While carrying out an undercover mission, my wife discovered that a male hostage had been poisoned. To save him, she sacrificed herself, "battling" alongside him for three days and three nights.

But the toxin in his body was never fully purged. Every time it flared up, she would rush to his side at once to help neutralize it—completely ignoring me, her husband, as if I didn't exist.

And yet, when she learned that I had gone missing, she broke down completely.

While on a mission, the male hostage was drugged. My wife, working undercover, used her own body to purge the poison from his system.

They "fought it out" for three days and three nights.

When the mission ended and she returned, her cheeks were flushed, her clothes in disarray, her chest left completely exposed. She looked at me with guilt written all over her face.

"On the way back, I was bitten by a snake. I almost died. Nick saved me by sucking the venom out.

"Later, he was drugged. To repay him for saving my life, I had no choice but to give myself to him to help him detox."

To soothe me, she snatched the lit cigarette from my hand and pressed it against her own arm, burning a scar into her skin.

After that, every time Nick Vaughn's poison flared up, she would rush to his side without hesitation. The scars on her arm only grew more numerous.

More than half a year later, she knelt in front of me, clutching a pregnancy test report, crying as she begged.

"The countless cigarette burns on my body… consider them my compensation to you. But Nick's mother has been diagnosed—she only has about a year left. Her final wish is to see her grandson born. I have to fulfill that wish.

"As for the child, once he's born, I'll have him call you his second father. When he grows up, he'll take care of us both and show us filial respect."

I clenched my fists and replied flatly, "Whatever you say."

But as I turned away, I dialed an overseas number.

"I accept your terms. Within three days, I'll get a divorce."

…

After hanging up, I booked a flight abroad.

Just then, Tasha Hale returned with a group of people. Seeing my indifferent expression, her face tightened with displeasure.

"Thomas, where are your manners? My friends came to celebrate my pregnancy, and this attitude of yours is really killing the mood."

I clenched my hands so tightly my nails nearly dug into my flesh. A wave of humiliation surged through me.

My wife was carrying another man's child, and I was supposed to be happy about it?

What a cruel joke.

Noticing my dissatisfaction, Tasha let go of Nick's hand and sat down beside me.

Lowering her head, she gently stroked her belly.

"Thomas, I know you mind this child, but you will always be my husband. That will never change."

She tentatively reached for my hand, but I instinctively pulled away.

Her best friend, Emily Grisham, couldn't stand it and rushed over.

"Thomas, ever since you quit your job, you've been loafing around at home all day. Tasha risks her life to support this family—doesn't that count for something?

"Besides, she only helped Nick detox out of gratitude. The pregnancy was an accident. You keep saying you love her—real love means accepting everything about her. Do you even understand that?"

As her accusations rang in my ears, the wound in my abdomen began to throb faintly.

Once, during a mission, Tasha was injured. I gave her one of my kidneys, but she never knew. After the surgery, my health was severely weakened, and I had no choice but to resign and recover at home.

I cooked for her, cared for her. She once told me that after completing one final mission, she would come home, stay with me, have several children, and we would live a happy family life together.

But I never imagined that what I would be waiting for… was her entangled with another man night after night, even carrying his child.

Suppressing the pain in my heart, I said, "Tasha, let's get a divorce."

After saying that, I turned and walked out, unwilling to let anyone see the tears welling in my eyes.

I had just reached the garden when Tasha ran out and called after me.

"Thomas, it's so late. Where are you going? It's dangerous outside. I'm worried."

She stepped up behind me and draped a scarf around my neck.

"It's getting cold. Keep warm. If you start coughing, I'll worry."

During one mission, I had jumped into an icy river to save her, leaving me with a lasting illness—whenever I caught a chill, I would cough up blood.

She carefully wrapped the scarf around me, even leaving a lipstick mark on it like a token of love.

But her next words chilled my heart all over again.

"Thomas, there's something I want to discuss with you. Nick's condition is getting worse, and his mother's illness has been relapsing lately. I need to keep him by my side and take good care of him."

She took out a card and handed it to me.

"There's money in here. I'll book you the best hotel, and the rest is for your daily expenses. Just bear with it for now. Once I give birth, I'll bring you back immediately, okay?"

So her sudden concern… was just to coax me into moving out, to make Nick happy. She allowed another man to take over my place, leaving me—the rightful master of this home—homeless. What a joke.

I didn't take the card. I only nodded.

"I understand. I'll move out tomorrow."

Nick also came out, watching her from a distance, his face full of concern.

Tasha forced the card into my hand.

"I'll have the driver arrange the best hotel for you right away. Stay there in peace. If you need anything, contact me anytime."

I watched as she turned without hesitation and walked toward him. Hand in hand, they went back inside together.

It felt as if I had fallen into an ice cellar, a bitter cold spreading endlessly through my chest.

The next day, I went to a tattoo shop to have the ink removed—to erase the last trace of Tasha from my body.

When the artist saw where the tattoo was, a flicker of sympathy crossed his face.

"It already hurts enough to tattoo over scar tissue," he said. "Removing it is like inflicting a second wound. Besides, laser removal will thin the scar even more. There's a real risk of infection. You should think this through carefully."

Back then, after my kidney transplant, I'd been afraid she might notice the surgical scar, so I had her name tattooed over it.

When Tasha found out, she'd happily poked at the tattoo. I endured the pain beneath the scar and pulled her into my arms, doting on her.

Now, faced with the artist's warning, I remained resolute.

Compared to the wound in my heart, this pain was nothing.

As I stepped out of the shop, Tasha called me.

I hesitated for a moment before answering.

Her furious voice exploded in my ear the instant the call connected.

"Thomas, I never thought you were such a despicable, shameless man! You act agreeable to my face, then pull tricks behind my back! Tell me—where did you take Nick?!"

I was completely baffled.

But her voice only grew louder.

"Don't play dumb with me! I saw you in the surveillance footage, tying Nick up and taking him away! You're getting back at him because I'm pregnant with his child, aren't you? I'm telling you—if a single hair on his head is harmed, you'll pay the price!"

After three years of marriage, she still didn't understand the kind of person I was.

I didn't bother arguing anymore. I hung up and quietly headed toward the hotel.

I hadn't gone far when a van screeched to a halt beside me.

A group of masked men in black jumped out. One blow knocked me unconscious, and they dragged me into the vehicle.

A bucket of ice-cold water jolted me awake.

The moment I opened my eyes, Tasha slapped me across the face.

"Thomas, you actually handed Nick over to a bunch of women fatter than pigs—how can you be so shameless?"

I denied it again and again.

"It wasn't me! I haven't seen him since I left the villa yesterday! If you don't believe me, you can ask—"

Before I could finish, she kicked me hard in the groin with her high heel.

"And you're still trying to argue at a time like this?! If Nick has been humiliated, I'll make you suffer twice as much!"

The searing pain made sweat pour down my body. I never imagined that the wife who had lived beside me day and night would strike me so ruthlessly.

Her best friend, Emily, appeared from a distance, supporting a disheveled Nick as they approached.

"Tasha, Nick told me on the way here—it was Thomas who had him kidnapped."

The moment Nick saw me, his face turned deathly pale.

"Thomas! I know you hate me, but the child in Tasha's womb is innocent. Do you really want that child to be born without a father?"

Tasha rushed over and wrapped him tightly in her arms.

"Nick, thank God you're okay. I thought I'd never see you again in this lifetime!"

When Tasha learned that Nick hadn't been taken advantage of by those wealthy women, she finally let out a long breath of relief.

Then she kicked me hard in the stomach.

"How can you be so shameless? You'd actually come up with something this disgusting? Those women are ugly and fat—they'd devour someone without leaving even bones behind. I used to think you were reliable. Now it seems I must have been blind all along!"

Her kick landed right on my abdominal scar. Pain exploded through me, and I curled up on the ground, writhing.

My reaction startled her, and she instinctively reached out to help me up.

But the moment she caught the aggrieved look in Nick's eyes, she shoved me aside again, letting me fall back to the floor.

"Thomas, what are you pretending for? Nick almost died because of you. Apologize to him—now!"

I forced myself to endure the pain, my eyes bloodshot as I stared at her.

"I didn't do it. Why should I apologize?"

She stamped her foot in fury.

"And you still dare to argue at a time like this? I'll make you understand what happens to anyone who dares to cross me!"

She turned and pointed at me, ordering Emily, "Nick's poison is about to flare up. I'll take him to get treated first. I'm leaving this to you. Don't let him go until he admits his mistake, apologizes to Nick in person, and shows some sense."

Tasha helped Nick out. As he left, he shot me a smug glance, then feigned another flare-up, his hands roaming freely over her body under the pretense of pain.

The next afternoon, Tasha came back carrying a lunchbox. She walked over, crouched down beside me, and slowly began feeding me with a spoon.

"Emily said you refused to eat. You haven't eaten for so long—you'll starve. Let me feed you."

Catching the scent on her—one that belonged to Nick—I turned my head away.

Emily's face twisted with anger.

"You're unbelievable. Tasha is feeding you herself, and you're still being picky. Eat or don't eat—if you starve to death, that's on you!"

Tasha stopped her and asked her to step outside, saying she wanted to talk to me alone.

After Emily left, Tasha tried to persuade me patiently.

"Thomas, can you stop acting childish? I know you're not a bad person. You just lost your head out of jealousy over Nick. As long as you apologize, we can put this behind us, okay?"

I looked at her coldly.

"I didn't do it. My conscience is clear."

Nick pushed the door open and walked in, putting on a show of concern.

"Forget it, don't make things hard for Thomas. Let him go. If your relationship is damaged because of me, I'll feel guilty for the rest of my life. Besides, you're pregnant. Worrying about these small matters will wear you out."

After hearing him, Tasha shot me a look of disdain.

"Look at how considerate Nick is. You don't even measure up to a single toe of his. Fine. Since Nick spoke up, I'll forgive you this time."

As she spoke, she leaned over and kissed Nick on the cheek.

"You really know how to care about me. It's so good having you by my side."

Seizing the moment, Nick buried his face in the crook of her neck.

"Then can you help me one more time? The poison in my body… it feels like it's getting harder to suppress again."

Tasha touched his forehead anxiously.

"It does feel a little warm. Then be gentler this time—don't hurt the baby. After all, your mother has been waiting for her grandson to be born safely."

Only as she was about to leave did she finally remember I was still tied up on the floor.

She had Emily untie me, then let out a sigh, looking at me with disappointment.

"To keep you from hurting Nick again, you should leave. Until I give birth to his child, don't show up in front of me again."

I didn't argue. I only replied calmly, "Alright. I'll leave."

'Tasha… this time, I won't be coming back.'