On the day of our wedding, to support Adeline’s decision to remain child-free, I went ahead with a vasectomy.

At the 30th anniversary celebration of our company, a striking young man appeared at the board meeting.

He arrogantly demanded I step down from my position as Vice President. That’s when I learned—my wife had a grown son she gave birth to twenty years ago.

The news struck like a bolt of lightning on a clear day. Enraged, I grabbed Adeline and demanded an explanation.

"Why?"

“It was an accident,” she replied coolly.

We had a fierce, explosive argument. Family elders and colleagues all stepped in to mediate.

"Just take a step back," they advised. "You two have been through thick and thin for thirty years. Adeline still cares for you. If she didn’t, she wouldn’t have kept him hidden all this time..."

With tears in my eyes, I looked at Adeline. Though she was just over fifty, she still looked youthful and elegant.

“I’ll give him the Birmingham branch,” I said through gritted teeth. “But from now on, the two of you must never meet again. That’s my bottom line.”

Adeline raised her hand and signed the share transfer document.

“Jonah has lived nameless and without status for twenty-two years. I owe him an explanation.”

Then she shot me a cold glance and turned to the boardroom.

“Those in favor of appointing Jeremy as Vice President of the Jenkins Group, please raise your hand.”

I clenched my fists tightly, no longer foolish enough to hope she'd show me a shred of affection.

“Fine. I’ll step aside. Let’s divorce.”

——

As soon as the words left my mouth, my older brother stood up and slapped me hard across the face.

“Adeline had that child for the sake of the Jenkins family! How can you be so petty?”

Others chimed in, trying to calm me down. Adeline’s expression darkened.

“Easton, stop being childish.”

I wiped the corner of my eye and lifted my head.

“Adeline, I’m not being childish. You're the one who broke our vows. Let’s end this.”

“Easton, we’re in our fifties now. I thought you wouldn’t hold on to grudges like this. I thought you’d understand me.”

“That night, I was drunk and acted on impulse. I never meant to betray our relationship. Why are you so jealous over something that happened so long ago?”

“All these years, I’ve been faithful, devoted, and kind to you. I’ve done everything I could to be a good wife.”

Her face twisted with frustration, her voice laced with blame, accusing me of being narrow-minded.

But her simple words struck my heart like a hammer blow.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, struggling to compose myself.

Thirty years ago, I stumbled upon Adeline when she was kidnapped and left in a ruined building.

We encouraged each other, kept each other going, and finally escaped together.

From that moment on, she fell in love with me. She even persuaded her father to sponsor me until I finished my master's degree.

Back then, I didn’t dare pursue her. The path of a knight chasing a princess was too treacherous. I just wanted to earn a living through my own efforts.

Later, the Jenkins Group was falsely accused of drug trafficking. Her father was imprisoned, and the entire company teetered on the brink of collapse. I resigned from my stable job and joined the Jenkins Group without hesitation.

I acted as bait, coaxing a confession from our enemy. When Adeline burst into the room, she saw me—bruised and beaten.

She collapsed into my arms, sobbing uncontrollably, repeatedly saying, “I’m sorry.”

In truth, they hadn’t done much to me—they had just humiliated me.

With that recording, we cleared her father’s name, and she proposed to me shortly after.

That night, she told me she didn’t like children. She was even afraid of them. She asked me to never have any.

The very next day, I went to the hospital and got a vasectomy.

When my mother-in-law found out, she screamed that I had tricked her daughter into marriage. She held a knife to her throat and demanded that Adeline divorce me.

I hesitated many times after that and even suggested we have a child.

“Adeline, our parents really want a grandchild. You don’t have to take care of the baby. Once it’s born, we can send it to my family’s home. I’ll handle everything.”

Adeline took my hand, her eyes filled with love.

"Easton, I don’t want to go through pregnancy. I don’t want to watch you suffer either. Isn’t it better if it’s just the two of us, leaning on each other through life? My love for you will never change."

I nodded and gave her one last condition. “If one day you change your mind about children, then we’ll have one together.”

Adeline agreed.

During our fifth year of marriage, my mother-in-law suddenly stopped pressuring me to take fertility medicine, and my father-in-law no longer looked at me with resentment.

They handed over the company and went abroad to enjoy retirement.

From then on, Adeline would occasionally fly overseas to visit them.

I thought they had finally come to terms with our choice.

But in truth—they already had a grandson. They already had an heir.

However, it seemed each of her trips overseas was to reunite with her other family.

I opened my mouth, but my voice came out hoarse and faint.

“Adeline, can you really separate impulsiveness from love? Do you think this is fair to me?”

Seeing the pain in my eyes, her expression softened slightly.

“Easton, I know I wronged you. I just didn’t want you to suffer. I didn’t want anything or anyone to disturb our peace.”

“Jeremy was just an accident—he fulfilled my parents’ wish. And now the Jenkins Group has an heir. If you’re willing, you can put him under your name. He’ll be your son—”

I let out a sarcastic laugh.

“So thoughtful of you. You didn’t want me to suffer, so you found someone else to have a child for me. Should I be grateful to you for that? After all, I can’t have children, right?”

Adeline fell silent, her face full of embarrassment. She didn’t try to argue.

After a long pause, Jeremy finally stepped forward and spoke. “Uncle Easton, no need for thanks. Just treat my dad better from now on.”

“He raised me with great difficulty. Now it’s time for you to step aside.”

He looked at me with smug satisfaction, and a chill ran through me.

“So what you’re saying is—I took your father’s place? I stole what should’ve been his?” I asked in disbelief.

Jeremy stared back coldly. “You never gave the Jenkins family an heir. You should’ve been cast out long ago. It’s only because Mom has a soft heart, and Dad didn’t hold it against you, that you got to keep calling yourself the Jenkins family’s son-in-law.”

“They were being generous. But I can’t just stand by and watch. The position of Jenkins family’s son-in-law rightfully belongs to my father. It’s my duty as a son to reclaim it,” he added and gave me a mocking glance.

“If you’re smart, I don’t mind supporting you. Just remember your place. The Jenkins family doesn’t keep freeloaders. Run errands for my dad—drive him around, pour his drinks, and massage his legs. That’s enough.”

I stared coldly at Jeremy.

So this was the “good son” my wife had raised for me.

She wanted me to serve her paramour like a servant.

Fury surged through me. I picked up the folder in my hand and hurled it straight at Jeremy’s head.

“You arrogant little brat!”

With a yelp, he clutched his head and crouched down.

Everyone panicked and rushed to hold me back.

“President Johnson, don’t stoop to a kid’s level!”

“He’s just young and doesn’t know better!”

Adeline quickly ran to cradle Jeremy, anxiously examining his face.

The metal corner of the folder had scratched his cheek, and a thin line of blood snaked down.

She immediately turned on me with rage in her eyes.

“Easton, how could you be so cruel? No wonder you never had children—you’ve got no compassion!”

“Jonah never once laid a hand on Jeremy. And you? You strike him like this? Do you think you even compare to a fraction of his kindness or tolerance?”

The words flew out of her mouth before she could stop herself. When she realized what she said, she froze. Her lips parted, and her tone softened. “Easton, I didn’t mean it that way. Please... just look at yourself—”

I raised a hand and cut her off. “Adeline. Let’s divorce.”

Without another word, I turned and walked out of the conference room.

I spent the next week away on business trips. When I returned, the paparazzi handed me a thick stack of photos and videos.

A wave of helplessness washed over me.

After everything came to light, Adeline no longer bothered to hide anything. My in-laws paraded their precious grandson around without shame.

My mother-in-law could send up to eight hundred videos a day—documenting her heartwarming life with her beloved grandchild.

Videos of the grandson helping her down the steps, cooking herbal soup for her, the whole family of four taking a stroll in the park, dining in fancy restaurants...

One clip after another, full of laughter and warmth.

And then there was Adeline—smiling gently as she helped Jeremy pick out clothes, even helping him try them on.

They were just ordinary, everyday moments. Yet they made my eyes sting with an unbearable ache.

I carefully reviewed the documents the paparazzi had given me, then sent a message to Adeline.

[Tomorrow, 8 a.m. Meet me at the Civil Affairs Bureau.]

Moments later, she sent back several long voice messages.

"Easton, I won’t divorce you. I’ve already told you, Jeremy was just an accident. The one I’ve always loved is you."

"We’ve been married for thirty years. Can’t you show me some understanding? Do you really want me to become a heartless woman who abandons her own child?"

"Jonah and I have already discussed it. He’ll live in the Paradise Villa and won’t bother us. When we’re old, Jeremy will care for you too. He was just defending his father today. We’ve already scolded him."

"The day after tomorrow is Mom’s birthday. Jonah and the others will be there. I’ll make him apologize to you in person. Jonah is sensible and mild-tempered. Please don’t keep pushing things—can’t you just let it go?"

Though my tears had already overflowed internally these past few days, hearing her say such heartless things in such a calm, ordinary tone finally broke me.

Tears spilled down, one by one, landing softly on my phone screen.

I couldn’t understand. How could she say these things so casually? So shamelessly?

Had it become completely normal for rich women to keep a lover and raise their child, like it was no different from eating or using the bathroom?

When Adeline found me, I was already drunk beyond reason.

She walked up and held me tightly, kissing away the tears on my face.

"Easton, I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry."

"I didn’t want you to suffer. Vasectomies are painful... and yet I still end up hurting you."

For a moment, I was swept back in time—thirty years ago, when the Jenkins family was on the brink of bankruptcy.

I raised my glass to the bank director. He made me down ten shots in a row.

That day, Adeline rushed over and pulled me behind her. “Director Gray, I’m sorry. My husband can’t drink.”

Director Gray slammed his glass on the table. “If President Jenkins looks down on me, then find someone else to talk about the loan.”

I hurried to stop him from leaving, plastering on a smile.

“Director Gray, please don’t be angry. Adeline was just worried I’d say something foolish if I got drunk. It’s my honor to drink with you.”

Then I lifted the glass and downed it in one gulp.

That night, Director Gray smirked and poured ten more shots.

“One shot for two hundred thousand dollars. Let’s see how much you can handle—and how big of a loan you really deserve.”

I drank all ten, and secured a two-million-dollar loan.

My stomach burned like fire, but Adeline held me tightly, just like now, kissing away my tears.

"Easton, once we get through this, I won’t let anyone look down on you ever again. I’ll never let you suffer."

The tears of the past blended with the tears of today, but now, all that remained was bitterness.

“Adeline, can’t you let them go?”

“If you want a child, I’ll go have surgery right now. I’m not afraid of pain.”

“Adeline... when you wanted a child, why didn’t you come to me? Why didn’t you tell me?”

...

The air went still. Only the sound of my quiet sobbing remained.

I looked into Adeline’s eyes—and all I saw was coldness, devoid of the warmth I once knew.

And at that moment, I finally understood—the ones I held onto so tightly...

Had never truly been mine to begin with.