I once knelt in a bank manager’s office, begging for a loan; I stayed in the hospital caring for my business partner’s sick father, fighting to save a lost deal…

That’s when I finally realized some people only care about profit, not feelings. Maybe selfishness really did run in the blood.

My heart suddenly grew calm, the sadness fading away.

Ignoring my mother-in-law’s shouting, I grabbed my car keys and hurried to the hospital.

As soon as I reached the second floor, I saw Raline walking toward me, arm in arm with Hudson, looking shy.

When our eyes met, a quick panic and embarrassment showed on Raline’s face, then she turned aside and coughed.

“What happened to your head?” she asked coldly.

“Just look at you! A grown man and you still manage to get your head bleeding. If you had even a bit of your brother-in-law’s ability, I wouldn’t have to work this hard.”

My stare settled on Hudson beside her, my face cold, my eyes dark and heavy. That was when I knew I was no match for him; he was truly hard to read.

“Alright, go check on yourself. Don’t cause any more trouble.” Saying that, she quickly took Hudson’s arm, as if afraid of being tainted and walked away without turning back.

Just as they disappeared around the stairwell, a message from Raline appeared. [I’m pregnant. Hudson is hosting a celebration banquet for me this Wednesday. You have to be there.]

[Hudson wants the public to think the baby is yours. After it’s born, you can hand it over to him for adoption to make it look proper. Don’t say anything you shouldn’t.]

I quietly deleted the message, then opened one from my lawyer. [President Palmer, if you choose to leave with nothing, the divorce will move fast. But once property division is involved, it’ll take more time.]

Reading it, I replied, [I want you to handle my rightful share. I won’t walk away empty-handed.]

From the day I graduated and joined the failing Leighton Group, I worked alone to build a company that earned over a hundred million dollars in just three months. Why should I leave like a fool with nothing?

I just wanted what belonged to me. Even if I ended up donating it, I wouldn’t let that bastard child get a share.

By Wednesday, I arrived right on time.

Raline walked through the crowd with Hudson by her side, smiling as the guests offered their congratulations. Hudson also laughed and chatted with everyone.

I quietly handed the gift to Raline. She glanced at it, then stepped a few feet away, as if trying to avoid any misunderstanding.

“Alright, Hudson has already given me more than a dozen gifts, so don’t bother.”

I gave a faint smile. "Okay!"

So she already saw Hudson as her husband. Her real husband giving her a gift only made me look nosy.

I passed it to the butler, Alvin. “Alvin, this is for your wife. Please take it to her.”

Alvin immediately thanked me sincerely. “Mr. Palmer, you’re too generous. I’ll thank you on behalf of your wife.”

He bowed to me.

See? Sometimes, a small act of kindness from a stranger could touch someone deeply.

Some people, no matter what you did for them, stayed indifferent, treated you like nothing and thought you were just trying to please them.

A business partner came over to congratulate me. “Mr. Palmer, congratulations on your son’s birth!”

Then, looking confused, he asked, “Mr. Palmer, why don’t you take care of President Leighton yourself? Why do you keep asking Mr. Pellegrini to handle it?”

I smiled lightly. “It’s all the same. We’re one family, no need to make it sound so formal.”

The people around me watched me with curious looks, then turned their eyes to Raline and Hudson, who stood close together. They seemed to get the idea and smiled in understanding.

From a corner, a child’s soft voice broke the noise, “Mommy, Auntie and Uncle look perfect together! Their baby must be really pretty.”

The hall went silent in an instant, everyone exchanging uneasy looks.

Raline’s cheeks reddened and she hesitated before walking over to take my arm.

With disgust, she whispered, “Can’t you stand beside me properly? Do you have to embarrass me in front of everyone?”

I gave a faint smile. “I was just wondering, are you worried Hudson might get jealous and think I still care about you?”

Hearing that, Raline’s lips curved into a pleased smile. “At least you know how to behave and keep a proper distance.”

“Hudson cares about pure feelings. From now on, watch how you act when you see me. I won’t be your wife for the next three years. Keep your distance and don’t upset Hudson.”

I let out a small laugh, said nothing and went on to greet the guests warmly.

When everyone was done enjoying themselves, Raline released her hand and lightly brushed her dress.

“Hudson and I are leaving. The housekeeper made soup for my pregnancy. You can go back on your own.”

“I’ll be staying with Hudson to take care of the pregnancy. The company is in your hands. Be careful and don’t make trouble.”

Then she held onto Hudson’s arm and walked out. It was clear now, in her heart, Hudson was already her husband and the Pellegrini Family was her real home.

I walked into the night with a faint smile. “Detective Landers, one million to handle something for me, extra costs not included.”

I wondered if she could still go back home once her older sister returned. Just as she said, Raline stayed with Hudson for several days and never came back.

The private investigator sent me the photos right on time. Maybe because I stayed silent, Raline and Hannah simply moved into the Pellegrini house.

Raline even started openly calling Hudson the baby’s godfather. Everyone in Nashville’s high society was smart; they smiled knowingly and glanced at me with sympathy.

When Hannah’s birthday came, I glanced at Detective Landers’s message and sent him another five hundred thousand dollars.

At the birthday party, I invited all the top reporters in Nashville and every well-known anchor was there. There were many cameras set up around to make the place look like a film set.

Wearing a red dress, my mother-in-law looked at the cameras aimed at her and, for once, gave me a kind look.

“You may not be as capable as Hudson, but at least you know your place. The Leighton Family didn’t raise you for nothing.”

I nodded with a smile, agreeing again and again.

The guests around me looked on with even more dislike and disgust, while the Leighton relatives lifted their chins, staring down at me proudly.

“He’s got no backbone! His wife’s already sleeping with her brother-in-law and he’s still flattering his mother-in-law. What a shame to men!”

“What do you know? He’s trash, a beggar who grew up eating scraps. Without the Leighton Family, he wouldn’t even have food to eat. He’s fine being a fool.”

As gossip and mockery spread around me, I quietly greeted each guest. When the lucky hour came, Raline showed up holding Hudson’s arm.

The guests quickly gathered around, chatting and trying to please Hudson. Raline stayed close to him, not bothering to hide a thing.

With her head up, she enjoyed their praise, like she was already a billionaire’s wife. Her stomach was clearly round; she was already more than six months pregnant.

My mother-in-law hurried over too, warmly greeting her daughter and son-in-law, asking if she was tired and telling the servants to serve Hudson tea.

From start to finish, Hudson stayed calm and polite, his face showing no emotion at all.

Many times, I’ve asked myself this. Hudson, the richest man in the country, had married into the Leighton Family only to repay the favor of having his life saved.

But now that the debt was already cleared. Women wanting to marry him or have his child could line up across Nashville. So why, ignoring all the gossip, did he insist on being with his married sister-in-law?

While I was lost in thought, fireworks suddenly lit up the sky and the host’s loud voice filled the hall.

“Today is a day of celebration. Thank you all for coming to wish Ma’am Hannah a happy birthday.”

“Now, let’s welcome her daughter and son-in-law to come forward and give their blessings, wishing for her health and long life.”

As soon as those words were said, Raline smiled, held Hudson’s arm and stepped up to the stage.

“Mom, Hudson and I wish you good health, long life and endless wealth.” She then pulled Hudson down to kneel and offer respect.

Without a word, Hudson kept his eyes fixed on me. I smiled faintly and moved forward.

“Raline, you’ve got the wrong person. Your husband is standing right here.”

Raline’s face turned red and she angrily said, “My older sister isn’t here. I’m standing in for her to wish Mom a happy birthday with Hudson. Don’t interrupt.”

In my head, I counted quietly, one, two, three…

Just as Raline was about to hold Hudson’s arm again to offer her wishes, a loud voice came from the doorway. “Raline, let go of his hand! Who told you to hold my husband’s arm?”

All the guests turned toward the entrance. There stood Raline’s older sister, Audrey Leighton, who had once run away from home.

Right away, cameras started flashing, all focused on Audrey.

Audrey, angry and tense, rushed at Raline and slapped her hard “Raline, you dared to seduce your brother-in-law while I was gone! Do you have no shame?”