Chapter 1

To everyone else, I was just a "kept man." A trophy husband. All because I was born with nothing.

Only Sienna, from beginning to end, told me I was great. She told me I wasn't the useless trash they claimed I was.

We eventually got married. We were deeply in love, or so I thought.

On our third wedding anniversary, I held a black card in my hand—loaded with enough cash to buy several luxury villas—intending to give it to Sienna as a surprise.

Sienna gently wrapped her arms around my neck, leaning in to whisper softly:

"Ethan, you’re going to be a father."

My entire body went rigid. I pulled my arm back, staring at her, pronouncing every single word with chilling clarity:

"But Sienna, I’m completely sterile."

Sienna froze. For a few seconds, she just stared at me blankly, as if her brain couldn't process what I had just said.

Then, her face turned incredibly pale. She aggressively shook off my hand, stood up, and her eyes instantly welled with tears.

"Ethan Hayes! If you don’t want this baby, just say it! Why would you make up such a disgusting lie?"

"Are you accusing me of sleeping around? How could you humiliate me like this?"

"I am so incredibly disappointed in you!"

With that, Sienna crouched by the sofa and started sobbing uncontrollably.

Meanwhile, I just sat there, forced to remain silent.

Sienna would never believe me. After all, we had both done full-body checkups before getting married.

Back then, no fertility issues had shown up on my report.

I clenched my fists tightly, then slowly let them go.

I walked over, crouched down next to her, and gently pulled her into a hug. In my usual comforting tone, I coaxed her:

"Sienna, I was just joking. Why are you crying?"

"You shouldn't cry during pregnancy. It’s bad for the baby."

Sienna hit my chest a few times. Seeing that I was submissively taking the blame and letting her vent, she finally pouted and wiped her tears.

"Fine. I’ll let it slide this time."

"By the way, didn't you say you had a surprise for me? What is it?"

Sienna opened her eyes wide, looking at me with pure anticipation.

I leaned down to kiss her forehead, slipped the black card back into my pocket, and scooped her up in my arms, walking toward the bedroom.

"I’m not telling you yet. You’ll find out later."

"Stop it~" Sienna giggled, hiding her blushing face against my chest. She couldn't see the cold, deep sorrow creeping into the depths of my eyes.

The woman I had loved for fifteen years had just handed me a green hat.

Was this my surprise?