Part 1Betrayed and Reborn: A Man's Journey to Freedom

I was the last to know about my wife's second pregnancy.

After two years of working in South Africa on a company assignment, I returned home to find my wife about to give birth.

I didn't lose my cool and question her. Instead, I calmly said, "Now that I'm back, we can proceed with the divorce."

My wife panicked, grabbing my hand and explaining anxiously, "Honey, let me explain... You've been away for two years, and David has been helping us with everything. I'm just having this baby to repay him, don't overthink it."

Our six-year-old daughter chimed in to defend her mother, "Dad, you jerk! You've been gone for so long. If it weren't for Uncle David, Mom and I would have starved! What's wrong with Mom having a baby for Uncle David? Don't be unreasonable!"

Looking at the mother and daughter duo in front of me, I nodded calmly, "You have a point."

I did feel guilty about neglecting my wife and child. I hadn't been able to be there for them these past two years.

But during my time in South Africa, I sent all the money I earned to Rachel. Sixty thousand dollars a year was enough to ensure they lived comfortably.

I worked hard abroad to provide them with a better life.

But I never imagined it would end like this.

Actually, I had heard rumors while I was away. A colleague back home had mentioned something in an email, but I couldn't believe it. I still had hope for Rachel, thinking she had just gained weight.

I finished my project half a month early and rushed back home, only to have my worst fears confirmed.

At that moment, I felt no urge to lose my temper, only endless disappointment.

Rachel knew she was in the wrong. She poured me a glass of water and handed it to me cautiously, "Honey... have some water."

I took the water from her and calmly said, "Your belly's big now, you shouldn't stand for too long. Sit down."

Seeing my calm demeanor, Rachel's tense emotions eased a bit.

She awkwardly sat down next to me with her big belly.

I took a sip of water and continued, "Now that you're pregnant, I won't be the bad guy and separate you and David. Since David isn't married yet, after we divorce, you can be with him."

Hearing this, Rachel's emotions flared up again.

"Jack, what do you mean?" She stared at me in disbelief, angrily saying, "Are you abandoning me? I've been with you since I was twenty, supporting you from nothing to where we are today! I've given so much to this family, how can you talk about divorce so easily!"

Yes, she was right.

But years of weathering storms together couldn't withstand two years of loneliness and emptiness.

It was laughable.

I turned to our daughter watching TV and asked, "Emily, if Mom and Dad get divorced, who will you stay with?"

Without even looking at me, Emily replied without hesitation, "I'll stay with Mom! If you and Mom divorce, Mom will marry Uncle David, and then I can call Uncle David 'Dad'. I've wanted to call him Dad for a long time!"

An expected answer, but it didn't disappoint me much.

I nodded calmly, "Alright, if that's what you want."

I got up resolutely, ignoring Rachel's protests, and left the house with the suitcase I had just brought back.

I went to a bar and called up some old friends I hadn't seen in two years.

At the table, my friends teased me, "Jack, why are you here with us instead of going to see your wife first thing after coming back?"

I took a big gulp of alcohol and said hoarsely, with disappointment, "I don't have a wife anymore."

My friends exchanged glances.

One who had heard rumors asked, "Jack, I heard your wife is pregnant... is it true?"

"Yeah, the child is her childhood friend's."

The table fell silent, and the atmosphere became heavy.

I kept drinking, trying to numb myself with alcohol.

After a few rounds, Rachel called me.

I answered groggily, and Rachel's scolding voice came through, "Jack, stop this nonsense, okay? We haven't seen each other for two years, and you come back giving me the cold shoulder and running away from home. How childish can you be?"

Emily's childish voice could be heard in the background, "Mom, don't call Dad anymore. If he wants to leave, let him! He's been gone for two years, and we've been doing just fine without him!"

I said nothing and hung up the phone.

Yes, they had been doing just fine without me.