Chapter 1

My wife decided to have a baby for her first love, who was supposedly dying of kidney failure.

They were constantly on guard, terrified I would suddenly show up and ruin their plans. On the day she gave birth, they even hired a line of expensive bodyguards.

But I didn't show up. I wasn't that stupid.

They thought I had finally been tamed. Holding the baby in the hospital, they sighed in relief:

"At least he knows his place. If he had shown up and caused a scene, everyone would have been embarrassed!"

Even Chloe, my wife, sneered:

"Hmph. If he keeps behaving, maybe I'll let the baby call him 'Daddy' eventually."

But they had no idea. I didn't care about any of this anymore. I gently touched the badge of the International Extreme Rescue Team on my chest, feeling nothing but pure relief.

I was about to leave the country to join the international squad.

This time, I was leaving them for good.

When Chloe gave birth, her parents paid for a high-end postpartum recovery center. She didn't return home until a month later.

During that month, I completed my intensive pre-departure training. All my paperwork and visas were finalized.

I was lying in bed, trying to catch up on some much-needed sleep, when loud noises erupted at the front door.

"This baby really took the best genes from both of you. That cute little nose looks just like Chloe's, and the eyes are definitely Zach's."

"A perfect combination. You worked so hard, Chloe."

"It's nothing, Mom. I'm just so happy I could give Zach a baby."

Arthur, Eleanor, Chloe, and her first love, Zach Cole, walked in. They looked like a picture-perfect, happy family, cradling the baby.

They bustled around, putting their luggage away, and then gathered on the sofa, taking turns holding the baby.

"Honestly, Chloe and Zach make the most beautiful babies. They’re such a gorgeous couple!"

"Exactly. If she had actually gotten pregnant by Sean, it would have been a disaster. He’s tan, ugly, and dumb as a rock."

Arthur had just finished that sentence when I walked out of the bedroom. They gasped, staring at me like they had seen a ghost.

"Why... why are you home?!"

"Do you walk without making sound? You scared the life out of me!"

I looked at them. Their ugly, twisted expressions felt completely foreign.

Once upon a time, they were so proud to have me as a son-in-law.

Chloe and I had started out through a slightly traditional but hopeful blind date.

Even though it was a setup, we hit it off immediately. From our hobbies to our life goals, we vibed on everything.

The first date felt magical, like we had finally found the one we’d been waiting for.

Back then, Arthur, Eleanor, and Chloe showed immense respect and support for my career as a rescue worker.

They used to say my job made them incredibly proud. Whenever Chloe talked about me to her friends on Instagram, her face would light up.

To Chloe, I was a responsible man, the most charming person in her life, who gave her an unprecedented sense of security.

I actually believed her back then.

Now, they sat on the sofa, staring at me as if I were the ultimate third wheel.

"Well, since you're here, I assume you already know the situation. You didn't make a scene at the hospital, so I take it you agree with this arrangement."

Arthur cleared his throat and gave everyone a look, playing the commanding family patriarch.

I let out a cold laugh, not bothering to reply.

Seeing my attitude, Chloe lost her temper instantly.

"What are you laughing at, Sean? Do you have an issue? How can you be so selfish? Zach has kidney failure! He took care of us so much in the past. It’s only natural that I carry on his legacy!"

Zach coughed right on cue, gently pulling Chloe’s arm.

"Chloe, don't get mad because of me. You haven't fully recovered yet..."

Zach's pathetic acting immediately triggered everyone's sympathy. But I couldn't see a single trace of a dying man on his face.

After all, what terminally ill patient has the energy to put on a theatrical performance like this?

Chloe, wrapped in her new maternal glow, leaned weakly against Zach's shoulder and glared at me.

"Look how sensible Zach is. Why can't you learn from him?"

Eleanor stepped in to play the peacemaker.

"Sean, dear, you're always so busy with work, running around all the time with no fixed schedule. Chloe is our only daughter, and a house needs a man around."

"Zach has been taking care of everything. He and Chloe grew up together. We treat him like our own son. Now that he's sick, how could we not help him?"

"Like their own son." "Grew up together." What a joke.

If he were really like their son, would they let their own daughter bear his child? In the end, I was the only outsider blocking their perfect family circle.

They played good cop, bad cop, and finally, Zach chimed in with a weak, self-pitying sigh.

"It's normal for Sean to find this hard to accept. It's all my fault for getting sick... cough... blame me."

At this, everyone lost their patience with me, acting as if I were the bully.

Chloe waved her hand dismissively.

"Sean, we've said all the nice things we could. If you still want to be stubborn, there's nothing I can do. Next week, we’re hosting a grand baby welcoming gala. All our friends and relatives will be there."

"If you know what's good for you, you'll tell everyone the baby is yours. If you insist on throwing a tantrum and ruining things, you'll be the one left humiliated."

I did the math. Next week was exactly when I was scheduled to fly out.

By then, I would have officially cut all ties and joined the International Extreme Rescue Team.

But if I could leave them with an unforgettable memory before I left, that sounded like fun.

I shrugged, keeping my face completely blank, and replied calmly, "Sure. No problem."