Chapter 1

Thanksgiving dinner. A family reunion. My strictly child-free wife showed up with a baby in her arms. The infant’s eyes and brows were a spitting image of her deceased first love, the one who got away.

She claimed to the family that the baby belonged to a late friend and that she was just fostering him.

Until I woke up in the middle of the night and saw her holding a breast pump, rocking the baby to sleep.

"Don't cry, my sweet boy. Daddy might be gone, but Mommy is here to protect you."

Everyone thought I would just swallow my pride and accept it. But this time, I quietly contacted my lawyer and had him draft a divorce agreement.

Two years of one-sided crush, five years of dating, and three years of marriage.

I have spent ten years being Chloe’s loyal puppy. I am finally, truly exhausted.

I couldn't sleep last night. When I got up to grab a glass of warm milk, I realized my wife wasn't in bed. Her side of the sheets was already cold.

Barefoot, I padded out of the bedroom. As I pushed open the living room door, I froze. My wife, Chloe, had her back to me, nursing the baby.

"Don't worry, baby. Mommy's here. Stop crying, sweetheart."

"Drink up, grow tall and handsome just like your daddy."

My brows furrowed, and I spoke up, "Chloe? What are you doing?"

Chloe jumped, startled. She turned around, looking at me with irritation.

"Nathan! Why are you raising your voice like that? I just got him to sleep!"

"Why did you just tell the baby to call you 'Mommy'?"

Chloe looked away nervously. "You must be dreaming. I clearly said 'Auntie'!"

I rubbed my eyes, wondering if I was indeed just hearing things.

"Okay. I'll go heat up some milk. Get some sleep soon."

After drinking the warm milk, drowsiness finally took over. I drifted off to sleep, only to be jolted awake later by the muffled sound of Chloe’s voice on a phone call.

"Maya, are you sure Nathan hasn't noticed anything about the baby?"

My sister-in-law Maya’s voice came sharply through the receiver.

"What could that idiot possibly find out? He’s a workaholic. To this day, he still has no idea I’m Leo's real mother," Chloe sneered.

"Alright, Chloe. Get some sleep. If Nathan starts asking questions, just tell him Leo is my mistake from a one-night stand."

Any trace of sleepiness vanished. I sat up straight in bed, my heart pounding in my chest.

Chloe had brought Leo home three months ago. I had never once doubted her. But now, it was clear that her entire family was playing me for a fool.

I slumped back onto the bed, memories of our past washing over me.

We met in high school and had been together for over a decade.

From the very first moment I saw Chloe, I fell hard. But back then, I was just a nerdy kid who only knew how to study. Chloe, on the other hand, was the star of the school—gorgeous, vibrant, and everyone's dream girl.

I hid my feelings deep down and loved her in silence for two years.

In college, I changed my major and chose a mediocre school just so I could be in the same city as her, hoping that one day I could be the one to protect her.

Fortunately, fate gave me a chance.

During a college club night at a local bar, I happened to see Chloe cornered by a drunk guy.

She was screaming for help, but people around them just watched like it was a show. No one stepped in.

Without thinking, I rushed in and pulled her away. I ended up angering the drunk guy and took a beer bottle straight to my head.

Chloe took care of me in the hospital for a month. Naturally, we grew closer. I took the chance to confess my love, but she told me we could only be friends.

I didn't give up. I chased her devotedly for another year. Finally, she agreed to be my girlfriend. Three years later, pressured by her family, she agreed to marry me.

Before we got married, she warned me repeatedly that she was strictly child-free and would never want kids. Even physical intimacy between us was rare.

I comforted myself by thinking she was just slow to warm up. If she wouldn't take a step toward me, I would take all hundred steps toward her.

But starting two years ago, Chloe began staying out late. She would claim she was on business trips and disappear for months. She even became extremely repulsed by our monthly intimacy.

My best friend once joked that I should keep a close eye on her so some other guy wouldn't steal her away.

At the time, I just laughed it off. I knew Chloe had a tragic first love—our high school classmate, Julian. But Julian had gone abroad years ago and reportedly got together with a wealthy older woman. They had zero contact after that. I trusted Chloe completely.

But now, all the clues pointed to one terrifying truth: Chloe was hiding a massive secret.

Cold sweat broke out on my forehead. I got up to wash my face in the bathroom.

On the vanity lay Chloe’s discarded underwear. It wasn't the lace lingerie she usually favored. Instead, it was a specialized nursing bra.

When I picked it up, I saw large, dried milk stains on the fabric.

My mind went blank. I reached for the locked storage box Chloe kept hidden in the corner of the bathroom cabinet.

Perhaps thinking I was fast asleep, she had forgotten to lock it this time.

I opened it and turned it over. The contents spilled out.

I knelt down to inspect them. They were all postpartum recovery creams, scar-removal ointments, and several unopened breast pumps.

My worst fears were confirmed. Leo was indeed Chloe’s biological son. All those times she claimed she was traveling for business, she was actually in another man’s bed, playing family.