Chapter 1

My stepbrother, who had been paralyzed for six years, suddenly confessed he had gotten a woman pregnant.

I contacted my secretary to prepare a gift for his future wife, but my father stopped me.

"Zenon, this is also your child!"

Saoirse Lorenger, my wife, stood silently beside her father, tacitly accepting this absurdity.

I got the point.

So, the child in her womb was my stepbrother's.

Seeing me silent, Saoirse stepped forward and separated me from Oliver Lorenger. "Zenon, it was Dad and I who made the decision without consulting you, so don't blame Oliver."

She soothed me with a patronizing tone. "You always refuse to have a child and you know how awful the rumors are about you."

"Oliver is paralyzed and he is your brother. Having a child with him won't shake your status as Saoirse’s husband."

They claimed it was for my own good, yet they acted first and consulted later, never asking my consent.

In their eyes, I would never say no to them.

However, they did not know, the time had come to keep their promise to their mothers—to take care of the Lorenger and Steiner families.

I should go too.

——

Oliver's hand was still resting on her pregnant belly.

The scene stung my eyes.

"Zenon, don't be angry with Saoirse." Oliver lay on the bed, a harmless smile on his face.

"The doctor said I'm in a poor health and Saoirse was afraid something would happen to me and the baby, so she kept it from you all along."

"We’re all doing this for your own good. You’ve been married for so many years and yet childless — it's quite a disgrace," he said, affectionately patting the back of my hand.

“Once the baby is born, we’ll register him in your name so he can call you Dad, okay?”

My father, Jack Lorenger, cleared his throat, adopting the air of an elder.

"Zenon! Oliver got Saoirse pregnant with the Steiners' eldest grandson and also the hope of the Lorengers!"

"Your brother is physically disabled, yet he takes on the burden for you and the Steiners. Instead of showing gratitude, who are you trying to impress with that deathly expression?"

Saoirse finally removed Oliver's hand from her belly and walked toward me. She wanted to hold my hand, but I dodged away.

Her movement froze in mid-air.

"Zenon, after all these years as a husband and wife, don't you still not understand me?"

"I do all this for you, for our family. I won't let others behind your back stab you in the back and call you a living saint."

I looked at her, speechless.

Seeing me giving no response, Saoirse grew impatient and impatiently tossed her hair. "Alright, stop fooling around. I've already asked Helena to prepare dinner to celebrate."

"As the host, you should at least show some courtesy."

She turned to help Oliver up, her movements gentler than I had ever seen before. “Oliver, what would you like to eat? I’ll have the kitchen prepare it for you.”

Oliver leaned weakly in her arms and said coquettishly, “I want to eat grouper soup and I want you to feed me yourself.”

"Alright, as your request."

The two of them flirted around without paying attention to my presence, treating me like a transparent thing.

I stood there, utterly superfluous and ridiculous.

Just then, Noah Reinhart, the Steiner Family’s doctor, walked in carrying his medical bag.

He took a test report from his bag with a beaming smile on his face. "Ms. Lorenger, Mr. Oliver Lorenger, congratulations!"

She handed the report to Saoirse and said in a firm tone, "The pregnancy is very stable. The ultrasound looks like it's a boy! Congratulations to the Lorengers and the Steiners, you have an heir!"

Saoirse kissed my brother deep and Jack also looked emotional.

Noah turned to look at me, a hint of pity in his smile. "Mr. Zenon Lorenger, please don't be too sad."

"Since you can't give a child, having your brother help you would be just the same."