Chapter 1

Ever since my father-in-law was hospitalized, we hired a young male caregiver. Ever since then, my wife, Chloe, started visiting the hospital way too often.

The guy was reckless and clumsy. Once, he even gave Arthur his medication twice in a single hour.

I suggested to Chloe that we fire him and find a professional, but she snapped at me out of nowhere. She claimed I was just jealous of how young and hardworking he was.

On top of looking after Arthur, he was supposedly studying for his grad school exams, and Chloe looked at him like he was some kind of hero.

Later, Arthur collapsed in the bathroom and desperately tried calling me for help.

I was away on a business trip and immediately called the caregiver, only to hear Chloe’s flirtatious voice through the receiver:

"Babe, can you bring me a towel? I forgot mine~"

I was furious, but she turned around and tore into me, calling me sick-minded and accusing me of using her sick father's life just to lie and get her attention.

Furious, I demanded a divorce on the spot. But now, she was in tears, begging to stay by my side and keep building our company together.

On my way back from a business trip, I swung by the hospital to check on my father-in-law, Arthur. He suffered from dementia and had recently taken a bad fall, leaving his mobility severely impaired.

The second I reached his room, I heard the caregiver, Hunter, scolding him harshly.

"You're an old man, and you still managed to wet the bed? If you need the bathroom, tell me!"

Arthur’s hands trembled uncontrollably. He couldn't form words properly, and under Hunter's harsh scolding, all he could do was wave his hands weakly.

"Aren't you just putting on a pity show so Chloe will come visit? You don't have to drag me down with your mess. It’s annoying. Chloe’s a busy CEO running a real company..."

Seeing this sickening attitude, I stormed inside and snapped at him.

"Is this how you treat your patient?" I frowned, pulling out my phone to call Chloe right then and there.

Hunter didn't look scared at all. Instead, he shrugged and told me to lend a hand since I was already there.

"A kept man like you has nothing better to do anyway. Chloe's out there making real money, so you might as well pull your weight and take care of the old guy, right?"

It wasn't that I refused to care for Arthur. I was the one paying for a caregiver specifically so Arthur would get professional help.

Did I pay this guy just so he could order me around?

The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. But the bed was still soiled, and no matter how disgusted I was with Hunter, my priority was making Arthur comfortable.

Once everything was cleaned and changed, Hunter sliced an apple for himself, slumped into a chair, and scrolled through his phone, completely ignoring me.

"Did he take his meds? And what did he have for dinner?"

I asked a few questions, but Hunter just rolled his eyes, saying he was giving me a chance to perform. He added that a freeloading husband who married up ought to please his father-in-law.

His words grated on my nerves. I had told Chloe multiple times that this guy was careless. While checking Arthur’s medication tray, I noticed the dosages were completely off.

"Did you give him two doses in one meal?" The hospital strictly apportioned meds by the day. Seeing the blister packs empty, I confronted him, but Hunter just brushed it off.

"Doctors always prescribe low doses anyway. It won’t kill him. Look at him, he’s totally fine."

His nonchalant, smug attitude made my blood boil. I called Chloe immediately.

Her voice on the other end sounded distant and lazy: "Everyone makes mistakes, Logan. Hunter's been cramming for his grad school exams lately. It’s normal to be a little distracted."

"What if he ruins your dad’s health? Do you really not care at all?" I was fuming, but Chloe cut me off, saying she had to jump into a meeting and told me to stop being unreasonably jealous.

She claimed young men as hardworking and humble as Hunter were rare these days.

Earlier on, Hunter indeed put on quite a show. He even emptied Arthur's bedpans without flinching. Chloe had praised him to the skies, saying he had none of the typical arrogance of fresh college grads.

"No wonder you're just a kept man," Hunter sneered, rolling his eyes after I hung up. "Always running to tattle on people. You just can’t stand having me around, can you?

"Mr. Sterling, Chloe is the one signing my paychecks. You have no right to decide whether I stay or go. If you like living off a woman, stick to being a quiet trophy husband. Why stick your nose into the owner's business?"

I couldn't hold back anymore and punched him squarely across the face. "Shut your damn mouth. Who told you I was living off anyone?"

"Chloe’s a powerhouse CEO. And you? You're just a nobody in the office, but you still won’t admit it.

"You hit me! Let's see how you explain this to Chloe!"

I didn't waste another breath on him. I called the head nurse over right away. Arthur had swallowed a double dose of strong medication, and I had no idea what kind of damage it might cause.

I took him down for a full emergency checkup. By the time we returned, I could already hear Chloe's voice echoing in the hallway.