As I watered the plants on the balcony, I looked across to see my wife twisting like a doll being carelessly manipulated, on the opposite balcony. "I'll tell him the child isn't his and let him leave with nothing." That evening, my wife's family took turns, seemingly offering earnest advice, yet speaking with condescending authority. "The child's biological father is the son of the country's richest man, from the powerful Thorne family in the capital. If Finn is recognized by his true lineage, then his sickly uncle won't control the family's future. I can also become the Young Madam of the Thornes, and that benefits you too." Finn's face was filled with disgust: "You pauper? You're not fit to be my dad! My real dad, with a single finger, could make your family never rise again for three generations!" My mother-in-law's contempt was undisguised: "If Eleanor hadn't been pregnant back then, her belly visibly growing, how would it have ever been your turn to marry her?" I silently signed the divorce papers. Then I turned and called my father, far away in the capital: "Come pick me up. I'm willing to return and take charge of the Thorne family." 1 "Arthur, Finn isn't your biological son." When Eleanor Vance uttered those words, my reaction was far calmer than she had anticipated. In truth, I had suspected for a while—Finn's birth, two months premature, his increasingly dissimilar features to mine, and the man who had suddenly moved into the villa next door a few days prior… "Finn's father is the legitimate grandson of the Thorne family, one of the wealthiest in the capital. The Thornes have few heirs. As long as Finn is recognized by his true lineage, he can surpass his frail uncle and become the successor." Seeing my downcast gaze and silence, Eleanor gritted her teeth and pressed on: "For Finn's future, can we pretend to divorce? Once everything is settled, I'll come back." A bitter smile touched my lips. She had said so much; what meaning could my opinion possibly hold now? Yet, the thought that the son I had raised for nine years had no blood relation to me, that he would call someone else "Dad," still sent a dull ache through my heart. "You'll truly come back?" "Of course! I'm your wife! Once Finn becomes the Thorne heir, we'll remarry!" She leaned in, intending to kiss me, but I subtly evaded her. "Alright, I agree to the divorce." Eleanor's face instantly lit up with joy: "Arthur, thank you for understanding. Finn will be so happy when he finds out! Don't worry, he'll still think of you as his dad!" Feeling agitated, I casually asked what was for dinner before turning into the kitchen—ten years married into the Vance family, these culinary skills were all honed for her and our son. "You eat by yourself. I'm going to tell Victor the good news." Listening to her joyful footsteps, my heart sank deeper into gloom. The side window faced the neighboring front yard. Eleanor, like a jubilant bird, flew into Victor Sterling's arms. They embraced, twirling, their faces alight with laughter. In all the years of our marriage, no matter how much I tried to please her, I had never seen her so genuinely happy. I had spent a decade, yet couldn't warm her heart. But the moment the man who had once abandoned her returned, she lost herself completely. Pulling out my phone, I called Mr. Albright, our butler: "Tell my father I agree to assume the headship of the Thorne family." Just then, with a resounding crash, the door was kicked open. Finn stood at the entrance, fuming: "Hey, Arthur, why didn't you pick me up from school? Do you want me to walk till my legs break?" Though I had raised him for nine years, this child looked down on me, his live-in father, from the bottom of his heart. But such an unhinged outburst, this was a first. I paused, then crouched down to explain: "Dad was talking to Mom just now and forgot the time. Next time, I'll pick you up early—" "I don't need you to pick me up!" Finn lifted his small face, his eyes cold. "Mr. Sterling's bodyguard already picked me up! His car is huge and fancy, and it's even a convertible! Don't embarrass yourself at school anymore. I want Mr. Sterling to be my dad!" With that, he threw his schoolbag down and ran towards the neighboring villa— "Finn!" My heart tightened. I instinctively moved to block him. I suspected Victor Sterling and Eleanor were likely engaged in some intimate act next door, and for the child to burst in at that moment… "Get out of the way!" Finn raised his hand, scratching my face. "Mind your own business! From now on, what happens in my family is none of your concern, you useless live-in!" Stunned, I watched the child run out the door. I wiped the bleeding scratches from my cheek with the back of my hand, then turned and went to the guest room at the end of the second-floor hallway. The window there directly faced Victor Sterling's master bedroom. I simply wanted to give them a heads-up, based on a basic adult moral compass, that the child was coming. Even a dog in heat would, for God's sake, restrain itself! On the curtains, those two intertwined, passionate figures moved rhythmically up and down. My heart grew numb, and my stomach churned with a sickening pain. This was Eleanor's so-called "sham divorce"? Her "just wanting a good future for our son"? Her "still having feelings for me"? Through the window, their soft, murmuring conversation drifted to my ears. I heard Victor insidiously ask her, "How many times did you pay Arthur to raise my son for all these years?" Eleanor playfully chided, "Oh, darling, only that one time on our wedding night, right? Otherwise, how could he have believed Finn was his son?" "Just once?" Victor sounded unconvinced. Eleanor swore firmly, "Truly just once. I feel disgusted just looking at Arthur. How could I let him touch me casually?" Disgusted? She actually called me disgusting. Yet she had also said she loved me, loved the pleasure I brought her in bed, loved my gentle demeanor before and after. She said she would love me forever. Which words from this woman were true, and which were false? Just as I was about to make some noise, to warn them that Finn was already there, I heard Eleanor suddenly stammering, "But, when you become the Thorne heir, you should give Arthur some compensation. He did raise your son for so many years." Victor snorted, "You seem pretty concerned about him. Have you fallen for him?" Before Eleanor could speak again, Finn burst up the stairs, calling for his mom. The two of them hastily threw on clothes, pulled up trousers, at least they had that much shame. I turned to leave, but accidentally knocked over a flowerpot on the guest room windowsill. "Who—" Victor yelled from across the way. I gave no response, quickly descending the stairs. 2 Eleanor returned with Finn. Before even entering the house, she eagerly shared the good news with me. "The Thornes say they'll come in seven days to pick up their heir. You should pack Finn's luggage." I sat on the sofa, simply acknowledging her, then calmly said, "Perfect, sign it." Eleanor's joyful expression subtly faltered as she spotted the divorce papers I had laid on the table. She froze, a flicker of incredulity and hesitation in her eyes. "You prepared this so early?" I nodded, calmly stating, "Didn't you say they're coming in seven days? Better to be prepared." Eleanor's face clearly showed a hint of guilt: "Arthur, there's no need to rush. As long as Victor acknowledges Finn…" I waved my hand. "Finn needs to return to his true lineage as a legitimate Thorne heir. If you don't marry Victor, people will laugh at you." "Mom! He's right! Hurry up and divorce him, and let's go marry Mr. Sterling!" Finn held a new remote-control race car, clearly a gift from Victor. He lifted his small face, looking at me with a mix of defiance and disdain: "Hey, Arthur, if you know what's good for you, just let me and Mom go—" "Finn!" Eleanor snapped at him. "Don't be so rude. Even if Mom really takes you to the Thornes, Arthur will always be your dad. You'll just have two dads…" "I don't want that!" Finn turned and spat at me: "Who wants such an embarrassing dad? No money, no power. Besides cooking at home, what else can you do? My dad should be a big tycoon, a grand family heir like Mr. Sterling!" With that, he made a face and ran off. Passing the old remote-control car on the floor by the door, he stomped on it, crushing it. "I don't want this cheap junk!" With a new car, why would he cherish the one I bought him before? But he didn't know that the limited edition toy model car I gave him was several times more expensive than the actual car Victor drove to pick him up from school today… "Arthur." Eleanor looked at me with a hint of difficulty: "You… don't take it to heart. Victor hasn't seen the child in years, so he's bound to spoil him excessively. Finn is still a child, easily misled. He… I believe he'll still be good to you in the future." "I know. I won't argue with a child." I pushed the divorce papers towards her, urging her to sign quickly. But Eleanor hesitated. She picked it up, barely glanced at it, then tossed it onto the table in frustration, turning and heading upstairs. "I'll look at it later and decide." I couldn't describe the feeling in my heart. After all that had happened, was there still a reason for her not to cleanly sever ties? …Three days later, it was my birthday. Eleanor had promised to celebrate with me, but after I had prepared a table full of dishes, she suddenly excused herself to take a call, saying she had company business. "Sorry, Arthur, I have an urgent matter to handle. I'll be back later to celebrate your birthday." I nodded, serving myself a bowl of longevity noodles. I said it was fine, it wasn't a big birthday, go take care of your business. Eleanor smiled, leaned in, wanting to kiss my cheek. I dodged. I said it was just green onion oil. She chuckled sweetly, "You always loved green onion oil noodles. Why didn't you make something better for your birthday?" Turns out, she had already forgotten. A dull ache settled in my heart. As I ate my noodles alone, Victor Sterling suddenly showed up. "I'm here to pick up Finn. He said he wanted me to drive that new sports car to take him to his extracurricular class today." "Thank you, Mr. Sterling." I didn't lift my head, simply calling Finn's name upstairs. "Haha, no trouble at all. Thanks to you, Arthur, for taking care of Finn all these years. You're the one who worked hard." Victor's smug and hypocritical expression utterly sickened me. "Mr. Sterling!" Finn, hearing Victor's voice, excitedly ran downstairs. "Finn, be good on the way there, listen to Mr. Sterling—" "Mind your own business! Mr. Sterling and I are real father and son! You don't need to worry about us!" Finn wrapped his arms around Victor's neck, glaring fiercely at me. "Finn!" My in-laws, who were just about to leave, turned at the sound and chastised Finn: "You're being completely out of line! How can you speak like that?" Then, my mother-in-law helplessly called out to me: "Arthur, it's your birthday today. I ordered a cake for you. I wanted to celebrate with you, but we have a business banquet at the Grand Imperial Hotel today. Eat it yourself." I felt a slight pang of emotion. All these years, I had diligently cared for my wife and son, and my in-laws had reciprocated, treating me quite well. It hadn't been in vain that I had secretly supported the Vance family all these years, elevating them to a prominent new-money family in Seaside City. For example, that luxurious private room at the Grand Imperial Hotel today, if I hadn't pulled some strings with Mr. Albright beforehand, they wouldn't have been able to book it. After my in-laws left, I called Mr. Albright. "Mr. Albright, my in-laws are visiting today. Please look after them." "Of course, young master. But aren't you coming? I saw the young madam and the young master there. And the grandson, too…" In that instant, I felt as if I had plunged into an ice-cold abyss. 3 Outside the private room, I stood for a long time, my fists clenched. Father-in-law: "Why are you still calling me 'Mr. Vance'? We'll be family soon, call me 'Father-in-law'." Mother-in-law: "That's right, son-in-law, don't be a stranger. I've considered you my son-in-law for ten years." Finn: "Daddy, hurry and greet them! Once you do, we'll be family, and I can finally be your son." Victor: "Yes, Father-in-law, Mother-in-law, my precious son." With that, he stole a kiss on Eleanor's ear and called her "wife." Eleanor's face flushed. My heart chilled outside the door. It turned out, today was their "family recognition banquet." I had believed that at least my in-laws approved of me. It was all a lie. They were fake, my wife was fake, my son was fake. Only my devotion, given for ten years, was real. A server came to serve dishes: "Hello, are you with this party?" The whole family turned in unison, only to see me standing at the doorway. Eleanor abruptly stood up. "Arthur? What are you doing here?" I remained unruffled, looking at each of them in turn. I questioned Eleanor: didn't you say you were busy with company matters? I questioned Finn: didn't you say you had an extracurricular class? I questioned my in-laws: didn't you say you had a business banquet? The air grew thick with awkwardness. Finally, everyone dropped their pretenses. "You're stalking me?" Eleanor was the first to attack: "Arthur, are you a pervert?!" Victor feigned mediation: "Oh, Arthur, you too. If you wanted to come, you should've said so earlier. Why cause such a scene and make everyone uncomfortable? Come, come, have a seat!" "I don't want him here!" Finn, seeing me, immediately threw a fit: "You're useless and a spoilsport! You knew everyone didn't welcome you, that's why they avoided you! Why are you so shameless, clinging to us? I don't have a dad like you! Only an heir from a prominent family is fit to be my dad!" I laughed, tears streaming down my face. "What are you laughing at?" Eleanor seemed exasperated. "Because it's amusing." I wiped my tears, pointing at Finn, and said, if you want to take Finn to his true lineage, you should at least wait until he's actually entered the Thorne family. My mother-in-law waved her hand: "Mind your own business! If Eleanor hadn't gotten pregnant back then, how would it have ever been your turn to be my son-in-law? The Thornes are coming to pick him up in a week. He'll have nothing to do with you after that. Don't even think about clinging to them, mother and son!" I nodded, turned, and left, saying nothing more. Eleanor reached out to stop me, but I ignored her, deftly stepping aside. She wanted to say something else, but I wasn't willing to listen. Mr. Albright, who had witnessed everything, caught up to me: "Young master, do you still need me to waive the bill?" I paused: "One last time. Consider it my farewell dinner for them. No need in the future." That evening, Eleanor returned. Seeing that I had quietly packed my bags, she seemed surprised. "Arthur, where are you going?" She pulled my hand: "I didn't tell you to leave! Just wait for me here. In three days, when the Thornes pick up Victor and Finn, I'll settle our son, and then I'll come back—" "Will you really come back?" I asked her a second time. I looked into her eyes. The innocence and purity I once saw there were what I wanted to protect most in life. But now, lies had covered all those colors. Eleanor first froze, then frantically explained: "Of course! You're not still mad about the restaurant, are you?" She tried to take my hand to persuade me: "Arthur, I admit it was wrong to hide things from you, but Victor promised that once he secured his position as the Thorne heir, he would invest a billion dollars in my father's new project. That's why my parents insisted on treating him to dinner at the best hotel—" "I deliberately didn't tell you because I was afraid you'd be upset." She apologized sincerely and presented me with a "carefully chosen" gift—a tie with the gift tag still attached. It was the same brand as the haute couture tie I saw Victor wearing at the hotel today. I knew then that I should have harbored no expectations whatsoever. That morning, the Thorne family's private jet landed outside the Vance family mansion. Eleanor took my hand, her eyes filled with a complex mix of emotions: "Arthur, wait for me at home. Once I settle in, I'll come back." "Will you really come back?" I asked her for the third time. Eleanor opened her mouth, then after a long, difficult pause, managed: "Of course." Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Victor Sterling, with an apologetic expression, said to my in-laws: "I'm so sorry. You see, my two butlers here, they're so clueless. Why did they park the jet right in front of your mansion?" As he spoke, he waved his hand and called out to Mr. Albright and Mr. Davies: "Hey, my villa is over here! You parked it wrong!" My father-in-law chuckled obsequiously: "No worries, no worries, we're all family. And you two butlers, why do you two look so familiar?" Victor shook his head: "Mr. Thorne, these two are the patriarch's most trusted personal butlers. I've only heard their names, never seen them in person. How could they look familiar to you?" Immediately after, both butlers stepped forward in unison, bowing respectfully: "Welcome back, Young Master."
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