I did not know what Thayer felt, but it could not have been good.

Still, I knew in my heart that with his overbearing nature, Thayer would never give up so easily.

I dragged my exhausted body back to the Fairchild residence.

For the past few days, I have been busy with a project, working overtime almost every night.

As I stepped inside the house, I rubbed the space between my brows.

An hour earlier, I had received a message from my parents saying Thayer had returned.

At the time, my body had gone rigid where I stood.

I had always known Thayer would come back one day, but when that day truly arrived, I still found myself caught off guard.

I hung my bag on the rack, then lowered my gaze and saw a pair of high heels placed on the floor.

I paused for a moment, then instantly composed a polite smile.

“You’re back?” a gentle voice called out.

I turned and saw Isolde dressed in a black lace nightgown.

Even in such modest sleepwear, her slender waist and full figure were unmistakable.

Her fair skin and striking features were softened by the warm smile on her face.

She frowned slightly, looking at me with concern.

“Why are you so tired? Haven’t you been resting well these past few days?”

I smiled.

“There’s been so much going on at the company. Did you have fun these past few days? How is Sera?”

Isolde stepped forward and slipped into my arms.

Her face rested against my chest as her slender fingers gently traced my back.

“Sera had a wonderful time, “ she said softly.

“She was so tired she fell asleep already. The only regret was that you weren’t there. Next time, the three of us should go out together.

“I missed you,” she said, her voice tinged with quiet intimacy.

I kissed her soft, fluffy hair, yet my heart felt utterly cold.

I felt something soft brush against my lips.

My body stiffened, my mind filled with Thayer’s words from earlier that day.

I no longer responded to her the way I once had.

Instead, I hesitated, then gently braced my hand against her, putting a slight distance between us.

“I…”

My words stopped halfway, because I clearly felt Isolde’s body stiffen for a brief moment.

I sensed at once that she was unhappy.

After a pause, Isolde smiled and picked up where I had left off, “You’ve been so tired lately. Go take a shower and get some rest.”

She found an excuse for me.

Then she leaned in and placed a light kiss at the corner of my lips.

I nodded and turned to go upstairs.

Behind me, the woman standing in the shadows wore an unreadable expression.

The air around her seemed to solidify, her gaze fixed tightly on my burdened silhouette.

The next day, I went to work as usual.

Just as I exited the residential compound, I saw a familiar figure.

My grip tightened on the steering wheel, my brows knitting together.

Thayer had seen my car.

He suddenly rushed in front of it, forcing me to brake.

The cars behind me began honking furiously.

It was peak rush hour.

Security guards hurried over, trying to pull Thayer away.

But he refused to relent.

Even as they dragged him back, he shouted at the top of his lungs, “Caspian Ashford! Stop playing dead! You’re sleeping with your own sister-in-law—have you no shame?”

His shrill voice drew the attention of everyone nearby.

I pulled the car to the side, making sure I wasn’t blocking anyone or any traffic, then stepped out.

I looked at him coldly.

Thayer smiled with satisfaction and ran a hand through his disheveled hair.

He laughed.

“What? Embarrassed? Or are you afraid that once Isolde finds out I’m back, she’ll dump you?”

“Thayer, you’re seriously interfering with my life,” I said testily.

“This is my last warning. Don’t come looking for me again!”

Thayer paid no attention to my warning.

A confident, almost triumphant smile spread across his face.

“Stop pretending. You’re just scared. You’ve lived in my shadow since we were kids—of course you envied me. Wanting to replace me is only natural.”

He paused briefly, then stepped closer, leaning in to speak into my ear.

“Too bad. Someone who steals another man’s spot is always driven out in the end. I’ll wait right here.

“When I see Isolde, I’ll explain everything to her. She’ll definitely forgive me.

“And Sera—she’s my daughter. We share a bond of blood that can’t be broken. You’ll never replace me!”

I said nothing and turned back to my car.

This time, Thayer did not stop me.

In the rearview mirror, I saw him watching my car with a faint smile on his lips.

A chill ran through my entire body.

Thayer had been favored since childhood.

He had never followed rules, and whenever things didn’t go his way, he threw tantrums like an overgrown child.

I took a deep breath, forcing my mind away from him.

Over the years, I had painstakingly built both my marriage and my career.

If we divorced, it wouldn’t just affect me—Isolde’s interests would suffer as well.

She still had a way out.

For me, there was no one but myself.

I sat in my office, my thoughts drifting far away.

Back in elementary school, every winter and summer break, Thayer loved to grab a basketball and run wild.

By the time school started again, his homework remained untouched.

Afraid the teacher would scold him, he would try to pass off the work I had done as his own.

My parents had a convenient excuse: my grades were excellent.

Even if I didn’t turn in my homework, the teacher would never blame me.

Thayer was different.

If he didn’t do his homework, the teacher would certainly reprimand him in front of the whole class.

For a boy, that would be utterly humiliating.

To protect Thayer’s reputation, I redoubled my effort.

From then on, every holiday, I sensibly prepared two sets of homework.

In high school, Thayer started dating early. He pursued the campus beauty with dramatic flair, got into fights, and kept on the good side of every teacher.

Although his grades were poor, his outgoing personality naturally drew many friends.

From childhood onward, every whim of his had someone to catch him when he fell.

I, on the other hand, had to live cautiously, weighing every step I took.

In college, he met Isolde at an off-campus music festival. They performed at a small bar and formed a temporary band.

Over two months, while I hustled through part-time jobs to cover tuition, they threw themselves onto the stage, letting youth and recklessness spill freely.

I had assumed that after graduation, I would save enough money to finally escape my family.

Until that night, when Thayer returned home late, reeking of alcohol.

My parents woke in the middle of the night, cooked a meal for him, and changed his clothes.

The entire household revolved around him.

Then, drunk and slurring, he said something that shocked everyone: He was going to be a father.

For a long while, the house fell into an eerie silence.

My parents fumbled, panicked by the sudden news.

Meanwhile, I worked tirelessly during the holidays, hopping between jobs to save for university.

The laziest person in the house, surprisingly, was Thayer. He had no awareness that his life was about to change.

To cover up the scandal, my parents insisted he stay home, shut indoors.

On the other hand, my family had already arranged the marriage with the Fairchilds.

Once the baby was born, a paternity test would confirm the lineage, and then the wedding would take place.

Everything had been agreed upon carefully. The Fairchilds, pressed by circumstances, had no choice but to accept the arrangement.

If the scandal had leaked, the Fairchilds' reputation would have been destroyed, even affecting their company’s stock.

The night before the wedding, I took the train home, a journey of over four hours.

But the next day, Thayer disappeared.

The house was left with only Sera and the Fairchilds, their faces dark and tense.

Isolde glared, and my parents stood awkwardly, unsure how to act. Their gazes slowly shifted to me.

Mom seemed to grasp at a lifeline.

“We still have another son! He’s never even dated! Let him make it up to you!”

Dad quickly echoed her.

“Right! Caspian! Come on! Your brother’s gone. At this point, you have to step in!”

I froze in place, my mind still trying to process it.

Before I could react, my parents grabbed my hands, pulled me toward the changing room to put on a suit.

I struggled with all my strength, my heart sinking to the depths.

Anger and disbelief swirled together.

The first twenty years of my life had been spent under Thayer’s shadow. Now, my adulthood was expected to be sacrificed for him.

Grief filled me. My nose tingled, eyes burning.

It was the first time I truly broke down.

“Why?” I shouted as I pulled my hands free.

“Why should I take responsibility for his recklessness? This is his problem, not mine!”

At my words, Dad struck me sharply across the face.

“That’s your brother!”

I staggered a few steps, feeling a burning pain across my face.

Mom cried, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“This is too much, what your Thayer did—but you can’t just watch our family fall apart! The guests are waiting for the groom!”

My face went ashen.

“I’m not getting married!” I said through clenched teeth.

No matter how they pleaded, no matter if they tried to coerce me physically, I stood firm.

I pressed a knife to my own throat, my eyes red, and said, “If anyone forces me, I’ll end it myself!”

After that, no one dared move.

I didn’t know if they were afraid I might die, or if they feared creating an even bigger mess by causing a death.

Whatever their reason, I didn’t care.

I had already graduated. Once I found a job, I could finally claim my freedom.

Everyone in the room froze.

Eventually, it was Isolde who suggested we talk alone.

Everyone else was ushered out.

Inside the dressing room, it was only her and me.

Half an hour later, the door opened. I had changed into the wedding suit, expressionless, and took Isolde’s hand.

A grim smile—more hideous than crying—clung to my face as I completed the ceremony.

My thoughts drifted as I stood by the window, looking down at the floors below.

This position—the place I had clawed and scraped toward over ten years—was finally mine.

A chill ran through me, and suddenly, hands wrapped around me from behind.

I jumped, but the scent of cherry blossoms at my nose made me relax.

“What were you thinking about? You didn’t even notice me come in,” a light voice whispered in my ear.

I smiled. “Thinking about tomorrow’s investor meeting.”

Isolde took my hand, smiling at me.

“I trust you. Your abilities are obvious to everyone.”

A raised an eyebrow but smiled still.

“Why are you at the office? Isn’t the headquarters busy?”

“Nothing urgent. I came to pick you up, and to mention that Sera wants to see that new movie tomorrow.”

I nodded absentmindedly.

Isolde leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to my lips.

I ruffled her hair.

That day, when I returned home, I did not see Thayer.

He was unnervingly quiet.

I assumed my parents had trapped him at home to protect the company’s interests—just as they had years ago.

I was mentally and physically exhausted these past few days.

That night, I collapsed into bed, and in the middle of the night, a soft presence hugged me tightly from behind.

The next day, at the investor event, powerful figures clinked glasses all around me.

I worked the crowd and stole a moment to slip into the back lounge.

Seraphina sat quietly on the sofa, waiting.

Her eyes lit up when she saw me.

“Daddy, after this, can we go watch the movie?”

I smiled indulgently and tickled her nose.

“Of course. When we promise you something, we always keep our word.”

My answer made her giggle.

Seeing her so happy, I felt a flicker of calm.

But from the start of the investor meeting, a bad premonition gnawed at me.

I drew a deep breath and pushed open the door.

Inside the ballroom, my gaze landed on a familiar figure.

My body stiffened.

Not far away, Thayer was speaking to Isolde.

Her back was to me, so I could not read her expression.

Then, Thayer saw me.

He pointed at me, face twisted in rage, “I am your husband! He has no shame—he stole you and our daughter!”

In an instant, every eye in the room turned to me.