Chapter 2

Several lipstick marks on the collar of a white shirt.

He stared at me blankly, as if he hadn't caught up with what was happening.

Wendy urged him from behind:

"Gerard, hurry up and go! Didn't my husband say he'd be back soon?"

The taut string in my brain snapped.

I said flatly:

"No need. I'm already back."

I walked into the room without even changing my shoes.

Gerard followed close behind:

"John, let me explain. It's not what you think."

Mom and Dad put away the fruit knife on the table:

"John, don't do anything rash and hurt my precious grandson."

Wendy's neck was covered in kiss marks, and she grabbed my arm:

"Honey, Gerard just came over to use the bathroom for a shower."

I shook Wendy's hand off:

"Podcast FM90.5."

"Wendy, I know everything."

Wendy's face went pale:

"Honey, don't you never listen to podcasts?"

"The baby was just an accident. We can raise him together."

"Honey, what do you think?"

I looked at her wearily:

"Wendy, we already made a scene last time, so let's just cut it short this time. Let's get a divorce."

My mom shot to her feet:

"I won't allow you to divorce!"

"If you two split up, who's going to raise my precious grandson?"

My father spoke in a low, heavy voice too:

"John, you can't have children. You have to admit your own defect."

"Our Delgado line can't be left without an heir. You should be grateful Gerard is willing to father a child for you."

I stared at my parents in disbelief:

"Dad, Mom, there's nothing wrong with the quality of my fertility."

"I only got sterilized back then because Wendy wanted to stay childless."

"If you want a grandson, why raise someone else's child?"

Gerard spoke awkwardly:

"John, I know this is about a man's dignity, and I understand you not wanting to admit it."

"When we went to get our fertility qualification rates checked together, yours was under 1 percent, while mine was 54 percent."

"Your parents trust me, which is why they let me help Wendy get pregnant."

"You should have some sympathy for how badly they want a grandchild."

My dad nodded in satisfaction:

"John, you may be highly skilled at your work, but when it comes to being a decent person, you still need to look to Gerard."

"You can't get far going it alone. Don't be so petty."

My fertility qualification rate was clearly over 60 percent!

Back then, when Gerard couldn't find a job after graduation, I was the one who brought him into the company and gave him a salary of twenty thousand a month.

And now he had deceived my parents and betrayed me alongside Wendy.

I stared at Gerard:

"Gerard, I know I never treated you badly, so why are you doing this to me?"

Wendy stepped in front of him:

"Honey, don't talk about Gerard like that."

"It's all my fault. If you want to hit or curse someone, take it out on me."

Gerard put his arm around Wendy's waist:

"Wendy, I can't even bear to wear you out in bed—how could I let John hit or curse you?"

My stomach churned:

"Wendy, doesn't it disgust you to call me 'honey'?"

"Since the two of you love each other so deeply, divorcing me works out perfectly for you!"

My mom slapped the table:

"Enough. We came here today to take Wendy to her prenatal checkup."

"John Delgado, don't upset her. It'll affect the baby's development."