O acordo

My wife, Erina Winters, froze in place at once. A look of panic flashed in her eyes as she said, "S-Sebs… I can explain…"

"Do these clothes need washing?" I asked, interrupting her while pointing at the pile of shirts and pants heaped on the side.

Erina's face went deathly pale. She hurriedly grabbed my hand and said, "Don't be like that, Sebastian. Just let me explain."

I looked at her with a faint smile playing on my lips. "Explain what? Isn't it good that I'm getting out of your hair now?"

She shook her head and spoke in a cautious, tentative voice, "Aren't you mad?"

I knew why she was suspicious of me.

Six months ago, when I caught her cheating on me with Dustin Nielson, I had gone completely mad and printed out thousands of copies of their photos in bed, pasting them all over the company's main entrance.

When she asked me for a divorce, I even stabbed her three times before climbing onto the rooftop.

That day, my parents and my best friend, Jeffrey Conley, dragged a blood-soaked Erina over to me and forced her down on her knees before me, holding up a pregnancy test report.

"Sebs, I'm pregnant! Please, just for the sake of the baby, forgive me this one time!"

Back then, everyone thought that I was a lunatic. But now, I simply remained silent as I pried her fingers off me one by one.

"Because there's no need for that," I replied.

As I spoke, the baby in Dustin's arms suddenly began making a fuss, and its shrill crying pierced into my head.

And then, Jeffrey, who had just been drinking with me last night and promising to be the unofficial "fun uncle" for my future baby, rushed up to me and shoved me aside.

"Stop arguing and scaring the baby like this! Don't you dare behave like a madman before the baby!

"Did you know that Dustin even suggested that the child take on your last name instead of his, just to make you feel better? Do you even have any idea how much he sacrificed himself for you?"

Even Mom and Dad, who used to feel sorry for me over Erina's cheating last time, stepped in to shield Dustin.

"Sebastian, Dustin is the biological father of this baby, after all. You shouldn't be so stubborn about this issue and just let the baby take on Dustin's last name."

I fought back the agonizing cramping in my stomach as I was forced out by the people whom I once thought were the closest to me. I slammed back against the doorframe, the pain making me break out in cold sweat all over.

I took a moment to steady myself. Then, I said, "That's all your business. I don't care."

I turned to leave, but right at that moment, Dustin suddenly fell to his knees and wailed tearfully, "Sebastian! Please don't get mad at them because of me! It's all my fault!

"It's just that my parents forced me to go back to the mountains to get married, and everyone here was just trying to help me out by suggesting I had a child with Erina to pretend we were already married so I didn't have to go back!

"You were the one who brought me out of the mountains and funded my education all the way, and I would never dare to forget your kindness toward me! I would never try to steal your wife away from you!"

His voice was choked with emotion, but a hidden glint of amusement and malicious glee appeared in his eyes.

I felt horribly disgusted. A wave of nausea surged up, intensifying my stomach cramp, and I instinctively shook off his hand.

"Dustin!"

"Sebastian Mercer! Why the hell did you shove him like that? Did you know that Dustin never slept a wink taking care of Erina all night long? He even caught a chill and has a headache!" Jeffrey yelled at me, his eyes reddened as he punched me in the face.

My face instantly went numb with pain.

I clutched my stomach in agony and instinctively tried to argue back, but Mom and Dad shoved me out of the door instead.

"Go home and stop making a scene here!"

Then, the door slammed in my face.

I heard the people inside murmuring softly as they attempted to calm Dustin down, but I was completely shut out.

As I left the hospital in a daze, a thunderclap cracked overhead, and the rain began to pour. The cold wind sweeping in from the hallway made me shiver.

Erina chased out after me, wrapped in a blanket and holding an umbrella over my head.

"Here, Sebs. It's raining outside. Take this umbrella with you."

I stopped walking, and she let out a sigh of relief. She said, "The doctor said that Dustin had some health issues, and this might be the only child he'll ever have in his life. I just couldn't bear to watch him dejected like that.

"But I swear that you're still the only person I love! Once the baby is a month old, I'll send it and Dustin away to South City and never let them appear before you ever again."

I looked at her. "I only have one question for you. You knew from the very start that this baby belonged to Dustin, didn't you?

"So, you lied to me all this time. Is that true?"

Erina bit her lips and avoided my eyes.

"Sebs…"

I nodded and took off my ring, throwing it at her feet.

"Go ahead and put it on his finger, then. We'll divorce the moment you're discharged from the hospital."