Chapter 1

In the third year of his remarriage with his childhood friend, Charlotte Davidson, Henry Fowler attends an inconspicuous college reunion, where he stumbles upon a secret about Charlotte.

Gavin Redfield, the campus heartthrob, swirls his wine glass in a drunken stupor.

Someone asks him, "What's the most thrilling thing you've ever done in your life?"

His eyes are glazed over as he answers in a provocative tone, "Becoming the lover of Charlotte, the renowned Ms. Davidson, of course! Her husband is such a moron. He thinks we already broke up!

"But in reality, we already have a child together. I get to live in her villa, drive her limited edition supercar, spend her money, and order her maids around!"

As soon as he finished speaking, all hell breaks loose.

Everyone turns to look at Henry, eager to see him lose his composure. After all, he is Charlotte's legal husband.

However, Henry doesn't budge an inch, nor does he make a fuss about it.

Even when the waiter is pouring him some wine, he seems unaffected as he thanks the waiter.

Not long after the reunion ends, everyone realizes something is off about him…

Chapter 1

At first, Henry Fowler deleted every post on social media that had to do with his wife, Charlotte Davidson.

When Charlotte got home, there was no longer a single lamp that stayed on specifically for her.

Later on, Henry even stopped his fertility treatments at the hospital.

Five years ago, he and Charlotte had gotten into an accident. At impact, he desperately shielded her by throwing himself over her.

Charlotte was almost unharmed, but Henry was severely injured and was unconscious in the hospital for three days. The doctors were certain that it would be difficult for Henry to regain his fertility for the rest of his life.

The elders in the Davidson family demanded the couple have children of their own so that the family line could continue. So, Henry had gone to the hospital every month for fertility treatment. He had taken tests over and over again, eagerly awaiting the day he would recover.

Later on, Henry no longer cared about the trivial matters concerning the Davidson family. He stopped dropping by the Davidson residence, and he no longer cared about Charlotte's whereabouts.

He seemed to have forgotten his identity, that he was Charlotte's husband who could've lived a life of luxury and comfort. He threw himself into his career, working long hours from early morning until late at night.

One day, Charlotte finally noticed something off about Henry. After finishing up her work, she went to his studio.

Charlotte was wearing a women's suit, her every movement filled with the commanding air of a seasoned corporate tycoon.

"Henry," Charlotte called out to Henry at the entrance, her voice filled with tenderness.

Henry's figure froze for a moment at the desk. Without turning around, he responded in a light tone, "What is it?"

He didn't turn around and welcome her like he used to. In the past, he would help her take off her chilly jacket, and even hold her hands in his as he breathed warm air against her cold skin. Now, he didn't even bother to look at her.

For a moment, Charlotte felt disappointed. She wanted to see the expression on Henry's face, but he dodged her gaze and focused on his work at hand.

"Just go home without me. I'll be stuck here for a while." Henry's words were polite and tactful, but Charlotte could feel her heart slowly beginning to tighten.

She couldn't make it to the college reunion because she was busy that day. It wasn't until afterward that she heard about what happened at the reunion, but that was just the alcohol speaking.

Charlotte explained, "Henry, don't listen to Gavin. He had a little too much to drink, so he was spouting nonsense. Nothing is going on between us anymore, and I'm just helping him out right now. After all, he doesn't even have a penny to his name…"

Henry responded, "You did the right thing. All three of us used to go to the same college, and since you're an entrepreneur with a reputation to keep, of course you should be something of a philanthropist. If I were you, I would've helped him too… By the way, I saw Gavin posting about his birthday party tonight. Aren't you going?"

Charlotte frowned a little. "Henry, are you sulking? Listen, I came here specifically for you. I want to go home with you."

Henry remained occupied at the desk. He was tracing out a draft as he replied, "His birthday party only comes around once every year. You wouldn't want to miss that."

A hint of frustration colored Charlotte's voice. "But it's been days since we last talked or had a proper meal together at home. Henry, please!"

She had just finished talking when her phone rang.

On the other end of the line, Gavin Redfield sounded sad as he said, "Charlotte, I accidentally ruined my birthday cake. Can you get a new one for me on your way here? The party wouldn't be complete without a cake."

Charlotte narrowed her gaze in mild annoyance, but her actions betrayed her, for she immediately turned and walked toward the door.

But when she reached the door, she paused in her tracks.

Through the reflection in the glass panels, she could see that Henry's movements were as fluid as ever. He didn't look the least bit dejected, as if he really didn't mind.

Charlotte said, "Well, then, Henry… Wait for me when you get home later. They'll definitely get me to drink, so please have some sort of hangover cure ready for me… Okay? Also, I just got you an antique ivory fertility carving at an auction. We will have children, don't worry."

Before Henry could respond, Charlotte had already closed the door and left.

In a corner of the studio, Henry's assistant was seething at the injustice done to him. "How could Ms. Davidson do that? She knows you have fertility problems only because you protected her back then. How could she celebrate another man's birthday, and even hurt you while she's at it?"

"It's fine." Henry's tone was as light as ever.

But upon closer inspection, the draft was stained with tears, and the ink was a blurred mess.

Henry felt numb as he typed in the last sentence at the end of an email. Then, he pressed "send".

It didn't take long for the reply to come in. "You're welcome to join my design studio overseas. I've been waiting for you."

Henry's smile returned to his face.

In a week, he would be bidding this place goodbye and giving the two lovebirds their happy ending.

Chapter 2

Henry and Charlotte had known each other for almost 30 years.

They were childhood friends. When they were just kids, Charlotte was the girl next door who would coax him to eat. When they grew older, she was the upperclassman at school whom he could never get away from. Their union later on was the perfect marriage with blessings from both families.

Charlotte had always loved him. In middle school, she would step in and drive away the school bullies for him. In college, she would cross the campus grounds just to be the womenswear model for his fashion design class.

Henry thought their marriage would be smooth-sailing and blissful, just like when they were younger.

That was, until that fateful accident when he protected Charlotte, injuring himself and becoming infertile in the process.

Charlotte drowned her guilt in alcohol, and she happened to meet Gavin, Henry's former classmate in college.

Gavin didn't have a single penny to his name, and he was working as a bar server. Still, he remained positive as he talked Charlotte through her distress. The two gradually grew closer to each other.

At first, Charlotte was just grateful to Gavin, so she gave him some small gifts and helped him find a better apartment.

Later on, Henry bumped into Charlotte and Gavin in the Davidsons' villa, and their clothes were in disarray.

That day, Henry almost punched Gavin in the face.

Gavin looked hurt as he hid behind Charlotte, saying, "I'm just staying at the villa for the time being. Charlotte got me a new job, and I had some questions for her…"

Henry's voice was shaking as he asked, "Why would you need to undress just to ask a question?"

Charlotte was young and rash back then. She felt that Henry was being unforgiving and pressing his advantage, so she signed the divorce agreement on the spot.

But just a few months after Henry left, Charlotte missed him so much that she desperately begged him to come back.

She claimed she had completely cut ties with Gavin, and she would never have anything to do with him in the future.

Henry said off the top of his head, "I'm not forgiving you unless you get me a star from the sky."

So, Charlotte bought out the nearest alignment of seven stars, getting Henry way more than he asked for.

She even said that their love would last as long as the universe.

On the day they registered their remarriage, Charlotte threw herself into Henry's arms, looking as giddy as a child.

Henry didn't say a word. He simply stared at their marriage certificate.

He had indeed agreed to the remarriage because he couldn't get over her, but he also couldn't let go of the career boost the Davidsons could bring him.

His position as Charlotte Davidson's husband could save him a lot of unnecessary trouble.

But not long after they remarried, Gavin showed up once more.

Pointing at Charlotte's belly, Gavin begged Henry for mercy. "Charlotte is pregnant with my child, and she's too scared to tell you. Can you please allow her to give birth to the child?"

Charlotte never thought she would be exposed like this. She didn't dare meet Henry's gaze as she said, "Henry… Things really are over between Gavin and me. This is an accident from before… Also, with so much wealth and property, the Davidsons need an heir to inherit the family legacy…"

Looking at his wife in front of him, he felt nothing but a sense of strangeness and irony. "And what if I say no?"

Charlotte didn't say anything for a long time. In the end, she turned around and escorted Gavin out.

That night, Henry smashed everything he laid his eyes on.

He hid in the Davidsons' guest room furthest away from traffic, venting in heart-wrenching anguish. He thought no one would be able to hear him then.

At dawn, Charlotte came home to find Henry's limbs covered in blood.

"Henry!" Charlotte's heart ached so badly for him that she almost couldn't breathe.

Henry pulled away from her, his gaze cold as he said, "It's either me or him, Charlotte."

Charlotte froze on the spot. Then, she said in a strained voice, "I'll abort the kid. Things are really over between Gavin and me now…"

It was only then that Henry stopped acting out. At the very least, Charlotte still chose him.

But from that day on, everything changed.

Charlotte began using work as an excuse and was rarely at home. On Gavin's birthday every year, Charlotte would celebrate it with him as a form of compensation.

Henry had complained about it before. He felt that Charlotte's actions were biased and crossed the boundary of an ordinary relationship.

But Charlotte would only reply over the phone, "I've done everything you wanted me to do. I didn't even spare my own child! Gavin and I broke up for good, but remember, he was my child's father at one point. Am I not allowed to at least show him some concern? Henry, you weren't this cruel before."

Cruelty was certainly one way to put it. Yes, he was cruel, and that was why he couldn't tolerate Gavin. He was not fine with this third person in their relationship.

He was exhausted. He thought that no matter how absurd this situation might be, that would be the extent of it.

That was, until the college reunion, when Gavin drunkenly revealed the truth that had been hidden from him.

Charlotte's love for Gavin had never ended. She only kept it a secret from Henry.

During that period when Charlotte hid behind the excuse of being busy at work, she had even given birth to the child.

The last shred of hope Henry had was dashed to pieces. His heart would never ache for Charlotte ever again.

Chapter 3

Before Henry left the studio, he printed out the divorce agreement before heading home.

Sure enough, Charlotte had gone to see Gavin again. The whole house felt empty, and she was nowhere to be seen.

The antique ivory fertility carving, which Charlotte had bought, sat quietly in the hall.

The butler, Gideon Thorne, smiled as he approached Henry. "Ms. Davidson is so thoughtful, isn't she? She knows you're looking forward to your recovery, so she got you a gift with such a wonderful meaning. Where would you like it to be placed?"

If it were before, Henry would probably smile in reply. But now, after finding out that Charlotte was hiding the child from him and had intended to keep it that way for who knows how long, he found it deeply ironic.

By some twist of fate, when he checked his phone again, the first post that popped up on social media was a photo of Gavin and Charlotte celebrating Gavin's birthday.

Charlotte had been keeping a straight face ever since she became an entrepreneur, but when she was around Gavin, she would make faces and reveal her childish side.

The two were even holding their child in their arms. The baby looked just like a mini version of Charlotte, and that fact alone spoke volumes.

Even the cake was a special edition from a pastry brand owned by Davidson Group.

Gavin said he was enjoying the perks of being "Charlotte Davidson's husband", and he was right.

A former classmate commented on the post, "Ms. Davidson, you and your husband look so happy together. What a wonderful family!"

Then, the former classmate quickly deleted the comment, probably because he realized he had gotten the wrong person.

Henry had watched it play out in real time. He gripped the divorce agreement so hard that he made creases in it. He felt like someone was stabbing a knife into his heart and twisting it.

Henry liked documenting his life after marriage. He would post photos he took with Charlotte on special days, and he had always received comments wishing them well. Later on, Charlotte said it would affect her image, so she told him to stop posting.

But in Gavin's case, she didn't seem to mind it much.

Henry was still staring at the screen. Instead of replying to the comments one by one, Gavin posted, "Thank you for the wishes. I've read every one of them. It's getting late, so we're going to bed now."

Henry knew then that he didn't have to get the hangover cure Charlotte had requested. After all, she wouldn't be coming home tonight.

Henry tossed and turned for a long while before he could fall asleep, but the next day, he was woken up by Charlotte dragging him out of bed.

She was surprisingly strong, and she sounded furious as she demanded an explanation.

Henry winced in pain and took a sharp breath.

Charlotte asked, "Henry, were you the one who spread the photos and news of my child? Do you know how many competitors I have in the industry? If you do that, he might get kidnapped! His life is in danger! If you're upset, just come at me. Why do you have to get a child involved?"

Henry couldn't wrap his head around what was happening. He didn't say a word and remained silent.

He had poured a glass of water the night before, and now Charlotte furiously splashed the remaining half right into his face.

As the cold water trickled down his body, he couldn't help but shiver. Still, it did bring him fully to his senses. "I never did that…"

Henry remembered that Charlotte never acknowledged what Gavin said at the college reunion. He only got a glimpse of the child on social media, so he couldn't possibly have been the one to spread information about the child.

But Charlotte was thoroughly convinced. "Gavin told me that only you would harbor such malice toward his child. You're trying to get revenge on him! How could anyone else do such a thing?"

Charlotte had always been a calm person. When it came to things she didn't want to admit, she would never let anything slip that might reveal any flaws.

For Gavin's sake, she lost her composure and acknowledged the child's existence without realizing it. She had never been this impulsive before.

Breaking free from her grasp, Henry let out a bitter laugh. His tone was as indifferent as it had always been. "So you're saying that the child in the photo last night was related to you?"

Charlotte was stunned for a moment.

She hadn't intended to tell Henry the truth, but now that her concerns had clouded her judgment, she realized that there was no other way to go about it.

Softening her tone, she said in resignation, "On the day I was supposed to abort the child, Gavin bribed the doctor and kept it a secret from me. By the time I realized I was still pregnant, it was already too late.

"Henry, the child cannot live in a place with low security. I'll bring him home, and we'll pretend he's your son. We'll raise him together. From now on, he will be our son. You don't have to get fertility treatment at the hospital anymore."

Henry felt cold.

He recalled how he had swallowed his pride to undergo fertility treatment, cooperating every step of the way, all just to have a child of his own.

But a single sentence from Charlotte would invalidate all his hard work, and all his efforts would have been in vain.

He wanted to retort, but when he remembered that he would be leaving soon, he decided not to say a word.

A while later, he wiped away the water on his face and said calmly, "Sure, but as compensation, I want you to sign this contract."

The divorce agreement had gotten all wrinkled now. Hiding the keywords, he handed Charlotte the document, his hand trembling a little from nervousness.

Charlotte took the pen and signed the document without so much as a glance at it. Then, she hugged him. "Just buy whatever you want. Henry, I'm so sorry for making you do this."

Her embrace was filled with the scent of the cologne Gavin always used. Henry hated it.

Henry closed his eyes and forced himself not to think about it. After all, he would be leaving soon.

Chapter 4

Henry hadn't expected Gavin to move in with the child.

As soon as Gavin caught sight of Henry, he had a look of terror and unease on his face.

He recalled all the wild things he had said in front of Henry at the college reunion. "Henry, I'm just staying here for the time being. When Thomas gets used to life here and doesn't need me anymore, I'll leave right away!"

The little boy with him clutched his hand nervously. "Hey, you! Don't you dare chase my dad away! Wherever he goes, I'm going with him!"

Gavin put on an apologetic smile, but Henry gleaned a hint of provocation in his eyes.

Everyone knew that Henry was infertile and wanted a child of his own. Now that Gavin had come over with his illegitimate son, Henry knew for certain that Gavin was trying to break him.

But Charlotte didn't care about his feelings at all. Instead, her doting gaze was trained on Gavin and their child, Thomas. "Since Dad's already here, he won't be driven out. This will be our home from now on."

Looking at the happy family, Henry felt like he was the odd one out. So, he quietly walked away.

Worried that Henry would get mad, Gavin tried to call out to him, but Charlotte said, "He's been fiddling with his nameless designs these days. Just leave him be."

Henry could hear every single word she said.

Back when they had just gotten married, Charlotte didn't treat his work like that.

Charlotte would still willingly be his model. She said his designs had clean, elegant lines that exuded luxury, and that even without the Davidsons' help, he would still become a renowned designer both at home and abroad.

Later on, he gave up on his dreams for the sake of his marriage. He wanted to settle down and become a stay-at-home dad. His career slowly declined and became the "nameless designs" Charlotte spoke of.

Henry hastened his steps, pretending he hadn't heard her.

Meanwhile, Charlotte felt a little upset as she watched him leave.

Henry had been too calm these days. She had said that on purpose to get Henry to refute her. She just wanted him to show that he still cared.

But Henry didn't.

She feared that Henry would leave.

But the next second, she felt like she was overthinking it. Henry loved her so much that he had agreed to remarry her after their divorce. There was no reason for him to leave her again.

So, she brushed it aside and helped Gavin settle down.

Henry only returned in the evening.

He had wanted to stay the night at the studio, but he remembered he had left some designs in the study. Since he was leaving, he decided it would be better to pack everything up ahead of time. That was why he came back.

But when he entered the study, he was startled to see the room in a mess.

Bending over, he picked up a scrap of paper. He realized then that all the designs he had poured his heart into over the years had been torn to shreds.

Gavin's son, Thomas, was right there in the study. He seemed to be on a mission as he pulled out Henry's things and ripped them to shreds.

Henry felt like his mind had turned blank. Then, he heard his heart thumping so loudly that it seemed to leap out of his throat. "What are you doing? Who allowed you to get in here?"

In this house, he had always made his rules crystal clear. No one, not even the household staff, was permitted to enter the study.

The nanny at the entrance apologized profusely. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Fowler. Ms. Davidson said that Mr. Thomas can go anywhere he wants…"

Henry yanked the boy away to assess the damage.

But before he could do anything more, the boy's cries rang throughout the house.

A voice shouted, "What are you doing to my son?"

Gavin had rushed over with a group of bodyguards in tow. Charlotte had assigned them to protect Gavin and their son.

Realizing that his father had come to his aid, Thomas grew confident.

Grabbing a framed photo of Henry and Charlotte, he destroyed it without restraint.

The frame crashed to the floor, sending shards of glass flying. Henry got a cut on his arm, and the pile of designs looked like they would fall at any moment.

Thomas shouted, "You're evil! You're the reason Dad and Mom can't be together! Your things should never be here in the first place!"

Henry wanted to stop him, but he was held fast by the bodyguards.

Henry asked in disbelief, "You're stopping me instead of him?"

A bodyguard said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Fowler. Ms. Davidson said that Mr. Thomas' safety must be our absolute priority. You're a potential risk to him, so…"

Henry was furious. He couldn't believe that Charlotte would go to such lengths to keep Thomas safe from him. But those designs were his life's work!

He tried to struggle, but he was no match for the multiple trained bodyguards.

He could hear his heart breaking into unsalvageable pieces, and his fury seemed to consume him.

When Charlotte came home, Gavin pulled Thomas to his side and pinched him.

The boy's loud cries rang out throughout the house again.

Running up to Charlotte, Gavin showed her Thomas' reddened palms, then at his arms, which were bruised from the pinching. "Charlotte, Henry didn't like Thomas, so he tried to hit him. As Thomas' father, I can't possibly leave him in Henry's care. I think we should leave."

Chapter 5

Looking at Thomas' injuries and how pitiful he looked as he cried, Charlotte was instantly filled with rage.

The bodyguards had Henry under control. According to her orders, if Henry hadn't hurt the child, the bodyguards wouldn't have treated him like that.

"Henry, why would you do this?" Charlotte questioned as she met Henry's lifeless gaze.

Feeling a sharp pain in her heart, Charlotte softened her tone and asked again, "The boy has injuries all over his body. Why did you do this?"

Henry had seen what Gavin did to Thomas just now.

He didn't hurt the boy at all, but Gavin was pushing the blame on him.

Henry answered, "You should ask Gavin. He was the one who did it."

Gavin shook his head frantically.

Realizing that Henry wasn't going to admit to his mistakes, Charlotte grew even angrier. "Are you saying that Gavin framed you? If you're going to tell lies to shift the blame, at least make them believable! You're infertile, so I asked Gavin to leave the child with you and have you raise him. So, why are you doing this?"

Henry thought, "She's bringing up my infertility again… Did she forget that I only turned out like this because I was protecting her?"

He looked up at her, then at the mess strewn across the floor. He was the victim here, but Charlotte believed Gavin and showed unreserved favoritism toward Gavin's son.

Charlotte demanded, "Apologize right now!"

"I did not do it!" No matter the cost, Henry refused to give in.

He recalled an instance when he was accused of stealing while they were overseas on their honeymoon. No one but Charlotte believed him, and she had stood in front of him to shield him. "He said he didn't do it, and that's the end of it!"

There was no evidence back then, but even when the whole world seemed to be against them, Charlotte had spoken with striking conviction despite her small stature.

But now, there was solid evidence right in front of her, but she didn't believe him.

Henry asked, "Charlotte, do you really believe that I'd hurt a child? Or are you mad because you couldn't protect his identity, and that's why you're taking it out on me?"

Charlotte's eyes widened, and for a moment, she seemed furious, like she had been exposed.

"Apologize!" she demanded again.

Henry remained indifferent.

The bodyguards pinned Henry to the floor.

Henry's knees crashed onto the glass shards on the floor, the pain turning his vision black.

After the apology, Charlotte came over and helped Henry treat his wounds.

Her movements were gentle, and she was extra serious as she cleaned his wounds.

However, there was no emotion in Henry's eyes.

Charlotte said, "I only punished you to set an example for Thomas. You're going to be his father by name. If you don't admit to your wrongdoings, he'll learn to do the same."

Henry didn't say a word. He stared out the window, refusing to acknowledge her throughout the process.

Sighing, Charlotte took Henry's hands. "What happened with Gavin back then was an accident. The child will not affect your status in our marriage. But for Thomas' sake, I'd still like to have Gavin around. Gavin and Thomas can have the master bedroom, so Henry, you can move to the second bedroom…"

Henry slowly turned around and looked her in the eye. She was serious about the negotiation, but Henry only found it absurd. "Charlotte, you can make arrangements all you want, but Thomas will always be a filthy illegitimate child, and Gavin will always be a shameful homewrecker. They will never be anything more than that!"

Charlotte mercilessly slapped Henry across the face. "Henry! When are you going to get over this? I've already made Thomas your son. Isn't that enough?"

Henry put a hand on his cheek and stayed silent. He clenched his fist, then relaxed again.

After Charlotte left in anger, Henry heard Thomas talking to her in his innocent voice, asking that they all share a bed at night. Charlotte agreed.

Henry's things were all cleared from the master bedroom and sent to the second bedroom instead.

Meanwhile, Henry crouched in the study, collecting the pieces of his torn drafts.

Gavin suddenly showed up next to him. "Henry, did you know? You've actually recovered a long time ago. Do you know why all the IVF attempts failed after your remarriage?

"Well, that's because Charlotte never wanted to have your child. She wants mine. She refused to get an abortion back then, and she tricked you into going on a business trip overseas just so that she could give birth behind your back. It was all her idea. As for your fertility treatment, well, it was just to torture you."

Henry watched as Gavin walked away, thinking, "No wonder… It all makes sense now. For the past few years, the doctor has always looked at me like he wants to tell me something. So, that's why…"

He thought he was already numb to the pain, but to his surprise, it still hurt a lot.

He didn't move into the second bedroom.

In the early hours of the morning, before the sun came up, he got into a cab and headed to the airport.

Before the plane took off, he gathered the evidence of Charlotte's cheating and information about her lover and illegitimate child, sending them all to her rivals. Then, he snapped his SIM card cleanly in two.

He thought, "I'm finally free. Charlotte, may we never meet again."