“Ethan, we’ve struggled side by side for eight years,

helping my family survive.

I thought you’d understand me.

Having Nathan’s child strengthens the alliance between our families.

There is no ‘choice’. It’s necessity.”

A bitter laugh tore from me.

I was supposed to understand my wife cheating?

Support her giving birth to her brother-in-law’s child?

I stood up, shredded the contract, and let the pieces fall like snow.

“Olivia, I can accept IVF—someone else as a surrogate.

That’s my limit.”

Her eyes darkened with irritation.

“Ethan Carter, this child must be conceived.

I’m informing you, not negotiating.”

My fists clenched. My heart went ice-cold.

“Olivia Hayes—let’s divorce.”

Silence crashed through the room.

A live-in son-in-law daring to demand divorce?

Unthinkable.

She stared for a long time.

Her voice finally cracked and fell to silence.

She stood up and dismissed the relatives.

Before leaving, she turned back:

“Ethan…

You love me so much.

Can’t you think for me—just a little more?”

That night, I sat alone—drying out inside.

Then I dialed that confidential number.

“You told me you owed me a favor.

I’m cashing it in.”

“Done. Whatever you need.”

The next morning, Olivia had packed her suitcases.

“Nathan is flying to Miami for a project negotiation.

He just had surgery—I’m going to take care of him.

You keep the company running.”

She strode out.

No concern for my health.

No explanation.

Everything already decided.

I washed up and went to work—numb.

The private investigator’s report hit my phone.

My shaking fingers tapped it open.

Olivia accompanied Nathan for a post-op check in Miami—everything normal.

She posted on social media:

“A brand new life, hand in hand with you.”

She attended a groundbreaking ceremony with him—arm in arm like a married couple.

They went sightseeing in Paris, signed their names beneath the Eiffel Tower lights.

Eight hundred videos a day—

Flashing her happiness with him.

Titles dripping with affection:

“Happiness Beside You”

“Destiny Gives Us a Second Chance”

If the woman leaning so sweetly on his arm

weren’t my wife…

Maybe I’d even click “like.”

My vision stung.

I finally commented beneath a post:

“If you want a second chance with him,

start by divorcing me.”

My comment vanished instantly.

Then her sixty-second voice message arrived—

“What nonsense are you posting?

You’re the VP of a company—use your brain.”

“My reputation is the company’s.

Do you want to drag us down?”

Despite everything, her words still broke me.

Tears slipped without warning.

Colleagues glanced at me with strange eyes—

Sympathy?

Or ridicule?

Maybe they think I’m a spineless leech

staying for money.

I don’t understand

how people can change so fast.

Eight years ago, the Hayes Group was near bankruptcy.

I abandoned a lucrative job, joined them, and fought with all I had.

I helped Olivia win back clients, door by door.

I camped outside the bank president’s office for ten days—

staking my future as collateral

just to secure that loan.

I once pushed myself so hard chasing contracts that I drank until my stomach bled—

and they ended up removing a third of it.

That night, Olivia Hayes clung to me, tears streaming down her face.

“Ethan, you’ve suffered so much.”

“For the rest of my life, I will never betray you. If I ever do, may the world spit on me—may I die a wretched death.”

Back then, Mrs. Hayes grabbed my hand, eyes red.

“Son, you are the savior of the Hayes family. From now on, you are the one to lead. Hayes Group will be yours.”

But it only took the Hayes family a few years to stabilize—barely reaching the corporate mid-tier—before Mrs. Hayes’ gaze toward me changed.

Arrogance. Disdain.

Especially after Olivia’s older sister, Victoria Hayes, tied herself to the Drake family—

to Nathan Drake, one of the wealthiest heirs in Los Angeles.

Mrs. Hayes dropped all pretense.

She publicly claimed that I was the one climbing above my station.

She said if her second daughter weren’t so soft-hearted, she too could have married her way into a billionaire dynasty—

maybe even into one of the East Coast Four Elite Families.

She forgot everything.

She forgot how, if I hadn’t risked my life, slashing costs, fighting deals, saving Hayes Group from collapse…

they’d still be scavenging for scraps.

After I finished restructuring the Hayes assets, Olivia returned—alongside Nathan Drake.

She arrived to find me sitting on the windowsill, drinking alone,

a man hollowed out and exhausted.

She set down her suitcase and walked over, brows furrowed, throwing open the window.

“Your health is terrible—why are you still drinking? You’re a grown man. Stop acting like a child.”

Then she placed a hand on her lower stomach, and her next words hit me like a thunderbolt—

“I’m pregnant. Stop drinking—you’ll harm the baby.”

Pregnant.

After one month away.

How eager she was—

no hesitation at all.

My heart, strangely, turned calm.

Everything I needed to do next suddenly felt crystal clear.

I gave a soft laugh.

“Alright. No more drinking.”

I grabbed my clothes and headed to the bathroom.

I needed a shower—

needed to wash away the filth of what I’d become.

When I came out, Olivia was gone.

My phone vibrated—a message from five minutes earlier:

“Drake Enterprises’ anniversary gala is in two days. I have to attend.

Make sure you come Friday.

Don’t say anything stupid.

For now, we’ll say the baby is yours.

His true identity will be revealed when the time is right.”

Of course.

They cared about the baby’s reputation—

just not the day the truth would destroy mine.

Expressionless, I deleted the message

and called Attorney Collins.

“How much of the asset transfer is done?”

“Mr. Carter, we’ve completed about seventy percent.

A full transfer at once might draw attention—we need more time.”

“No rush. Keep going. Steadily.”

Friday came.

I arrived punctually at Moonridge Estate in Beverly Hills.

Olivia stood beside Nathan Drake at the main entrance—

a stunning red gown, practically glowing.

Anyone who didn’t know would assume it was their wedding.

I approached calmly to greet them.

Olivia’s voice was polite but cold:

“Go inside and sit.”

The tone of a woman who already saw herself as mistress of the house.

Inside, a few business partners came over:

“Mr. Carter, congratulations! We heard Mrs. Hayes is pregnant!”

“Hey, shouldn’t you be out there helping Mr. Drake welcome guests?

She’s the pregnant one—why make her do all the work?”

I smiled thinly.

“It’s fine. She likes being helpful.”

They stole glances at Olivia holding onto Nathan’s arm.

Awkward chuckles followed.

Soon, all the guests arrived.

Nathan Drake went on stage for his speech—

with Olivia Hayes proudly holding his arm.

As if she belonged there.

Camera flashes burst toward the stage.

Olivia’s cheeks glowed bright red with excitement.

“Ladies and gentlemen, bosses and friends—

thank you for joining us today to celebrate Drake Enterprises’ anniversary.”

“On behalf of Drake Enterprises, welcome.”

Sparse applause.

Most people whispered:

“Isn’t that the CEO of Hayes Group?

Why is she speaking for Drake Enterprises?”

“Haven’t you seen social media?

Hayes Group will probably belong to the Drakes soon.”

Eyes bounced between me, Olivia, and Nathan—

confusion, contempt, pity.

Before the room could settle, Olivia dropped another bomb:

“Today, I officially announce that Hayes Group will be merged under Drake Enterprises.

All decision-making authority will now be handled by President Nathan Drake.”

Dead silence.

Everyone knew Hayes Group carried the Hayes name—

but it was me

who built everything from the ashes.

If the company was merged…

what would become of the Hayes family’s dutiful son-in-law?

Olivia stepped down, heels striking the floor, and leaned close to my ear—

“Go say a few words.

Tell everyone to keep partnering with Drake Enterprises.

And that you support the merger.”

I asked quietly:

“And me?

Where do you plan to put me?”

She narrowed her eyes, calculating.

“You should go home and rest for now.

Nathan hates messy emotional entanglements—your presence makes him uncomfortable.

And if you show up in the company, people will gossip.”

I laughed—quiet, cold.

Even after all this, she still managed to shock me with her shamelessness.

Not only did she betray me—

she was now kicking me out like a worn-out tool.

With the attention of the entire hall on me,

I smiled.

“You’ve arranged everything well, Olivia.

I suppose I do need a break.”

Her satisfied expression lasted—

right until I took the stage.

I picked up the mic.

Voice steady.

“Good evening, everyone.

Thank you for attending Drake Enterprises’ anniversary celebration.”

“Today, I formally announce that I, Ethan Carter, resign from all positions at Hayes Group effective immediately.”

“Any future matters regarding the company—

please consult Mrs. Hayes.”

I gave a solemn bow.

Then dropped the mic

and walked off the stage without looking back.

The hall erupted—

“Why would Mr. Carter leave like that?!”

“We all saw what he did for Hayes Group!

Without him there wouldn’t be a Hayes Group!”

As they argued, Olivia snatched the mic:

“Before all of you here, I officially transfer full ownership of Hayes Group to Mr. Drake.”

She gestured, and a lawyer stepped forward

holding the equity transfer documents.

Nathan’s expression darkened as he signaled his legal and financial teams to review.

Moments later, the lawyer returned—face grim.

“Mr. Drake… Hayes Group currently has zero liquid assets.

In addition, there is a pending liability of $18 million in payables and payroll.”

“If we acquire Hayes Group, not only will we not earn a cent—

we will have to cover the debt.”

Nathan’s features twisted.

He snatched the documents and slammed them into Olivia’s face.

“Your family really knows how to scheme!

Victoria runs off with some random guy the moment I fall ill—

and now you want me to take on your family’s crippling debt?”

“You’ve gone too far!”