Chapter 4

Three days before my departure, I received a message from my mentor.

He told me that the authority on cardiac surgery I had previously asked him to contact happened to be in New York for a medical summit and could examine my father-in-law's stubborn heart condition while he was there.

My father-in-law's heart had always been weak; a few years ago, he was even rushed to the ER for resuscitation. I had been asking friends in the industry to help find the best doctor.

Regardless of everything, the years of connection as in-laws remained. After doing this one thing, I would owe them nothing more.

But when my father-in-law heard I wanted to take him to the hospital, his face instantly darkened.

"My body is fine, why go to a hospital? Are you trying to curse me to death? My previous bypass surgery was very successful, what is there to check?"

"The top expert in cardiac surgery happens to be in New York today. Going for a check-up is just a precaution..."

Before I could finish, the whiskey glass in my father-in-law's hand was hurled viciously at me.

"You talk a good game. Do you think a top expert is someone an unemployed drifter like you can just book? All you do is brag all day! Look at Liam—he stayed up all night just to help me get a number for a specialist appointment. Where were you then?"

His words were full of praise for Liam and belittlement of me; his attitude couldn't have been clearer.

It turned out that no matter what I did, it was wrong, and no matter how I tried, I couldn't compare to Liam.

As this thought rose from the bottom of my heart, I could only manage a helpless, bitter laugh.

"Since you don't want to go, then forget it."

Ultimately, I was meddling where I wasn't wanted, inviting humiliation.

Soon, the day of the child's christening arrived.

I arrived late, looking at the banquet hall teeming with guests whose names I didn't know, and for a moment, I felt a bit dazed.

This spectacle was actually grander than when Sophia and I got married.

At the entrance of the banquet hall, there was even a poster of their family of five.

As for me, I was a joke through and through.

Seeing my appearance, the guests immediately began to whisper. Without listening, I could guess what they were discussing.

Soon, a distant cousin pulled me aside for small talk: "Ethan, when did you get back? Why didn't I hear Sophia mention it?"

"I heard that coming back from this project, you're going to be promoted to partner at the firm. You really have a bright future!"

I didn't respond, merely nodding faintly out of politeness.

But I saw the contempt in their eyes clearly.

After all, I wasn't in that family portrait.

And the one attending to Sophia's every need at the banquet right now wasn't me, either.

A busybody pointed to the man feeding Sophia dessert not far away and asked, "Ethan, who is that? I never heard you had a brother?"

I pulled at the corner of my mouth and said indifferently:

"Sophia's new husband."

The aunts and relatives eavesdropping nearby instantly widened their eyes, then huddled together to whisper.

Since Sophia and her family didn't care, why should I help them maintain the facade of peace?

Just then, Sophia walked gracefully onto the stage and took the microphone.

"I am very happy that everyone could take time out of their busy schedules to attend my son's christening."

"Before this, I never thought I would become a mother. I was always worried I couldn't handle the role, but the moment I held the baby, I truly realized how great the power of motherly love is."

She spoke with such emotion, as if she would move herself to tears in the next second.

The aunt standing next to me suddenly shouted, "Let the father come up and say a few words too! Where is the dad?"

The atmosphere in the banquet hall solidified instantly.

Everyone's eyes darted back and forth between Liam and me.

The answer was actually self-evident, but this seemingly unintentional heckling felt like it was forcing Sophia to admit it personally.

I met Sophia's gaze, then slowly walked onto the stage.

Under her stunned gaze, I smoothly took the microphone from her hand.

"What are you doing? I'm warning you, don't talk nonsense, or I won't be finished with you," she warned in a lowered voice, clutching my sleeve tightly. I brushed her hand away and looked straight ahead.

If one does not have a guilty conscience, one need not fear a knock at the door in the middle of the night. If she was not in the wrong, why be afraid?

Then, I spoke calmly: "First of all, thank you all for working so hard to come from afar to attend this christening."

"Friends and family here also witnessed the wedding of Sophia and me. Since marriage, I have always kept everyone's blessings in mind, but I assume everyone saw the family portrait at the entrance when you came in."

Hearing this, Sophia's face changed dramatically.

She lunged at me with a dark face, attempting to snatch the microphone from my hand.

I dodged nimbly to the side, gripping the mic, and continued:

"To be honest, I was shocked when I first saw it too. But what shocked me even more was that I had only been on a business trip for a year, and upon returning, I found that my wife, who was supposed to be childless, had given birth to another man's child."

"I will not swallow this humiliation; nor will I take the fall for a sin that isn't mine!"

"Sophia Davis, let's get a divorce."