Chapter 1

On our wedding anniversary, I rushed back from overseas to surprise my wife.

But when I pushed the door open, I found her playing "Of Course" with her friends.

And it just happened to be my best friend, Jayden Henson, asking my wife the question.

"The truth is, you've been pretending to be broke to Bryce Gilbert all this time, and you did all of it just so you could be with me, right?"

"Of Course."

"You lied to Bryce, told him you couldn't have children, but our second baby's already had his one-month party. You just didn't want to have his kid."

"Of Course."

"And Bryce's left leg, back then, you're the one who had someone cripple it, aren't you? You did it all for me, to get back at him for me."

"Of Course."

At the end, she added, still seething:

"He humiliated me in front of everyone. He got what he deserved!"

I stood where I was, watching the two of them wrapped in each other's arms, faces full of tenderness.

My eyes drifted to the banner hanging behind them:

"Congratulations to Jayden Henson and Selena Locke on their second baby's one-month celebration!"

I turned and dropped the papers in my hand into the trash.

What they didn't know was this.

This time I'd come home to give them a surprise.

……

Selena looked over in my direction, panic naked in her eyes.

Once it registered.

She stepped forward, walking quickly toward me, and spoke low, in a voice only the two of us could hear:

"Why are you suddenly back?"

"Why didn't you tell me ahead of time?"

Before I could say anything, someone behind her was already pressing:

"Selena, it's time. The one-month party should start."

At that.

Selena reached out and pushed me toward the door, her tone leaving no room for argument:

"Go find somewhere to wait for now."

"I have something very important to do here. I'll come find you when it's over."

The next second.

Without the slightest hesitation, she shut the door in my face.

My phone rang again.

A message from my mother:

"Go wait outside for a bit. Don't disturb us, and don't make us a laughingstock in front of everyone."

I stood there, looking at the words on the screen, and pulled the corner of my mouth into a bitter smile.

I'd just turned to leave.

The next second I ran straight into security, hurrying over:

"Excuse me, please come with us. Ms. Locke reported that you broke into a private residence."

"Broke into a private residence?"

I explained to them for a long time, and in the end I even had to produce the marriage certificate I carry with me before they would leave.

After they were gone.

I stood at the door of my own home. I don't know how long I stood there. Long enough for the hallway lights inside to come on and go dark again, long enough that the laughter inside carried clearly to my ears.

My phone rang. A message from my assistant:

"Mr. Gilbert, everything's ready on my end. When do we move headquarters back home?"

For a moment everything blurred.

Seven years ago, the company Selena ran went bankrupt, and she was buried under a mountain of debt.

I gave her every cent of my savings, but it still wasn't enough.

Overnight, from the clouds down into the mud.

To help Selena pay off her debt, I gave up my own dream, went abroad to work with a friend, all just to earn a little more.

For seven years.

I left early and came home late every day, no days off all year, and I even ate one meal a day just to save money.

Finally.

I saved up enough, and I caught the AI wave. The startup shot straight to the top, at home and abroad.

And today.

I'd meant to tell them this good news.

But now.

There didn't seem to be any point.

"No need to move it back."

After sending that, I opened the chat with my friend Colin Delgado:

"Do me a favor. Help me draw up a divorce agreement."

The reply came fast:

"?"

"What's going on? Did you get married a second time?"

I was still standing there, baffled, when another message came through:

"Let's talk it over in person. The usual place?"

On the way there, riding in the back of the car, I leaned against the seat and watched the scenery flash past the window in silence.

Then a familiar face started flickering in front of me, over and over.

Every big screen we passed showed the exact same photo.

A picture of Selena and Jayden together.

With text underneath:

"Congratulations to Locke Group CEO Selena Locke and Jayden Henson on their second baby's one-month celebration!"

I read it softly out loud.

The driver up front heard me and couldn't help chuckling as he struck up a conversation:

"Those two lovebirds are famous all over New York! Seven years ago, the day Selena Locke confessed to Jayden Henson, the whole city set off fireworks all night long."

"Seven years ago?"

"That's right. I still remember that day. July 29th."

I froze.

July 29th.

That was the day I handed Selena every cent of my savings and left New York for overseas.

"I remember it, too. New Year's Eve five years ago, that little couple had their first baby. That day, Selena Locke had people handing out cash on the street, said she wanted to share the good luck around."

New Year's Eve, five years ago.

That day.

I transferred Selena every cent I'd saved since I started working as a New Year's gift, and she vanished for the whole night like she'd dropped off the map.

Not until early the next morning.

She called me, and on the phone, choking back tears, Selena said:

"Bryce, I'm sorry, I... I found out I can't have children..."