Chapter 3

Twenty minutes later, a black minivan pulled up at the gate.

A moment later, Chloe emerged wearing a low-profile black baseball cap, cradling Leo in her arms. Maya followed closely behind her. They both climbed into the van.

Once the vehicle drove off, I walked out, hailed a cab, and told the driver to tail them.

After a bumpy one-hour drive, the minivan pulled up at the entrance of a quiet cemetery on the outskirts of the city.

Chloe’s parents, her sister, and an older middle-aged couple I didn't recognize all piled out of the car.

I waited until they disappeared down the path before paying my driver and quietly following them.

As I reached the quieter section of the cemetery, the sound of weeping drifted through the cold air.

I hid behind a large oak tree, pulled out my phone, and started recording.

Chloe was kneeling on the cold grass, holding Leo tightly. She was crying hysterically as she wiped her tears.

"Julian, can you see him?" she sobbed, looking at the gravestone. "Our families' efforts weren't in vain. You have a son now."

"We named him Leo. Don't worry, he will be my only child in this life. No one else will ever take my love away from him. I will raise him well and take care of your parents. I won't let you have any regrets."

Chloe broke down completely, weeping against the stone.

Her mother took the baby from her arms, also wiping away tears. "Julian, dear, rest in peace. In my heart, you've always been my son-in-law. Leo is our grandson, and we will cherish him forever!"

The tombstone they were gathered around was carved with the name: *Julian Brooks*.

Standing there, watching the scene play out, I felt like I had been plunged into a freezing lake. My suspicions were 100% correct. Leo was Chloe and Julian’s child.

And what was I? At best, I was just a walking wallet, a tool to fund her dead lover’s legacy.

My nose stung, and tears finally spilled over.

I clenched my jaw, turned around, and took a cab back to our apartment.

When Chloe finally came back with Leo, I was sitting at the dining table, eating an extra-garlic, double-anchovy pizza and greasy buffalo wings.

Chloe had always loathed these strong-smelling foods, calling them unhealthy garbage. In all our years together, I had never brought them into the house. After Leo arrived, it was strictly forbidden.

"Nathan! Didn't I tell you never to bring this smelly garbage into the apartment? Are you deaf?"

For the first time in ten years, I didn't apologize. I didn't even look up.

Annoyed, Chloe marched over, snatched the pizza box, and threw it into the trash can.

"Are you brain-dead? Did you not hear me talking to you?"

I let out a cold laugh. The anger I had bottled up for years finally erupted.

"What right do you have to yell at me? At least I didn't go behind your back and have a child with an ex!"

Chloe's face drained of color instantly. "What are you talking about? Julian is dead! We have nothing to do with each other. How can you be so malicious to drag a dead man into this?"

"What about Leo then? I was at the cemetery today, Chloe. I heard everything you said. Leo is your child with Julian. He was never adopted from any orphanage!"

"You wanted me to raise Julian's kid? Chloe, I seriously don't get it. What did I ever do to you? Why would you treat me like this?"

By the end of my speech, I was practically shouting. Chloe had lowered her head, completely silent.

I took a deep breath, suddenly feeling completely drained of energy.

"Chloe, let's get a divorce."

Chloe snapped her head up, frowning as if she couldn't believe her ears. After all, I had worshipped the ground she walked on for ten years. On our wedding night, I had been so ecstatic I couldn't even sleep.

"Nathan, stop acting out," Chloe said, her voice turning cold. "Julian is gone. Can't you just be the bigger man here? Just raise Leo as your own son. Julian would thank you from the afterlife."

"I don't need his thanks."

Chloe lost her patience. She looked at me with pure disgust. "Fine. Whatever. If you want a divorce, fine. Get the hell out of my apartment."

I had bought this apartment with my own cash, but to give Chloe a sense of security, I had put her name on the deed. I never expected that my love would be turned into a weapon to kick me out of my own home.

"Okay," I whispered. At this moment, my heart was completely dead.

Chloe didn't give me another glance. She picked up Leo and slammed her bedroom door.

With a bitter smile, I cleaned up the discarded pizza, walked into the guest room, and began packing my bags.

In the end, one of us had to leave.