I brushed the tears from my face and finally responded to the message that had remained unanswered for years.

Without a second thought, I typed, "You don't have to be the other woman. I'll marry you."

…

When I got home, I ignored the crying baby and walked straight into the room to pack my things.

Before I could even start packing properly, Eunice kicked the door open and pulled me into an embrace.

Her breath was hot against my ear. "Jay, I need you. Please don't leave me."

It was the first time in five years she had touched me, and the first time she had ever called me by such an intimate nickname.

However, I couldn't stop thinking about what she had said. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I pushed her away.

"I'll get your medicine."

I was barely out the door when Eunice grabbed me and forced a glass of milk into my mouth.

My vision blurred, and through the fog, all I could see was her irritated face.

"Drink it and rest. I'll be back when I'm done."

It turned out that her gentleness was nothing more than a cover to slip me something. The heat consumed me, and I tried desperately to hold back.

Moments later, Eunice's friends pushed through the door, laughing cruelly.

"Eunice was right. Jayden really is that desperate. All it needed was a tiny dose, and he's already out of control."

"Let's hope the higher-ups enjoy this little show."

Several of them stripped me naked and posed me in all sorts of positions while the camera flashed again and again.

I dug my nails into my thigh, fighting to stay conscious, as burning tears slid down my cheeks and pooled inside my ears.

They stretched and bent my limbs into grotesque, humiliating poses, and I was drowning in a sea of shame.

I couldn't fight back. All I could do was lie there and let them do as they pleased, knowing the camera was recording every second of my humiliation.

At that moment, even the thought of death felt like a mercy I didn't deserve.

In a haze, I started to hallucinate. I saw two bodies tangled together, moving up and down in front of me.

A familiar voice reached my ears.

"Dylan, you have to believe me. I've never touched him all these years. As soon as I find someone to take his virginity, I'll finally be able to prove my innocence..."

Eunice's breath broke into gasps and moans, raw with a passion and surrender I had never once seen in all our years together.

When the heat finally subsided and the last gasps had faded into silence, they turned to the baby.

"Here's your daddy, little one. You're going to be the best little boy for him, aren't you? Go on, give Daddy a cuddle."

The baby gurgled happily, producing two crisp sounds.

"Dada."

Those two syllables I had so desperately wanted to hear now fell on me like a crushing weight, leaving me gasping in agony.

Now, as I looked back, I couldn't help but wonder what those three years of raising him had really amounted to.

I had held on to a loveless marriage for five years, only to find out that the woman I called my wife and the child I called my son had never truly been mine.

While they laughed and celebrated around me, I collapsed into the darkness of despair.

…

In just one night, the video they had recorded had circulated everywhere, and the barrage of cruel comments was unending.

"Eunice, I can't believe there are actually women who don't care that Jayden was a homewrecker. They're fighting over him. Who knew he'd be so popular?"

Eunice scrolled through the footage with a satisfied smile.

"Good. Keep it under wraps for now. Once everything is in place, I'll bring Dylan home. We'll hold our wedding on the baby's first birthday. You can go and make the arrangements."

Her friend asked cautiously, "And what about Jayden? Do we still keep him as the other man?"

Eunice's expression flickered, and then her gaze accidentally met mine.

"Jayden, you're awake?" Eunice's lips quivered, and panic flickered across her face. Her breath seemed to catch for a long, telling moment.

"What... What did you hear just now?" she stammered.

I discreetly wiped away my tears and forced a smile. "Nothing. What video were you watching?"

Eunice, who had finally relaxed, was instantly thrown back into panic by what I said.

I took a step toward her phone, but she snatched it behind her back and offered a shaky grin. "It's nothing."

As I watched the cold sweat gather on her forehead, I couldn't hold back the faint mockery that rose in my chest.

I withdrew my hand, and only then did she finally relax.

Trying to steer the conversation elsewhere, she said, "I wanted to be with you tonight, but my condition is flaring up. Maybe we can try another time."

Her act was so polished it nearly made me laugh out loud. If she really couldn't stand the touch of a man, then how had she ended up carrying Dylan's child?

The truth was, she wasn't allergic to men. She just didn't want me.

And honestly, after finding out she was already married, I was relieved she had never touched me.

I turned to leave, but she hurried after me and casually brought up another topic.

"I've already arranged Jace's first birthday party. Dylan, my ex-boyfriend, might be there that day. Don't mind it."

They were the real family. Why would I care?

I shrugged it off. "You all go ahead. I'd rather stay home and rest."

Eunice's expression immediately darkened.

"How can you miss Jace's birthday? Don't tell me you're jealous of Dylan. You're not a child anymore. Why are you being so childish? You're being completely unreasonable."

She didn't even seem to notice how openly she was already defending Dylan.

Then again, what right did I have to be jealous?

…

When we got to the birthday party, Dylan was already at the center of it all, holding the child like a trophy. He looked like Eunice's husband in every way, seeming as if he were staking his claim.

The moment I entered, the room buzzed with whispers.

"Only a homewrecker could have that much nerve. A decent person would never be this shameless. Is another man's wife and child really that appealing to him?"

"Did he really think he could play that role forever? How naive. Now that Dylan's back, it's time for him to step aside. I heard there's a good show coming up later."

Even though I already knew the truth, hearing them tear open my wounds so openly still cut deeper than I expected.

The other female guests sized me up with hostile glares, their faces twisted with ridicule and barely concealed disdain.

Was this about the "good show" they were anticipating?

A wave of unease washed over me.

I turned to leave. But the moment I did, I ran straight into Dylan, who was carrying the child.

He backed me into a corner. The polite smile he had worn earlier dropped away, exposing something cold and mean.

"How much longer do you plan to sponge off the Mercers? I've never met a homewrecker as shameless as you. Eunice is my wife, and this child is the proof of our love. What exactly did you do to make her let you into this house?"

I was backed into the wall, shrinking away with every step he took, while tears I couldn't stop streamed down my face.

"I was the one who got deceived for five years. I was the victim."

Dylan let out a mocking laugh.

"Victim? Everyone in Valdoria knows you've had a thing for Eunice since you were a kid, and now you want to play victim? You knew exactly what you were doing. While I was working overseas, you conveniently stayed by her side and tried to worm your way in."

Before I could process what was happening, Dylan angrily raised his hand and slapped me hard across the face.

The sound drew Eunice's attention, and she hurried over. When she saw the red mark blooming on my cheek, she frowned.

"Dylan, how could you..."

Before she could finish, Dylan pulled the baby closer and broke into tears, playing the victim perfectly.

"He called me a homewrecker. I lost it. I've never been humiliated like that in my life."

Just like that, Eunice's sympathy vanished. Her face twisted with anger as she turned on me.

"Jayden, how could you say something like that to Dylan? You..."

She trailed off, but I heard the accusation she didn't voice—I was the real homewrecker. What right did I have to point fingers at her husband?

I laughed, the sound coming out jagged and unhinged.

"Eunice, I know he isn't the homewrecker. I am. This baby is yours and Dylan's too, isn't he?"

Before I could even react, a second slap came crashing across my face.

Eunice's chest heaved violently with rage, and she stared at me with bloodshot eyes.

Those two stinging slaps, delivered like bookends, finally cleared the fog in my head. This sick, humiliating farce should have ended years ago.

My phone buzzed with a new message, but before I could even glance at it, someone clamped a hand over my mouth.

"Eunice, the ceremony's starting soon. Don't waste another second on him. You and Dylan should get ready. We'll deal with Jayden."

Through my blurred vision, I saw Eunice nod. Her expression was terrifyingly cold. I bit down on my lip until I tasted blood.

"Eunice, I can leave the Mercer family right now. Please don't hand me over to someone else..."

She paused. For just a moment, I thought she might change her mind, but Dylan pulled her back.

"Don't tell me you actually care about him. You have to prove to me today that you never touched him. Otherwise, I'll never trust you again."

In the end, she stepped away.

I was unable to scream for help or break free. All I could do was let them drag me into a room, where an overweight, sleazy-looking elderly woman was waiting for me.

After positioning the camera, Eunice's friends winked at me.

"Enjoy yourself. Your first time should be unforgettable. If Eunice won't give it to you, she will."

They ignored my desperate pleas and left, sealing the door behind them.

I clawed at my thigh to keep myself awake and fumbled desperately for my phone.

The woman crept closer, eyeing me with a lecherous grin. "I've been curious for years—what kind of man did Eunice keep hidden for five whole years?"

I fought as hard as I could.

And just when I thought I was about to break, I saw the door being kicked open. A familiar figure appeared, and I nearly broke down from the relief.

Several bodyguards dealt with the vile woman, and my savior hurried over to me, helping me to my feet.

Her gentle voice washed away my fear completely. "Let's go to the city hall. I'm not letting you go ever again."

…

Meanwhile, Eunice and Dylan's wedding ceremony was in full swing.

"Ms. Mercer, you may now place the ring on the groom's finger."

Eunice took the ring from the ring bearer.

Just as she was about to slide it onto Dylan's finger, one of her friends rushed onto the stage carrying the camera, gasping for breath.

Eunice's expression darkened with annoyance. "I'm in the middle of my wedding. You can show me the video later. What's wrong with you?"

The woman shook her head wildly, still struggling to breathe.

"No, Eunice. We didn't manage to film anything. Jayden's been taken to the city hall. He's getting married right now!"