Chapter 2

At our Thanksgiving family dinner two months ago, Chloe's family and I waited for her at the restaurant for an hour. She finally showed up, holding a baby. The child’s eyes and features looked exactly like Julian's.

Seeing my shocked expression, Chloe quickly explained that the baby belonged to a close friend. She claimed the parents had died in a tragic car crash and the family was going to send him to an orphanage, so she couldn't bear it and decided to foster him.

But when I asked for the parents' names, Chloe stuttered and couldn't give me a straight answer.

Before I could press further, her parents cut me off.

"Nathan, don't be so difficult," her mother had said. "Chloe is your wife. Whatever decision she makes, you should support her. Besides, having a child around should motivate you to work harder. A real man provides!"

Since they put it that way, I swallowed my doubts. To give Chloe and Leo a better life, I pushed myself to the absolute limit. I worked my day job, took on freelance coding gigs at night, and barely slept four hours a day. I never complained once.

But now, looking at the nursing supplies scattered on the floor, I realized my devotion had been nothing but garbage to them.

Anger flared in my chest. I didn't even hear Chloe opening the front door until she knocked loudly on the bathroom door. In a panic, I shoved everything back into the box.

I wasn't ready to show my hand just yet.

"Nathan? What are you doing in there? I need to use the restroom."

After making sure everything looked untouched, I wiped the sweat from my forehead and opened the door.

Chloe walked in, looking annoyed. Her eyes fell on the nursing bra on the vanity, and she froze. Quickly trying to cover it up, she said, "This kind of bra is just way more comfortable. Way better than my old lace ones."

"Okay," I muttered, turning to leave. But Chloe took a step forward and grabbed my arm.

"Nathan, you didn't touch my things, did you?"

Her grip was incredibly tight, her nails digging deep into my skin.

Wincing from the pain, I shook her hand off. "Why would I touch your stuff? Why are you so paranoid? That hurt!"

"Oh, sorry. I just hate when people touch my personal things," Chloe said defensively, though she didn't sound sorry at all.

I ignored her and went back to the bedroom.

Lying in bed, I tossed and turned.

No man could tolerate raising another man's child. But I needed concrete, undeniable proof before I made my move.

I didn't sleep a wink that night.

The next morning, I called in sick to work.

During breakfast, Maya walked right into our apartment without knocking.

"Chloe, bring Julian's baby out! I want to play with him."

Chloe immediately gestured toward me, signaling her sister to shut up.

Maya froze, giving me an awkward, forced smile. "Oh, Nathan! You're home... Sorry, I was just joking..."

Looking at Chloe's pale face, I found it almost amusing. "Since Maya wants to play with her little nephew so badly, why don't you bring him out, Chloe?"

Chloe gave me a tense look before reluctantly bringing Leo out of the nursery.

"Let me hold him. You go ahead and eat," I said.

Chloe hesitated for a second before placing Leo in my arms.

I gently patted the baby’s back. "You know, Leo really looks like a mix of you and Julian. If I didn't know better, I'd think he was your biological child."

"What a ridiculous joke," Chloe laughed nervously, though she couldn't hide the terror in her eyes. "Julian and I haven't spoken in years."

I didn't push further. Looking down at the sleeping infant in my arms, a profound sense of sadness washed over me.

Right after breakfast, Chloe practically shoved me out the door, urging me to go to work. She kept sneaking into the bathroom every few minutes to make phone calls.

I pretended to leave, but instead of going to the subway, I hid near the security gate of our apartment complex.

I wanted to see exactly what game this family was playing.