Chapter 1

The first time I discovered Milena cheating was in our marital home.

Young and hot-headed, I demanded a divorce on the spot.

She cried and said she was drunk and mistook him for someone else, kneeling before me and begging for forgiveness.

"If you want a divorce, I'll jump from the 10th floor right now."

That one sentence made me soften for five years.

During those five years, she was gentle and considerate toward me, as if the affair had never happened.

But on my mother-in-law's sixtieth birthday, she suddenly asked Milena.

"Milena, where's my grandson? Why didn't he come?"

I froze, thinking she was confused, and hurried to answer with a smile.

"Mom, you forgot—Milena still has two months until her due date."

My mother-in-law calmly glanced at me and murmured under her breath.

"Oh, so you still don't know."

My heart tightened. I instinctively looked at Milena.

She calmly set down her teacup and said:

"Actually, I have a son. He's five years old."

The shrimp in my hand instantly dropped to the floor.

My brain buzzed. My vision blurred.

"What?"

My lips trembled as I asked instinctively.

"Five years ago, that night with John, I got pregnant."

Milena didn't hide anything. When she said this, she even seemed relieved.

"It's good that you know. I've been exhausted hiding this for five years."

I felt helpless and looked at my mother-in-law.

"Mom, stop joking around with Milena. It's your birthday. You're both messing with me, right?"

But my mother-in-law just calmly took a sip of tea.

She said nothing in response to my question.

My heart sank.

Milena continued,

"I'm not joking. When I found out I was pregnant, the doctor said that aborting the child would be bad for my body."

"There was a high chance I'd never get pregnant again."

She placed her hand on her swollen belly.

Inside was my child, already eight months along, close to the due date.

"Jeff, you should be grateful I didn't abort him."

"Otherwise, we'd never have children of our own in this lifetime."

No matter how much I wanted to disbelieve, Milena and my mother-in-law's attitudes made it clear they weren't lying.

No wonder she went on that six-month business trip back then.

Every day she video-called to check in with me, but it was actually to give birth to someone else's child.

For the next five years, she went on business trips for a week every month—actually to spend time with John and their son.

And I actually believed it all.

I forced a bitter smile, my eyes stinging.

"Weren't you hiding it well? Why tell me today?"

Before Milena could speak, my mother-in-law slammed her forks on the table, her tone agitated.

"Because I wanted to see my grandson!"

She took a deep breath and spoke to me earnestly.

"Jeff, I've been good to you, haven't I? I know you're a good kid, but my grandson has been hiding for five years. It breaks my heart."

My hanging fingers clenched sharply. My pupils trembled.

So everyone knew about this—everyone except me.

My mother-in-law took out a document from the safe.

The contract listed assets totaling ten million dollars.

"Jeff, we won't shortchange you. All you need to do is accept this child. You don't need to worry about anything else."

"Milena promised me she won't have any more contact with John..."

Before my mother-in-law could finish, Milena interrupted her.

"If you can't accept this, we can get divorced."

She pulled a divorce agreement from her bag. The signature was already filled in.

I stared at the paper as if I wanted to bore a hole through it.

Five years ago, I had mentioned divorce.

It was Milena who begged desperately, even threatening suicide.

Just when I'd finally let go of my resentment.

She told me she wanted a divorce.

The atmosphere grew silent, with only the sound of the clock ticking, until the door was pushed open.

A crisp voice rang out.

"Mom, I brought Mark to celebrate your birthday..."

John walked in holding the hand of a five-year-old child. When he saw me, the smile on his face instantly froze, replaced by hesitation.

"Mr. Jeff..."