Chapter 1

The room was packed with Josephine Yates' friends and family, all gathered for her birthday.

In the center of the room stood a massive, seven-tier cake. The "Happy Birthday" song looped endlessly in the background, making the atmosphere feel entirely surreal.

But Josephine kicked everyone out. She stared at the paternity test results, her eyes wide with rage.

"Whose is it? Who gave birth to this kid? Was it Lydia? Victoria? Or some other bitch?" she demanded.

This was the third time she had caught me cheating.

Every single time, she reacted with the same hysterical despair and devastation, as if the world were ending.

The first time it happened, I panicked and tried to cover it up. The second time, I felt guilty and clumsily made up excuses.

But this time, I just felt a wave of irritation.

"I don't know," I said.

"What do you mean, you don't know?"

"I was out socializing back then. I got wasted a few times, so I don't really remember."

Josephine stared at me in disbelief, the rims of her eyes burning crimson.

"Lucius, I burned bridges with my best friend for you. I completely cut ties with my senior from school. You didn't want kids, so I went and got my tubes tied immediately.

"Everyone laughs at me behind my back, and I just take it on the chin. I turned my own life into a running joke, all just to keep you happy."

Every single word sounded strained.

"And you went and got someone else pregnant! Tell me, do you even have a conscience?"

Josephine truly loved me. She had fallen for me at first sight back on our high school football field and pursued me relentlessly. She knew my preferences better than my parents did, perhaps even better than I knew them myself.

Our families shared a generations-long feud.

To be with me, she endured severe physical punishment from her father that landed her in the ICU multiple times, and she almost got her face slashed by my older sister.

When a runaway car hurtled toward us on the street, she pushed me out of the way without a second thought, even though it rendered her bedridden for three months.

I should've been consumed by shame for what I did.

"Josephine, I swear this is the last time," I vowed. "You know you're the only one I've ever loved."

Her eyes were bloodshot. "Fine. Then ship that bastard out of the country and never see him again!"

"No way!" I blurted.

Under her piercing gaze, I quickly looked away, guilt washing over me.

Her throat tightened as she swallowed hard, her voice turning raspy. "If I told you that it's either shipping this kid away or getting a divorce, what then?"

I kept my head down, letting the silence stretch between us for a moment. "In that case... let's just get a divorce."

"Lucius Winthrop!" Josephine hissed through gritted teeth, her eyes red-rimmed.

She raised her hand, and I instinctively closed my eyes.