Chapter 3

A month later, the private investigator photographed Theresa going to the hospital wearing a mask.

When he sent me the video, he looked like he wanted to say something but held back.

"Mr. Sanchez, it seems your wife really is pregnant."

"She threw a pregnancy test with two lines in the trash, and I went to confirm it."

"And the prenatal report does show she's two months along."

I froze where I stood.

At that same moment, my phone buzzed.

Theresa's messages popped up one after another.

Adrian, I have good news for you.

Our IVF worked.

I thought back to years ago, when Theresa had sworn up and down.

"Adrian Sanchez is my husband, and the only love of my life."

"Back then I had nothing. He gave up his government job and took out a fifteen million dollar loan to help me build everything from scratch. That's how I got to where I am today."

"I will never let him down as long as I live."

But after only seven years, she had forgotten the promise she'd made with her own mouth.

She even lied to my face without a shred of guilt.

Seeing that I still hadn't replied, another message from Theresa popped up.

Adrian, why aren't you answering me? Are you so happy you've gone dumb?

Seeing how hard she was pushing, I typed a few words. We'll talk when you get home.

I sat on the couch until evening.

Theresa came back. "Here, slow down."

Lucas Landon followed behind her, carefully holding her up until she sat down.

"What is this supposed to mean?"

I looked at Theresa.

She sighed and explained with a frown.

"I'm pregnant, aren't I? Your health isn't good, and the housekeeper can't handle everything."

"Lucas already took the money anyway, so let him move in and take care of me for a while."

I was about to speak, but Theresa didn't give me any chance to refuse.

She just helped Lucas straight to the room.

Ever since Lucas moved in, his true colors started showing.

When Theresa was around, he always looked cautious and nervous.

When Theresa wasn't home, he came right up to provoke me, brazen as could be.

"Adrian, do you really think you've been such a successful husband?"

"IVF embryo, my ass. The kid in your wife's belly is mine, plain and simple."

"Adrian, you'll never be a father in this life."

"Someone half-dead like you should let go early, so you don't drag Theresa and me down."

"My advice, if you know what's good for you, is to hurry up, get divorced, and get lost."

I looked at him with no expression and spat out a grape skin.

"Lucas, quite the ambition you've got."

Theresa said he took the money and left, that he was just a poor student she'd sponsored.

"So it turns out you were never satisfied with just a payout. You've been scheming to become master of the house."

Lucas dropped the act too.

"I can tell the difference between one payout and money I could never spend in a lifetime."

"You've seen it yourself, how much Theresa cares about my child in her belly. So in the end, you're the one who'll be getting lost."

If this were my old temper, I'd have grabbed Lucas right then and thrown a few punches.

But now I felt nothing.

After all, Theresa was already dirtied. I didn't want her anymore.

Why bother dirtying my own hands.

"Lucas, do you have the guts to say any of this in front of Theresa?"

I stood up. "You don't. So as long as I'm still alive, you'll never be Theresa's husband."

Lucas could only glare at me, then turned and stormed off, slamming the door behind him.

Theresa still never held back from performing her deep affection for me in front of Lucas.

That day, I had just finished showering and was drying my hair.

Theresa took the hair dryer and naturally started drying it for me.

"Adrian, the doctor contacted me today. He said the baby I'm carrying is completely normal. You're finally going to be a father."

"Are you happy?"

She turned her head to look at me, then suddenly leaned in.

"Why do you seem so distracted today? Is your heart acting up again? I'll get your medicine."

She set down the hair dryer, got up and went to the living room, and came back with water and the medicine.

I took the medicine and put it in my mouth.

She watched me swallow before she felt at ease.

"Adrian, you have to get your health back. We still have most of our lives left to live together."

"Once we have the baby, we'll have to learn all about childcare so we can raise the child healthy."

Looking into Theresa's sincere, worried eyes, I quietly cut her off.

"If I died one day, would you remarry?"

Theresa froze on the spot, then frowned.

"Don't say such unlucky things."

"You won't die. I won't allow it."

"And with me by your side taking care of you, you'll definitely live to be a hundred."

I just smiled, indifferent.

For now, it was true, I wouldn't be dying anytime soon.

But I would be leaving.