That evening at dinner, the four of us sat around the table in heavy silence. Jason and Monica exchanged a glance. Finally, Monica spoke up first.

She scooped some vegetables onto my plate, smiling sweetly. "Dad, please don't be upset with us. Jason and I just feel bad for you, seeing how exhausting things are between you and Mom."

"That's right, Dad." Jason jumped in immediately. "Look at you. You're not even 50 yet, but your hair's already gone gray. You should let go and start living your own life."

Here they went again. I set down my fork and looked straight at Monica. "Monica, are you pregnant?"

The fork slipped from her and clattered onto the floor. "Dad, how… how did you know?"

How did I know? In my previous life, when I was being crucified in the court of public opinion, she had clutched her stomach and collapsed in a dramatic faint.

The doctor confirmed that she was two months pregnant, and the news exploded across social media. The story practically wrote itself. A man about to become a grandfather, cheating on his wife while his pregnant daughter suffered.

I reached out and gently placed my hand on her still-flat stomach. "Sweetheart, I'm your father. I can read you like a book. You think I wouldn't notice something this important?

"You're at a critical stage right now. You can't be stressing yourself out. I need to stay home and take care of you and the baby. So from now on, no one brings up divorce again."

My words left Monica with no room to argue. After all, what kind of father would be so devoted to his pregnant daughter one moment, only to abandon her to pursue a new relationship the next?

My firm stance forced Jason and Monica to back off for the time being. The atmosphere at home remained awkward, but at least on the surface, things returned to normal.

A few days later, Claire left on a business trip to a neighboring city. She wouldn't be back for a week.

The moment she was gone, my dutiful daughter made her move.

That afternoon, I was watching TV in the living room when the doorbell rang. Monica practically bounced to the door and ushered a woman inside.

"Dad, I want you to meet someone," she said brightly. "This is Linda Calcraft. I ran into some trouble at work a while back, and she really helped me out. I invited her over today so I could properly thank her."

I looked at her carefully

It was her. Linda. The woman who had died alongside me in my previous life.

She appeared to be in her mid-40s, wearing a tasteful dress that complemented her elegant, refined presence. She'd clearly taken good care of herself over the years.

She stood awkwardly by the entrance, holding a bag of fruit. The moment our eyes met, something flickered in her expression. It was the same look she'd given me the first time we met in my previous life.

Apparently, since I refused to divorce, Monica couldn't wait any longer. She'd brought Linda straight to the house.

"Ms. Calcraft, please have a seat."

Monica guided her warmly to the couch across from me, then rushed off to make coffee. When she returned with two cups, she set them down and exchanged a meaningful look with us. I couldn't tell if it was meant for Linda or for me, but I caught it either way.

After that, Monica glanced at her phone and gasped. "Oh no, my friend just texted. She needs me right away. I have to run out for a bit."

She turned to me and added, "Dad, Ms. Calcraft is our guest. Make sure you take good care of her for me!"

With that, she grabbed her purse and practically fled the apartment.

Only Linda and I remained in the suddenly quiet living room. I cut straight to the point. "What did Monica tell you?"

Linda froze, apparently not expecting me to be so direct.

"She told me that you and your wife weren't getting along and were planning to divorce. She said you were lonely and wanted to give us a chance to get to know each other."

She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, looking slightly embarrassed.

Just as I thought. I laughed bitterly to myself but kept my expression neutral. "Did she mention that I'm still married? That my wife is just away on a business trip?"

Linda's expression turned strange, but she nodded. "She did mention it. She said that as long as you want to, I could help you get out of this unhappy marriage as quickly as possible."

She looked at me with what seemed like genuine sincerity. And I felt insulted.

I picked up the steaming cup of coffee in front of me and dumped it onto the floor at her feet. Linda jumped up, staring at me in shock.

"I don't care what Monica told you, but let me make something very clear. This is my home. I have a legal wife, and every second you spend here is an insult to me and my family."

I stood and pointed at the door. "Get out of my house. Now."

Linda gaped at me. She tried to stammer out an explanation, but my icy stare silenced her. In the end, she fled the apartment in humiliation.

Monica didn't drag herself home until that evening. The moment she walked in and saw me calmly watching TV on the couch, her expression darkened.

"Dad! Where's Ms. Calcraft?"

I didn't bother looking up. "I threw her out."

"What!" Monica's voice shot up an octave. "How could you do that? I went through so much trouble to invite her over! Even if you don't like her, you can't just kick someone out like that! You're being completely unreasonable!"

I finally turned to face her. "I'm going to say this one last time. I am not getting a divorce. Tell your brother to stop scheming too, or don't blame me for forgetting we're family."

Now that I'd called her out directly, Monica couldn't keep up the pretense anymore. She stormed off to her room, her face twisted with anger.

When they couldn't make any progress with me, she and Jason turned their attention to their mother instead.

A few days later, Claire returned from her business trip.

I got up in the middle of the night for a glass of water. As I passed the study, I heard hushed voices inside. I stopped instinctively and pressed myself against the door.

Jason's voice drifted out, thick with concern. "Mom, there's something Monica and I don't know if we should tell you."

"What's with all the secrecy?" Claire sounded impatient.

"Mom, Dad… Dad might be seeing someone else." Monica's voice cracked with tears, sounding utterly pitiful.

The study fell silent for a moment.

"That's nonsense!" Claire snapped. "Your father isn't like that!"

"Mom, we didn't want to believe it either!" Jason said, sounding distressed. "But we saw it with our own eyes! While you were away, a woman came to the house!"

"Mom, if you don't divorce him now, what's going to happen when Dad brings that homewrecker home? What about your dignity?" Monica's voice dissolved into sobs.

She continued, "I know he's my father, but when he does something wrong, we can't just look the other way. Think about it. If he's this bold now, what's he going to do later? If you ask me, you should take him straight to court! Make sure he leaves with nothing!

"Mom, you've worked so hard and saved for so many years. Are you really going to stand by and watch him spend it all on some other woman?"