Legitimizing Her Love Child

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On Christmas Eve, my wife Lily suddenly tells me she had a baby with her first love, and she wants me to give the kid legal status.

Staring at the three-year-old boy in front of me, I started shaking with rage.

You were the one who wanted to be childfree! Since when did you have a child with someone else? And you want me to play the doting stepfather?

Lily Evans frowned.

"Peter has a terminal illness. His biggest wish was to have a child. How could I not help him fulfill that?"

"Besides, it was just IVF! I didn't cheat! Stop making such a big deal out of it!"

Hearing such brazen words, my final shred of hope shattered.

"If you love him that much, then I wish you both happiness."

...

[Ryan Jefferson, I've frozen your cards! That's the price for refusing to adopt Andy!]

Numbly, I lifted my head from the sea of empty beer bottles, staring blankly at Lily's text.

Ten years of marriage.

I'd habitually handed over every paycheck, keeping only three hundred bucks a month for myself.

For her, even when things were tight, I endured it gladly.

But now, Lily was using my devotion as a weapon against me!

All while she'd secretly had a baby with her ex, Peter Anderson, three years ago.

Now she wanted me to willingly raise that child!

What did she even think I was?

Her husband? Or some spineless wimp with no dignity?

A bitter laugh escaped me. With cold determination, I dialed HR.

"Hello, I accept the position.Please book my flight for seven days from now."

"Fantastic news, Mr. Jefferson! We look forward to having you!"

Hanging up, I felt a long-lost sense of release.

If Lily cared so damn much about Peter Anderson, fine. I'd let her have him.

Divorce her., leave the country, and never stand in their way again..

With that thought, I started packing, sharp and efficient.

Ten years of marriage. I'd bought Lily countless gifts. She'd never bought me so much as a sock.

But she never forgot Peter's anniversaries. Always had some surprise ready.

My chest felt tight. My eyes scanned the closet, then froze on Lily's lace panties.

There was a burn hole. From a cigarette.

And I'd quit smoking ten years ago.

My body jerked. I remembered Lily saying she hated men who smoked.

Once, I'd smoked a cigarette without her knowingand she'd forced me to take a two-hour cold shower in the dead of winter.

So why wasn't she bothered when it came to Peter?

I printed the divorce papers. Just as I was about to find Lily to sign them, her call came.

"Ryan Jefferson! Whatever you're doing, drop it and get to Central Hospital! Now! Or face the consequences!"

She hung up before I could reply.

Fine. I'd serve her the papers in person. I grabbed them and headed to the hospital.

But the moment Lily saw me, she shoved me straight into an operating room.

"Quick! Doctor, take his blood! He's the same blood type as Peter!"

Before the words fully landed, a huge needle jabbed into my vein.

I winced in pain, staring at Lily in disbelief.

"You dragged me here in a panic... just to drain my blood for Peter Anderson?"

Lily rolled her eyes impatiently.

"What else? You're useless most of the time! At least now you're good for something!"

"When Peter wakes up, you can formally meet Anna!"

With that, she fussed over the doctors, warning them not to hurt Peter during the transfusion, even carefully wiping his feet.

Her face held a tenderness I'd never seen directed at me.

My breath hitched. Dizzy from blood loss, I shoved the divorce papers into Lily's face.

"Sign it, Lily. We're done."

"Divorce? Because I asked you to adopt Andy?"

Lily blinked, then stared at me like I'd said something insane.

Then she snorted.

"Seriously, Ryan? Are you that stupid? I was child-free! You were never going to have kids with me! Now you're getting a child for free, and you're refusing?"

"It's not my kid. Why the hell should I take it?"

I said it coldly. Lily jabbed a furious finger at my face.

"Ryan Jefferson! You said you loved me more than life itself! If that's true, why can't you love my baby?"

"Such a small thing, and you won't even do it?!"

Looking at her face, etched with "of course you should," I realized with a jolt how much I'd let her walk all over me. For years.

She liked spicy food, so I cooked fiery dishes despite my ulcers.

She wanted cats, so I bought her two, even though I'm allergic.

Not this time. I was done compromising!

"You want a kid? Raise it yourself. It's got nothing to do with me."

The words barely left my lips when a sharp pain shot through my wrist!

"Bad man! You're hurting my daddy!"

Lily and Peter's kid had rushed up and sunk his teeth into me!

I pushed him away instinctively. He fell to the floor, wailing.

"Ryan Jefferson! Are you even a man? Picking on a little kid?!"

Lily screamed at me without hesitation. Before I could retort, the hospital room door burst open.

Peter Anderson stumbled out, pale as death, then collapsed to his knees in front of me!

"Wahhh... Ryan, I'm so sorry! Don't blame Lily! She only did this because she cares about me! She felt sorry I was dying and wanted me to have a child!"

"Hit me if you want! But after I'm gone, please, don't take it out on my son!"

What a manipulative bastard, I thought. Then I suddenly met Lily's gaze.

Pure hatred.

I froze. That look... it wasn't for a husband.

It was for an enemy.

Sure enough, Lily's hand shot up and cracked across my face!

"Enough! Ryan, stop being so petty! There's nothing going on between Peter and me!"

"I had his baby just to repay him! I'd be dead without him! Can't you think of anything besides your dirty suspicions?"

"I must have been blind to marry a useless man like you!"

The sting spread across my cheek, but inside, I was strangely calm.

The sting on my face was familiar.

She always called me a loser. Said when her kidneys failed, it was Peter who paid for her surgery.

But

"Lily, look me in the eye. Didn't I drain my savings for you back then too?"

"Didn't I cut out my own kidney and give it to you? Why is it always Peter? Why do you never see what I did for you?"

Lily faltered. Her bluster vanished.

But instantly, the righteous anger was back.

"You're my husband! That's your job! Stop whining!"

A bitter laugh escaped me. So she did remember I was her husband.

She just wanted the benefits without the responsibilities.

I held out the divorce papers calmly.

"I told you. I came to end this. Sign it. Your little family will be better off without me."

Lily finally paused. She realized I meant it.

Panic flickered in her eyes, quickly masked by anger.

"Fine, Ryan! Divorce it is! Don't you dare regret it! And don't come crawling back to me!"

She scrawled her name on the papers, then turned instantly to soothe Peter.

Didn't spare me another glance.

Leaving the hospital, a doctor who'd seen it all patted my shoulder sympathetically.

"Man... rough deal."

I smiled, genuinely free.

"You should congratulate me."

Congratulate me for escaping hell.

Back home, HR texted: flight booked, leaving in seven days.

I thought of the past ten years with Lily. All the promotions I'd turned down. For her.

What a colossal idiot I'd been.

Packing nearly done, I was ready to leave when the door crashed open.

Lily stormed in, fury melting into shock at the sight of my suitcase.

"You... you're serious? You're really leaving?"

"Ryan, why?! I told you Andy was IVF! I didn't cheat! Why can't you let this go?!"

There it was again.

In Lily's world, as long as she didn't physically sleep with him, it wasn't cheating. Even if she had his kid.

I turned away coldly. No point arguing with her warped logic.

Lily sighed dramatically, like I was the unreasonable one.

"Fine. Truth is, I only said I was child-free because I can only have one baby. High risk."

"Since I won't have another, why not treat Andy like your own? He'll take care of you when he's older!"

Ten years married, and this was the first time Lily softened. It just felt hollow.

Her one shot at motherhood? She gave it to Peter Anderson. Without a second thought. Risked her life.

How deep did that love run?

"Save it. We're divorced. Peter is that child's father. Don't contact me again."

My voice was flat. Lily flushed, humiliated.

She went berserk, smashing things, hurling threats, then stormed out.

Head pounding, I sank onto the couch. My phone rang again.

Lily's parents.

"Ryan? You're a grown man! Stop acting like a child!"

"Andy's life is hard! When Peter dies, how can you let him grow up without a father?"

"If you love Lily, you should love her child too! It came from her body!"

My knuckles turned white.

"Did it come from my seed?"

"Your precious daughter messed around with another man while married to me! Now you want me to happily raise that bastard? Think I enjoy being a doormat?"

"Hey! How dare you"

I slammed the phone down before they finished.

My chest heaved with rage.

Since day one, Lily never said a good word about me to her folks.

I treated them like my own parents. They treated me like dirt.

Always criticizing, always manipulating.

Once, Lily's brother hurt someone, needed money.

Her parents stole from my company funds. Almost got me jailed!

I had to take out massive payday loans to cover it.

Now? They wanted me to raise Lily's affair baby.

No. I was done playing their game.

Lily never came back after storming out.

Her social media? Updated eight times a day.

[True love transcends life and death. Even when you're gone, I'll find a way to keep your spirit alive.]

Pictures of her, Peter, and Andy. A perfect little family to anyone who didn't know.

Soon, her snobby friends, who'd always looked down on me, flooded the comments with praise.

[OMG perfect match! Lily, congrats on ditching that useless loser!]

[Totally! Any man who won't raise his woman's child isn't worth keeping!]

I snorted, blocking and deleting them all.

I'd wasted years sucking up to them for Lily's sake. Got nothing but scorn.

No more. I was done being their punching bag.

Just as I focused on my new job, Peter sent a video.

I opened it. My jaw dropped.

Lily, eyes glazed, wearing skimpy lingerie, writhing under Peter. Moaning his name.

Trying positions she'd always refused with me.

"Ahh, Peter... you're so much better than that loser Ryan..."

My stomach lurched. I barely made it to the bathroom before vomiting violently.

I'd thought she'd at least kept that line uncrossed. Another lie.

With me, it was duty. A chore. Often with a look of disgust.

With Peter? Pure, raw passion.

She really did despise me that much?!

Another message from Peter:

[See that, Ryan? Truth time. Andy wasn't IVF. Lily's been filled with me plenty!]

[That 'car accident' recovery time? Yeah, she was at my place. Recovering from giving birth!]

My hand shook as I locked the phone. The last ember of feeling for Lily died.

Soon. Just a little longer.

Three more days, and I'd be free of this heartless woman.

The next few days, radio silence. I didn't reach out. Neither did Lily.

I even moved to a hotel. Never went back.

Finally, panic must have set in. Lily texted me first. Unheard of.

"Hubby? Can I pick you up from work today? I made your favorite dinner!"

Old me would have cried with joy. Now? I couldn't even be bothered to reply.

I buried myself in work. Dozens of calls went unanswered.

Leaving the office, I saw her. Standing in the rain. Soaked.

"Hubby, I'm freezing! Let's go home!"

She stumbled towards me, clinging, looking up with puppy-dog eyes.

Enough to melt any man's heart.

But all I saw was her sweaty, ecstatic face under Peter. I shoved her away in disgust.

"Divorced people don't have homes."

Lily's eyes welled up, genuinely hurt.

She was apologizing, and I was cold?

Realizing she'd actually hurt me this time, Lily softened her voice.

"Hubby, please? I've thought about it. I was too harsh before."

"Let's go home. Talk it out. Please?"

Fine. I was leaving tomorrow anyway. Didn't want a scene in front of colleagues. I got in the car.

Lily drove, chattering nervously, fussing over me.

I stayed silent.

Then her phone rang.

"Lily! It's awful! Ryan took Andy! He hasn't brought him back!"

"What if something happened? What if Ryan hurt him?!"

Lily slammed on the brakes, glaring at me.

"Ryan! You took Andy?"

"This is between us! Why drag an innocent child into it?!"

I frowned. Why would I kidnap her kid days before leaving the country?

Did she really think I'd hurt a three-year-old?

Before I could speak, Lily's eyes turned bloodshot. Two sharp slashes of pain exploded across my face!

"Get out! Get out now! If Andy's hurt, I'll destroy you!"

She flung the door open and kicked me hard onto the wet pavement!

I hit the ground hard. Knees scraped raw. Spine screaming.

Lying in the downpour, I forced my eyes open. Lily's car was already speeding away.

Silence. Then a bitter laugh.

"Good."

"Lily Evans. We are finished."

I pulled out my phone. Blocked and deleted Lily everywhere.

Called a cab. Limped back to the hotel.

Next morning, suitcase in hand, I climbed into the airport taxi.

Watching the city blur past, one thought echoed

Lily Evans. From now on, worlds apart. We're done.