Chapter 1

On the day my wife gave birth to a child for her terminally ill first love, her parents hired ten bodyguards to stand guard outside the delivery room.

My mother-in-law held my wife's hand and sighed.

"Vivian, don't worry. We absolutely won't let your husband get anywhere near you."

Vivian nodded weakly, her face pale.

Seeing that I hadn't come to cause a scene, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She couldn't understand why I couldn't be more understanding—it was just helping her first love have a child.

Watching the nurse cradle the wailing infant, she smiled with relief.

She was even willing to let me be the child's father.

But what she didn't know was that I had just submitted my report to the United Nations.

In seven days, I would renounce my citizenship, become a doctor without borders, and never return.

The day Vivian was discharged from the hospital, I had just finished the handover procedures at work.

As I reached the door, I heard cheerful laughter from inside.

"This baby is so beautiful. Those big eyes are just like his father's."

My mother-in-law cooed at the infant in her arms while Marcus emerged from the kitchen carrying a steaming bowl of chicken soup.

"I made this soup myself. You're still weak, you need to nourish yourself."

He sat by the bed, feeding Vivian with a gentle expression. The scene looked like a harmonious family.

My father-in-law held a rattle, grinning from ear to ear.

"This child is so lovable, just like his father. Thank goodness he's not Anderson's—having a doctor for a father would be such a headache."

My hand tightened on the doorknob.

I remembered the first time I met my father-in-law, when he patted my shoulder and said being a doctor was good, that saving lives was an honor for the whole family.

He even said he used to be a doctor himself, and if not for injuring his hand during a medical dispute, he wouldn't have retired early.

But now, he was saying doctors didn't deserve families.

I had only been away for advanced training for one year, and this home had already completely shut me out.

I lowered my head and smiled bitterly.

Vivian and I had been married for three years. She said she was childfree, and I understood how painful childbirth was for women, so I didn't force her to have children.

I still remembered the day I left for overseas training—her eyes were red from crying as she said she couldn't bear to be apart from me.

Throughout that year, we video-called every day to share our lives. Even my colleagues teased us, saying that despite being married for three years, we still acted like young lovers in the honeymoon phase.

But just a month ago, I finally managed to request leave and came home.

Even after an eight-hour flight, I didn't complain about being tired.

I rushed home, only to find Vivian heavily pregnant, standing beside her first love.

My thoughts were pulled back by Marcus's voice.

"Anderson, when did you get back? Why are you standing at the door?"

Hearing his words, the others in the room turned to look toward the entrance.

When my father-in-law saw the resignation letter in my hand, he frowned deeply.

"Why did I ever entrust my daughter to someone like you? What terrible luck. Now you're quitting your job—are you planning to have us support you?"

"Is this how you act as a husband?"

My mother-in-law joined in condemning me.

"You quit? You couldn't even handle such a stable job. What else can you do?"

"Vivian's body is precious now. She and the baby need money for everything. If you don't work, are the three of you supposed to starve?"

Hearing this, I found it almost laughable.

"Whoever's wife and child should be supported by him."

"Anderson, what are you saying? How can you be so irresponsible?"

Vivian couldn't hold back anymore. With red-rimmed eyes, she shouted at me. Perhaps from emotional agitation, she clutched her chest and coughed violently.

"Three years ago, if Marcus hadn't saved me from that car accident, I might have died. His parents are gone, and now he's been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Soon, there won't be anyone left in this world who remembers him."

"Why do you always have to target him? Do you really think I'm that kind of filthy, disgusting woman?"

Marcus helped her catch her breath while turning to look at me.

"Anderson, you should say less. I know this is all my fault. I promise I won't appear in your lives anymore, but don't let me affect your marriage, okay?"

I looked at the four people before me, already united as one front, and felt increasingly ridiculous.

So this was what a real family looked like.

Just then, Vivian suddenly spoke: "Anderson, my patience has limits. If you dare target Marcus again, don't bother coming home!"

"If you still want to continue this marriage, then settle down. At next week's party, I can announce in front of our relatives and friends that you're the child's father."

Next week?

I glanced at the baby already asleep in the stroller. Next week, I would be boarding a plane overseas.

But before leaving, I didn't mind giving them an unforgettable surprise.

I nodded without changing expression.

"Fine."