Vanessa didn’t contradict Damien. In fact, she barely even reacted, her gaze fixed entirely on Kenneth.

“Exactly. That brat doesn’t even compare. Good riddance.”

I lowered my eyes, hiding my scorn.

I had once thought Vanessa’s obsession with my child came from grief over her husband and child.

Now, knowing the truth, I finally understood their twisted motives.

Suppressing my nausea, I dismissed them with a few curt words.

Then I made a trip to the morgue.

Sure enough, Vanessa’s son lay there.

I studied him carefully, confirming that this was the child they had drowned with their own hands.

On the way back to the ward, I deliberately took another way—but ran straight into Damien and Vanessa.

They clung to each other in a shadowed corner, kissing with abandon.

Vanessa panted as she pressed herself against Damien, her breath ragged.

“We’ve finally dealt with that nuisance. It was your son, after all—shouldn’t you feel bad?”

Damien’s eyes softened with affection.

“How could I? I only recognize our children. Tanya’s child was nothing but an animal.

“But she has her uses. Clever though she is, she still has to raise our son.

“And once we go to the base, no one will disturb us there. Haven’t you been waiting for this?”

Vanessa, her cheeks flushed, slapped his chest playfully.

“You tease!”

I felt my bile rise.

Taking advantage of their entanglement, I grabbed the nearest object I could reach and hurled it at them and ran.

The two of them were startled, too shocked to shout as they glanced around frantically.

I returned to the front desk, borrowed a phone from a nurse, and called my superior to request a transfer.

I had always been a top student at the university. After graduation, I married Damien, sacrificing countless opportunities for him.

Even when my superior suggested I develop my career in a more developed city, I refused because of my pregnancy.

But now, I would no longer be restrained. Even with a child in my arms, I would leave.

After being discharged and returning home, the first thing I did was retrieve the marriage certificate.

Damien, a colonel in the military, had somehow forged a seemingly authentic certificate for me while secretly registering a real marriage with Vanessa.

It was laughable—I had treasured a fake certificate for fifty years.

I tore it in half.

It was good that it was a fake.

I wouldn't have to bother with a divorce when I'd leave in a month.

Both Vanessa and I were in confinement after childbirth.

She lay in bed, waited on hand and foot, and Damien brought everything to her.

Sometimes, when he feared that overindulging her would reveal his deceit, he compensated by fussing over me.

“Her baby died, so she’s exhausted and worried. I am her only support.”

I said nothing.

He seemed blind to my struggles. Every task done alone, every hardship in solitude. Not once was there a word of concern.

Each night, when Kenneth cried, Damien would rise in irritation, saying he would sleep in another room, only to turn and go straight into Vanessa’s room.

The next morning, Vanessa smiled, covering her mouth in surprise.

“You’ve got it rough. Look at those dark circles—no sleep at all, huh?”

She gloated, basking in her small victories, unaware that I, too, had a smile on my lips as I turned away.

I began packing my belongings in secret while Damien, oblivious as ever, noticed nothing.

It wasn't until that evening when he returned holding an envelope, his expression grim.

“What’s this, Tanya?”

The envelope bore the large print of a transfer order my superior had sent.

I took the envelope calmly and tossed it into the fire.

“My superior has tried more than once to have me transferred, but I have Kenneth now. How could I leave?

“It’s just a notice. I’ve already rejected the offer.”

I knew exactly what Damien liked to hear.

The notice, useless now, burned with ease.

He believed it immediately, his expression relaxing.

“That’s good. A married woman should stay home and care for her child. With your skills, you can teach Kenneth well.

“He’s nearly a month old, so I plan to celebrate with a small party. After all, he is the heir of the family.”

I was rather delighted, so I smiled and agreed.

The more lively it was, the better.

Time passed swiftly.

On the day of the celebration, Damien had pulled out all the stops.

He booked the entire restaurant, invited many higher-ups and colleagues, and, of course, family and friends.

He grinned from ear to ear, impeccably dressed as he welcomed the guests.

Vanessa stood beside him in a stylish dress, and together they looked like the perfect couple.

When the event reached its peak, he raised his glass and, with tender affection, addressed me, “Thank you for giving me a son, Tanya. I am a soldier with responsibilities and will soon depart for the base. I leave our son in your hands. I trust you will raise him well.”

Vanessa also smiled brightly.

“As a military doctor, I must accompany Damien. Don’t worry, Tanya—I will look after Damien. You just focus on raising Kenneth.”

Everyone around them praised their loyalty and sacrifice, celebrating the way they placed the country above family.

I clenched my fists.

Damien seemed to have forgotten entirely how he had once urged me to abandon my career and care for the household.

The two expressed such devotion to Kenneth that their superiors appeared satisfied.

“Even Vanessa treats Kenneth as her own. Clearly, your family has a healthy environment for Kenneth to thrive in.

“We entrust you with the mission, Damien. I am confident you’ll be able to pull it off!”

Damien basked in the praise, smiling from ear to ear.

Relatives held the baby, teasing him, studying his little smiling face, and remarked to me:

“Tanya, he looks just like you. I’m sure he’ll grow into a handsome young man.”

Vanessa glared at them angrily when she overheard them and scooped up Kenneth, intending to leave with him.

“Kenneth will certainly resemble his father, just like all Slaters do!”

The relative glanced at me awkwardly.

I smiled but said nothing.

Vanessa wanted a few more moments with Kenneth before leaving, but after only a few minutes, he suddenly started wailing and crying uncontrollably.

Vanessa immediately screamed as the swaddling became soaked.

A relative quickly stepped in to help.

“Oh, he wet himself! I’ll change his diaper.”

Vanessa clearly liked the idea of a child but had no desire to take responsibility.

She wouldn’t have left him in my care otherwise. She recoiled, watching the relative handle the task.

But then her face turned ghostly pale, and she let out a sharp scream.

Damien came over.

“What’s wrong? Why all the noise?”

Vanessa stared at the baby, her voice trembling, “Why doesn’t he have a birthmark?”