After marrying Chloe, I realized I had a problem in *that* department. A man with issues in that area, it hits you hard, both physically and mentally. It just crushes your spirit, makes you feel like you can’t face the world. Unable to satisfy Chloe, either physically or emotionally, I doubled down on showering her with material wealth. But sometimes, too much generosity can cause pain. And I wasn’t the only one hurting. Negotiations with an overseas corporation had reached a standstill. But it was lunchtime, so I apologized to Mr. Sterling, the elderly gentleman from London, and excused myself. He was clearly pissed off, utterly baffled why I’d walk out on a critical negotiation. I forced a bitter smile, grabbed the lunch I’d woken up at five this morning to prepare, and rushed to Chloe’s office. Lily, the receptionist, beamed when she saw me. “Julian, delivering lunch for Chloe again? Oh, if only I could find a man as devoted to his wife as you are.” “Isn’t that just… normal?” I asked, genuinely puzzled. Lily chuckled, then urged me on, “Alright, go find Chloe. Her food’s getting cold, and she’ll blame you or me?” “Oh, right! I’ll bring you cookies next time. Oh, and I referred a new client to Chloe. They’ll be here this afternoon. Here’s their business card; could you handle them?” “Of course, Mr. Hayes.” I hurried upstairs, hearing her start a FaceTime call. That distinctive chime—God, it nearly triggered my PTSD from clients hounding me for payments. Chloe’s company was heartless; they didn’t even let their employees take a lunch break. Which was why, standing outside Chloe’s office, I heard the same FaceTime ringtone. *Ring-a-ding-ding.* But beyond that, I heard something else—passionate moans I hadn’t heard since our wedding night. The difference was, she was loud, clear, almost humming a tune, as if she wanted to drown in that fiery, intense pleasure forever. Not like when she’d realize I couldn’t perform, her flushed face turning icy cold in an instant. The FaceTime ringtone eventually stopped, nobody answering for a while. But for me, that silence was a connection, letting me hear what the people inside were saying. “Ugh, it’s a message from Lily at the front desk. What does she want? Doesn’t she take a break for lunch?” That was Derek, Chloe’s secretary. “I asked her to be my lookout, to warn me when my husband drops off his pathetic packed lunch.” That was Chloe’s voice. *Pathetic packed lunch?* “Then why didn’t you stop? Is your husband already here?” Derek’s voice was sharp, like a rat with its tail stepped on. “I was too comfortable just now, besides, that pathetic excuse for a man is useless in bed and slow on his feet. There’s plenty of time.” “He’s useless because of you.” *Because of her?* “Please! Why don’t you say that my company got off the ground thanks to him? That your salary is partly his contribution?” “Yes, yes, I’m just a useless kept man, living off your money, Boss Chloe.” Derek’s voice was laced with a hint of resentment. “I’m sorry, baby. Marrying Julian was a family arrangement. My parents only saw the money; I had no choice.” “I won’t blame you, I’ll never blame you.” Then came a series of wet, smacking sounds of mouths exchanging saliva. “Oh, right, not wearing it earlier—is that really okay?” “Heh, it’s fine. I’m already pregnant.” “What?! But he can’t perform!” “He can’t, but you can, can’t you?” “The baby… is mine?” “Of course. Don’t worry, just let him raise it when it’s born.” “But he can’t perform, remember?” “I’ll stop his medication for a while, let him think he’s cured. He’ll seize the opportunity, of course… Then, once my belly shows, won’t the baby be his?” “Brilliant, Boss Chloe!” Chloe drugged me? To make me impotent? Now she’s pregnant with Derek’s child and plans to make me raise it as my own? *How incredibly interesting.* Clutching the “pathetic packed lunch,” I slid down the wall and squatted there. A hefty half-million dollar dowry, a Porsche, plus another half-million in startup capital for her company—that’s what it took to get Chloe to marry me. We’d stripped down to nothing, just moments away from the final act, when I realized I couldn’t perform in *that* department. Unable to satisfy Chloe, either physically or emotionally, I doubled down on showering her with material wealth. But sometimes, too much generosity can cause pain. And the ironic, hellish truth was, the one hurting the most was me. *Bang!* The office door opened, and Derek walked out, his arm around Chloe’s waist. And with them, the unmistakable, pungent scent of sex.
Squatting by the door, I scared the living daylights out of them. “J-Julian, honey?” Chloe stumbled, dragging Derek down with her. Her flailing foot caught my hand, sending the “pathetic packed lunch” flying. *Splat.* Today’s rice, stewed fish, and Australian lobster salad splattered all over them, like a dropped tray of food. Chloe frantically scrambled off Derek, but accidentally pulled her collar open, revealing a hickey on her shoulder. Catching my gaze, Chloe naturally tugged at her collar, her face full of reproach: “Julian, honey, why are you standing by the door in silence? You scared me and made me fall.” Playing dumb? Changing the subject? “Those marks on your shoulder are…” At my direct question, both Chloe and Derek’s faces stiffened. “So, Derek gave you… some rough hickeys?” I asked, feigning amusement, offering them an excuse. “Ah, yes, exactly, yes!” Derek quickly nodded in agreement. I snatched the empty lunchbox and flung it at Derek’s face. “What are you doing!” Derek clenched his fist, ready to punch me. “Giving my wife hickeys, and now you want to punch me? Derek, you’re quite the secretary, aren’t you? Making yourself a little too comfortable.” My casual comment caught Derek off guard, his fist froze mid-air. Then, to my surprise, he dropped his hand and slapped himself across the face. “I’m sorry, Julian. I was out of line.” I scoffed, stood up, and looked down at Chloe: “You can figure out your own lunch today. And judging by how you called it a ‘pathetic lunch,’ it seems my cooking isn’t to your taste. I won’t be making it anymore.” Chloe’s eye twitched. She snatched the fallen lobster salad from the floor and started stuffing it into her mouth. “No, no! It’s delicious, Julian! Your lunches are amazing! All the girls here are so envious of me!” She realized I might have heard what went on in the office, but she still hoped to bluff her way through it. “But I get up early every day to make your lunch. It’s tiring.” Chloe’s face changed again. She probably wanted to scoff at me as usual, saying that’s all I was good for. But the words caught in her throat. The sarcastic smirk on her lips twisted into a fawning smile. “Who told you to spoil me so much? Humph! Alright, don’t get up so early anymore. Get some good sleep, take care of yourself. I still need to give you a healthy baby, you know.” Even while batting her eyelashes, she didn’t forget to lay the groundwork for her little scheme. How had I never noticed her mind was so devious before? *Ha, I was such a fool.* If she wasn’t so cunning, would I have been brainwashed for so many years? I sneered inwardly, but my hand reached out to affectionately pinch her nose. She instinctively flinched, then forced herself still, letting my fingers touch her. Being hugged and kissed by another man meant nothing to her. But her own husband wanting to touch her? She’d recoil and struggle, tormented. This was the truth of my marriage all these years. And uncovering the truth came with a price.
They went off to deal with the stains on their clothes. I claimed I was tired and decided to rest in Chloe’s office. *Rest?* I’d be damned if I could rest in a space reeking of her perfume and Derek’s sweat. My target was Derek’s computer. They shared this office. I’d always thought it was perfectly reasonable, from an efficiency standpoint. Now I understood they prioritized efficiency in *other* matters. Derek’s computer wasn’t password-protected. Right there on the desktop was the folder I was looking for. 【Photos】 Behind the simple filename lay countless pictures of him and my wife embracing. Video clips of him and my wife leaving their scent in every hidden corner of the company. I knew Derek’s type all too well. He couldn’t boast about his proudest achievements to the world, so he’d open his computer every day, relishing his conquests. Like a male dog marking its territory, believing the spot was his. A glance at the timestamps revealed they’d known each other for years. I was the one who’d inconveniently gotten in the way. I emailed all the files to myself. My phone buzzed with the email notification, and a push ad popped up too. 【Marriage Meltdown Live: Spill Your Secrets!】 I clicked the link. It was a live stream channel dedicated to airing marital dirty laundry, thriving on public drama. Without a second thought, I signed up. They asked what kind of marital problem I wanted to feature. I simply replied: 【How much drama can your platform *really* handle? Wanna play?】 【Boss, you’re awesome! I’ll schedule a slot for you. When would be a good time?】 I hesitated. Was I really going to abandon all marital ties? 【I’ll let you know.】 Then I turned my attention to Chloe’s computer. Would her computer also hold some shocking revelations, enough to solidify my resolve? Her computer was on, the desktop a chaotic mess like her shoe cabinet—dozens of files scattered everywhere. My eyes immediately landed on a document titled 【XX Med Receipt】. *Medication?* A quick search confirmed it was indeed the drug that caused my problem. And the pill bottle itself sat right on her desk, mixed in with her nail polish and lipstick. Her computer was truly a treasure trove. *Hmm? Surveillance?* I clicked it open. It was footage from all the security cameras in the company. I saw Lily at the front desk watching a show, employees in the office area eating lunch. And then… I slammed open the office door and stormed towards the stairwell to the rooftop. Kicking open the fire door, Chloe and Derek’s mouths hadn’t even had a chance to separate! I’d held onto a sliver of hope, praying it was all just a misunderstanding. But the two of them, still embracing, their lips parting simultaneously, their faces frozen in terror as they looked at me—that shattered every last illusion.
With my illusions gone, everything seemed to return to normal, just an empty ache in my heart. Back at the office that afternoon, negotiations with Mr. Sterling were still difficult. After an unproductive session, we parted ways, and I drove home. The lights were on at my house. Usually, Chloe came home late. She’d say her startup company needed her to entertain clients. She’d say she had plans with friends, specifically emphasizing they were female. She’d say she had her own social circle… Pushing open the door, the strong aroma of food nearly knocked me back outside. *Could our house really smell this good? Was this even my house?* Then, Chloe, wearing an apron, emerged from the kitchen, carrying a pot of fragrant soup, smiling just like the first time I fell for her. “Julian, honey, you’re home! Come in, wash your hands, dinner’s ready.” All this food… I immediately spotted the takeout containers in the trash can. Caught kissing another man at noon, and now she’s putting on this act of a devoted wife tonight? Does she think I’m an idiot? Before I could ask, she set the pot aside and dropped to her knees. “Julian.” Tears welled in her eyes. “I know you think I’m putting on an act, but you’ve really misunderstood.” *Slap.* She slapped herself across the face again. My heart lurched, and I instinctively reached out to stop her. “I only found out today that Derek had feelings for me like that! I truly had no idea!” “At lunch, after I changed, he asked me to the stairwell to the rooftop to talk. I thought it was about work, but then he confessed his feelings!” “Of course I rejected him, but he just grabbed me and forcibly kissed me!” My trembling heart finally died. She was still acting. “So, I just happened to walk in on him *forcibly* kissing you?” “Yes! Julian, you have to believe me!” I smiled, a cold, empty smile. “If I don’t believe you, who else can I believe? Come on, let’s eat.” Chloe cried tears of joy. “Thank you, Julian! Oh, I thought this misunderstanding would never be resolved. That scene was just so terrifying.” *Not terrified of the misunderstanding, just terrified you couldn’t fool me, right?* “What about Derek? You didn’t fire him?” “Uh, he—he’s been with the company since it started. It wouldn’t be appropriate to fire him suddenly. I… I’ll just have him move out of my office, then slowly have others take over his work, and eventually let him go. Does that work?” Using company management as an excuse, how clever. “You decide.” I was growing impatient. Chloe finally stood up, intimately linked her arm through mine, and pressed herself against my chest, rubbing provocatively, her voice dripping wet: “Julian, honey, after dinner, do you want to do some other exercises?” “Don’t you complain that I can’t perform?” “When did I ever complain? Besides, it’s been so long, maybe you’re fine now? I want you, darling!” *Want what?* Want to find a father for Derek’s child in your belly? “Alright, you go get ready. I have some work to take care of.” With that, I shook her off, pulled out my phone, and sent a message to the live stream channel. 【Let’s schedule the live stream for six months from now.】
As if to make up for all the marital intimacy we’d missed over the years, Chloe nearly twisted her back out. But as time went on, after each intimate encounter, the fear on her face grew more pronounced. Even though she’d stopped my medication, I still couldn’t perform. Her belly, however, grew bigger day by day. Until one day, her mother came to visit. “Chloe, have you gained weight?” Her face became incredibly unnatural. “Mom, wh-why would you say someone’s fat right when you see them?” I feigned sudden realization. “Could it be you’re pregnant?” Before Chloe could answer, her mother loudly exclaimed to me: “But you can’t perform! How could she possibly be preg—*Ouch!*” Chloe kicked her mother’s shin. “What nonsense are you talking about! Go check if the soup’s ready in the kitchen!” So she talked behind my back with her family, mocking my inability? I sneered inwardly, but my voice was full of feigned excitement. “Chloe, are you really pregnant? Why don’t we go to the hospital right now?” “No, I’m not pregnant. I’ve just been eating a lot lately.” She was still struggling. But her mother was a perfect accomplice. After all, if Chloe was “pregnant with my child,” it meant she had a secure footing in my family. “What ‘eating a lot’? Chloe, you *are* pregnant! Come on, listen to your mother, let’s go to the hospital right now!” Chloe was practically dragged to the hospital by her mother. Before the examination was even complete, I had already spread the news of Chloe’s pregnancy. The likes on social media instantly shot past 99+, everyone congratulating me on becoming a father. “Julian, honey… I, I’m pregnant.” Holding the test results, Chloe, now a mother-to-be, seemed to have lost her soul. In that moment, I desperately tried to convince myself. *The child in Chloe’s belly is mine.* Then, with a face full of excitement, I embraced her. “Thank you, Chloe! Thank you!” Honestly, I truly wished the child in her belly was mine. I could even overlook her affair with Derek. But she wasn’t going to give me that chance. I showed her my phone. “Look, everyone’s congratulating us!” “You told everyone before the results even came out?” “I was just so happy! I’m finally going to be a dad!” At that, Chloe’s eyes lit up, and her face instantly flushed. “Yes, yes, you’re going to be a dad.” Then, I asked the question she most feared. “But during this time, I still couldn’t perform. So, when exactly did you get pregnant?” Chloe’s face turned ashen, and her body began to tremble. “How would I know? We did it so many times, maybe it just… happened?” “By the way, is that Derek still at your company?” Chloe shrieked like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. “Why are you bringing him up now?! Are you still suspicious of me and him? Do you think this baby is his? Fine, I’ll abort the baby right now so you don’t have to worry!” “That’s not what I meant!” I didn’t know if she genuinely wanted to seize the opportunity to get rid of the baby, or if she was just trying to force me to stop doubting the paternity. But either way, she stood to gain. This woman, she only ever thinks about herself. “Chloe, how about this? To celebrate your pregnancy, I want to invite all our friends and family to a gathering to share the good news.” Seeing that I wasn’t pressing the issue, Chloe’s face changed in an instant, and she broke into a radiant smile. “Great! Just don’t be suspicious and accusatory like today, Julian. It makes everyone uncomfortable.”
More time passed, and Chloe’s belly grew larger and larger. No one could mistake it for just weight gain anymore. Lights, cameras, a grand hotel. Friends, family, an audience. Everything was in place. In the vast banquet hall, hundreds of people gathered, yet my eyes immediately found Derek in the crowd. Today, he wore a brand-new suit. Though to me it looked like cheap off-the-rack attire, it was probably the best he owned. He was trying to present himself as the groom of this party. After all, the child in the “bride’s” belly was his. So, he was all smiles, warmly greeting everyone he knew and didn’t know, as if he were the host of the entire event. “Derek, uh… Derek?” I feigned forgetting his name. He gave me a tight, insincere smile. “Congratulations, Julian. I wish Miss Chloe’s baby good health.” “Miss Chloe? Didn’t you used to call her Chloe? What, did she fire you?” Chloe had, of course, fired him, but my subsequent investigation revealed she’d bought him a small apartment where they’d have their “get-togethers” regularly. “It’s just that my abilities couldn’t meet Miss Chloe’s demands, so, heh.” *How does it feel to pretend to be an aggrieved ex-employee?* These two truly were birds of a feather; their acting skills were impeccable. Chloe saw Derek and me standing together and rushed over. She feigned anger. “Derek, what are you doing here? You’re not welcome. Stop trying to stir up trouble between my husband and me!” Then, she tugged at my sleeve. “Julian, honey, let’s go. Let’s ignore him.” I waved at Derek. “Everyone here is a guest, I won’t kick you out. Enjoy the food and drinks.” That’s what I said, but in truth, he was very much a key player in this show. The event host told me it was almost time. I immediately contacted the live stream team, asking them to coordinate with the on-site cameramen to feed the footage directly to their broadcast. I walked onto the stage with Chloe, waiting for the host to finish the opening remarks. Chloe suddenly squeezed my hand tightly. “Julian, honey, we’re about to announce that we’re having a baby.” “Right.” I replied without much emotion. Chloe was talking to me, but her eyes were fixed on Derek, who stood in the corner of the banquet hall. Even at this moment, her “husband” still wasn’t me. “And now, please welcome the stars of this evening—Mr. Julian Hayes and Miss Chloe Miller!” The host’s booming voice and the spotlight simultaneously announced our presence. I took Chloe’s hand, and together we greeted the guests. “Thank you all for taking the time to attend this small commemorative ceremony for Chloe and me. This ceremony will also be streamed live online.” I snapped my fingers, and the live stream feed instantly appeared on the large screen. As per my arrangement, the comments and bullet messages were all fake—the screen was filled with auspicious phrases like “May you have an early son,” “Happy and prosperous,” “Grow old together.” Appropriate or not, they served their purpose. The real comments from netizens would have been unwatchable. “I want everyone who watches this live stream to send their blessings to the child in Chloe’s belly.” The director helpfully zoomed in on the live stream’s viewer count. 2,594,787 people. Nearly 2.6 million people were watching our every move! Everyone in the room was stunned by my grand gesture. Many young women’s eyes sparkled; an opportunity to be watched by two million people was a once-in-a-lifetime event. Chloe’s breath hitched at that moment. After a long pause, she exclaimed excitedly: “Julian! Is this real? You’re going to announce we’re having a baby in front of two and a half million people?” I just smiled, saying nothing. Her mind worked fast. With so many witnesses, even if I later realized the child wasn’t mine, I’d have no choice but to accept it. Otherwise, it wouldn’t just be her reputation that suffered, but mine too. We were tied together now, like it or not. Derek seemed to have realized this too, and from somewhere, he found a bottle of champagne, popping it open with a loud *bang*.
The big screen began to play clips of Chloe and me, from the moment we met. The first half was identical to what we’d used at our wedding. The second half, however, showed our life after marriage. Us driving around in the Porsche I bought. Me giving Chloe half a million dollars to start her company, staying up all night writing proposals for her. Me waking up at five in the morning to make her lunch. Waiting outside bars until past midnight to pick up a wildly partying Chloe. Every scene seemed to sing my praises. And the unfiltered comments on the live stream began: “Pathetic,” “That’s it?”, “He totally deserves to be cheated on,” and “Some people just beg for misery.” The guests in the room, however, cast envious glances at Chloe. “Julian? Why did you arrange to show these things?” Chloe grew nervous. She didn’t even notice the microphone pinned to her chest; everyone in the room heard her. “Didn’t I do these things for you?” “You did, but…” “Can’t I tell other people?” “Yes, but…” “Then tell me, in all these years of marriage, how have I treated you?” “Okay?” “Oh, *okay*.” At that, not only the anonymous comments on the live stream, but even the guests in the room, who generally tried to maintain civility, erupted. “Julian sacrificed so much for you, and all he gets is ‘okay’?” “Chloe! I had no idea you were such an ungrateful person!” “Julian! Divorce her! Marry me instead! I’ll be happy with just a decent car!” I could even hear the faint *grinding* sound of Chloe clenching her teeth. She finally noticed the microphone so close to her chest, shoved it away, and then hissed through gritted teeth: “Julian, what exactly are you trying to do?” I raised a hand to silence the crowd. “Everyone, please don’t be so harsh on Chloe. Honestly, these are all things I should do. After all, material comfort is an important cornerstone of any marriage.” Since I declared myself willing, the guests couldn’t say anything more. They exchanged knowing glances, a hint of playful amusement on their lips. But the live stream comments spoke their true thoughts. “He had it coming,” “Don’t bother helping, let them crash and burn,” “Matches made in hell.” Chloe no longer cared what the live stream comments said; the silence of the guests was what she desperately needed. After all, the commentators were strangers, but these guests were her social circle. As long as they remained silent, everything would be fine. “Alright, Julian, I’m tired. Let’s finish this quickly.” Chloe urged me. “Almost done,” I smiled, picking up the microphone again. “Many of you here already know that I have a problem in *that* department. And I know exactly how you found out.” *Boom!* The guests’ murmurs nearly blew the roof off the banquet hall. Many instinctively glanced at Chloe. They all knew that such private matters could only have come from Chloe’s mouth. The live stream comments refreshed like a waterfall; I couldn’t even make out what people were typing. “Because of my problem, I could only compensate Chloe financially. Please don’t blame her.” The guests chuckled, but said nothing. God knows if I was trying to smooth things over or just fanning the flames. “But Chloe, after overcoming many difficulties, finally got pregnant.” People finally realized something was amiss; my words completely absolved me. “Here, I want to show everyone just how much effort Chloe put in for this! Please look at the big screen!” I gestured behind me, and the screen, which had been showing Chloe driving the Porsche, instantly switched to footage of her and Derek entangled in the office. The company, hotels, even my own home—our bedroom—all bore the traces of their rolling around! *Gasp!* The guests gasped, a collective intake of breath. The live stream viewership instantly surged past 5 million, with even international IPs joining! But just as quickly, the live stream signal was cut. *What if it was cut?* Even without those 5 million viewers, there were still hundreds of people right here, enjoying the OnlyFans service. Chloe’s face turned ashen. Derek, who had been popping champagne in the corner moments ago, lifted his foot to run. But he was already intercepted by my relatives, who tackled him to the ground!
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