Chapter 1

When my wife, Irene Crawford, got pregnant with the child of her little lover for the third time, I stayed calm.

I even admired the wedding photos of the two of them that they had secretly taken behind my back.

Irene frowned and with an icy attitude, she shielded George Erwin behind her.

“Although I promised you I wouldn’t have a child outside, George has been with me for so many years. The two previous abortions damaged my body, so this child must be kept."

"Husband, if he suffers even a bit, even if it is you, I will not be merciful either.”

After speaking, she shifted into a defensive stance, facing me.

She might have expected I would explode, just like I did before, arguing and fighting her like a madman.

But I was tired. Three days ago, I had already agreed to be that person.

——

I raised my eyebrows and looked at George's hand. It went white from gripping the wedding photo.

“Nice wedding photos. It's just ... that suit doesn't suit you.”

If he hadn't deliberately sent me the ultrasound, I wouldn't have known Irene was pregnant again.

Over the years, I had grown accustomed to his provocations.

The first time he confronted me, I felt like I was being plunged into sub-zero water. My body split in two, my heart throbbing with agony. With bloodshot eyes, I smashed an ashtray over George's head.

Irene watched me with helpless eyes, but undoubtedly, her words meant to defend him.

"Honey, your temper hasn't changed at all; you easily blow up with just a bit of provocation."

“But I genuinely care about him. We can talk about anything, just don’t kill him. Is one hit enough? Do you want two more to vent?”

Back then, I felt like the sky had fallen. Night after sleepless night, I lost my hair, torturing myself into a wreck.

But now, I feel nothing.

Irene paused and after a long while, she stared at me with a half-smile.

"Are you changing your tactic? But you know, even if you try to stop me, it won't end well.”

She is right, though.

I nodded in deep agreement.

“I won’t stop you. Do whatever you want.”

Seeing I wasn't making a scene, Irene finally exhaled in relief. But there was a trace of guilt in her eyes.

“Whatever you need to buy, just charge it to my card.”

Then, she led George away, as if afraid I might hurt him.

Watching their retreating figures, I felt a wave of dizziness.

Back when I discovered her affair, I exposed it—laid it bare before every friend and relative because I wanted her to bow her head and turn back.

But the next day, she doubled down. In front of everyone, she introduced George’s identity with complete confidence.

When someone spoke ill of him, she knocked out their teeth. When someone flirted with him and called him a kept man, she broke their leg.

After that, no one dared to disrespect George anymore.

I practically broke down screaming, "Irene, what do you take me for? Didn't you say you'd love me forever? Let’s divorce!!"

Irene laughed softly and kissed my lips. "Honey, could you really leave me?"

“I never said I don't love you. It's just... after so long, you're making me bored. So … be good, okay?”

“Divorce? Where would you even go after that?”

All my words froze in my throat.

It was not until I learned she was pregnant. That was when I truly lost my mind.

Before Irene was officially acknowledged by the Erwin Family, she was just a delinquent girl.

When she was sixteen, she got into a fight. I took a knife for her and got a critical injury that made it nearly impossible for me to have children.

After we married, her mother berated me for being a disgrace. So, in order to keep people from criticizing and embarrassing me, she got herself sterilized.