Chapter 1

My wife had an affair and ended up pregnant.

Her parents smiled and asked me to be understanding.

The other man moved into my house, slept in my bed, and expected me to keep footing the bills.

They called it family.

So I agreed.

I swallowed my pride, signed nothing, and said yes to everything.

Because they didn’t have a clue—

I wasn’t forgiving them.

I was setting the stage to burn it all down and walk away clean.

After Clara gave birth, her parents, David and Margaret, spared no expense booking her into a luxury postnatal recovery center. She stayed until she was fully healed, only coming home a month later.

By then, I’d finished my pre-deployment training and wrapped up all the paperwork.

One night, I was lying in bed, ready to crash.

Then I heard voices outside the door. “Oh, look at that little nose. Just like Clara’s!” Margaret cooed. “And those eyes? Definitely Nathan’s.”

“Such a perfect blend. You did amazing, sweetie,” David chimed in.

“It was nothing,” Clara replied, her voice sweet. “I’m just happy I could give Nathan this gift.”

They walked in, beaming like one big, happy family.

Clara, her parents, and Nathan all gathered around the baby, passing him around on the couch like some prized trophy.

“This baby just had to be Clara and Nathan’s,” Margaret declared. “Such a handsome man and a beautiful woman. The perfect match!”

“Absolutely,” David agreed. “Can you imagine if Clara had Luke’s kid? Disaster! Dark, stubborn, and homely as a mule.”

I stepped out of the bedroom just as he finished. The laughter died instantly. They all stared at me like I was a ghost.

“Luke!” Clara gasped. “What are you doing here?”

“You nearly gave me a heart attack! Why didn’t you make any noise?” Margaret scolded, clutching her chest.

I scanned their faces—a twisted mess of guilt and annoyance.

These were the same people who once bragged about having me as a son-in-law.

Clara and I met on a blind date, the kind set up by relatives who thought they knew best.

It was old-fashioned, sure, but it felt promising. We hit it off from the start.

Hobbies, life goals—we agreed on everything, like fate itself had planned it.

Her parents were thrilled.

They loved my career. Margaret would gush about me to anyone who’d listen, her face lighting up whenever she said my name.

To Clara, I was more than a husband. I was her rock, the one who made her feel safe.

Back then, I bought it all.

But now, watching them huddle on the couch like their own little perfect circle, I knew I didn’t belong.

“Well, you’re here. I assume you know the situation. You’ve been quiet so far, so I take it you’re on board.”

David cleared his throat, using his best patriarch voice.

He looked around the room, silently urging the others to back him up.

I let out a dry chuckle but didn’t answer. Clara bristled.

“What’s so funny, Luke? Got a problem?” she snapped. “You’re so selfish! Nathan has kidney failure. After all he’s done for us, giving him a child was the least I could do. It’s only right!”

Right on cue, Nathan coughed weakly, gripping Clara’s arm for support.

“Clara, please, don’t get upset because of me,” he murmured, putting on a shaky, exhausted voice. “Your health comes first.”

His act was flawless, pulling sympathy from everyone in the room.

But I saw right through it. He showed none of the real fatigue or desperation of someone who’s truly sick.

Clara, glowing with that new-mom softness, leaned into Nathan. Her voice turned sharp as she glared at me.

“See how considerate Nathan is? Why can’t you be more like him?”

Margaret stepped in to play peacemaker.

“Luke, you’re always away on work. Never home. Clara is our only daughter. This family needs a man present.”

She gestured to Nathan. “Nathan has always been here for us. He grew up with Clara. He’s like a son to us. Now that he’s sick, how could we not help?”

The irony was almost painful.

Since when did their “son” have a baby with their daughter? They’d formed their perfect little loop, and I was the loose thread messing up the picture.

Nathan coughed again and offered an apology.

“Luke, I get why you’re upset. This is my fault… I’m sorry for causing all this trouble.”

The room simmered with irritation. My presence was clearly wearing on them.

Clara waved a dismissive hand, her tone biting.

“Luke, we’ve said all there is to say. Next week, we’re having a reception to introduce the baby to the family. Everyone will be there.”

She pinned me with a look. “If you’re smart, you’ll tell everyone the baby is yours. Make a scene, and you’ll only humiliate yourself.”

I did the math. Next week was my flight out.

By then, I’d be gone, fully committed to my new life with the International Extreme Rescue Team.

But before I left, I could give them a memory they wouldn’t forget.

I shrugged, keeping my face blank.

“Sure,” I said, my voice calm. “No problem.”