After my husband cheats, my relatives advise me to be tolerant and forgiving.

Why? Because my husband's mistress is pregnant, and I'm infertile.

Even his parents hurry to our house in the middle of the night to say, "Don't worry—we won't let that woman step foot in this house. Once she gives birth, the child will be yours."

Is that so?

I sneer as I look at a medical report.

Perhaps the child will have something to do with me, but it definitely won't have anything to do with my husband.

I sent evidence of my husband Jerome Maslow's affair to the family group chat. The chat fell silent, though private messages began pouring in nonstop.

I ignored them, turned off my phone, and headed to work.

Jerome's mistress was Audrey Norton, a young streamer our company had just signed last month. When I arrived, she was mid-livestream, energetically twirling around in a short skirt and high heels.

I signaled the room controller to pause the live stream. Once the microphones were off, I finally spoke.

"Dancing in heels while pregnant? Aren't you worried you might slip and fall?"

Tension filled the air. Someone swallowed audibly and accidentally knocked over a microphone with a loud crash, followed by a flurry of apologies.

"I'm sorry, Harley."

Clearly, Jerome's affair was no secret here. No one wanted to get involved in the showdown between his wife and mistress.

I let out a dry laugh and swept my gaze across the group before locking eyes with Audrey. I said, "Change your shoes and follow me to my office."

Audrey obediently did as told.

Once inside my office, I closed the door and drew the blinds, shutting out any prying eyes.

"Your name's Audrey, right?"

Before I could continue, Audrey suddenly dropped to her knees with tears streaming down her face. "I'm sorry, Mrs. Maslow. I'm so sorry."

I frowned. "Get up! Do you want others to think I'm abusing you?"

Audrey scrambled nervously into a chair. After she was seated, I opened her employee file.

"18 years old with a middle school education. You're certainly young. Since you're pregnant, dancing on streams won't work anymore. Starting tomorrow, you'll focus on product promotions."

Audrey sat with her head down and her fingers twisted together. Her response was so soft it was nearly inaudible. "Yes…"

"Look at me," I demanded as I closed her file. I looked into her terrified eyes and got straight to the point. "What do you plan to do about the baby?"

Audrey turned pale at the mention of the baby, and her tears started welling up again. "I'm sorry. I won't try to steal your husband. Just… please don't hurt my baby!"

Her trembling plea left me at a loss for words. I was still searching for the right words to respond when Audrey fell to her knees again.

"Harley, I'll do anything you want. Just leave my baby alone. I'm begging you."

I stood to help her up. Just as I placed a hand on her arm, the office door was abruptly kicked open.

"What are you doing?"

Jerome stood there, his face filled with urgency.

Without warning, he shoved me aside. The sharp edge of the desk jabbed into my lower back and sent a jolt of pain through me.

The man who used to fret over the smallest scratch on me didn't spare me a glance. Instead, he rushed to Audrey and cradled her bruised knees with obvious distress.

"Harley Clark, I never thought you were this cruel."

With that, Jerome scooped Audrey into his arms and carried her out of the office in front of everyone, completely disregarding my dignity.

The door he had kicked hung loosely, swaying on its hinges. Through the broken frame, I could feel the sting of countless eyes pretending not to look.

In the end, someone noticed my unsteady footing and came in to help me into a chair.

"Harley, don't be upset."

"I'm not upset," I replied with my eyes downcast.

After five years, my heart had already been broken beyond repair.

"Get someone to replace the door."

After visiting the hospital, I went straight home. The living room looked noticeably different, now cluttered with various new items.

My in-laws were seated on the couch while Jerome knelt at the doorway.

As soon as I entered, Jerome's mother, Lillian Gabler, hurried over to take my bag. "Harley, we've already given him a good scolding. You can do whatever you want with him now. We'll back you up."

As she spoke, she slapped Jerome's shoulder twice for good measure.

I glanced at Jerome. His head was hung low, and he looked nothing like the arrogant man who strutted around the office.

"Harley, I was wrong. Please forgive me," he said.

To be fair, when Jerome wasn't acting out, he was undeniably handsome. It was that face—a perfect blend of charm and deceit—that had blinded me back then.

I'd married him against better judgment as I was fooled by the façade of a gentleman.

Ignoring him, I walked past and headed for the kitchen to pour myself some water.

Lillian shot Jerome a look, urging him into action. "Let Jerry serve you."

Jerome hurriedly poured me a glass of water and then served me with eager hands.

However, I didn't take it right away. His grip on the glass tightened as the silence stretched, and his knuckles began turning white.

My in-laws watched me nervously, their expressions strained. I let my gaze linger on each of them, taking in their unease. Finally, I accepted the glass of water and downed it.

The tense atmosphere in the room instantly eased. Lillian beamed and pulled me to the couch.

"I knew you were the right one, Harley. You're kind, understanding, and forgiving!"

I stayed silent and listened as Lillian poured out every complimentary phrase she could think of, all variations of how generous and virtuous I supposedly was.

When she finally seemed satisfied, Jerome's father, Mike Maslow, cleared his throat, preparing to take a different approach.

"Harley, Jerry was wrong, there's no question about that. But I need to say something to you as well."

He paused dramatically, taking a sip of tea for effect before his tone turned stern. "No matter how wrong he was, you shouldn't have aired family matters in the group chat. It's just not right!"

Mike's face flushed red as if he were personally devastated by my actions. Meanwhile, Lillian, ever the performer, jumped back in seamlessly.

"Harley, just apologize and we'll put this behind us."

I nearly laughed out loud.

Jerome cheated, yet somehow, after all their maneuvering, I owed them an apology.

At that moment, a fleeting memory hit me.

Over the years, no matter what happened, I was always the one who ended up apologizing. They always managed to twist the situation and squeeze something out of Dad for Jerome's benefit.

I looked down and forced back the tears in my eyes.

"Wasn't it just last month that Uncle Sam came to borrow money? And last year, Aunt Megan asked for help with her kid's school expenses. Even the year before that...

"Every time, you told me they were family, so we should help. I thought since we're family, they should be informed of something this big."

Lillian was speechless for a moment before she hastily changed the subject. "Oh, that—that was just small talk, dear. You took it too seriously. Anyway, let's not dwell on that now.

"Harley, I've talked this over with Mike. For your sake, that girl has to go. But the baby must stay for you to raise."

I stared at her, stunned.

Every time I thought this family had hit rock bottom, they found a way to sink even lower.

Noticing my darkening expression, Lillian quickly added, "Don't worry, Harley. We're not suggesting she move in with us. Absolutely not."

Lillian explained, "We just thought since you're unable to get pregnant, why not keep the baby instead of adopting in the future?

"As for that woman, we'll give her some money, and she'll leave quietly. Then, you can raise the baby as your own and be his mother."

Mike chimed in with a stern face, "Either way, our family cannot end without an heir!"

My head buzzed, my stomach churned, and I felt on the verge of throwing up.

How had I ended up tied to a family like this?

I looked at Jerome—the man I'd chosen in my youth and defied Dad to be with.

Five years had passed. His looks were as polished as ever, but time had added an air of worldliness or perhaps just cunning.

"Jerome," I asked, "what about you? What do you think?"

Five years ago, when we first got our premarital check-up results, I had asked him a similar question. "If we might not have kids in the future, will you change your mind about marrying me?"

Jerome had answered without hesitation, "I love you. Kids would only get in our way."

I had laughed. "What if your parents want grandkids?"

He had pulled me into his arms and said, "Then I'll just act like their grandkid."

The confidence in his tone back then was strong, and now, he was acting like a kid, quite literally.

Jerome looked at me with guilt in his eyes. "Harley… Mom and Dad are getting older. They only wish for a grandchild Let's… let's go along with it, okay?"

Even now, he was avoiding the truth and hiding behind his parents' wishes, refusing to admit his selfishness and cowardice.

Disgusted by his hypocrisy, I felt the nausea in my chest swell.

My voice rose. "I'm asking what you think!"

"I…"

Jerome hesitated, but I forced him to meet my gaze. When he saw the disappointment and contempt in my eyes, he seemed to falter as though I'd struck a nerve.

His face flushed red, and under my unwavering stare, he stammered before finally breaking. "Harley, don't be like this. Let's go back to how we used to be—"

I cut him off coldly. "You mean when you had a string of mistresses but no illegitimate child?"

My words lit Jerome's fuse. He shot to his feet, waving his arms as though trying to mask his guilt.

"Fine! I admit cheating was my fault. But don't you have any blame for this? What woman can't have children? And now you're dragging me into your mess? Harley, can't you stop being so selfish?"

Even though I'd prepared myself, his words still hit me hard.

So this was how he truly felt.

For five years, he had never yelled at me or lost his composure. Now, for the first time, he had dropped the mask.

"So, this is what you've been thinking all along."

My face must have looked terrible because Lillian rushed in to mediate.

"Jerome! How can you say that to Harley? Harley, this is such a big deal. He wasn't thinking straight when he said that. Don't take it to heart..."

Upon realizing his outburst had crossed the line, Jerome returned to a panic state. He crouched down in front of me and grabbed my hands with trembling fingers.

"Harley, I didn't mean that! If you think about it, the baby is related to you too. Didn't you always say you liked children? Harley, I love you. I really can't live without you."

I felt nothing. My heart was dead.

I uttered emotionlessly, "If that girl agrees, I won't object. After all, your family needs an heir."

The next day, Jerome was to talk to Audrey at the company. Meanwhile, I made an appointment at the hospital for a full check-up.

Early in the morning, Jerome drove me to the hospital first. As always, he opened the car door for me and shielded my head with his hand.