Chapter 1

I spent three grueling years working overseas, but my wife thought I was just a broke laborer breaking his back for pocket change.

Behind my back, she gave birth to a son for my cousin, a guy who flaunted a Maybach.

On the day of the baby’s first birthday bash, my parents hired dozens of private security guards just to keep me from crashing the venue.

"If that loser dares to show his face today and ruin this, I’m cutting him out of my life forever!" my father bellowed.

Yet, throughout the entire extravagant celebration, I never showed up.

My wife, Linda, smugly called me afterward.

"As long as you’re willing to be the boy's godfather, we can keep living our lives like normal," she said casually.

"But before that, I need to have a proper wedding with your cousin, Derek. It’s to make up for what he missed out on."

She genuinely believed there was nothing wrong with chasing a richer, better life.

Even my own parents thought Derek was the only one who could provide Linda and the boy with the high-class lifestyle they deserved.

Little did they know, I had already signed a legal human cryopreservation agreement.

In seven days, my legal identity would be officially wiped from the registry, and my body would be sealed inside a cryogenic pod.

As for the fifty million dollars I had earned over the years? Every single cent would be donated to charity.

By the time I walked back to the house from the hospital, the birthday party was already over.

I pushed the front door open and was greeted by a warm, lively living room. My parents were taking turns cradling the baby, their faces glowing with unrestrained joy.

"Look at this handsome boy. He has Derek’s gorgeous eyes," my mother cooed.

"Absolutely," my father agreed. "Thank God we were smart about this. If we’d waited for Austin to come back, who knows if we’d ever get to hold a grandson before we died?"

Their words were like poisoned daggers, stabbing straight into my chest.

Meanwhile, my cousin Derek was in the bedroom, intimately helping Linda express breast milk.

They acted so affectionate and natural with each other that any stranger walking in would have assumed they were happily married.

For three entire years, I had worked overseas, sending money home on the first of every month and shipping rare local gifts back for them.

To climb the corporate ladder as fast as possible, I spent late nights teaching myself three foreign languages by lamplight.

Within a single year, I had become the top sales executive in our regional division.

A stroke of brilliant fortune led to a major deal, earning me my first mountain of wealth.

All this time, I kept thinking of my family. The second I could, I rushed home, eager to share the triumph with them.

I never dreamed that they had written me off long ago.

I still vividly remembered the day Linda and I tied the knot.

She was the one who urged me not to pass up the lucrative overseas contract.

At the airport terminal, she clung to me with tears streaming down her face, swearing she would take care of our home until my return.

I sneered coldly and stepped further into the room.

The heavy thud of the front door slamming shut shattered the cozy family atmosphere. The smiles vanished from my parents' faces the moment their eyes landed on me.

Linda emerged from the bedroom, flanked by Derek.

She spoke with an expression that looked thoroughly rehearsed.

"Austin, I know this is hard for you, but it’s done. You’re better off just accepting reality."

"You were gone for three whole years. If Derek hadn’t stepped up and supported me, I wouldn't have survived this long. Can you try to be understanding for once?"

Staring at her feigned helplessness, I scoffed.

"Understanding? So I’m supposed to happily raise another man's bastard?"

Smack!

Before the word fully left my mouth, my father's hand cracked across my face.

He glared at me, his eyes bloodshot with rage. "Shut your filthy mouth! What bastard? He carries the Miller bloodline!"

"If you refuse to claim him, get the hell out of my house! And don't you dare call me your father ever again!"

Gasping, his face flushed a violent red, and he clutched his chest, coughing violently.

My mother immediately rushed over to hold him up, shooting daggers at me.

"Austin, do we owe you a debt or something? If you give your father a heart attack, I swear I’ll never forgive you!"

Even Derek chimed in, sounding like a smug peacekeeper.

"Austin, you're in the wrong here. Why can’t we talk like civilized adults? Uncle was only thinking about what’s best for you."

The four of them stood in a solid wall against me, weaponizing cheap moral superiority to beat me down.

I stood in silence, not uttering a word.

Linda curled her lip in annoyance, pulled an envelope from the entryway console, and shoved an invitation card toward me.

"Derek and I are having our wedding next week. Here’s your invite. Make sure you dress appropriately and show up."