My CEO wife returned from a year abroad… pregnant. “Ted, I’m sorry,” Seraphina said, hand on her belly. “At a party, Jake and I drank too much and slept together. I never thought…” Jake—the male assistant she hired before leaving. I was stunned but offered one last chance for our marriage: “Terminate the pregnancy and fire Jake. Then I’ll forget this.” “No,” she refused flatly. “It’s triplets—an abortion risks my life. Would you want that?” “As for Jake,” she added firmly, “he’s the biological father, and his skills are weak. I must keep him employed.” Just then, Jake rushed in and knelt before me. “Mr. Stone, I’ll never overstep again! Have mercy—let me and the children live!” Seraphina helped him up, scowling at me. “He’s kneeling. What more do you want?” Seeing the pity—and more—in her eyes, I knew we were done. After leaving, I called a long-unused number. “I’m done playing house husband. I’m being myself again.” A smoky laugh answered. “Finally. Welcome back, little brother. The Capital’s top playboy returns.” 1 The next day, I asked Seraphina for a divorce. She completely ignored me, checking herself into a private hospital to focus on her pregnancy. A few months later, the babies were born. I ran into her parents coming out of her hospital room. They were glowing, basking in the joy of becoming grandparents for the first time. “Ted? You’re just in time,” Seraphina’s father said. “We’ve already picked out names for the three boys. We’re calling them Jay, Ian, and Liam. What do you think?” When I didn’t answer, her mother rolled her eyes. “What, you have a problem with them taking our family name?” “Ever since you married Seraphina, she’s been the one bringing home the bacon while you stay home. You might not officially be a kept man, but you live like one. It’s only natural the children take her name.” I almost laughed. I didn’t care if the kids took her name, or Jake’s name. It made no difference to me. “It’s already been decided. Your opinion is irrelevant,” her father added. “I heard you were making a scene about a divorce a while back. You really have no idea what your place is, do you?” “You should be thanking your lucky stars that Seraphina, out of the goodness of her heart, didn't use this as an excuse to kick you to the curb. Who do you think you are, bringing up divorce? Now get in there and apologize to her.” A muscle in my jaw twitched. It was true what they said: the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I ignored them and pushed open the door. The sight that greeted me was Seraphina and Jake, their heads bent close together, cooing over the three newborns in their bassinets. They were laughing softly, saying how the babies had Seraphina’s eyes but Jake’s fair, smooth skin. The picture of domestic bliss was so perfect it made my head spin. There was a time when Seraphina and I had shared moments just like this. But now, the leading man had been replaced. When he saw me, Jake shot to his feet and gave me a slight, deferential bow. “Mr. Stone.” The second Seraphina stepped into the adjoining bathroom, however, his face transformed. He looked up, a smirk playing on his lips. “So, Ted,” he whispered, his voice dripping with venom. “How does it feel? Playing daddy to another man’s kids? Wearing that big green hat for the world to see?” He leaned closer. “Is it everything you dreamed of?” I stared at him, my face a blank mask. “If Seraphina saw the pathetic, sniveling worm you really are, you think she wouldn't puke on the spot? Slap you a few times and tell you to pack your bags and get the hell out?” My lack of reaction seemed to infuriate him. He snatched a cup of steaming water from the bedside table. “Let’s just see who she’s going to slap, and who she’s going to tell to get the hell out!” Before I could react, he flung the boiling water directly at one of the infants. I was stunned. Even the most vicious animal protects its young. This… this pretty boy was pure poison. 2 “Waaah!” The baby’s heart-wrenching scream brought Seraphina rushing out of the bathroom, still pulling up her pants. “What happened to my baby?” Thud. Jake dropped to his knees again, tears and snot streaming down his face. “Mr. Stone, I know you’re hurting, but you can take it out on me! The baby is innocent!” he wailed. “He was just born! His skin is so delicate, how could it possibly withstand boiling water?” “What?!” Seraphina’s face contorted with rage. She stormed over and slapped me, hard, across the face. “Ted, you’ve gone too far!” she screamed. “Even if you can’t stand the sight of them, you don’t have to be so monstrous!” “Whatever happened between us, the children are innocent!” I spat out a mouthful of blood. “And you’re so sure it was me who threw the water?” “Of course it was!” she shot back. “Jake is their father! If it wasn’t you, was it him?” “Hah…” I let out a cold, bitter laugh. “Jake. You say his name with such affection. In that case, I should just step aside and let you two be a happy family.” “Don’t you dare talk to me like that. I don’t have time for your sarcasm,” she snapped. “You better pray that baby is okay, or I will never be finished with you!” She scooped up the screaming infant and rushed out, murmuring soothing words. I clutched the briefcase in my hand. It was clear the divorce papers inside weren’t getting signed today. I dragged my exhausted body and shattered heart home. I’d just sat down when voices boomed from upstairs. “Is that Ted? Finally! Bring my foot bath up, will you?” “And my midnight snack needs to be made! The usual, the lotus seed soup. No sugar.” I sat there, frozen, as memories from the past few years flooded back. For me, it had been love at first sight with Seraphina. I was so smitten I left my home, gave up everything, for her. I was so smitten I changed my very nature for her, transforming from a wild playboy into a devoted partner, saying goodbye to a life of decadent parties and endless indulgence. I became a house husband, dedicating my days to serving her and her parents. And what did I get in return? A crown of thorns and three children that weren’t mine. The irony was crushing. Ring… My phone’s ringing pulled me back to the present. It was Seraphina. But when I answered, it wasn’t her voice I heard. It was Jake’s. “Alright, Ms. Vance, just lie back and I’ll massage your lower back. It’s crucial to take care of your back during the postpartum period, you know. It affects whether you’ll get your figure back.” “And you absolutely can’t get angry. It’s bad for your health.” “Here, let me just give your chest a little rub to help you relax…” “Ms. Vance, is the pressure okay?” A soft moan. “Mmm… yes. That’s perfect. It feels so good.” “Could you massage my feet later? They’re still swollen from the pregnancy.” “Of course, Ms. Vance.” “You know, you can call me Ms. Vance in public, but when we’re alone… it feels so formal. Just call me… Seraphina.” 3 Beep. Beep. Beep. The line went dead. I slowly lifted my head and stared at the large wedding portrait hanging on the opposite wall. In the photo, we were both beaming, the picture of a happy, loving couple. That picture was now a lie. “Ted, what are you doing just sitting there? I’m still waiting for my foot bath!” Seraphina’s mother yelled as she came downstairs. “And your father’s snack! He’s starving! Honestly, you’re becoming more useless by the day!” I turned and gave her a dead-eyed stare. “Do you not have hands and feet?” “You want a foot bath? Go boil the water yourself. You want a snack? Go make it yourself.” She was stunned. “What did you just say?” “Are you deaf, or just stupid? From this day forward, I am no longer your family’s servant. Understood?” I stood up and strode to the wall. Before her shocked eyes, I ripped my half of the wedding portrait straight down the middle. “Ah! Ted, are you insane?” I ignored her shriek and tossed the divorce papers I’d prepared onto the table. She snatched them up, her face turning shades of red and purple as she read. “Hmph. So you’re really determined to divorce Seraphina and take half her assets, is that it? I’m telling you right now, you won’t get a dime! Even if she had children with another man, you can forget about—” “Relax,” I said, cutting her off with a cold laugh. “The agreement is very clear. I don’t want a single thing that has her name on it. Frankly, her money… it’s not enough to interest me.” She stared at me, dumbfounded. It was only after I had walked out the door that she seemed to recover, spitting on the floor behind me. “Pathetic loser! All talk and no substance. Serves you right that Seraphina cheated on you!” That night, I booked the presidential suite at the city’s most luxurious five-star hotel. I pulled up a number in my contacts that I hadn’t looked at in years and, after a long hesitation, made the call. A lazy, sultry voice answered. “Well, well… if it isn’t our dedicated family man, Ted. Finally decided to grace me with a call?” I gave a bitter laugh. “Come on, sis. My life is already a dumpster fire. Don’t tease me.” Her tone shifted instantly. “I told you that woman was bad news from the start,” she snapped. “But you wouldn’t listen. You had to go and fall head over heels for her. How does it feel, finally hitting that brick wall?” “So… you know?” “Of course I know!” she raged. “You may have been estranged from the family all these years, but you’re still my brother. You’re still Mom and Dad’s son, the sole heir to the Stone Corporation. Did you really think we wouldn’t keep an eye on you?” I shook my head, another bitter laugh escaping me. “It seems the devoted husband thing really isn’t for me. I think I’ll just go back to being a playboy.” I paused, then my voice turned to ice. “And one more thing. The resources and support I’ve been secretly providing to Seraphina’s company all these years… cut it all off. Effective immediately.” “Good,” she said. “Even if you hadn’t said it, I was going to do it anyway. No one gets away with hurting my baby brother like this. And just cutting off her resources… that’s not nearly enough.” I knew my sister. I knew her methods. A pang of pity for what Seraphina was about to face rose in my chest, but I crushed it down. “Fine,” I said. “Do whatever you want.” 4 The next morning, Seraphina called. “Ted, have you had your little tantrum yet? I already explained that what happened with Jake was an accident. And I’ve decided you can be the father to the children. I’m not even going to press charges about you scalding the baby yesterday. What more could you possibly want?” “What do I want?” I was bone-tired, too exhausted to argue anymore. “I want a divorce. Sign the papers. We’re going to the courthouse today.” “Impossible!” she said, her refusal absolute. Then, her voice softened slightly. “We had so many beautiful memories together, have you forgotten all of them? The one I love has always been you. I’m comfortable with you. Can’t you just…” “Stop.” I couldn’t listen to another word. It was making my skin crawl. “Seraphina, I don’t know if you’re comfortable with me, but I do know that you and Jake were very, very comfortable with each other last night.” “You…” She was speechless. After a long silence, she seemed to give up on trying to manipulate me. Her voice turned cold. “Are you absolutely sure you want a divorce?” “Positive. Certain. And absolute.” “Fine,” she said, her tone now like ice. “I’ll agree. But on one condition. You have to accompany me to a banquet tonight. This event is crucial for my company. It could determine whether we go public. I can’t have any rumors of marital trouble circulating before the IPO. You might just be a house husband, but you should understand the stakes.” I was stunned. I had actually thought she was trying to save our marriage because she still had some feelings for me. I was even considering asking my sister to go easy on her. But it was all a lie. To her, our marriage was just a prop, a piece of corporate window dressing. “Ha…” I let out a hollow laugh. “Seraphina, you are a world-class hypocrite.” With her mask torn off, she dropped all pretense. “Cooperate with me,” she said coldly. “After the company goes public, we’ll get the divorce, and I’ll give you ten million dollars. That’s enough to keep you comfortable for the rest of your…” Click. I hung up. Listening to her for another second felt like poison in my ear. I sent her a text. “I’ll go to the banquet with you tonight. We get divorced at the courthouse tomorrow morning. That is my final offer. If you push it, I can’t guarantee what I’ll do.” Her reply came almost instantly. “Deal.” … That evening, I stood by her side as she made a grand entrance at the banquet, dressed to the nines. All eyes were on her, followed by a chorus of praise. “Ms. Vance, you just gave birth and you’re already back to work! You truly are an iron lady.” “And look at your figure! You look absolutely stunning. Your glow is undeniable.” “Such a loving husband, a company about to go public… you’ve truly got it all. Family, love, and a career. We’re all so envious!” Their words were like a thousand tiny knives, twisting in the still-raw wounds of my heart. But Seraphina drank it all in, a sweet smile plastered on her face as she mingled. A short while later, the guest of honor arrived: the young master of the Capital’s Titan Group, and, incidentally, the biggest investor in Seraphina’s company. As the flamboyant young man strode into the spotlight, a small smile touched my lips. Just then, the main doors of the ballroom were thrown open. Jake burst in, his face a mask of grief and fury. He looked like a wild animal, and in an instant, all attention was on him. “Ted Stone!” he roared. “You are a heartless monster!” “I told you, what happened between me and Ms. Vance was an accident! I can understand if you can’t accept it, if you want a divorce. But the children… the children are innocent!” “They’re not even a month old!” He pointed a trembling finger at me, his voice breaking. “How could you poison them? How could you be so cruel?”
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