In the delivery room, my wife, Ashley Chase, is now fully dilated, but she refuses to go through with the delivery.

She insists that I have to agree to accept her betrayal first.

"Henry Madden, I want you to swear that you'll treat this baby as if it were your own. Or else, I refuse to give birth today. The baby and I will both die in this delivery room!"

The medical staff joins in, trying to convince me that life matters more than anything else—that all Ashley has done is make a mistake, and I should just live with it.

Ashley's mother even slaps me when she sees that I haven't agreed yet. "You're just a loser who married into our family! You should feel honored that we're letting you be the father in name. Don't be such an ingrate!"

Sneering, I grab the delivery consent form and write the words "do not agree".

"Since Ashley is so keen to end both her own life and the life of her love child, I'll let her have her way."

Lying on the hospital bed in the delivery room, my wife, Ashley Chase, was drenched in sweat, screaming from the contractions. After seeing that I'd refused to give in, she grew so angry that tears poured down her face.

"Henry Madden! Have you forgotten the vows you made at our wedding?"

I'd spent five years pursuing Ashley. While we were in college, I dutifully walked her to and from class every day. And after we graduated, I drove her to and from work as well.

Every single time, I agreed to everything she asked me to do.

I watched helplessly as she fell in love with one guy after the other, only to be deceived by those scumbags again and again.

After her last breakup, she drank herself silly. Staring at me with bloodshot eyes, she said, "Throughout all these years, you're the only one who's always treated me well. Every other guy is just after my money, Henry. What about you?"

My heart ached for her.

"I don't want your money. I love you," I said as I kept consoling her.

The next day, once Ashley sobered up, she dragged me to register our marriage.

"Henry, I've finally realized that you're the one I should be with."

To prove that she'd made a clean break with all of her past relationships, she promised me she would never betray me. If she did, she swore she would die a miserable death.

But from the looks of it now, her so-called promise had only been an offhanded remark.

The fact that she brought up our wedding vows made me scoff in fury. "You're the one who broke your vows first, Ashley."

Ashley froze for a moment, having recalled the promise she once made to me. However, there wasn't the slightest hint of guilt or mortification in her eyes. In fact, she argued matter-of-factly, "All I did was make a mistake. Are you such a petty man that you can't even show me a little grace?"

I raised my hand and cut her off. "If you want to have the child, go ahead, but I refuse to be the father."

"Henry!" she shouted hysterically. "Are you only going to be satisfied if I die here today?"

The doctor anxiously handed me another consent form.

"This is a matter of life and death. Don't cause the patient any further emotional stress! Just appease your wife and let her deliver the baby first."

Before I could even react, Ashley let out a shrill scream. Blood began pooling beneath her.

Seeing that, I could only close my eyes and sign my name to the form.

As I stood outside the delivery room, I listened to her heart-wrenching screams. A little while later, the cry of a newborn baby rang out.

The child I'd been looking forward to for the last nine months had finally been born, but another man turned out to be the father.

When I first learned that Ashley was pregnant, I was so excited that I wanted to announce it to the whole world. I spent nine months taking care of her and doting on her in every way possible, afraid that she or the baby might feel even the slightest discomfort.

I handpicked every item for the baby and for Ashley's postpartum recovery, making sure that I only got the best of the best.

As it turned out, I was just the sucker who did the hard work while someone else got to reap the rewards.

Feeling weak, I had to brace myself against the wall as I slowly left the hospital.

The phone in my pocket kept buzzing. It only stopped when the battery died.

I spent several days holed up at home, never leaving the house, until I received a call from the photo studio.

"Hello, Mr. Madden. When would you like to schedule the newborn photoshoot you previously booked with our studio?"

It was a simple question, but even after a long silence, I couldn't come up with a reply.

When Ashley was pregnant, she kept wanting to do a newborn photoshoot. I'd secretly made a note of that, thinking that I'd surprise her with it on the day of the delivery, hoping we could record the joy of having a new addition to the family.

After ending the call, I made up my mind and headed to the hospital.

Inside the hospital room, Ashley was holding the baby, her smile glowing with motherly warmth. The scene I had once yearned to see the most now looked especially painful to watch.

Ashley suddenly looked up. Her eyes brightened with joy when she saw me. "You're here, honey!"

She eagerly grabbed my hand and pouted coquettishly at me, like she always used to. "I know I messed up, honey. The pregnancy hormones messed with my head. That's why I couldn't think straight and said those hurtful things to you. Don't hold it against me, okay?"

At my silence, she lowered her head, her eyes turning red.

"If you leave me, I'll be a divorcee. Who would want me? You should've just let me die in the delivery room instead.

"I've figured it all out, honey. I'll send the baby back to my hometown and let one of my relatives raise her. Once I've recovered from the delivery, let's have a child of our own."

As I looked at Ashley, I silently told myself that this was her final chance.

"Just keep her here. She's your child," I said.

Upon hearing that, Ashley hugged me in excitement. "Thanks, honey! I promise I'll be devoted to you from now on, and Bella here will be your daughter."

After a discussion, we decided to invite the photographer to our house for the photoshoot once Ashley was discharged tomorrow.

Ashley nestled in my arms with a look of bliss. "You're the best, honey. I swear I'll never betray you again."

Early the next morning, I went out to buy some fresh flowers and balloons to decorate the house. Before making the purchases, I even consulted the doctor and specifically chose things that were harmless for babies.

I had just finished shopping and was about to go to the hospital to pick up Ashley when the doorbell rang unexpectedly.

I opened the door to see Nathan Jones, Ashley's childhood friend, standing on the doorstep with Bella in his arms.

Ashley, who was beside him, explained, "Nathan is Bella's biological father. He came to the hospital to see her, so I invited him to join us."

Nathan pushed me aside and walked into the house. After scanning the living room, he criticized in dissatisfaction, "Babies are very fragile, Henry. The flowers you bought and all the other plastic stuff will affect Bella's respiratory system."

Ashley, who had been quite satisfied with the decorations, immediately pulled a long face once she heard that.

"Even though you're not Bella's biological father, you're still her father in name, Henry. Don't you think you're being too irresponsible?"

Anger surged in my chest. With a frosty expression, I fired back without mercy, "If you think I'm not being responsible enough, Nathan can raise the child in my place."

Realizing she'd been a bit too harsh with her comment, Ashley hurriedly tried to smooth things over. "Don't be mad, honey. Nate is just worried about the baby. By the way, when is the photographer getting here?"

I looked at Nathan, who was sitting on the couch, playing with Bella. "Why isn't he leaving yet?"

He shot me a glance before provoking me by planting a kiss on Bella to stake his claim.

"Nate is going to take a few photos with Bella too," Ashley said nonchalantly.

I threw the cup in my hand.

Ashley immediately flew into a rage. "What's your problem, Henry? What's wrong with a father taking some photos with his baby? What makes you think you can stop that? Bella's already taking your last name. She'll be calling you dad in the future, so what more do you want?"

The screams frightened Bella, who started crying. Nathan quickly patted her on the back to comfort her. Ashley also hurried over to check on Bella, doing her best to calm her down.

The photographer happened to enter the house at that very moment, and he took a photo of the three of them.

"What a lovely scene. This photo perfectly captures the blissful moment shared between the happy family of three. Mommy and Daddy should get a little cozier with each other and move closer to the baby," he said.

Without the slightest hesitation, Ashley and Nathan followed the photographer's directions, leaning in closer and closer together.

I couldn't hold back anymore, roaring, "That's enough! Ashley, have you no shame?"

That ruined the sweet atmosphere, making Ashley frown. She grabbed me to the corner and hissed, "Henry! We shouldn't be airing the family's scandals in public. Do you want the entire neighborhood to find out that Bella's not actually your daughter? Why can't a grown man like you be more sensible?"

She didn't even bother waiting for a response from me before going back to the couch to take a family portrait with Nathan and Bella.

I stormed out of the house.

Even after the sun had set, not once did Ashley call me.

By the time I got home, the photographer had already left. But when I opened the bedroom door, Nathan was actually lying on my side of the bed.

Seeing that I'd returned, Ashley said softly, "Nate is staying here to accompany the baby. You can sleep in the guest bedroom tonight."

Nathan saw the grim look on my face and said with feigned magnanimity, "That wouldn't be appropriate. I'm the outsider here. Let me take the guest bedroom instead."

Ashley quickly grabbed him. "This should've been your spot, to begin with. He owes it to you."

She eyed me resentfully and declared, "Henry, Nate only broke up with me because he knew you'd been in love with me for years and wanted to give you a chance. He allowed himself to be labeled as a scumbag just for your sake.

"All he wants to do now is spend a few days with his daughter, yet you can't even let him do that. Well, that gives me no reason to show you any consideration either."

Hiding behind Ashley, Nathan shot me a taunting smirk.

I hadn't expected that he could still fool Ashley so easily with some empty words even after so many years. But since that was the case, it was time for me to let go.

"I see. In that case, I'll step aside so that you three can live happily ever after as a family. Meet me at the courthouse tomorrow. We'll file for divorce."

I turned around and left.