Chapter 1

After Joanne got pregnant, my brother vanished during a mountain climbing expedition in the Rockies. To give her child a legitimate name and a way into the Holloway family, she married me instead. I treated my brother's child as my own, protecting and caring for them both with everything I had.

But a decade of marriage couldn't compare to the man she truly loved. My wife remained cold and distant, and even the boy showed me no respect. "You are just his stepfather," she told me once. "My son and I will always belong to Jace."

The day my brother returned alive, Joanne and the boy threw themselves into his arms without a second thought. Only then did I realize that for the past ten years, I had been nothing but a punchline to a cruel joke. Joanne, this time, I am done with both of you.

1

By the time Joanne brought our son home, the dinner on the table had been reheated for the third time. I hadn't turned on the lights. I sat alone on the sofa, finishing a whole pack of cigarettes in the dark.

As soon as Joanne walked in, the smell of smoke hit her. She frowned at me with pure disgust. "Don't you know Leo is just recovering from a fever? He can't breathe in this smoke!"

I didn't even look at them. I reached for the divorce papers I had prepared and slid them across the table. She froze, her voice rising in a sharp interrogation. "Just because I was busy and got home late, you're asking for a divorce?"

Joanne started her usual rant, calling me paranoid and dramatic. She didn't mention a single word about Jace Holloway's return. Today was Leo's birthday, and I had been working in the kitchen since five in the afternoon just to make his favorite meals.

All night, Joanne had ignored my calls and messages. I was actually worried that something had happened to them. Then, while scrolling through social media to pass the time, I saw an update from an account that had been silent for ten years.

It was my brother, Jace. The man who had been missing for a decade was back. "A happy family of three, reunited at last. Thank God for this second chance," the caption read.

Joanne had commented underneath, "It was love that brought us back together." I stared at the photo for a long time. Joanne was beaming with a type of happiness I had never seen in our ten years of marriage.

Apparently, ten years of devotion meant nothing compared to the return of her first love. Just then, Leo chimed in. "Mom, isn't it better if Uncle Evan divorces you? Then we can finally go live with my real Dad."

Hearing the boy I had raised for ten years call me "Uncle" made my heart wither. Ever since Leo was old enough to understand, Joanne had told him I was just his father's younger brother. She told him never to forget his real father.

He used to call me "Dad" when he wanted a new toy or a favor. But the moment Jace Holloway stepped back into the picture, everything changed. "Joanne, I know Jace is back. So, let's just sign the papers."

Joanne stunned for a few seconds before she dropped the act. "Evan, it's true. Jace is back. He's missed ten years of his son's life, and it hurts him to hear Leo call you 'Dad.' You should be more understanding."

I understood perfectly. Now that Jace was back, they didn't need me to play the part anymore. "I'll be as understanding as you want. Take Leo and go find him."

Joanne looked shocked. She always thought I was her loyal doormat who would never dare to leave her, let alone be the one to initiate a split.