On the day my wife, Wendy Carr, gave birth to her ex-boyfriend’s child, who was serving time in prison, her family was on high alert, fearing I might show up to cause trouble. But even as the child was born after a difficult labor, I never appeared. When Wendy was wheeled out of the delivery room, lying on the hospital bed, her eyes instinctively searched the crowd for my face. “Wendy, don’t worry. We’ve taken care of everything. That man won’t be able to come here.” Her mother reassured her, patting her chest confidently. “That’s right. I was terrified he’d bring bad luck to my little nephew,” her brother chimed in. Wendy nodded, then turned to look at the baby beside her, a joyful smile lighting up her face. She never understood why I couldn’t see her perspective. She only wanted to ensure her first love had no regrets. She even thought to herself that if I treated the child well, she might agree to let me raise the child together with her. But this time, I had already accepted an assignment from the organization. Soon, I would depart for the capital of Drakonia, Virelia, to join an international criminal investigation task force. This journey held an uncertain future.
Wendy suffered severe blood loss during childbirth. Yet less than a week after being admitted to the hospital, Jerry Brudos’ mother was already urging her to go home. For the past month, I have been attending meetings at work to coordinate some major international cases. Today was my first chance to take a break. Dragging my exhausted body home, I felt something was off the moment I stepped through the door. In the living room, Wendy’s parents were gathered around her and the baby, their faces full of affection and love. Jerry’s mother, Daisy Brudos, was also there. The group looked so harmonious that I suddenly felt like an outsider in my own home. “Oh, my little darling, you’re so adorable! Come on, say hi! Good baby!” Wendy’s mother, Elodie Britton, gushed over the child, her entire face radiating fondness. When they noticed my return, the warmth on their faces instantly turned awkward. Wendy’s face was pale and bloodless. She cast me a faint glance before lowering her head to play with the baby. “What bad timing. Coming home now of all times!” Wendy’s father, Richard Britton, lit a cigarette, gave me a once-over from head to toe, and let out a cold snort. Looking at these people before me, I couldn’t believe it. Before our marriage, they were so pleased with me. Once, my relationship with Wendy was pure and beautiful. I had attended the police academy in college while she studied education at a neighboring school. That was when fate set its wheels in motion. We met, got to know each other, and fell in love, with no conflicts ever arising between us. I wasn’t much of a talker, while Wendy was vibrant and cheerful, like a little songbird. After the death of my parents, I rarely experienced strong emotional waves. Wendy was like a beam of light piercing into my dim world. We married without any obstacles. Her parents liked me too, often praising my stable and promising job. Our love remained strong, though Wendy was always hesitant when it came to intimacy. I respected all her wishes, so our marriage remained unconsummated. I never doubted her because our love felt so genuine. Perhaps it was also because I spent much time away from home, leaving our marriage as fresh as when it began. When I was assigned to a six-month closed training program for a cross-border crime task force, we had to part ways. As we said goodbye, her eyes shimmered with tears as she held my hand tightly. “Promise me you’ll come back safe. I’ll always be waiting for you,” she said. I gently wiped away her tears, pursing my lips, unsure of how to respond. Elodie, too, couldn’t stop crying. She clung to my sleeve, urging me to take care of myself. At that moment, I silently resolved to request a transfer after training, opting not to join the mission. I wanted to stay home and protect my family. To be honest, during that half-year of training, there wasn’t a moment when Wendy wasn’t on my mind. Sometimes, I was even a little distracted. On the last day of training, I drove home eagerly. But when I flung open the door, the scene before me left me stunned. In the living room, Wendy and an unfamiliar man were sitting at the dining table. The man had his arm wrapped intimately around her shoulder. Both froze when they saw me. Wendy quickly shrugged off the man’s arm, her expression flustered. “Who is he?” My voice was icy, and I didn’t even bother to set down my luggage as I stared at the man. Wendy’s eyes darted nervously as she stammered, “This… this is Jerry, my friend. He’s just staying here for a few days.” The smiles on Richard’s and Elodie’s faces vanished instantly. Richard frowned deeply, shooting me a disdainful glance. “Why are you back now of all times?” he muttered. Elodie’s expression soured, and she grumbled, “What a useless man. It might as well have died out there. Such a buzzkill.” Jerry stood up as well, smirking at me with a hint of arrogance. I didn’t press further, but as my gaze fell on Wendy, I noticed her subconsciously touching her belly. It was slightly swollen, already showing signs of pregnancy. My heart sank into a bottomless abyss, and an ominous feeling overtook me. That night, Wendy brought me a glass of milk, smiling as she said, “You must be exhausted after such long training. Here, drink some milk and get a good rest.” I took the glass but caught a fleeting glimpse of nervousness in her eyes. Pretending to drink a few sips, I casually set the glass aside. Sure enough, in the middle of the night, Wendy tiptoed out of bed and crept out the door. I followed her quietly, watching as she entered another room. Inside, Jerry’s hushed voice could be heard. “Baby, what took you so long?” Fury surged within me. I moved closer and overheard Wendy’s playful voice saying, “Be gentle. Don’t forget about the baby.” It felt like a hammer had struck my heart. Everything was now painfully clear. Before this, she had always rejected my advances. Yet in my absence, she had carried another man’s child.
I suppressed the surge of anger in my heart and decided to keep my composure and continue observing. In the days that followed, their brazenness grew worse, as if I were nothing more than a ghost in my own home. During the day, Jerry would boldly sit next to Wendy. Their hands often intertwined, their gazes filled with affection and flirtation. Once, while the whole family was gathered around the dining table, Jerry forked a piece of meat and fed it directly to Wendy. She ate it without the slightest embarrassment, even giggling as she wiped the corners of his mouth with a napkin. Richard, Elodie, and Jerry’s mother all acted as though nothing had happened. Whenever I questioned them, Richard and Elodie would dismiss me with the excuse that Jerry and Wendy were just friends. They would accuse me of neglecting the family, pointing out that Jerry had been the one helping with everything over the past six months, while I was off chasing my career. They called me ungrateful. Perhaps it was guilt over my frequent absence that kept me silent. But this time, I could no longer suppress my fury. I slammed my fork on the table with a resounding crack. “Wendy! What exactly do you think you’re doing? “Is this what friends do? Do they end up in bed together? “There’s already a child! How long have I endured this? And you’re still hiding it from me?” They knew I had discovered the truth. Richard shot up from his seat, jabbing his finger at my nose and shouting, “What are you yelling about? Look at yourself! Always busy with that worthless job of yours! How much do you even make? “What can you offer Wendy? Jerry can give her a comfortable life. Can you?” Elodie chimed in, “Exactly! You’re useless. After all these years, you haven’t given Wendy any sort of good life. “Jerry is a hundred times better than you. He knows how to take care of Wendy and make money.” My whole body trembled with rage. I glared at them and growled, “Are you seriously saying this with a straight face? “How much have I sacrificed for this family, and you refuse to see it? Now you’re siding with an outsider to attack me!” “Sacrifice? What sacrifice?” Richard sneered, “Jerry makes more on one business deal than you do in an entire year. “What do you have to compare with him? Wendy was unlucky in ending up with someone like you!” His words stabbed into my heart like a dagger. I laughed bitterly and turned to Elodie. “You’re really ready to accept that bastard’s child as one of your own? “Your daughter cheated on me, and you have the gall to defend her?” Elodie’s face darkened. “Don’t you dare talk about my grandchild like that! “That child is flesh and blood from Wendy! No matter what, it’s family, and there’s no way we’ll ever get rid of it.” Wendy stood up just then, about to say something, when a knock came at the door. A group of police officers stormed in, flashing their badges. They pinned Jerry to the floor and hauled him away. Jerry’s arrogant expression instantly dissolved into terror. He struggled and screamed, “What are you arresting me for? “It’s you! You set me up, you bastard!” Wendy panicked, shrieking at me, “Did you do this? “How could you be so heartless? If anything happens to him, I’ll never forgive you!” Richard and Elodie were even more furious. Richard rushed toward me, jabbing his finger so close to my eye I could barely see past it. “You cruel son of a bitch! How dare you get Jerry arrested? “If something happens to him, we’ll fight you to the death!” Elodie wailed, “You heartless man! How could you do something so wicked? Use your connections and get Jerry out of this mess, or Wendy and the baby will be ruined!” The lead officer spoke firmly, “He’s involved in fraud, and we have solid evidence. We’re arresting him according to the law.” Wendy froze, her face a mask of disbelief. Richard and Elodie refused to back down. Richard turned to the officer and shouted, “You’ve got the wrong man! Jerry is a good kid. There’s no way he did this. Someone’s framing him!” Elodie echoed, “Yes! Someone must be out to get him. You can’t punish an innocent man!” I pulled out my own badge. The lead officer glanced at the initials on my bag and saluted me. After getting a brief rundown on Jerry’s crimes, I learned he had been involved in fraud for quite some time, making off with millions of dollars. The evidence was indisputable. I tried to calm Wendy and her parents. But Wendy flung herself at me, clawing and hitting. “You’re lying! Jerry is a good man. You’re just jealous! You framed him! “If you don’t help him, I’ll hate you for the rest of my life!” Richard trembled with fury, pointing his finger in my face again. “Don’t pretend to be a good guy! You just can’t stand to see Wendy happy. “If you don’t get Jerry out of this, I’ll raise hell at your workplace and make sure you lose your job!” Elodie chimed in, “Exactly! You heartless man! Wendy must have been blind to marry you. If you don’t help, this isn’t over!” Just as I was about to respond, I received an urgent call summoning me to a meeting, bringing the confrontation to a temporary halt. Memories swirled in my mind as I gazed at Wendy, cradling the child in her arms. I stayed silent for a long moment.
She didn’t bother looking up, casting a disdainful glance my way. “In a few days, you’ll come with me to a class reunion. You’ll say you’re my bodyguard. “Look at how tanned you’ve gotten from all that training, like a lump of coal. How can I bring you along? You’ll embarrass me.” For someone like me, who trained outdoors every day, getting tanned was completely normal. I looked at Wendy, barely able to believe she could make such a ridiculous demand. Still, to let her face reality once and for all, and to put an end to this failed marriage, I silently nodded in agreement. On the day of the reunion, Wendy dressed to the nines in luxurious designer clothes. Holding our child in her arms, she glanced at me impatiently, her eyes filled with disdain. In a sharp tone, she said, “Keep up. Don’t dawdle and embarrass me. “Remember, you’re just a bodyguard. Keep your mouth shut. “You’re lucky I even let you come.” I remained silent, my expression calm, though inside, my emotions were surging like a storm. I followed her into the venue. As soon as we entered, the classmates’ eyes immediately turned to us. They first noticed the adorable, doll-like child in Wendy’s arms, then her glamorous appearance. Their gazes brimmed with curiosity and envy. A female classmate was the first to speak. “Wendy, it’s been years! You’ve really changed. Your child is so big now! Where’s the father?” Wendy lifted her chin with pride, her eyes glinting with vanity. She deliberately lowered her voice, though it was loud enough for everyone to hear. “The child’s father is a bit busy and couldn’t make it. “But you all probably know him, Jerry. He’s in business, and he’s pretty capable.” The room buzzed with exclamations as the classmates surrounded her with praise. “Wendy, you’ve really got it made! Married into a wealthy family, huh?” “Exactly! You’ve got to take care of us in the future!” Basking in their flattery, Wendy’s head tilted slightly upward, her expression filled with arrogance. She sneered and said sharply, “Oh, you all need to work harder. Not everyone’s as lucky as me, stumbling into a life like this. “Some people, no matter how much they struggle, will amount to nothing.” Just as she reveled in her smugness, the phones of her classmates began pinging with notifications one after another. They checked their phones in confusion, their expressions growing increasingly strange. Wendy noticed the shift and frowned. “What’s going on?” No one answered her. They only looked at her with an odd mix of shock and disdain. I knew exactly what was happening. The evidence of her infidelity, which I had anonymously sent to each classmate, was finally making an impact. The photos and chat records were being displayed on their screens, one by one. Finally, a classmate couldn’t hold back and asked, “Wendy, what’s this all about? Are these things true?” Wendy’s face turned ashen in an instant. Her lips trembled, and she looked around in panic. She screamed, “This is a setup! Someone’s framing me! It’s all fake, completely fake!” But the murmurs among the classmates grew louder. “I can’t believe she’s this kind of person.”
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