All I've done is say something to my first love, whom I haven't met for many years. Since then, my wife, Linda Weber, demands that I report my whereabouts to her constantly. Otherwise, she won't hesitate to stop paying for our daughter, Lily Colt's medical bills.

The first time happened when I was buying groceries. Linda told me to record a video of myself and tell the camera that I was her simp.

The second time happened when I was accompanying Lily when she was undergoing a dialysis procedure. Linda demanded that I strip myself naked just so she could check if I was fooling around with other women in the same room.

The third time happened when Lily finally got a kidney match. Linda demanded that I travel to the other end of the city just to buy the roasted sweet potatoes she had eaten on our first date together.

By the time I have the roasted potatoes delivered to her with sweat drenching my form, I witness Linda giving the kidney source to her first love's mother just because I'm one minute later than the designated time.

Only then do I realize that Linda has done all those things to me just so she can please James Harmon by pulling pranks on me purposefully.

My wife, Linda Weber, who was a slight germaphobe, didn't hesitate to reach into the greasy paper bag and pull out the hot roasted sweet potato.

She paid no attention to how my face was pale from the heat and that I was showing signs of heatstroke.

Beside her, James Harmon chuckled. "Lin, I only casually mentioned that I wanted to eat that roasted sweet potato sold near our school, and you really made Skylar ride his bicycle all the way there."

Linda peeled the first piece and gently brought it to James' lips. "If you want it, I'll make sure you get it.

"Try it and see if it still tastes the way you remember. I remember back when we were dating, this was your favorite."

A dull ache spread through my heart.

So, that was it. It was no wonder that, on our first date, she took me across half the city to that remote roasted sweet potato stand.

Back then, I foolishly thought it was a one-of-a-kind romantic gesture she'd planned just for me.

It turned out I was just reliving her past with another man.

The bitterness inside me surged up my throat.

I forced down my emotions and asked hoarsely, "Lin, can you give me the money for Lily's kidney transplant surgery now?"

After she was done feeding James, Linda finally cast a lazy glance in my direction.

"Oh, I can't. I just called the hospital. The kidney has already been sent to James' mom. She needs it too."

My head buzzed, feeling as though I'd been hit by a sledgehammer.

"What did you say? What about our daughter? You promised me! You said if I bought it back, you'd schedule her surgery!"

"And who's to blame for this?"

Linda tossed the used wet wipe into the trash, her face full of contempt and mockery. "You were a minute too slow. Rules are rules, got it? Wait until the next suitable kidney comes along."

I felt all my blood rush to my head as my reason started to snap.

"Wait? You know Lily can't wait that long! Lily is your daughter too. How can you be so cruel?"

Linda's expression instantly darkened. "Shut up! I don't have a daughter like her!

"If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have almost died on the operating table!

"If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have lost the ability to ever have children again!"

A deep sense of helplessness washed over me.

Linda's difficult labor happened because she ignored the doctor's advice during the pregnancy. She ate all kinds of high-calorie sweets and refused to exercise, making the baby too large.

The doctor had warned her, yet she blamed everything on a newborn baby.

All these years, Linda had never hugged Lily once.

James slowly wiped his mouth and threw in a sarcastic comment.

"Skylar Colt, don't get so worked up. Sometimes, you just have to accept fate. I guess Lily was just born unlucky."

I clenched my fists, wanting to punch that fake smile off his face.

But I couldn't.

The moment I made a move, the money for Lily's medical bills would disappear.

When I thought of my daughter lying in that hospital bed, her body ravaged by illness into something unrecognizable, my anger and pride gave way to desperate begging.

"Lin, could you give me 300 dollars more each day? I want to switch Lily to a different imported medicine. The domestic one isn't working anymore.

"She's in so much pain. It's just 300 dollars more. Could you—"

Linda's voice rose sharply. "Skylar Colt, all you ever think about is money, money, and more money! Is 4000 dollars a day for treatment not enough? Now you want 300 more?

"All this money, and you still want more? It's not your money, so you don't care, do you?"

I dropped my head even lower, almost burying it in my chest.

Ever since Lily was diagnosed with kidney failure, I had spent almost all my time at the hospital, taking her for tests and dialysis.

I once had a decent job at a foreign company. However, Linda—suspicious that I was cheating on her—kept showing up at my office and causing a huge scene, so I was eventually let go.

I ended up becoming a total freeloader.

Linda was a wealthy heiress who could spend 50,000 dollars on a single pair of socks, yet she nitpicked every cent for our daughter's life-saving treatment.

For Lily's sake, I had no choice but to trample on my last shred of dignity.

I fell to my knees and begged, "Please, Lin! As long as you say yes, I'll do anything you want next time."

Suddenly, she got angry. She hurled the piping-hot sweet potato, paper bag and all, straight at my head.

"Did you listen when I told you not to talk to other women?" she yelled at me.

The sticky, scalding mush plastered my face, and a burning sensation spread from my scalp.

Still, I didn't dare move.

"If it weren't for you freezing up when you saw Cindy Pierce and then sticking to me, why would I block your card? You used to have free access to my supplementary card, but you caused this mess yourself!

"You can forget about the extra money. Now get lost. Don't ruin my mood."

James gently stroked her back and soothed her softly, "Lin, don't be angry. Some people don't know how good they have it. If I had a wife as wonderful as you, I wouldn't look at another woman."

Linda's anger vanished instantly, and she happily looped her arm through James'.

"I knew you were the best! Come on. I'll take you to the auction house to buy a watch. Bare wrists aren't a good look," she said.

James' eyes lit up as he turned back and raised an eyebrow at me. The look in his eyes was nothing but pure, unmasked smugness.

Silently, I watched them leave with their arms around each other. I only felt utterly drained.

That day at the hospital, I was standing in line and waiting to pay when I happened to bump into Cindy, who was also there for treatment.

We only greeted each other without even exchanging pleasantries, and the nurses and other patients' families were present the whole time.

There was none of the sleazy happenings Linda imagined. However, the bodyguard she had sent to watch me had embellished the photos he sent her.

As for that supplementary card she said I could use freely…

The first time I used it was when Lily started kindergarten, and I had to pay 10,000 dollars for her tuition fees.

Because of that one charge, Linda repeatedly called the kindergarten teachers and the principal, verifying what the money was for.

When I went to pick Lily up from school that day, all the teachers looked at me with a mixture of contempt and pity.

After that, I never dared to touch that card again.

I wiped the sweet potato off my face, my skin stinging.

Just then, someone from the hospital called.

"You have to come quick, Mr. Colt! Lily's in bad condition!"

I felt my blood freeze over.

When I burst into the hospital room, I saw Lily's small body convulsing violently. Her face was a shade of blue, and her lips were cracked and dry.

Doctors and nurses crowded around the bed, and monitors screeched out alarms.

"Doctor, what's wrong with my daughter?" I asked urgently.

The doctor glanced at me with his brows deeply furrowed.

"Her kidneys are in a very dangerous condition. We've administered medication, but the results aren't good. It's best if we switch to the imported medicine. Have you gotten the money together?"

Those 300 dollars felt like a mountain on my chest, suffocating me.

I dialed Linda's number again.

"What now? Didn't I tell you to get lost?" she snapped.

"Linda, Lily is dying! Please, please, just give me the money first! Just 300 dollars more! I'm begging you!" I said through sobs.

My dignity had long been shattered.

The other end remained silent for a moment.

Those few seconds of silence gave me a flicker of hope. Maybe Linda still had some motherly love for Lily.

Then, Linda's cold voice came through. "No. I told you it's not happening."

In the background of the call, James' delighted shout rang out.

"Lin, you're the best! You actually bid on that antique watch for me! That's 50 million dollars! You spoil me!"

The call was hung up after that.

I held the phone, feeling like all my strength had drained from my body. I slid down the wall and sat on the floor.

In the hospital room, Lily kept weakly calling out to me.

I couldn't hold back anymore, and tears poured down my face.

With trembling fingers, I unlocked my phone. I found the number I had sworn I would never call and dialed it.

"I'm willing to acknowledge my family. Please, give me 100 thousand dollars first."

On the other end, there was only heavy breathing and no answer. Every second of silence felt like torture to me.

"50 thousand! 50 thousand will do!" I anxiously changed my plea.

An old, quivering voice came through, full of excitement.

"Don't worry, Skylar. Give me your account number. As long as you're willing to come back… As long as you're willing…"

I gave him the number, and a moment later, a notification from the bank lit up my phone.

Two million dollars.

I stared at the number, checking it again and again.

I felt my nerves, so tense that they were about to snap, suddenly relax.

I had known for a long time that I was the Crest family's illegitimate child.

My mother—who had worked as a hostess—once kneeled with me as a child at the gates of the Crest residence, only to be humiliated and chased away.

My biological father looked at me like I was a filthy stray dog.

At that moment, I swore that I'd rather starve to death than ever acknowledge him.

Later, he and his wife died in a car accident together.

My grandfather, Hubert Crest, found me through the orphanage. He tearfully begged me to come back and take over the family business, but I had refused.

But for Lily, I gave in to the name I'd despised for half my life.

Life truly was ironic.

"Skylar, is the money enough? What else do you need? I'll give you anything," Grandfather said.

Having asked once, I felt less pressure the second time.

"Get me a kidney—the best and the one that can arrive the fastest."

On the other end, Grandfather sounded flattered, agreeing repeatedly. "Of course! I'll take care of it right away! Once I return from abroad in a few days, I'll come visit you and Lily!"

I hung up and rushed to the payment counter.

Just as I was waiting for the bill, Linda called. "Skylar, I'm going to give you one chance. Bring three boxes of condoms to the house within an hour. I'll give you 300 dollars."

In the background, I could hear James' muffled laughter, as well as the sounds of their bodies brushing against each other.

My stomach churned with disgust.

"Forget it, Linda. Let's get a divorce," I said coldly. "I'm taking my daughter."

Once the words left my mouth, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders.