On the day of my daughter Eleanor Baldwin's second birthday party, my entire family stood nervously by the banquet hall entrance. They were not there to greet guests, but rather to keep me from showing up and causing a scene.

Mom's face was written all over with anxiety. "Lucas wouldn't actually crash the party, would he?"

Dad's brow stayed tightly furrowed. "Who knows? That disgrace of a son is capable of anything."

My younger brother, Cody Baldwin, had his arm wrapped gently around my wife, Kendra Clarkson, trying to reassure her. "Don't worry. If Lucas dares to show up, I'll keep you and Ellie safe."

Kendra nodded slowly. "If it really comes to that... maybe we should just let Ellie be his goddaughter. At least then, we're still family..."

However, the party came and went, and I never appeared.

I had already made up my mind to join a classified national defense research program.

Only this time, it was for good.

After the birthday party ended, the whole family returned home cheerfully. However, their laughter and joy abruptly stopped the moment they opened the door and saw me sitting there.

"Lucas, you're back? Is the project over?" Kendra Clarkson, my wife, clutched Eleanor Baldwin tighter in her arms as she stared at me nervously.

I glanced up from the couch. They said daughters would resemble their fathers, and Eleanor did look quite a bit like my younger brother, Cody Baldwin.

Mom gave a stiff smile and quickly tried to change the mood. "If the project's over, you should take some time to rest. I'll go prepare your room."

She walked into the hallway and peeked around, only to realize Cody already moved into Kendra's room. His old bedroom was turned into a nursery—there was no longer a place for me in this house.

"Don't bother, I'll stay at the office," I said, picking up the duffel bag at my feet to leave.

Dad's face instantly turned dark. "What's with that attitude? You disappeared for three years! If it weren't for Cody, we wouldn't have made it through! You think you have the right to be angry?"

Cody stepped forward, his voice calm but heavy. "Lucas, it's been tough since you left. Mom and Dad had a hard time, and Kendra too."

"So that gave you the liberty to take my place and shack up with my wife?" I looked at the faces in front of me, and all I felt was a cold emptiness inside.

When the government called on me to join a classified research project three years ago, everyone was so supportive. It involved advanced weapons tech and carried the risk of injury or even death, and I did not want to hold Kendra back, so I filed for a divorce.

However, she refused. She cried and begged, saying it would only happen over her dead body. "Lucas, I chose to marry you, and no matter what happens—sickness, war, or death—I'm your wife!"

Cody even made a vow. "Lucas, don't worry. I'll take care of Mom, Dad, and Kendra."

Mom sobbed so hard her eyes were red as she clung to my hand. "Lucas, please take care of yourself. We'll be here waiting for you."

Even Dad, usually cold and quiet, looked me in the eye and said, "You're doing this for the country. I'm proud of you."

Those long, grueling days at the research facility, filled with testing and data collection, were only bearable because of the strength I drew from their support. So, why was it that, now that I came home, everything changed?

The people who once loved me the most, now felt like strangers.

Cody said, "Lucas, I know you're upset, but you were gone for so long, and Kendra didn't want to remarry. The family still needed to have an heir! You wouldn't want Mom and Dad to reach their old age without ever holding a grandchild, right?"

I could not take it anymore and punched Cody in his face. "Shut up! You're just some adopted kid from the village that Dad took in! If you wanted to give this family a future, you could've had a kid with someone else—why her? She's my wife!"

Dad's hand slapped across my face with burning force. He clutched his chest, panting as he shouted, "You ungrateful bastard! You come back after all these years and start pointing fingers? Why did you even come back? You should've just died out there in that lab!

"If you still want to be part of this family, and if you still consider me your father, then get on your knees and apologize to Cody!"

His words cut like a blade, stabbing me in the heart repeatedly. I closed my eyes and took a long breath. If this were the old me, I would have panicked, apologized, maybe even begged just to keep the peace and not upset Dad's health.

But now, I just stood there motionless.

Dad raised his hand again to hit me, but Cody quickly stepped in and blocked him. "Dad, stop! Lucas finally came home. Don't hurt him. This is all on me anyway. If Lucas wants to hit me or yell at me, I'll take whatever it takes to make things right."

The room fell quiet. Everyone looked at him with sympathy, and their disgust toward me only deepened.

Cody tugged on my sleeve and added in a low, careful voice, "We signed Ellie up for a televised parent-and-child showcase next month. If you're okay with it, maybe you could join Kendra on stage as Ellie's godfather? I'll stay out of it."

"Wait, what?" Kendra resisted instinctively, but Cody squeezed her hand and nodded firmly at her.

I let out a bitter laugh. Next month happened to be exactly when I needed to report back to the base to begin my permanent defense work assignment. Since that was how things were, I would give them one hell of a parting gift before I left.

"Sure," I said.

Under Cody's arrangement, I was given the nursery as my room, whereas Eleanor slept with Cody and Kendra in the master bedroom.

I just finished putting my things away when I heard laughter from the living room.

"I think Ellie could do a runway walk or maybe recite some nursery rhymes," Mom remarked with a loving smile, her eyes full of affection.

Dad nodded in agreement. "A simple kids' song would be cute too."

Cody had his arm draped around Kendra's shoulders, grinning with pride. "Ellie's so smart and adorable; she could win first place no matter what."

Kendra lowered her head slightly, a gentle smile playing at her lips. "Ellie's still young, just being a part of it is a wonderful experience."

Cody leaned in and kissed her gently on the forehead. "You're doing a great job raising her."

I stood in the doorway watching this picture-perfect family scene, but all I felt was nausea. Their smiles seemed so fake and hollow.

My mind could not help but drift back to that nightmarish scene from half a month ago. I said goodbye to my colleagues early and came home to surprise my family. However, when I pushed open the door, I heard sounds that shattered my heart.

Kendra and Cody were whispering intimately in my room. A moment later, the soft voice of a child called out, "Mommy, Daddy!"

The shock hit me like lightning, my whole body trembled as my brain went completely blank. In that moment, it felt like my entire world collapsed.

I forced myself to stay quiet and backed out of the room, wanting to see how my parents would react.

From the hallway, I overheard them talking.

"Ellie's turning two soon, and Kendra's health is much better. I'll talk to Cody about having them try for a son next," Mom said, her tone full of anticipation.

Dad agreed without hesitation. "Yes. Having a boy and a girl would be perfect!"

My heart plummeted into a dark abyss. Not only did they accept this twisted relationship, but they were encouraging them to have another child.

...

Moonlight shone in through the gap in the curtains. I reached out and touched the little blanket in the crib—it was still warm. The walls were covered with cute cartoon stickers, and stuffed animals were piled in the corner.

This room should have been for the fruit of my love with Kendra, but instead, Kendra had a child with someone else. My hands unconsciously clenched into fists, my fingernails digging deep into my palms.

Suddenly, intimate sounds came from the next room.

"Ah! Be gentle. Ellie just fell asleep," Kendra whispered, her voice soft and alluring.

"Don't worry. I'll be gentle," Cody replied, his voice husky with desire.

I shut my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside me. However, every sound was like a knife, stabbing over and over into my chest.

I could not help but remember my first date with Kendra. It was a sunny afternoon, and we strolled the park. Kendra wore a light blue dress, the sunlight dancing along the tips of her hair.

We promised forever as the sun dipped behind the trees. But now, all those sweet moments had turned bitter.

Time changed everything. What once felt sacred now felt like a cruel joke.

The city was still cloaked in that heavy darkness just before dawn as I slipped out of the house without a sound. The cold wind cut like knives, so I pulled my work jacket tighter and started jogging through the park.

Sweat rolled down my face, but I did not care—only physical exhaustion seemed to dull the ache in my chest. As the first rays of sunlight stretched across the sky, I took a deep breath and turned back toward home.

Just as I reached the edge of the neighborhood, I saw a group of familiar faces walking toward me, laughing and chatting.

Mom and Dad were all smiles while Kendra walked arm in arm with Cody. He carried Eleanor in his arms, and they looked every bit like a picture-perfect family.

They were all dressed to impress—Cody in a crisp, tailored suit, his hair neatly combed, not a strand out of place.

I glanced down at my sweat-stained tank top and could not help but smile bitterly. I quickened my pace, trying to avoid them.

However, Kendra spotted me anyway. She frowned and instinctively leaned closer to Cody's side.

Mom looked me up and down, visibly displeased. "Lucas, what were you doing out so early? And you're all sweaty—what a mess."

Kendra covered her nose, her face screaming that I reeked.

Dad let out a sigh. "Lucas, you've been back for a while now. Where are you working these days? Did the government assign you a job?"

Cody jumped in before I could answer. "Dad, Mom, don't push him. The job market's rough right now, and with Lucas's unique background, it's not easy for companies to afford someone like him."

Then, he turned to me, his voice dripping with false concern. "Still, don't be too picky. Even security guard jobs in this area are getting competitive. You should at least find some work to have a steady income!"

"Who told you I don't have a job?" I shot back, my voice ice cold.

"Come on, Lucas. No need to act tough," Cody gave me a friendly smile, "I know some big-time business owners. I can talk to them if you want, maybe I can help you land something decent."

There was condescension in every word, and it lit a fire in my chest.

Yet, before I could reply, Dad chimed in again. "So what if you're smart? Just look at yourself. You'll never compare to Cody."

The blow hit harder than I expected. There was a time when Dad used to beam with pride whenever I won awards or brought home top grades.

He would throw banquets in the village just to show me off, bragging that I was the pride of our village. But now, all I saw in his eyes was disappointment and disgust.

"Dad!" I opened my mouth, wanting to explain that the government did not abandon me.

They wanted me back in the lab. After this last successful assignment, I was awarded a hefty research grant and a performance bonus. The agency even promised me special treatment in basic living arrangements.

I gained far more than they could ever imagine.

However, Dad waved me off before I could say another word. "Enough! We're heading to brunch. You're all sweaty and gross, so don't bother tagging along."

Mom was already in the car, calling out from a distance. "Hurry up! That place doesn't hold reservations. We're going to be late!"

I stood there, watching them drive away without me. They treated me like an outsider, but that was fine. The country still needed me, and my team still believed in me.

If they did not want me anymore, I would fulfill their wishes.