Before my father passed away, he asked me in tears, "Matthew, why did Rachel give birth to someone else? Why?"

I had no answer and could only remain silent.

Eventually, my father died of depression.

I handled his funeral on my own, and sent a message to Rachel, asking for a divorce.

But her male friend replied to me: [You finally gave up. Rachel has always loved me. She even aborted your child for me.]

He posted a photo of Rachel's rosy, sleeping face.

Rachel didn't reply until the next day: [Since you want a divorce, I'll satisfy you.]

***

The bell rang.

Rachel had just finished her shower. She stood at the bathroom door in a tulle nightgown, shaking a bell and shouting, "Come on, my puppy."

It was her usual way of ordering me around.

There was one in every room of the house.

She treated it as a love affair.

In the past, I wanted to be a considerate couple, so I've always obeyed her. After her shower, I would carry her to bed and prepare underwear for her.

But today, I sat on the couch motionless, turned to look at Rachel with disgust, and said, "Stop joking."

Then, I just pulled out a divorce agreement.

"Cut it out. No need to get jealous."

Rachel didn't even glance at me. She raised her hand and shook the bell again. "Jack is sexually dysfunctional, that's why he came to me for IVF."

"I'm his best friend and qualified to help him. Our relationship is chaste. How stingy you are!

"Didn't you buy me stockings and want me to wear them? I'll make it up to you tonight. Take me to bed."

She grinned slightly and didn't take it seriously at all.

In the past, if she had explained, or actively teased me, I would have taken the chance to forgive her for her behavior.

But I did have a bottom line.

I didn't want to be a coward as before.

I didn't want to be driven by her anymore.

"I feel disgusted," I said coldly.

I couldn't stand the fact that Rachel would later have sex with Jack and give him children.

Their private relationship could be more messy.

"What do you mean?"

Rachel widened her eyes and stood still for several seconds before continuing, "I got it. Are you afraid your father will get mad, so you're against it? I'll go chat with him tomorrow."

Even after I filed for divorce, Rachel still didn't mind it and thought I would compromise and agree.

I guessed I'd been spoiling her too much.

Hence, she dared to break the bottom line without fear.

"My father has passed away. How can you go chat?"

I slammed a cup and said coldly.

Rachel was stunned and looked at me in shock. "When did this happen? How come I know nothing about it? Are you lying to me?"

I laughed out of anger, and yelled with scarlet eyes, "Would I joke about my father who raised me up all by himself?

"My father witnessed you and Jack walk hand in hand into the IVF registration room. He got angry that his blood pressure rose with a heart attack, and eventually died."

For the first time, a look of panic flashed across Rachel's pretty face.

I had never lost my temper before in front of her.

"I'm sorry, Matthew."

"I didn't think it would end like this. I didn't know you were in that hospital that day. I intended to buy your dad some gifts and chat with him in the next few days."

Rachel spoke in a low voice, with a hint of guilt flashing in her eyes.

She apologized.

But my heart ached out of anger.

"Let's get a divorce.

"There's nothing left between us."

Rachel just regretted showing up at the same hospital as us. She didn't realize her own faults.

The moment I turned my head, Rachel hugged me from behind.

"I'll tell you a story tonight, okay? Calm down, please.

"Jack has helped me a lot. I just want to repay him."

Her voice sounded tender.

Once, her voice was like a gentle breeze, leaving me moved.

Now I realized it was just a gentle trap, and she controlled me in this way.

"Hence, you aborted our child? Just to get pregnant with Jack's? Right?" I asked.

"How do you know I had a miscarriage?"

Rachel was surprised.

"Jack told me."

I snorted coldly and continued, "Since you want to help Jack, why not help him to the end and marry him?"

After speaking, I broke free from Rachel's embrace, went to my room, and closed the door, feeling secretly distressed.

Looking back on the past, I felt disappointed and upset.

Rachel and I met on the first day of university.

It was raining. She was carrying a cello, a suitcase, and a school bag.

I kindly went to help.

The rain wet her hair and stuck to her cheeks, but it couldn't hide her looks.

Her smile immediately drew me in.

I admitted I had a crush on her, but I didn't add her contact information until we met at the singing club and smiled at each other.

"What a coincidence!

"Can I add your Twitter account?"

She offered to suggest.

I nodded slightly and blushed.

She said I was funny and different from other boys.

Later, she was in charge of club activities and asked me to help every time.

I wanted to show myself in front of her, so I tried my best to finish each time.

To solicit sponsorship for the club, I didn't have meals all day, visited more than thirty companies, and even got beaten up by the security guards.

To select a performance and filming location for the club, I waited for more than ten hours in the hot weather and was almost dehydrated, but I finally met the theater director.

I had done so much more for her.

Although I had a crush on Rachel, she had pretty looks and many suitors, including some rich guys.

I felt inferior and never dared to express my feelings.

During my sophomore year of college, she confessed to me, and I happily agreed.

At that time, I learned Rachel had pretty looks, but a rich family.

She asked me for help before as a test.

She observed me quietly for a year and found me reliable.

When we graduated, our parents met. Her brother though I did not deserve to marry her, and forced me to sign a breakup agreement, even wanted to kick me out of the country.

I refused and got beaten up.

She firmly defended me and married me even at the risk of death.

I thought I had found love.

I thought I could stay with Rachel forever.

But eventually, time diluted Rachel's enthusiasm for me. Apart from ordering me around, Rachel became more and more impatient with me.

Especially after Jack appeared, she only cared about him and stayed with him all the time.

Even on a rainy day, Rachel could go find him with just one word.

Whenever she mentioned Jack, she always kept smiling.

I could feel their adultery.

I had communicated with her many times, but she always used the excuse that friends helped each other out.

She continued to do as she pleased and even aborted our child to get pregnant with Jack, which pissed off my father had a heart attack, and his blood pressure shot through the roof.

Whenever I closed my eyes, I could hear the words my father murmured over and over again before he died.

"Matthew, why did Rachel give birth to someone else? Why?"

I often asked myself why Rachel had changed.

I once tried my best to save the broken marriage, but what I got in response was Rachel's betrayal.

She had exhausted my love and passion.

The only family I had in the world passed away.

Then, I fell into total despair.

I hadn't had a good rest in recent days. Although I felt tired every night, I was still occupied in my mind and couldn't fall asleep.

Hence, I took a pill and fell asleep.

The next day, I felt tight in my chest. When I opened my eyes, I found Rachel lying on top of me in sexy lingerie, with her head tilted and eyes blinking.

In the past, I would have been moved.

After all, Rachel hadn't been so proactive for a long time.

But at this moment, I just felt sick.

So, I pushed Rachel away and asked coldly, "Have you signed the divorce agreement?"

"How dare you?"

Rachel frowned and said angrily, "What do you want from me? Why do you have to make a fuss all the time? Why can't you understand me? I'm tired, too.

"I just help Jack have a child, which doesn't affect our marriage, and we don't have to support it."

Her tone sounded extremely casual.

She even ignored my feelings at all.

"Why would my wife have a child with him?

"Haven't I tolerated you enough?

"Your family dotes on Jack, even asking me to serve him, telling me you should have married him.

"Did you speak up for me then?

"You're passionate about him, but you keep ignoring me. You love him, but loathe me.

"You pissed off my father and aborted our child. How dare you ask me to understand you?

"As long as I keep putting up with you, do you think I deserve it, or do I have no honor?"

I was completely furious and retorted incoherently.

Rachel was confused again.

"I want to divorce you now. Isn't that what you want? Live and let live."

I took a deep breath and continued.

"You're impossible!"

Rachel got angry, turned around, and left.

She still hadn't signed the divorce agreement, but changed her clothes and went out.

She got angry.

But she had no right to be angry. How dare she secretly have a child for Jack?

She pursued me before, but she changed her mind first.

I simply filed for divorce in court and went to my father's house.

Although he raised me alone and I indeed wanted to take care of him, when we got married, Rachel's brother Jacob explicitly asked us to live alone.

My father always kept his promise.

Because of this, I often felt sorry for him, but he didn't mind it. As long as I lived happily ever after with Rachel, he felt content.

When I told him Rachel got pregnant, he kept smiling and went to church to pray.

Unfortunately, what he prayed for turned into a luxury, leaving only regret.

I stayed at my father's place.

It wasn't until the seventh day that Rachel called me.

"Isn't it time to calm down?

"We're having a banquet tonight at nine to celebrate the company's market value of over one billion dollars. As my husband and assistant, you should attend it. Remember to bring a gift for Jacob."

Her tone sounded calm, as if she had forgotten everything.

"Okay.

"I will be there on time."

A gift?

I would take this notice of admissibility in my hand as a gift.

At nine in the evening, when I entered the gate, I witnessed Jack giving a gift to Jacob.

Everyone around cast curious glances.

"It's very kind of you, Jack."

Jacob smiled and patted Jack's arm, then opened the gift box.

Inside it was an exquisite diamond watch.

It sparkled under the light.

"I know this watch. It's in short supply and limited to fifty pieces worldwide," someone exclaimed.

The others all praised.

Jacob's smile deepened. He patted Jack's shoulder again and said, "Thank you."

Rachel looked at Jack with eyes full of admiration and ambiguity.

I would throw my hat in the ring.

But it didn't work as well as Jack. I wouldn't be treated well by Jacob and appreciated by Rachel.

In fact, I should have realized long ago that I didn't belong to the same class as them, with totally different lives.

When my father and I first visited Jacob, he didn't even let us in.

Jack turned around and noticed me. He flashed a playful smile and deliberately raised his voice. "Matthew, you're finally here. We have been waiting for you for a long time. I wonder what gift you brought for Jacob."

In an instant, everyone's eyes were fixed on me.

They all knew I was lowly in the Lee family and waited to humiliate me.

Jacob narrowed his eyes slightly, then sat down, crossed his legs, and shook his wine glass.

He acted arrogant, waiting for me to humble myself and greet him.

Rachel raised her chin with a proud attitude as if she ensured I would finally compromise and give in as before.

"You will definitely like my gift."

I used to be timid and humble.

Now I held my head high, walked slowly to Jacob, and handed him the gift box that I had carefully prepared.

"Humph, it's too fancy."

Jacob snorted disdainfully and violently tore open the gift box, then a divorce application acceptance notice fell out.