“Mom, can you find me a new dad? Every time there’s a school event, everyone’s father comes, and now my classmates all say I’m a bastard with no dad.”

I had just placed the last dish on the dinner table when my daughter’s words hit me like a thunderbolt. My chest tightened painfully as I looked at her.

She glared back. “What are you staring at? I never wanted you as my dad anyway, you ugly freak.”

“Mom, how about letting Uncle Marcus go to the graduation ceremony this time? Let him be my dad instead.”

“Uncle Marcus, would that be okay?” My daughter turned toward the man sitting across from my wife.

“Would you do us this favor?” My wife, Olivia Hayes, placed a piece of BBQ ribs into Marcus Reed’s bowl. “Your favorite ribs—try them.”

“I’m still alive.” I fought down my rage. “You people don’t even bother to hide it anymore, do you?”

“Then why don’t you just die?” my daughter spat, her eyes burning with hate. “It would’ve been better if you’d burned to death back then. You’re nothing but a burden.”

…

A burden? The memories flooded me, stabbing into my heart like blades.

Three years ago, a mall caught fire.

When I learned my wife and daughter were inside, I rushed into the flames without hesitation and carried them both out. My entire body was burned—ninety percent of my skin scorched.

I was lucky to survive, but I was left disfigured.

Instead of gratitude, my wife and daughter began despising me for my appearance.

I had once been cheerful and full of light. Now I had become withdrawn, learning to endure humiliation in silence.

For more than two years, they hadn’t given me a single kind look. They nitpicked everything I did. I endured it all for the sake of giving my daughter a complete home. I never imagined they would go this far—inviting another man to play her father at her graduation, spitting such venom right in front of me.

After my initial fury, I calmed down. Looking at them now, they really did resemble a family of three. And me? I was nothing but an obstacle.

I knew this house had no place for me anymore.

With calm resolve, I looked at my wife. “I’ll grant you your wish. Let’s divorce.”

“Is that really necessary?” Olivia frowned. “Marcus is just helping out with the graduation ceremony. Why make such a scene?”

Is it necessary?

I glanced at Marcus. This man could use my shower whenever he pleased, relieve himself in the master bathroom. When we went out, I was the driver while he sat in the back with my wife and daughter, laughing together.

Even my own master bedroom—once the love nest for my wife and me—was now his resting place. Ever since my accident, I hadn’t spent a single night there.

I used medicine daily, and Olivia complained about the smell. Yet when Marcus stumbled home drunk, reeking of alcohol, she never seemed to notice.

She always said he drank to secure business for the company. She claimed she had a clear conscience, that she dared bring Marcus home openly because she had nothing to hide.

But I knew better. Marcus passing out in the master bedroom was his challenge to me, his way of testing her boundaries.

I raised this point seriously once. Her reply? “Is that really necessary?”

And now, again, the same words.

Disappointment builds one drop at a time. Every time Olivia blurred the lines with Marcus, it was another knife in my heart.

I could no longer endure.

I pulled off my apron. “Tomorrow, I’ll meet you at the County Court.”

“Stop right there.” Olivia’s voice turned sharp. “When did you become so unreasonable?”

“What’s so wrong with me saying a few words to you?”

I stopped and stared at her. “Do you know what day it is today?”

“No day justifies your nonsense.”

Nonsense?

My heart sank to its depths, bitterness welling up. I couldn’t hold my words back any longer.

“It’s our tenth wedding anniversary. I told you in advance I wanted the three of us to have dinner together tonight. I cooked a full meal, even my parents made their own food just so we could celebrate. And yet you invited Marcus over.”

“All because of that?” Olivia frowned. “Marcus said he liked your BBQ ribs. Isn’t that a compliment?”

“What the hell does his opinion matter to me?”

Maybe it was because I had held my temper too long, but my sudden roar startled her. She froze, unable to react.

“You really think you earned everything you have now?” My plan had been to divorce quietly, but the more I spoke, the hotter my fury burned.

I glared coldly at Olivia. “If not for me, you and Lily would have burned to death in that fire. If not for me, your company wouldn’t have made it this far. My patience and tolerance don’t give you the right to walk all over me.”

Olivia’s expression faltered, her tone softening. “Just sit down and eat, okay?”

“I said I’ll see you at the County Court tomorrow.” I turned to leave.

“Brother-in-law, it’s my fault.” Marcus hurried over and grabbed my arm. “Don’t go. If someone should leave, it’s me.”

“Let go.”

I shook him off coldly.

Marcus let himself fall, clutching his hand as if in pain.

Olivia rushed over, eyes full of concern. “Are you alright?”

“It’s just my finger. Nothing serious. Don’t blame him—it was my fault for being clumsy.”

The sight froze my heart.

Back in that fire, with ninety percent of my body burned, I never heard a single “Are you okay?” from Olivia. I never saw that look of concern in her eyes.

Yet now, Marcus deliberately staged a fall, and she looked at him with such care. So she could care—just not about me.

Realizing Olivia preferred this cowardly manipulator over me made me sick. I had actually lost to a man like him.

I shot them a cold glance and walked away.

“Stop.” Olivia’s voice lashed out. “You hurt Marcus and now you think you can just leave?”

“Are you blind?” I snapped back. “Didn’t you see him acting?”

“Marcus isn’t that kind of man. He values his hands more than anything—those hands have produced countless brilliant designs for the company. Only someone with a filthy heart sees filth everywhere.”

Her eyes brimmed with disgust. “Apologize to Marcus.”

“Ugly freak, apologize to Uncle Marcus!” Lily snarled, gripping a fruit knife, staring at me as if I were her worst enemy.

An ungrateful little wolf. I had raised her all these years, but I didn’t want this family anymore—not even my daughter.

Every word with them made me sick. I turned to leave.

I had barely taken two steps when pain shot through my leg. I looked back—Lily’s knife was dripping blood. I glanced down and saw crimson flowing down my leg.

“That’s what you get for not apologizing.” Lily brandished the bloody knife, eyes blazing. “Hurt Uncle Marcus, and I’ll kill you!”

That blade didn’t pierce just my leg. It pierced my heart.

Silently, I turned again, limping away. The pain grew worse. I had to get to a hospital.

Olivia rushed ahead to block the door. “Apologize, or you’re not leaving.”

“Are you even human? I’ve been stabbed!”

“She’s just a child. How much damage could she do? You’re not leaving until you apologize.”

“Ms. Hayes, it’s not his fault,” Marcus cut in smoothly. “I really did fall on my own. He’s hurt—take him to the hospital.”

“No. Tonight, he has to learn who makes the rules in this house.” Olivia’s tone was ice-cold, her stance unyielding.

Then I saw it—the glint of malice in her eyes. She wanted me dead.

In that instant, I understood. “You want me gone for good, don’t you?”

Olivia leaned in, whispering venom into my ear. “The company is about to go public. I can’t afford a divorce. If you die, it’s still better than divorcing you. You brought this on yourself.”

I shoved her away. I had to get out, while I could still walk. This insane woman really would kill me.

“Brother-in-law, I’ve always respected you. I never wanted to break up your family. Yes, I love Olivia, but I’ve never admitted it.”

Marcus stepped in front of me, eyes cold. He’d been waiting for this chance. “I can understand your jealousy, but you can’t hit her. I demand you apologize. If you won’t live with her anymore, then I’ll marry her myself.”

“Get out of my way.” I shoved him aside, but he was ready and swung at me.

Olivia lunged from behind, wrapping her arms around me, while Lily bit into me like a wild pup.

I couldn’t bring myself to strike my own child. With my leg already bleeding, Marcus quickly overpowered me and knocked me to the ground.

Just as despair closed in, the door burst open.

We lived in a suburban townhouse, with our parents on either side. All four elders rushed in.

“What’s going on here? Why are you fighting?”

“Mom…” Olivia sobbed, throwing herself into Grace Hayes’s arms. “Ethan Carter wants a divorce. I asked why, but he refused to say. He’s dead set on leaving me. When I wouldn’t agree, he hit me.”

Smack!

Henry Hayes stormed forward and slapped me hard. “Since she was a child, I’ve never laid a finger on her. And you dare raise your hand to my daughter?”

Before I could speak, my own father, Robert Carter, came up and slapped me as well. “So you’ve grown bold enough to strike a woman? Is this how I raised you?”

My leg throbbed worse, crushed under their blows. I felt weak, but all I wanted was to get to a hospital.

“You’re not going anywhere!” Henry blocked the doorway, glaring at me. “You’re going to explain yourself. If not for Olivia working herself to the bone, feeding and clothing you, you’d have nothing. And now you dare hit her? Are you even a man?”

Grace glared at me too. “Ethan, if you can’t explain, I’ll never forgive you.”

My mother, Margaret Carter, spoke as well. “Son, how could you? A grown man hitting his wife? That’s shameful. Apologize to Olivia right now.”

“I don’t need his apology,” Olivia said sweetly, “as long as he stays with me and doesn’t divorce.”

“You silly girl,” Grace scolded gently, “what’s so good about him that you protect him like this?”

“Three years ago, if not for Ethan, Lily and I would have died. For that alone, he can curse me, hit me, whatever—just not divorce me.”

I froze. I thought she hadn’t known I’d risked my life in that fire to save them. Turns out she always knew. And yet now she used it as a weapon against me.