Chapter 4

Allyson brought Joe home just as I was about to head out.

Seeing the look on my face, Joe put on a wounded, pitiful act. "Steve, you don't look happy. Maybe I shouldn't stay at the house."

I kept my expression cold. "This is the Fowler house. Stay as long as you like. I won't interfere."

With that, I quickened my pace toward the door.

Allyson caught up and grabbed my wrist.

"You really don't mind? If it bothers you, Joe and I can stay somewhere else."

I pulled my hand free. My heart had already gone cold and still, though my voice stayed calm.

"I just have some work to deal with. What you and Joe do is really none of my business."

She let out a breath of relief, her tone gentler now.

"Okay. Go on and handle your work. Call me when you're done, and I'll come pick you up."

She really did think of herself as some kind of master at balancing two men.

I never went back to the Fowler house after I left that day.

A few days before Christmas, Allyson's company held its annual holiday gala.

She'd notified everyone in the company. Everyone except me.

As luck would have it, I happened to pass by the venue that day on my way to run an errand.

I saw Allyson, hand in hand with Joe, and Joe holding our son's hand, the three of them walking up onto the stage to give a speech.

In everyone else's eyes, they looked like a happy family of three.

Allyson took the microphone, her tone bright and genuinely warm.

"This year, both the company and I personally have gained so much. I want to thank my husband, right here, for giving me so much support and warmth."

It felt like a needle straight through my eye. Even though my heart was already dead and cold, seeing this happen in front of me still made it ache all over again.

He was her husband? He'd given her so much support?

Each word landed like a heavy slap across my face.

The microphone was passed to Francis.

He smiled, innocent and happy, and said to Joe, "The person I want to thank most is my dad too."

"Thank you, Dad, for loving me so much. I love you too, Dad."

Then he hugged Joe on his own.

Applause broke out across the room. The murmurs about the "happy family of three" bubbled up like boiling water.

Only Joe, up on the stage, spotted me.

As I turned to leave the venue, he broke away and ran up to confront me.

"Steve, you really can hold it together, can't you? Even after all that, you're still not going to make a scene?

"I know you don't dare tear this all apart because you're afraid of losing this cushy, luxurious life you get from the Fowlers. You think if you just grit your teeth and bear it, you get to keep being Allyson's husband?"

I let out a short laugh. "We'll see about that."

He looked triumphant, smirking at me. "We'll see, then! Your son and wife have both told the whole world who I am now! Let's see what you've got left to fight me with!"

I ignored him and quickened my pace.

He'd find out soon enough. Everything he thought he'd won was nothing but a pile of garbage.

On the eve of Christmas, the Fowler house was decorated and full of life.

Every year, I was the one who cooked the holiday dinner myself, with care.

Allyson finally remembered to call me, but no matter how many times she tried, no one picked up.

Something about it made her uneasy, though she couldn't say why.

Joe, playing the understanding partner, spoke up. "Honey, this is the first time I'm spending Christmas at home. Let me show off my cooking."

"Steve's probably holed up in the lab again. Once I'm done cooking, you can call him and tell him to come eat."

By the time Joe finished setting a full table of food, Allyson still hadn't managed to reach me.

The butler brought her a package that had just been delivered.

"This came for you, ma'am. From Mr. Wolfe."

Allyson opened the envelope. The words "Divorce Agreement" hit her like a bolt of lightning.

Right then, her assistant called, panicked and stammering.

"Ms. Fowler, this is bad. Mr. Wolfe has pulled the rights to all of his patents. The company can't operate without them."