Chapter 2

My two years in South Africa were brutal.

The working conditions were terrible—constant blackouts, water shortages, and I often had to work in hundred-degree heat.

But whenever I thought of the money I was making to give my family a better life, I pushed through.

I never imagined that when I returned, my home would no longer be mine.

After drinking with my friends, I sobered up slightly and went back to the house.

I still had some personal belongings to pack.

It was past 10 PM when I unlocked the door. Juliet was still awake.

Seeing my drunk state, she pinched her nose in disgust and began lecturing me again:

"Alex, do you have any idea how bad smoke and alcohol are for a pregnant woman?

You come back reeking of booze, completely ignoring my health!"

"I'm just here to pack my things. I'm leaving right after."

"Leaving?" Juliet's voice went up an octave. "Where are you going now?"

"The company dorms," I said flatly.

Juliet exploded. She pointed a finger at my face. "Alex! How long are you going to keep acting like this?

Can't you be a man and show some maturity?

Do you have any idea how much Leo helped me while you were gone?

When I had stomach flu, when my appendix flared up, when Kate had a high fever, Leo was the one who stayed up all night to take care of us!

Even when my mom was hospitalized, Leo ran all the errands!

I'm just carrying a baby for him to fulfill his dream of being a father. How can you be so incredibly selfish?"

"Sure, I'm selfish," I let out a dry laugh. "Have his baby. I'm not stopping you."

I grabbed my bag and slammed the door behind me.

"Alex! You have zero class! You're not a real man!" Juliet screamed from inside.

I laughed. Maybe in her eyes, only Leo was a real man.

I had given everything to this family, but I could never warm her cold heart.

The next morning, I submitted an application for an overseas transfer at my company.

This time, the destination was Europe.

Before my South Africa project ended, my manager had already offered me the position of General Manager for our European branch, which came with a massive pay raise.

But I had turned it down because I wanted to come home to my wife and daughter.

Now, there was nothing left for me here.

In the afternoon, I went back to the house with the divorce papers.

Juliet and Kate weren't home. I called Juliet.

"Where are you? We need to sign the divorce papers."

My words instantly triggered her.

She snapped, "I'm at the hospital for an ultrasound! I don't have time for this!"

"Which hospital? I'll come to you."

"Alex! I'm about to give birth any day now! Do you have to stress me out like this?

Even if you come, I'm not signing those papers!"

When I arrived at the hospital, I immediately ran into Juliet, who had just finished her checkup.

Standing next to her, besides Kate, was the baby’s father—Leo.

Leo was carefully holding Juliet's arm, helping her sit down on a bench with absolute devotion, as if she were a piece of fragile glass.

Kate was bouncing beside them. "Leo, I hope Mommy gives me a baby brother.

When he grows up, he can protect Mommy and me with you!

We’ll be a happy family forever!"

Leo patted Kate’s head with a doting smile.

"I asked the doctor, and it is indeed a baby boy! You’re going to be a big sister soon, Kate!"

"Yay!"

I thought my heart had turned to stone, but seeing this scene still sent a sharp pain through my chest.

The wife and daughter I had loved and provided for were now someone else's family.

And I was just an outsider.

I gave everything, only to end up with nothing.

How pathetic.