“Are you sure you can handle the pressure? Not wanting kids and not being able to have them aren’t the same thing.

“No matter what you decide, I’ll support you.”

Brent hesitated.

Back then, I told him that if he ever stopped being afraid—if he truly wanted a child—I’d go through surgery again so we could have our own baby.

And he agreed.

Ten years ago, his parents suddenly stopped pushing us. His mother stopped rolling her eyes at me and stopped forcing me to take meds.

They moved to London to enjoy their retirement, leaving the family villa to Brent and me.

All along, I thought they had finally let it go.

Turns out, the Ceppetellis already had an heir. Twins, in fact.

That was when I found out that all those times Brent traveled to London, it wasn’t for business. He was with Shalane Shepley and their children.

I swallowed my emotions, pushing down the tightness in my chest.

“Do you even know the difference between responsibility and love, Brent? Don’t you think I’m pathetic? Like a complete fool?”

He looked at me, guilt flashing across his face.

“I’m so sorry, Cammie. I never wanted you to go through surgery—I just… I just wanted to experience being a father.

“She and the kids don’t interfere with our lives. I’ve done my duty to Shalane, and if you’re willing, they’ll treat you with respect—like a mother.”

I let out a cold laugh.

“So my husband cheats, and I’m supposed to be grateful that I now have children who will be filial to me? Otherwise, I’d just die alone and miserable?”

Brent looked uncomfortable, his voice rising slightly.

“Come on, why do you have to put it like that? It wasn’t cheating! It only happened once,” he muttered. “And it was for—”

Maybe even he couldn’t bring himself to finish that sentence. Instead, he drove everyone out of the room.

“Camryn, I know you’re upset, but try to understand. I’m forty-two. I just… didn’t want to have regrets.

“If you really love me, you’d accept the kids. Shalane takes care of them well—you wouldn’t have to do anything. Isn’t that a good thing?”

I stared at him for a long time before my voice finally came out, hoarse.

“And what if I don’t accept them?”

“I know this is hard for you right now. It’s okay—I’ll give you time.

“But Shalane and the kids… I will keep seeing them.

“Next week is Dad’s 70th birthday. Shalane’s bringing the kids. Once you meet them, you’ll love them.”

And with that, he closed the door and left.

I sat there quietly, unlocked my phone, and opened the file from the private investigator.

Thousands of photos and videos—Brent at every doctor’s appointment with Shalane, from the first ultrasound to the birth of their children. Every milestone, every family moment.

There was even a stock transfer agreement.

Twenty years of marriage. And all those “business trips” outside the U.S.? He was with them!

And I never even questioned it!

The perfect happy family photos felt like a knife stabbing my eyes.

I had given up everything to marry into Brent’s family. I stood by him through every storm. I became the woman behind his success.

And in the end, I was nothing more than a stranger in his life.

Feeling numb, I closed my phone and made a call.

“I’ll take the offer to expand the northwest market. And find me the best divorce lawyer you can.”

At my father-in-law’s birthday party, Shalane arrived in a custom dress, her face glowing and perfectly maintained.

She whispered something that made my in-laws burst into laughter.

The twins, dressed in crisp navy suits with matching ties, looked elegant and adorable.

Regina, my mother-in-law, held their hands, her eyes filled with affection.

Afraid they’d be hungry or thirsty, she had the hotel servants bring out Michelin-star pastries.

When Regina saw me, she barely acknowledged my presence with a grunt and tossed the gift I brought onto the pile without a second glance.

She had never liked me. In her eyes, I was never good enough for her son—just a woman as useless as a hen who couldn’t lay eggs.

Meanwhile, Shalane handed the old woman a pearl bracelet with a sweet smile, and my mother-in-law’s face instantly lit up. Regina slipped it onto her wrist, admiring it as she beamed.

“Oh, Shalane, you always know what I like! I love pearls—it makes my mood light up!”

Then, she turned to me with a sneer.

“Not like some people, always looking like they’re at a funeral. Even their gifts bring bad luck.”

Just then, Brent’s grip on my hand loosened. The moment he saw the children, he let go completely and rushed toward them.

“Galvin! Devin! Did you miss Daddy?”

He knelt and pulled them both into a tight hug.

Shalane watched them with a soft, satisfied smile—like a wife watching her husband with their children. Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, she reached out and kissed my husband’s cheek.

Brent’s hand lifted to brush aside the loose strands of hair at her temple as he asked gently, “Was the flight exhausting? Were Galvin and Devin well-behaved?”

And then, as if suddenly remembering his actual wife was still standing there, he cleared his throat, took the little boy’s hand, and led him toward me.

“Camryn, this is Galvin. He’s the big brother.”

The boy looked almost exactly like Shalane, with just a faint resemblance to Brent in the shape of his thin lips and almond eyes.

The boy took one look at me and scrunched up his face in disgust.

“You’re ugly! Not even a little bit as pretty as my mom.”

Then he turned back to Brent, tugging at his sleeve.

“Daddy, you promised me a big gift for my 10th birthday. What is it?”

Brent’s lips twitched at his rudeness, but he still answered patiently, “It’s already prepared. But you need to mind your manners—this is Aunt Camryn. Say hello.”

The boy immediately lifted his chin, glaring at me defiantly.

“I know who you are. You’re that shameless woman who stole my dad. We don’t like you. Go away!”

Brent froze, caught off guard. He was just about to scold him when Shalane stepped in with a gentle laugh.

“Brent, he’s just a kid. He doesn’t mean it. Don’t be too harsh. He barely gets to see you—of course, he’d feel upset.”

Brent’s face tightened with guilt. He crouched down, smoothing the boy’s hair.

“Galvin, be good. Daddy will spend more time with you from now on, okay?”

Then, as if to prove his words, he stood up and clapped his hands. Immediately, a line of servants approached, each carrying a carefully wrapped gift.

“Shalane, this is the villa I bought for you and the kids. This time, don’t go back to London.”

With a flourish, he lifted the first red silk cover—a property deed.

Then the second—a Rolls-Royce Cullinan key and registration.

And finally, the third—a custom-made, no-limit black card.

I had never seen Brent this thoughtful before. From jewelry to cars to their favorite meals—every little detail, accounted for.

What was supposed to be a birthday party had turned into a damn luxury showcase.

Brent, still smiling at Shalane and the kids, nodded at the lawyer beside him.

The lawyer picked up the mic and cleared his throat.

“On behalf of Mr. Brent Ceppetelli, I hereby announce the following agreement: 40% of Ceppetelli Co.’s shares will be gifted to Galvin and Devin Ceppetelli. Additionally, 10% of Ceppetelli Co.’s shares will be granted to Miss Shalane Shepley. This agreement has been notarized and is effective immediately.”

The whole room went silent.

Fifty percent of Ceppetelli Co.—that’s billions of dollars in assets!

Then, all at once, the guests erupted in congratulations, swarming around Shalane.

I just stood there and laughed.

What a joke!

I gave this company 20 years of my life! And not once did Brent ever mention giving me shares.

But Shalane? He was so worried about her future, he made sure she had 10%—just in case.

It couldn’t be clearer. Who he cared about, and who he didn’t.

Brent finally turned to me, as if realizing for the first time that I was still here.

“Camryn, don’t overthink this. Giving shares to Galvin and Devin is just to secure their future.”

“You’re my wife. If they respect me, they’ll naturally respect you too. What’s the point of you having shares on your own?”

The words had barely left his mouth when Shalane walked over, slipping her arm around Brent’s.

“Brent, there are a few elders I don’t know. Can you introduce me?”

She pulled him toward the crowd, and just as she turned, she shot me a mocking, condescending look.

When his parents were calling everyone over for a family photo, I quietly stepped back, slipping out of the group.

By the time Brent came back, I was already sitting on the floor, tears blurring my vision as I drank.

He crouched down and held me, guilt in his eyes, the scent of perfume clinging to him.

He brought me water, wiped my face clean, and helped me drink.

For a fleeting moment, I felt like I was back 20 years ago—when we had loved each other with all we had.

Back then, his company had nothing, not a single cent. We had to take a bank president out for dinner, hoping for a loan. I downed one glass per hundred thousand, forcing down a million in exchange for a loan.

That night, I vomited until I bled from my stomach. Brent held me just like this, tears streaming down his face as he wiped my face and fed me water.

More than once, he sobbed and told me to give up.

“If we keep going like this, we’ll lose the company. And we’ll be destroyed too.”

I had clung to him so tightly, kissing his tears.

“Brent, I’ll take back your family’s company for you. I’ll make those who humiliated you kneel and apologize.”

He had held me just as tightly, pressing his lips to my hair, his tears filled with guilt.

“Oh, Cammie, I’ll never leave you. Never.

“I just didn’t want you to suffer through the surgery, but I still hurt you.”

Our tears blended again, but this time, there was no sweetness left—only bitterness.

“Brent, send them back to London. Make sure they never come back, okay?

“You love kids. I’ll go to the hospital tomorrow. Let’s have our own, okay?

“As long as you come back, I can endure anything—”

Brent’s body tensed, and I snapped back to reality.

“Brent, when you wanted children, why didn’t you come to me?!”

The marble coffee table cracked under my fist, blood dripping down from my clenched fingers.

The next day, he personally brought Galvin and Devin home.

“Galvin, Devin, this is Aunt Camryn. Say hello.”

He gently pushed the two kids in front of me.

“Spend some time with them. You’ll definitely grow to love them.”

Then he bent down, his voice warm, the same way he spoke to Shalane.

“Galvin, Devin, play with Aunt Camryn today, okay? Daddy has to take care of something at the company.”

Galvin, sharp as ever, immediately spoke up loudly, “Daddy, go ahead! We’ll listen to Aunt Camryn. Mommy already taught us.”

Brent smiled in satisfaction.

As he reached the door, he turned back and waved at us.

The moment he left, Galvin lowered her voice, leaning in close to me.

“Daddy went to see Mommy. Mommy said you’re pathetic—no kids of your own, yet still trying to steal us.

“This is Daddy’s house. None of us like you. Why are you still hanging around?”

Her mocking eyes locked onto me.

A chill spread through my entire body, tightening around my throat.

I just sat there, staring blankly at the door.

How could he lie to me so easily?

Did he really want to rip my heart out?

I sank onto the couch, watching the two kids run and jump around.

I reached for my phone, wanting to call Brent.

Galvin snatched it away and threw it to the floor, her face suddenly vicious.

“You’re not allowed to call! Mommy and Daddy are on a date!

“Don’t even think about ruining it ‘cause you’re nothing but trash! Daddy only keeps you around because he pities you!”

He stuck his tongue out at me, making faces.