"I’ve already had someone send his favorite fruit cake. What else do you want? Don’t use these underhanded tactics. I’m busy preparing for the next competition. Don’t disturb me!"

I glanced at the cake lying on the floor. It was filled with mango. Lester had been allergic to mangoes since he was a child. The irony of it all was that Kendra claimed it was his favorite flavor.

As the nurse wheeled Lester’s lifeless body out, Kendra's father, who had been cursing just moments ago, suddenly went silent. He choked on his sobs and trembled as he pulled back the white cloth covering Lester’s face, nearly collapsing to the ground.

"It’s my fault. I failed to raise my daughter right. But Joseph, despite the five-year agreement nearing its end, you and Kendra were happy together before Russell returned. The Glover family only recognizes you as a son-in-law. Can you give her another chance? I’ll make sure she breaks up with Russell!"

Five years ago, after my parents passed away, Kendra's father found me—just out of college—pleading for my help with Kendra’s recurring injury. The Glover family had supported me for those five years, and to repay their kindness, I reluctantly agreed to marry into the family. I cared for Kendra, encouraging her daily, and eventually, she returned to the swimming track. I believed that once we had Lester, the agreement would be over. But I never imagined it would end like this. Now, after everything, he still wants me to stay with the Glover family. Without thinking, I gently stroked Lester’s cold cheek and said, each word weighing heavily on me:

"We made a five-year agreement. Now that Kendra is back in competition, the favor between us has been repaid."

"Lester shouldn’t have been brought into this world. I was selfish, and I kept him. Now he’s gone, and so should I."

I stayed by Lester’s side through the night until all the formalities were finished, watching the funeral home take him away. When I returned to Glover's house to pack up his belongings, I was met with an unexpected sight. Clothes were scattered across the living room. I followed the sounds to the pool and saw Kendra in a revealing swimsuit, lying in Russell’s arms, tenderly stroking her stomach.

"You’re my only baby. Wait a little longer, and I’ll be able to bring you home openly," she whispered, her voice soft.

"Weiwei, he’s the only one. What about Lester? He kicked me on purpose today. If he knew you were pregnant, who knows what might have happened? Maybe we should just get rid of the child," Russell suggested, his voice cold.

Kendra gently placed her hand over his mouth but spoke words that cut deep.

"No, Lester’s been spoiled by his father. I don’t like him at all. If I could, I’d rather not have Lester as a son."

Her words felt like a knife in my chest. I clenched my fist so tightly that blood began to trickle from my palm.

After a while, they finally noticed me, but Kendra wasn’t the least bit embarrassed. She casually took Russell’s hand and walked toward me.

With a look of disdain, she addressed me. "So, you’ve finally decided to come back? Where did you spend the night? Out with your son, playing the father's role? You’ve got no backbone, and neither does he. The top beam is crooked, and so is the bottom one."

"I know what you did," she continued, sneering. "You went to my dad’s to cause trouble again, making him deny his grandson and threatening me to keep Russell out."

"If that’s the case, take your things and go back to the old house to be the good son-in-law. Here, I only have Russell as my husband. Where’s Lester? Call him out to apologize to Russell. Don’t think you can escape responsibility by pretending to be sick."

Her words were venomous, and her cruelty knew no bounds.

Looking at her ugly face, the image of Lester struggling in the water haunted me. I felt a burning desire to let her drown in the pool.

Just as I was about to lunge at her, I heard my child’s voice from yesterday’s swimming pool echoing in my mind:

"Dad, Mom is the best swimming champion. I want to be a champion like her."

"Also, don’t be sad, Dad. Mom promised me that when I win the championship, she’ll help me with something. Then, I’ll let her spend every day with you to make you happy."

I bit my lip, trying to suppress the furious building inside me. I turned to leave, but Kendra grabbed my arm.

"What’s this now? Can’t even apologize for your mistakes? You’re angry with me? If you hadn’t conspired with my dad to push Russell away, how would the title of Glover’s son-in-law have fallen on you? An orphan like you, looking to get rich overnight by marrying into a family!"

"You’ve got your eyes on another richer woman, right? Trying to use your sob story to gain sympathy? It’s embarrassing for Lester to have a father like you!"

I stayed silent, resisting the urge to respond. But before I could, Kendra’s anger boiled over. She grabbed my wrist and forcefully threw me toward the edge of the pool.

With a splash, I hit the water.

"Just training the child. If you don’t accept it, I’ll train you too. Stop acting so noble!"

"My dad drank your potion and can’t see who you really are. Only I know you’re a gold-digging ‘Phoenix man.’ If you hadn’t stolen Russell’s credit and lied about the miracle doctor treating me because of you, I would never have married you!"

"I made him wait for me for five years. I won’t let him and his child wait any longer. Lester inherited your inferior genes and isn’t worthy of being my heir!"

I struggled in the water, my mind racing. The fear of being pulled under by the floodwaters from my childhood came rushing back. The more I fought, the weaker I became, until I almost gave up entirely.

"Lester, don’t be afraid, Dad is here for you," I whispered to myself, even as I felt myself sinking deeper.

The moment before I hit the bottom of the pool, Kendra finally jumped in and pulled me out. Her anger is was still evident, but there was worry in her eyes now.

"Joseph, stop pretending. Wake up," she said, her voice sharp.

I slowly opened my eyes under her gentle slaps, and for the first time, I couldn’t hold it in. I slapped her hard across the face.

"Joseph, you’re sick! How dare you hit me? This is how you treat your wife?"

I sneered, cold fury in my voice.

"Have you forgotten that I can’t swim at all?"

"And didn’t you want Lester to apologize to Russell? Fine, let him go down to the underground to find him."

"Lester is dead!"

At these words, Kendra’s face froze for a moment, her expression turning to disgust and contempt. She yanked her hand away and let me fall to the ground.

Standing over me, she looked down with a sneer.

"Joseph, you’re more cruel than I thought. You cursed your own child to die."

"You’re just afraid that if Russell’s child is born, I won’t train Lester anymore, and it’ll mess with your interests. So, you hid him with my father."

"I won’t let you succeed."

With that, she wiped her hands on her clothes, as though touching me had been a disgusting act.

"If it weren’t for you, my child with Russell would be five years old by now. Joseph, you stole his credit and his place. Now I’m just letting things return to their proper state, and that’s already being polite to you."

After saying that, she embraced Russell and walked away. I stood frozen, watching her retreating figure, my heart aching so deeply I could hardly breathe.

It all began when Kendra's old injury flared up, preventing her from continuing her competitions and leading to the loss of all her funds due to a breach of contract. Desperate, Father Glover searched everywhere for a solution and discovered that only a retired genius doctor could heal her. But despite his constant pleas, the doctor refused to help.

As Kendra locked herself away, growing increasingly depressed, her situation worsened. Eventually, Kendra's father learned that my grandfather had once helped this miracle doctor, and he was willing to extend his support for another five years. In a desperate attempt to repay this kindness, I used my position as Kendra’s husband to ask the doctor for help.

For three days and nights, I knelt before the doctor, fasting and pleading until I finally moved him to act. When I woke up, Kendra could swim once more, her health restored. We celebrated with a grand wedding, and I took care of her with the devotion of a perfect husband.

Two years later, when Lester was born, my care for her grew even more. She was the first person to show me love after my parents passed, and I, blinded by gratitude, grew desperate to hold onto her, believing she was my salvation.

But when Russell reappeared, everything began to fall apart. Kendra’s attitude towards me soured, and she became increasingly indifferent to Lester. She convinced herself that it was Russell who had arranged for the miracle doctor’s help, and that it was Russell’s support that made her recovery possible. In her mind, I was the villain who had manipulated Kendra's father to take the credit. Despite Father Glover’s reminder of the five-year agreement, she refused to believe him and treated me with increasing coldness.

Once Kendra left, the smell of smoke filled the backyard. I staggered toward the front yard, covering my mouth and nose, only to find Russell ordering the servants to throw Lester’s belongings into the fire.

"Hurry up! Get all of this in. Kendra said everyone here will listen to me now. If you don’t like it, leave!" he shouted.

My eyes went red with rage. I rushed forward to grab Lester’s things, but Russell stopped me with a command.

"Why are you burning Lester’s things?" I shouted.

But he ignored me, picking up the last item—a toy Kendra had bought for Lester’s birthday. Lester had been so happy to receive it; he would hold it close every night, even sleeping with it. Watching it burn, piece by piece, I couldn’t hold back anymore. I laughed bitterly, my voice hoarse.

"Burn it well," I muttered.

Exhausted and broken, I collapsed to the ground, unable to fight anymore.

The next thing I knew, I woke up lying on a bed. I glanced at my phone—it was already the next day. Today marked the end of the five-year agreement and, more painfully, Lester’s funeral. I forced myself to sit up, splashed cold water on my face, and shaved off the stubble. I couldn’t let Lester see me like this; I needed to maintain some dignity, to give him the peace he deserved.

Just as I finished, the door burst open. Kendra stood in the doorway, looking furious.

She froze for a moment before slapping me across the face.

"Joseph, you’re still shaving, and you—it's your fault! You poured oil on the steps and caused Russell to break his leg!" she spat.

Before I could respond, she grabbed my arm and dragged me into Russell’s room. He was lying on the bed in pain. When he saw me, he instinctively tried to move his legs, and tears streamed down his face.