Chapter 1

My wife was sent overseas on a three-year assignment. Today, I went to the airport to pick her up.

I didn't expect her to walk out holding a six-month-old baby.

My coworkers sneered at me:

"Hey, the kid might not be yours, but at least your wife is still yours, right?"

Right after that, my wife handed me a divorce agreement.

"Just sign it, Logan. Don't stand in my way of becoming a billionaire's wife."

I took the pen and signed my name without hesitation.

The faithful tool has finally woken up. This time, I’m the one throwing her away.

Melanie was my wife, and she was drop-dead gorgeous.

Not long after joining the company, she climbed the corporate ladder fast. Three years ago, she was sent to our European branch.

Before leaving, she told me, "One hundred grand a year for three years. Once I'm back, we’ll be living the good life."

Today was the day she landed back in New York. I took the day off just to pick her up at JFK.

Standing near the gate, I spotted her from a distance.

After three years apart, her curves were a bit fuller, but she looked as stunning as ever.

I waved at her. Then I noticed an older woman walking beside her, carrying a baby.

As they got closer, Melanie took the baby into her arms. I froze for a second, then assumed she was just helping out. She always had a soft heart, I thought.

"Melanie!"

I couldn't help shouting. Melanie walked toward me, but the moment she saw my face, she shoved the baby back to the woman.

"Take him to the car and wait for me."

The baby burst into tears. The woman rocked him gently:

"Hush now, sweetie. Mommy will be right there!"

My mind went blank. Mommy?

I stared at Melanie. "What did she just say? Mommy?"

Melanie’s voice turned cold. "Logan, we need to talk."

She stepped to the side, and I rushed to follow her.

Up close, I noticed the faint scent of baby formula on her. Her posture, her figure—everything about her screamed new mother.

"Melanie, whose kid is that?"

"Don't tell me you went to Europe for three years and popped out a baby!"

Melanie looked completely indifferent.

"You saw it. I'm not going to lie to you. Yes, he's mine. But I'll make it up to you."

"Go home first. Once I deal with work, I’ll call you. That's all for now."

Without another word, she spun on her heels and walked away.

I stood there in utter shock. It took me a long time to snap out of it, and I ran after her.

Just outside the terminal, I saw our CEO, Carter Evans, wrapping his arm around her waist as they climbed into a black Mercedes-Maybach.

Carter Evans!

My heart sank into my stomach.

Three years ago, Carter was also stationed in Europe. Before he left, I even bought him expensive bottles of vintage wine, asking him to look out for Melanie.

Turns out, he looked out for her all the way into his bed!

I clenched my fists until my knuckles turned white. I got into my car and sped straight to the office.

Since she had a baby with her, Melanie was definitely heading home first. Which home? I didn't care. It certainly wasn't mine!

With bloodshot eyes, I marched back into the office. The moment I walked past the break room, I heard people gossiping.

"Melanie's getting promoted the minute she lands. Pretty girls really do climb fast, huh?"

"Well, duh! She gave birth to Carter’s son. Carter can't officially marry her, so he has to compensate her somehow!"

"Logan is such a loser. Living off his wife without shame, literally treating her like a surrogate!"

Their words hit me like a bucket of ice water. Everyone knew Melanie had shacked up with Carter in London—everyone except me!

I was the damn fool, kept in the dark while bragging to them about how much I missed my wife.

I had offered to visit her in London several times, but she always made excuses. She said round-trip flights were too expensive and a waste of time.

She used to say, "Logan, I'm doing all this for our future. Can't you just endure it?"

Endure it?

I endured three years of loneliness, and this was what I got in return.

I cleared my throat. The group turned around, their faces instantly twisting into awkward expressions.

"Logan! Hey... grab, grabbing coffee?"

"Yeah. And listening to your juicy gossip," I replied with a deadpan smile.

Seeing my reaction, one of them, Mark, sneered with faux sympathy.

"Come on, Logan, it's not that big of a deal. Most guys don't even get this kind of opportunity!"

"Think about it. You kept your salary, your wife made bank overseas, and now she’s coming back as a director!"

"How does it feel? Care to share some tips on being a kept man?"