Chapter 2

My eyes were red as I reined in the mix of hurt and grievance I felt. When Sasha saw how upset I was, a flicker of remorse flashed across her expression.

"I'm sorry, Colin. I just desperately want a child of my own. You can't have children anyway. Since this child is already here, why not just keep it? It'll also allow you to fulfill your dream of becoming a father.

"As for Harry…" Sasha said with a frown. "I'll just give him a sum of money and send him away."

My chest tightened. "I can't accept a child like this. Abort the child, and there might still be a chance for us to salvage our relationship."

"Never." Sasha's tone suddenly sharpened, her gaze filling with anger. "I've already made concessions. Why must you insist on killing my child? This child will call you Dad in the future. If you truly love me, you should accept this child. Is that really so difficult for you?"

Chuckling bleakly, I looked at her, my eyes flooded with sorrow and despair. "I'm not in the habit of raising another man's child."

Sasha's expression wavered a little.

It was bad enough that my wife had cheated on me, but she was even expecting me to raise some other man's child.

Sasha took a deep breath before saying with an exasperated expression, "I won't agree to a divorce. I'm just going to wait until you come back to your senses."

With that, she turned and left the house.

…

That evening, just before I headed into a restaurant for a business meeting, I got an apologetic message from Sasha.

"I'm sorry for putting you in this difficult position, Colin. I'll be stepping down as CEO next month and passing it to you instead. Don't be mad anymore. I'm going to attend one last business negotiation now. I'm sure you'll love the baby once it's born."

Pursing my lips, I stared at her message for ages, feeling nothing but anger. Did this count as her attempt to placate me?

After a self-deprecating laugh, I pocketed my phone. But when I turned around, I saw Sasha and Harry right at the entrance of the restaurant.

This was her so-called business negotiation, huh?

My eyes flashed with mockery.

Sasha used to come home late pretty often, but I never once suspected her of anything. Thinking about it now, however, I realized that the sight I was seeing must have happened countless times before.

Sasha and Harry stood at the entrance of the restaurant, kissing passionately without being the least bit concerned for who might see them. It was clear what their intimacy implied about their relationship.

And when I appeared in their line of sight, Sasha didn't get to wipe the look of blissful satisfaction in time. "C-Colin?"

Sasha and Harry hurriedly separated, but the traces of their kiss on the corners of their mouths continued to mock me for being such a fool.

"Is this the business negotiation you were referring to, Sasha?" I asked, my eyes cold from the fury pent up inside of me.

After a moment of panic, Sasha frowned. "Are you… following me?"

"If I came any later, you two might've started getting it on right in public," I remarked with a self-mocking smile.

Sasha looked mortified at having been caught in the act, but Harry simply eyed me with disdain while saying to her, "He's just a kept man who's leeching off your family, Ms. Fuller. Why bother showing him any courtesy?"

"Don't say that, Harry," Sasha chided softly.

I simply walked off. A 25-year marriage, and all the love that came with it, had been reduced to nothing but trash. The sight of them all wrapped up in each other's arms had stung my eyes.

For the last 25 years, I willingly devoted myself to being the son-in-law of the Fuller family. I focused my attention on managing Fuller Group for Sasha and helping her through every obstacle. Yet all I got in return was betrayal.

Feeling completely disheartened, I stepped into the restaurant.

Sasha called out from behind to explain, "That was just a misunderstanding, Colin! You must believe me."

My expression remained cold and impassive. Once I closed this final business deal, it would mark the end of my duty to Sasha and the Fullers. I'd long since repaid them for everything I owed them.

I sent a message to my lawyer, Marcus Jennings. "Help me draft a divorce agreement."