Chapter 1

I stayed by my movie-star wife's side as she went from an obscure extra to an A-list celebrity.

Then, I found out she was sleeping with a rising young actor who looked eighty percent like me.

When I asked for a divorce, she broke down in tears and begged me to stay.

My heart softened, and I gave her three chances.

The first time, she posted a late-night statement denying all rumors with Jared Cole. She cleared her schedule and stayed by my side for seven days straight.

The second time, on my birthday, she publicly declared Jared her soulmate and their intimate photoshoot was leaked online.

She threw herself into my arms, claiming she was completely innocent.

"Jared is depressed. I only did this to comfort him, but you are the only one in my heart."

"This is the last time. Trust me!"

Right after that, she abandoned me on a desolate mountain road just because Jared got a tiny scratch on his hand.

The last time, my father fell critically ill and desperately needed money for life-saving surgery.

She refused to transfer me a single penny.

"All the money is tied up in Jared's new movie. Your dad won't drop dead that quickly."

That night, my father missed the critical window for rescue and died on the operating table.

My heart turned to ash. When Tessa finally came home late, I asked for a divorce once again.

1.

Tessa Brooks pushed the divorce agreement aside and rubbed her temples wearily.

"I told you, I'm not getting a divorce. What the hell are you making a scene for!"

I looked at her, feeling that the face before me was both familiar and utterly foreign.

"I'm tired, Tessa."

"I said no divorce, so there won't be one! Stop being so stubborn, Devon! There is nothing going on between Jared and me!"

Her voice rose, betraying a trace of panic. Agitated, she clutched her chest and began to dry-heave.

Behind her, Jared Cole immediately stepped up to support her, his tone full of tender concern.

"Tessa, is the baby acting up again?"

Tessa didn't deny it. She only threw a weak, guilty glance at me.

My heart sank into an icy abyss.

A baby, and she still dared to say there was nothing going on?

My silence seemed to humiliate her into anger, so she simply threw caution to the wind.

"Fine, yes, I'm pregnant! But this child was an accident! Jared and I were both drunk that night..."

"Devon, listen to me. Once the baby is born, we'll raise it as our own. Jared has already agreed to it."

"Don't overthink it."

Hearing this, Jared's eyes flashed with a quick flicker of resentment and jealousy.

I twisted my lips into a smile that looked uglier than crying.

"I don't need it. I don't need a child born from my wife and another man."

That sentence completely set Tessa off.

"You can't even have kids anymore!"

"Just because you're broken down there, does that mean you get to strip away my right to be a mother? Devon, what gives you the right to be so damn selfish!"

The words pierced straight through my chest like a blade.

Five years ago, Tessa was mobbed by violent anti-fans. I threw my body over hers and took eighteen stab wounds for her.

Those cuts went down to the bone and destroyed my ability to ever become a father.

When I was discharged, I brought up divorce for the first time.

She cried her eyes out, clutching my hand, swearing she would rather never have children than lose me.

Turns out, vows are like cheap smoke―easily blown away without a second thought.

After spitting out those cruel words and catching the hurt in my eyes, her aggressive stance suddenly deflated.

She realized she had crossed the line and tried to soften her tone to make amends.

"Be good, Devon. Just listen to me. I won't leave you. I swear."

Seeing that I remained completely unresponsive, the last shred of her patience finally evaporated.

"Think it over yourself."

"Jared is going to stay here to take care of me for a while. Remember to cook an extra portion when you make dinner later."

Jared piped up with an innocent smile.

"Devon, please don't get the wrong idea. I'm just here to comfort Tessa. Her morning sickness has been pretty bad lately..."

Tessa's face cooled down, returning to her aloof, high-and-mighty movie star demeanor.

"He doesn't eat spicy food. He's cutting weight lately, so watch what you cook."

"Oh, and his favorite is sweet and sour fish. Go to the grocery store right now and get a fresh one to cook."

Jared gave a sweet, smug smirk.

"Thanks for your trouble, Devon. Oh, Tessa, I'm also craving steamed seafood."

Tessa rolled her eyes playfully at him. "Look at you being picky."

She turned back to me with a commanding tone.

"What are you waiting for? Go buy the groceries. Weren't you desperate for money to pay for your dad's surgery?"

"As long as you behave, I'll wire you the money later."

She was certain I would swallow every ounce of humiliation for my father's sake.

Holding Jared's arm, she intimately turned and walked into the master bedroom.

Moments later, their muffled flirtatious laughter drifted through the closed door.

Staring at the shut door, I suddenly found the whole thing ridiculously pathetic.

I don't need your money anymore, Tessa. Never again.

I picked up the rejected divorce papers, my fingers mindlessly tracing the cold black print.

From the bedroom came their voices, mingled with soft giggles.

"Tessa, what if it's a boy? I really want a little girl."

"Then we'll just keep trying. Whatever you want, I'll give it to you."

A bitter, self-mocking smirk pulled at the corner of my mouth.

Hah. So this was what she called an accident.