Chapter 1

Claire was my wife, and she had all the right looks and curves.

She rose through the company fast after joining, and three years ago she went overseas on business.

She said, “Three years for a million bucks. By the time I come back, we’ll be living a good life.”

Today was the day she returned to the country, so I took the day off to pick her up.

When I got to the airport, I saw her figure from a distance.

We hadn’t seen each other in three years, and my wife had filled out a little, but that was actually perfect.

I waved at her, and then I saw a woman in her fifties beside her, holding a child.

When I walked closer, my wife took the child into her arms, and I froze, then thought she must just be helping out—what a kind, beautiful woman.

“Babe!”

I couldn’t help shouting.

My wife slowly came over, and when she saw me, she handed the child to the older woman beside her. “Take him to the car first and wait for me.”

The child started crying for her, and the older woman coaxed him, “Don’t cry, don’t cry. Mommy will be here in a bit!”

At that, I froze.

Mommy?

I looked at Claire. “What did she just say? Mommy?”

Claire said in a low voice, “Ethan, let’s talk.”

She walked off to the side, and I hurried after her without thinking.

Only when I got close did I notice a milky scent on her, and her body shape looked a lot like a mother’s too.

“Claire, what’s going on with that kid?”

“Don’t tell me you went abroad for three years and had a baby!”

Claire’s face was cold. “You saw it yourself. I don’t want to hide it from you. The child is mine, but I’ll give you an explanation.”

“You go back first. After I’m done with work, I’ll contact you. That’s it!”

Without giving me a chance to say anything, she turned and left.

I was stunned, and it took me a long time to process it before I rushed after her.

But then I saw Ryan holding her in his arms as they got into the Mercedes parked at the entrance.

Ryan!

My heart sank.

Three years ago, Ryan had also gone abroad on business, and before he left, I even sent a bunch of expensive gifts over, asking him to look after Claire.

So that was how he’d been looking after her—right into bed!

I clenched my fists and drove straight back to the company.

Since she was bringing a child with her, Claire was definitely going home first, and I didn’t care which home that was, because it wasn’t mine!

With red eyes, I stormed back to the office and overheard a few people gossiping in the break room.

“Claire gets promoted as soon as she comes back this time. Gotta say, pretty women really do move up faster!”

“It’s all because having a kid gives her leverage. She had Ryan’s son, and since he can’t give her the name of a proper wife, he has to give her some kind of explanation!”

“Ethan’s the real one taking this well. He’s eating soft food without even feeling embarrassed, treating his wife like a surrogate!”

Hearing them made me feel like I’d fallen into an ice cave. They all knew Claire had gone abroad with Ryan, and they’d been hiding it from me!

I had become a damn fool, kept in the dark while still joking around with them about missing my wife.

I had once told Claire I wanted to fly out and see her, but she used the excuse that it wouldn’t be convenient, that a round trip would take over a week, waste time and money, and it wasn’t necessary.

She lectured me sincerely, “Ethan, I’m doing all this for our little family. Can’t you just bear with it?”

Bear with it?

I did bear with it for three years and never went looking for her, but this was what I got in return.

Thinking about it, I coughed lightly, and the few people inside turned around and saw me, their faces instantly awkward.

“Ethan, y-you’re here for coffee too?”

“Yeah, and to listen to you gossip by the way.”

I replied with a fake smile, and one of them mustered the nerve to say, “Ethan, honestly, this isn’t that big a deal. Other people don’t even get a chance like this!”

“Not like you. You’ve still been earning your salary all these years, while your wife makes big money outside. When she comes back, she might even be a director!”

“How does it feel? Got any tips to share?”