Chapter 1

My husband spends most of each year expanding his business in New York. I secretly applied for a business trip there to surprise him.

My boss handed me a family portrait showing only four tightly clasped hands.

"This is Mr. Carter's family of four. Prepare gifts properly for this visit."

I stared at the photo, momentarily dazed by the familiar wristwatch.

But Benjamin Carter had knelt before his parents for three days and nights just to remain childfree as DINKs.

I brushed off my doubts and went on the business trip.

Never did I expect to see my husband at the hotel with two children, his fingers intertwined with another woman's.

Seeing two faces that mirrored Benjamin's like carbon copies, I froze where I stood.

Benjamin claimed love should be pure, untainted by children.

Yet he only practiced DINK with me while raising kids elsewhere.

A colleague excitedly pushed me forward: "It's Mr. Carter's family! How lucky! Greet them now."

The woman instantly released Benjamin's hand and approached us:

"Are you Olivia Parker from the project team? What a surprise meeting you early. I'm Sophia Roberts Mitchell, Mrs. Carter."

She knew me, declaring herself Benjamin's wife to my face.

How dare she act so unabashedly as a mistress?!

Recalling how my boss had suddenly allowed my project involvement, I wondered—was this her deliberate setup?

Benjamin's smile froze when he saw me. He carefully set down the little girl he was holding, took her hand, and after a moment's hesitation, extended his hand toward me.

"Nice to meet you," he said, pretending not to know me.

My lower teeth ache as I bite down, staring at his cold, distant face—it feels like a lifetime has passed.

After our college entrance exams, Benjamin confessed to me in front of the entire school. We then attended the same university and married right after graduation.

Ten years together, his passion gradually faded. I thought love had simply evolved into family bonds.

Turns out he had another wife and children elsewhere—a son already six years old, born the very year we married.

So all this time he's been traveling between two countries... Is it for me? Or for that happy family in New York?

Seeing I didn't shake hands, Benjamin frowned with displeasure: "Is this how your company conducts business?"

Sophia immediately grasped his hand, soothing him with a smile:

"Sophia's just keeping a respectful distance since you're a married man. Very professional—I quite admire that in a woman."

Her words sounded like she was defending me, yet I found myself biting the inside of my cheek to stifle a bitter laugh.

Benjamin pretended not to know me, while Sophia kept asserting her claim over him.

What did that make me?

My colleague tensed, hastily pushing down on my back to bow:

"Mr. and Mrs. Carter, please forgive her. She's just off a flight and not herself. Our deepest apologies."

"Distance is wise. Everyone knows you're the epitome of marital bliss—a true fairy-tale couple in our circle."

I wanted to confront Benjamin, but the fiery defiance evaporated the moment my colleague forced me into that bow.

Yeah, Benjamin is the CEO who needs to be flattered, while I'm just a small employee who has to beg the boss for a chance to join a multinational project.

Sorry, we came specifically to cooperate with you, absolutely no intention to offend.

After apologizing proactively, I bowed again, looking at Benjamin and Sophia's interlocked fingers, my eyes stung.

Sophia affectionately held Benjamin's arm:

It's okay, I also heard about your strong professional skills and that's why I put you in charge, but my husband and I are going home now, let's talk about the project another day?

Chapter 2

We've never met before, but she seems to know me quite well. It seems that my coming to New York is indeed related to her.

Thinking about this period, the whole department has been working overtime until they have dark circles under their eyes, and the friend who's waiting for the project's success to get promoted.

I didn't say anything else, forcing a smile and nodding.

"Hope you both enjoy your evening."

Benjamin opened his mouth as if to speak to me, but his hand was held by the child and Sophia.

He immediately turned away with a smile, scooping up the child and following Sophia.

Back at the hotel, I stared blankly at my empty phone screen.

Why couldn't Benjamin even give me an explanation?

I kept dialing his number until he hung up repeatedly, clearly annoyed, and finally blocked me.

I sat there blankly until midnight, when Benjamin's text finally came through:

[Olivia, you know how much I love you. The child and Sophia were accidents. Step back from this project first—I'll explain everything when I'm back.]

[Be good. Don't make a scene.]

Don’t make a scene?

What counts as making a scene?

Sophia wiped away tears, numbly tapping redial.

Only a blocked tone answered.

For Benjamin, I who always loved children agreed to be DINK. Yet he had kids with someone else—couldn't even give me a reason.

If the first child was an accident, what about the second one?

Ten years together, and "stop making a scene" is all he offers? What am I to him?

Calmer now, clinging to hope, I texted: 【When did you and her start?】

Benjamin replied: 【The die is cast. My fault. I'll compensate you—bought that island you liked last month.】

Sophia knows nothing about this.】

His reply doused the last flicker of anger in my heart like a bucket of cold water.

If moments ago I was still bewildered and furious, now my heart felt as if thrown into an ice cellar.

All emotions vanished instantly.

Indeed, I’d sensed it long ago in the subtle details of our life together—we were no longer the inseparable couple clinging to each other during our passionate early days.

At first, he traveled abroad every other month, then spent most of the year away later on, only returning for holidays. I should have realized it sooner.

I mistook it for his intense career drive, never complained, and even encouraged him to pursue his ambitions.

Lack of companionship was forgivable, but betrayal was inexcusable.

He stopped replying to my messages, and I lost the will to press further.

Early next morning, my mother-in-law called.

"Olivia, I heard you made a scene in front of Sophia! Can't you behave?"

Her scolding froze me—she'd always been gentle, never using that tone before.

I bit my lower lip, staring down at the floor. "I didn’t, Mom."

"I didn’t."

"You call me Mom? Then remember Sophia is the child’s mother! Listen to me—return home now. Don’t let her discover your relationship with Benjamin."

Her voice softened midway: "She’s emotionally fragile with the child. Since you don’t have children, be sensible and don’t trigger her."

My grip almost failed me—realizing she showed even more tenderness toward Sophia than toward me.

He even lashed out at me for Sophia's sake.

"But I'm Benjamin's wife, Mom."

Summoning courage again, I sniffled and cautiously tested my mother-in-law's reaction.

She exploded instantly: "You can't even bear a child! What kind of proper wife are you?! Benjamin hasn't divorced you only out of respect for your history. Don't push your luck."

Years ago, when Benjamin felt downcast after being forced into business studies, I encouraged him to take over the family business.

Later, when Benjamin knelt before her for three days straight declaring he didn't want children, I spent two days mediating peace. She even praised me for being understanding and saving her trouble.

Throughout our marriage, I managed the household for years, obeying Benjamin and my mother-in-law without question, growing ever more dutiful and respectful.

Just because I didn't have a child, I was seen as pushing my luck.

And the mother-in-law I thought treated me better than my own parents actually knew long ago that Benjamin had a child outside and helped him keep me in the dark.

I was just an outsider.

Holding back my tears, I said my final words, "Fine, let's divorce."

Isn't it just to make room for Sophia? Fine.

Chapter 3

As soon as dawn broke, my boss told me the project didn't go through and asked me to return home.

Although I never thought Benjamin could be so heartless, it doesn't matter anymore.

I didn't want to have any contact with them anymore, so I took out my phone, contacted a lawyer, and drafted a divorce agreement, just waiting for his signature to finalize the divorce.

However, as I was pulling my suitcase out of the hotel door, Sophia stopped me.

"Let's talk, Sophia."

Seeing me ignore her and walk straight out, Sophia shook the file folder in her hand. "I think you need this."

I closed my eyes, opened them, exhaled my pent-up frustration, and followed Sophia to the coffee shop.

She pushed the coffee toward me, then twisted the ring on her finger.

"Sophia, look how hard you tried, only to get kicked out immediately. Things that aren’t yours won’t be yours no matter how hard you fight."

"You know?"

I curled my lips into a cold smile. "What gives you, a mistress, the right to say that to me?"

She took off her ring and handed it to me. "See clearly?"

Benjamin has the matching men’s version of this ring, and he’s never taken it off.

My palm bled where my nails dug in, yet my expression remained unreadable. "So what? Benjamin and I have a marriage certificate. We're husband and wife."

Sophia shook her head and chuckled with disdain:

"You're mistaken. Marriage can end in divorce, but having a child creates an unbreakable, happy family."

"He lied about being DINK while letting me bear his child because he never accepted you as his true wife. He's loved only me all along."

No wonder Benjamin hated children despite his picture-perfect family.

I used to think it stemmed from psychological trauma and kept trying to help him heal through love.

The truth was... What he despised all along was my lowly, unworthy self.

My nose stung, tears welling in my eyes, but I fired back stubbornly.

"So that's why you broke up someone else's family? Are you proud of giving birth to an illegitimate child?"

She took a sip of coffee, her expression condescending: "No, they're not illegitimate children. They're heirs to a wealthy family."

"Even if you scheme your way into a rich family, you can't change your base bloodline. How could Benjamin let you bear heirs? Don't delude yourself."

"He and I are a perfect match – destined for each other!"

I knew illegitimate children had inheritance rights, but I never imagined Benjamin would go so far as to name Sophia's children heirs this early.

Is this how he sees my devotion—just a scheme to get his family fortune?

Sophia looked at my crestfallen expression with a malicious grin, dropped the folder on the table, and left.

"I'm young, beautiful, and carrying his child. You saw how Benjamin treats me.

Even if you refuse to divorce, you'll get nothing from the Johnsons. Why waste your time fighting me?"

I blinked away the tears gathering at my lashes, forcing myself to endure the bitterness as I opened the folder.

Inside were two copies of a divorce agreement—

both bearing Benjamin's signature.

Benjamin once vowed never to leave me. Even after I discovered his affair, he never mentioned divorce.

Though I didn’t know how Sophia tricked him into signing these papers,

I knew one thing for certain: I needed them.

But seeing the clause that would leave me with nothing, I still trembled with anger.

What right did Sophia, a mistress, have to demand I leave with nothing?!

Stepping off the flight back home, I gradually calmed down and contacted my lawyer. I drafted a new divorce agreement, photographed it, and sent it to Benjamin.

"Sign in person or fax it?"

Finally, Benjamin's first call came through.

"Stop using divorce as a threat. I'm busy now—we'll talk later."

Remembering him laughing with the children, my voice dripped with sarcasm:

"Oh? So this time, are you busy fathering a son or a daughter?"

Chapter 4

His conciliatory tone vanished instantly, replaced by a cold sneer:

"Is this how your parents raised you? Go apologize to my mother immediately and learn about Following husband, or we divorce now!"

He hung up.

I returned home to find Sophia and her two children gathered harmoniously around my parents-in-law.

Sophia affectionately looped her arm through my mother-in-law's, shooting me a look of unmistakable malice:

"Miss Sophia, I've never seen anyone discuss projects in someone else's home."

Her son frowned at me: "Auntie, why didn't you knock? That's not polite at all."

My mother-in-law watched me coldly—I knew this was her way of showing displeasure.

"Aren't you getting a divorce? Why bother our family?"

That unfamiliar sternness on her face pierced my heart, sending waves of intense pain through me.

I set my suitcase in the living room center and walked upstairs alone.

"Sorry."

"I'll just pack my things and leave. Won't interfere with your family reunion dinner."

The elderly man tapped his cane on the floor, his voice low: "Benjamin's already on his flight home. Don't be difficult. You know how well he's treated you all these years."

Suddenly, the little boy burst into tears: "Is she gonna steal Daddy? Will Mommy, me, and my sister get kicked out?"

The little girl wailed in unison. Grandfather and grandmother's faces instantly softened with concern, gathering both children into their arms.

"Of course not! This is your home with Mommy and Daddy. Who'd dare make you leave?!"

The boy cried so hard he choked, coughing twice.

Grandmother patted his back gently before whirling toward me: "Causing trouble the moment you step foot here! Olivia, did you come specifically to bring misfortune to this family?"

"You made my son choose to be DINK, and now you want to drive away my grandchildren! Get out of the Carter estate!"

Grandfather sighed, holding the little girl, and remained silent.

I looked around. My father-in-law's walking stick was one I'd chosen the finest wood for and hand-carved bit by bit for him years ago.

My mother-in-law's bracelet was something I'd specially knelt to have a master bless for protection.

Yet now, they were all surrounding Sophia in the middle, glaring coldly at me.

Instantly, everything in this house where I'd lived for six years felt so unfamiliar.

Forget it, there's nothing worth taking anyway.

But as I picked up my suitcase and headed out, Benjamin pushed the door open and snatched the suitcase from my hand.

"It's just that I didn't give you a child, but I've already given you the title of Mrs. Carter, what more do you want?"

"Just get along well with Sophia, I'll take care of the rest."

The boy who had just calmed down burst into tears again: "Daddy doesn't want us anymore, Daddy wants to be with this woman, wuwuwu~"

Benjamin instantly let go of my hand and ran over to the boy to comfort him softly.

The baby kicked my suitcase out the door, scattering divorce papers across the floor.

His expression hardened as he scanned the documents: "Must you cause trouble now? I told you the Johnson family can afford to keep you."

I silently flipped to specific pages:

"I claim no marital assets, but the jewelry, cars, and properties you gifted me during our courtship are pre-marital property. I'm taking them legally."

"Sign now," I stated coldly, "or both your children won't be able to register."

Benjamin's eyes flickered with unease as he pulled me outside, whispering: "Leave first. Let me calm the children and Sophia before—"

"Sign it." I thrust the papers into his hand, dusting off my copy. "We have no 'before' or 'after'."

He stared at the divorce agreement, knuckles whitening around the pen.

I couldn't help but laugh mockingly at my own words.

"Though you can handle it, why stir up ugly rumors about having an illegitimate child with your mistress, right?"

He calmed down, studying me intently: "You're sure about giving up being Mrs. Johnson? Seriously?"