Chapter 1

1

My wife, Sarah, was pregnant after three years of a sexless marriage. She had thousands of copies of her pregnancy test results made, announcing to everyone that she was carrying someone else's child. She and her girlfriends made bets on whether I'd go ballistic.

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1

“Back then, to marry you, Tom got down on his knees in front of your mom, all the way from one end of the street to the other. Everyone saw it.”

“If he finds out you're pregnant, who knows what he'll do!”

Sarah wrinkled her nose in disgust.

“Tom and I didn't even get a marriage license. What kind of husband is he? He only grovels to my mother. If it weren't for him, I'd have been free long ago!”

She worried I’d retaliate against the father, so her bodyguards broke my leg and locked me in a basement for seven days and nights.

When I got out, she was already overseas, married to someone else.

This time I didn’t fight it. I calmly informed her mother.

“Mom, I lost the five-year bet. I’ll keep my promise and disappear forever.”

Two red-covered marriage certificates were slapped down in front of me.

“I've already registered my marriage with Mark overseas. We just haven't had the wedding yet. Three years of you clinging to me is enough, isn't it?”

My eyes were stung by the photo on the red background.

Sarah and I had only had a wedding ceremony; we never registered our marriage.

Seeing my stunned expression, she curled her lip, a look of triumph on her face.

“I’ve already let Mark move in. To tell you the truth, I got the license with him because I'm carrying his child.”

“If you have any decency, you’d better make it clear to my mother. If you continue to harass me, I won't hesitate to break your other leg.”

Sarah delivered her threat, her eyes sweeping over my right leg.

The broken leg had received no treatment for seven days, the initial searing pain giving way to numbness.

“Okay.”

I closed my eyes and spoke in a hoarse voice.

She clearly didn't expect me to agree so readily; a flicker of surprise crossed her eyes.

“I’ll move to the guest room. After all, he’s the father, and it’s more convenient for him to be in the master bedroom to take care of you.”

I meant every word.

Seven days ago, she flaunted her pregnancy, emphasizing that the child wasn't mine.

Everyone saw me as a joke.

For three years, I’d failed to win her heart.

“Don’t worry, I’ll talk to my mom, and I won’t bother you anymore.”

Sarah's brow furrowed, her eyes filled with doubt, but she quickly regained her composure.

“You better not pull any tricks. I’ve given the household staff the day off; you don’t need to move to the guest room.”

She paused, a smirk playing on her lips.

“I'm pregnant, and I need someone to look after me. From now on, you’re on call.”

Sarah said this as if it were perfectly reasonable, as if she was enjoying my reaction.

I opened my mouth, but in the end, I only nodded slightly.

Sarah, losing interest, glanced at my leg and called the family doctor.

When they saw my wound, their faces showed horror.

I hadn’t received any treatment, and the wound was already festering.

The people Sarah sent had tortured me mercilessly, even piercing my bone with nails.

The family doctor looked troubled.

“Mr. Tom’s leg injury needs to be checked at a major hospital. It might require amputation.”

My hand, hanging at my side, clenched tightly.

Sarah, however, didn't care.

“A grown man making a fuss about amputation over a little injury? You might as well just die.”

She scoffed and went into the bedroom.

“Don’t think I’ll sympathize with you. Even if you die, I won’t forgive you.”