven!"

I stood there with bloodshot eyes and let out a bitter laugh. "Who is that man? What's with this third-anniversary celebration, Sophie?"

I looked down at the Patek Philippe, worth millions of dollars, on that man's wrist and suddenly realized how absurd it was to be wearing the cheap watch on my own wrist—one that I had worn for five years.

I remembered how Sophie had tearfully promised me that she'd replace my watch with a luxury one within three years. I had looked forward to that promise with such care, only to find out that what I had been waiting for was something she had given to another man.

I suddenly heard a familiar voice ringing out beside me. "You actually secretly followed your daughter to crash Sophie's wedding anniversary celebration? Who are you trying to fool here? You're clearly just desperate to marry into a wealthy family and rise above your station!"

That voice belonged to Jeremiah Hall, my best friend of ten years.

I looked at him in disbelief, feeling a sharp pang in my chest. Millie had always said that he was at Jeremiah's place to play with his dog, so I never questioned it because I trusted him.

It turned out Jeremiah was their accomplice, helping them deceive me all this time.

"You should know your place! I've seen plenty of freeloaders like you who are hell-bent on marrying into wealth!" Sophie's younger sister snapped. She had always greeted me warmly every time she ran into me in the past five years. She even always said she thought of me as her real brother.

Millie chimed in, "Uh-huh! Daddy is so annoying! He secretly followed me here!"

I felt a lump in my throat after hearing what Millie said. I got into a car accident while saving her when she was two years old. I bled so much that I went into hemorrhagic shock in the OR, yet I still forced myself to stay conscious long enough to leave her a will.

I had sacrificed so much for her, yet she was now snuggled up in another man's arms, treating me as though I were her sworn enemy.

I looked around in a daze at all the familiar faces—my neighbors, colleagues, and Sophie's best friend. It turned out that everyone knew Sophie was the heiress of the Johnson family. I was the only one who had been kept in the dark like a fool.

Sophie furrowed her brows, her eyes brimming with guilt. "You won't gain anything from making a scene here. I'll explain everything to you once we're home, so don't embarrass yourself in front of everyone, Steven."

I was the one embarrassing myself? I stubbornly held her gaze and let out a bitter, mocking laugh. "You just think I'm an embarrassment to you, don't you, Sophie?"

Sophie pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration.

Joseph Walker—the man in question—chuckled softly just as Sophie was about to say something, holding Millie in his arms. "There are plenty of men who want to be the other man in my marriage, Mr. Gunther. You're the first one to use a child to do it, though."

I clenched my fists tightly, digging my nails into my palms until they ached and went numb. I had spent five years living in a cramped rental with Sophie and three years as a full-time stay-at-home dad after quitting my job. How could he accuse me of doing it for money with a straight face?

I refused to turn and walk away in shame. I kept my eyes on Sophie, hoping she would say something in my defense.

Sophie, however, pushed me away without a moment's hesitation and said, "There are reporters nearby. I'm only doing this for your own good, so just do as I say and go, Steven."

I blinked hard, trying not to cry, and reached out to hold Millie, who suddenly let out a piercing wail and clawed at me with her hands. "I don't want to go with the bad man!"