She said, "Honey, let's have a baby."

I froze for a moment.

She turned around and hugged my head, looked into my eyes with affection and said, "I saw the parenting books you bought! What's the point of studying those on your own? We've been married five years, it's time to have a child."

"Next year when the baby is born, we can go together to tell your parents. They'll be relieved to know you're no longer alone. But before that, you need to work hard, okay?" she said again.

I forced a smile and hugged her back without saying a word.

She ran upstairs, looked excited and even glanced back at me flirtatiously.

To keep me from losing hope, she had dangled the idea of having a child in front of me for five years. Because I could endure any humiliation, but a child shouldn't have to.

Truthfully, without her constant manipulation, I wouldn't have achieved so much. But this five-year-long scam had to end.

As soon as she went upstairs, I left the house using the lab as an excuse. After drafted a divorce agreement, I bought a plane ticket to go abroad in three days.

The Timberson Family holds immense power in the capital, so if I expose Luke now, I stand no chance. My only shot was at his product launch three days from now. That day, everything will come to light.

The next day, when I brought the divorce agreement to her office, I overheard the secretaries talks.

"Is that Shania's husband? He looks so shabby." One girl said.

Another secretary chimed in, "Of course he's shabby. His family went bankrupt five years ago. Now he lives off Shania, he's just a kept man. I don't know what she ever saw in him."

"But the one who just went in is different. I heard he's a rising star in the business world, self-made. The way Shania looked at him, like she wanted to stick to him. I think she's planning to trade up!" The other girl said again.

I clenched my fists tightly and ignored the chatter. I walked straight to Shania's office door and was about to knock. But I stopped when I heard voices inside.

Shania said, "Have you been doing well these years?"

The man's voice replied, "Didn't all the letters I sent you tell you that? I've been living abroad alone, I have more money than I can spend. I even bought a private jet to come back this time. Just a shame … traveling alone is always a bit lonely."

Shania's voice was filled with sadness, almost choked up, "That's good. That way, I can rest easy."

"Shania, thank you for everything you've done for the company. Otherwise, I might still be struggling to survive somewhere." said Luke.

He said again, "I won't stay at your house before the launch. I don't want to upset Gabriel. After all, he used to support me. Now that our roles are reversed, I'm afraid he won't take it well if we argue ..."

Luke was always like this. Benefited from everything, yet pretended to be the humble one. He always tried to make me look bad in front of others.

When I failed the first time, I had investigated him in secret. I found that his company's products were strikingly similar to mine.

I reported him for use my real name, requested data proof, but was arrested by the police for defamation. Everyone said I couldn't handle failure and was smearing others out of spite.

Only Shania stepped in to smooth things over for me. She became the only one I trusted.

But now, she handed over everything I had to someone else.

Through the crack in the door, I saw her bitter expression. She pulled a document from her desk and handed it to Luke while said, "This is Gabriel's latest research. With this, you'll have a firm footing in the domestic market during your launch in three days. Consider it a gift to celebrate your return."

Luke took the document with a smile, his eyes full of smugness.

The divorce agreement in my hand slipped and hit the floor with a sound.

Through the crack in the door, Shania saw me standing outside, her face instantly turned flustered. She asked, "Gabriel, why are you here? Don't misunderstand. This is Luke, the poor student you sponsored back then. He just returned to discuss a collaboration with me and wanted to thank you for your help."

"Hi, Gabriel, long time no see." Luke placed the materials behind him, put on a professional demeanor and reached out to shake my hand.

I looked at his sharp suit and perfectly styled hair. It seemed like our roles had reversed. I was now the one in need of support.

Suppressed my resentment, I smiled, extended my hand and said, "Long time no see. I was just passing by and thought I'd stop in to see you. Since you two have things to discuss, I'll head home now."

Shania, still uneasy, followed me out and tried to explain, "Gabriel, don't overthink it. Luke's research aligns with yours. I was just about to ask him for advice on your behalf. Didn't you always want our child to have a successful father? This is the perfect opportunity."

Look at her tried so hard to appear considerate, I suddenly found it laughable.

To help Luke succeed, she didn't hesitate to become a thief, even sacrificed herself to stay with me. Now that her goals were almost achieved, why bother using a child to tie me down again?

I said casually, "Don't worry. That time was just my misunderstanding. You already investigated and cleared it up. I'm not that narrow-minded. You two go ahead. I'll be at home waiting to hear from you."

After she heard that, the tense look on her face finally relaxed. She personally escorted me to the elevator.

After returned at home, I packed up everything Shania had given me over the past five years and donated it all to the orphanage.

Just after the staff left, I received a call from an auction house. Shania had won a bid for an item a week ago, but her phone had been off, so they contacted me.

When I signed for the delivery, the staff opened the box to confirm its contents. Inside was a pair of exquisite couple rings.

I froze for a moment, I stared at the plain and rough wedding ring on my finger, suddenly felt cold inside.

Then Shania's message appeared on my screen: [Gabriel, I bought a piece of jewelry, it's for a client. My phone just off earlier. Can you take it home for me? I'll have Lila to pick it up.]

I casually replied with an: [Okay] and put the box away.

Since I had already decided to leave, I had no intention of exposing her pathetic lie.

That night, her secretary came to collect the box and told me Shania had to go on a sudden business trip.

But late at night, Luke sent me a friend request. After I accepted … a video appeared on my phone.

In a revolving restaurant, a woman in a white dress knelt on one knee. There was a distinct red mole on her bare shoulder.

Amid the cheers of the staff, the two exchanged rings and embraced in a kiss.

I replied with: [Wishing you a long and happy life together] and stayed up all night.

On the morning of the third day, Shania messaged me, she asked me to attend Luke's launch event.

Just as I was about to enter the venue, a security guard stopped me, "Sir, please show your invitation."

When I didn't respond, the guard continued, "This venue is fully booked by the Timberson Group today. It's a private event for prominent figures in the capital. If you don't have an invitation, I'm afraid you'll have to leave."

People nearby waited to enter started looking my way and whispered, "Isn't that Shania's husband? Is he still thinking he's some young star from the Lambert Family? He's been living off the Timberson Family for five years. If Shania hadn't kept her promise and married him, who knows where he'd be now, probably still working off his family's debts!"

"Even if the Lambert Family used to be glorious, how did their son end up like this? I heard Shania invested in his startup 99 times and he still failed, what a hopeless case. Totally unworthy of such a good wife!" the crowd sneered.

Just as they finished speaking, Luke arrived with his entourage.

People on both sides immediately stepped aside and the security guard rushed to open the door to welcome him, "Mr. Hudson, welcome! The venue is all set up. If anything isn't satisfactory, just let us know, we'll fix it right away."

"Please also put in a good word for us with Miss Timberson. We hope to host more of the Timberson Group's events in the future," the man said.

"Get out of the way already! Didn't we tell you to leave? Don't block Mr. Hudson's path. You're not welcome here, freeloader! Don't drag down our class!" The guard shoved me aside, his fawn attitude now nothing like the arrogant posture from earlier.

Luke looked at me, eyes full of triumph. He said, "Stop! Is this how your hotel treats guests? I welcome anyone who wants to attend my event. Besides, Gabriel is my benefactor. Without him, I never would have met Shania. After so many failures, he's already having a hard time. I won't let you speak about him like that!"

"But Gabriel, if you want to see my new product, you could've just asked. I can send you an invitation. Please don't sneak a peek again and copy it like last time," he said again.

At the mention of plagiarism, the just-quieted murmurs rose again. Countless disdainful eyes fell on me.

A person mocked, "We almost forgot, do you know why he still amounts to nothing even with the Timberson Family behind him? It's because all his work is plagiarized! Even when he supported Mr. Hudson back then, it was just to leech off his ideas!"

"Disgusting. I actually felt bad that he was an orphan," someone said.

In the past, I would have fought back fiercely to protect Shania's reputation. But now, I only wanted to break free.

The crowd jeered at me while praising Luke, calls him grateful and successful at a young age.

I was completely cut off and a cold laugh rose in my heart. Luke, let's see if you can still smile later.

A long while later, Shania finally emerged. She walked through the crowd and naturally took my arm and asked, "Why aren't you inside? What are you doing standing here?"

Luke rushed over as soon as he saw her. He pretended, "Gabriel, let's go in together. It's all my fault, I forgot to send you the invitation."

Shania pulled me into the banquet hall and turned to introduce my presence as someone here to learn from Luke.

The people in the industry already looked down on me. Now, no one even wanted to talk to me.

Meanwhile, Shania accompanied Luke, introduced him to all kinds of high-level connections. Their laughter kept floating over. Several times, Luke even leaned intimately on her.

The out-of-place atmosphere made it hard for me to breathe. On my way out of the restroom, Luke suddenly appeared in front of me.

Seeing the discomfort on my face, his grin grew wider while he said, "Gabriel, feeling terrible, aren't you? Fortunes really do change. Bet you didn't expect this day to come. Come to think of it, I should thank you. If you hadn't taken me in back then, I never would've met Shania."

I clenched my fists and stared at him, expressionless.

I sneered, "What do you mean? Don't forget how you begged me for help. Is this how you repay someone who helped you?"

Hearing that, he dropped the pretense entirely and mocked, "Benefactor? Please. You call that help? You tossed me your leftovers like I was some beggar. You never treated me like a real person, so now I'm letting you see what it's like to be looked down on. And you can't handle it?"