Chapter 1

On the eve of our anniversary, my wife replaced my heart medication with vitamins.

I was rushed to the ER in critical condition, but she didn't even show up. Instead, she let her young assistant take my place on our planned getaway to the Maldives.

By the time I was discharged, I saw her leaning on that same assistant's arm at the clinic for a pregnancy checkup.

When I confronted her, she didn't even blink.

"You're just a kept man, Harlan. I don't know what gives you the right to be angry."

I hung up the phone and left a signed divorce agreement behind.

She thought I was joking. "Whatever makes you happy. Do what you want."

......

When Serena Sterling finally came home, I was already finished packing. I was directing the movers as they hauled my crates out.

She stood at the doorway, glancing at the workers before landing her cold gaze on me.

"Harlan, stop this drama. You're a grown man, and yet you're still playing the 'running away from home' card?"

Her tone was sharp, her face practically screaming her impatience.

In the past, I would have rushed over to pamper her. I would have asked about her day and offered words of encouragement.

But now, I was done forcing myself to care.

I looked back at her once, then picked up the divorce papers from the table and walked toward her.

"You're just in time. Sign this. When you have a moment later, we'll head to the lawyer's office to finalize it."

Serena looked down at the papers in my hand, her brows knitting together in a scowl.

"Harlan Reed, is this really necessary? So what if I'm pregnant with Silas's child? It's not a big deal."

"Don't worry, once the baby is born, he'll call you daddy. If you're that desperate, I'll give you one of your own in a few years."

"Silas isn't trying to replace you. He just loves me so much he wanted a child with me. What's so wrong about that?"

Seeing that I remained silent, Serena softened her temper slightly.

She snatched the agreement from my hand, ripped it into pieces, and tossed it into the trash can by the door.

"If you're so jealous of Silas, I'll make sure he doesn't show his face around you anymore. Besides, don't you love kids? This baby can keep you company!"

Was I jealous?

Any normal man seeing his wife's lover―the father of the bastard in her womb―would be furious.

But I wasn't. I didn't feel a spark of jealousy or anger.

I just felt a brief, hollow numbness. Then, I let out a self-deprecating laugh.

"No need. You two can do whatever you want. It has nothing to do with me," I said.

"Harlan, stop acting like a child. You scared Silas with your tone on the phone yesterday. Go apologize to him tomorrow, and we'll call this settled."

I couldn't help but let out a dry chuckle at that.

"Apologize? To him?" My eyes were full of mockery.

I stared at Serena. "Do you honestly think he's worth my breath?"

Serena's face went completely dark. She lowered her voice in a warning. "Harlan, don't push your luck. You will apologize to Silas tomorrow, or else..."

"Or else what? You'll hit me? Or kick me out of the Sterling mansion?"

I cut her off. "Don't bother with the threats. We'll divorce, you can marry him, and you can give your little bastard a legitimate name."

Serena's hand flew out, and a sharp slap landed on my face.

She realized her soft approach wasn't working, so she went straight for the jugular.

"Harlan, I gave you a chance. Who gave you the right to call this child a bastard? Are you sure you want to leave?"

"If you dare walk out that door today, don't ever think about coming back. You'll be dead to the Sterling family."

I frowned as I looked at the woman I had loved for so many years.

I didn't know when she had turned into this creature.

She had the face I knew best, but her words and actions were those of a total stranger.

Serena thought I couldn't survive without her. She thought I needed the status, the title, and the money the Sterlings provided.

In reality, she had no clue what I actually wanted.

I pushed past her, grabbed my suitcase, and walked out without looking back.

"Harlan! You're only living this life because of me and my family!" she screamed behind me.

"You're nothing but a trophy husband. A dog that begged to be let in. Look at your age―who else would want a pathetic loser like you?"