Part 2Betrayed and Reborn: A Man's Journey to Freedom

My two years in South Africa weren't easy.

The conditions there were harsh, with scarce water and frequent power outages. I often worked in temperatures of over 100°F.

But whenever I thought about the $150,000 salary I could earn in two years to provide a better life for my wife and child, I felt more motivated.

I never imagined that when I returned, everything would have changed.

After drinking with my friends, when I sobered up a bit, I still went back home.

There were still some things I needed to take from the house.

When I got home, it was already past midnight. Rachel wasn't asleep yet.

Seeing my drunken state, she frowned with disgust and scolded me, "Jack, don't you know pregnant women shouldn't be exposed to alcohol smell? You come back drunk without any consideration for me!"

"I'm here to pack some things, then I'll leave," I said flatly.

"Leave?" Rachel's voice rose, asking me unhappily, "Where are you going again?"

"I'm moving to the company dormitory."

Rachel got angry again, pointing at my nose and yelling, "Jack, how long are you going to keep this up! As a man, can't you be more generous! Don't you know how much David has helped me these two years while you were away!

"When I was sick, when Emily had a fever or cold, it was David who took care of us! Even when my mom was hospitalized, David was the one running around helping! I'm just having a child for him, fulfilling his wish to be a father. Do you have to be so petty about it!"

"Mm, I don't," I sneered, "If you want to have his child, go ahead. I'm not stopping you."

After packing my things, I slammed the door on my way out.

Rachel shouted angrily behind me, "Jack, you have no class at all. What kind of man are you!"

I laughed bitterly.

Perhaps in her eyes, only David was a real man.

I had given so much to this family, but in the end, I couldn't warm her cold heart.

Early the next morning, I submitted a request for an overseas assignment to the company.

This time, the destination was Europe.

Before the South Africa project ended, my boss had intended to send me to Europe as the general manager of the European branch, with a salary several times higher.

But at the time, I declined to return home to be with my wife and child.

Now, I had no attachments left.

In the afternoon, I went back home once more with divorce papers.

Rachel and Emily weren't home. I called Rachel and asked, "Where are you? I want to discuss the divorce with you."

These words angered Rachel again.

She replied irritably, "I'm at the hospital for a prenatal check-up. I'm busy!"

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

Rachel snapped at me, "Jack, I'm about to give birth, and you're trying to stress me out at a time like this! I'm at the Women's Hospital, but even if you come, I won't agree to a divorce!"

When I arrived at the Women's Hospital, I ran into Rachel who had just finished her check-up.

Beside her were Emily and the father of the child - David.

David carefully helped Rachel sit down, looking at her with concern, as if she were a priceless treasure.

Emily sat next to them, excitedly saying, "Uncle David, I hope Mom gives me a little brother. When he grows up, he can protect Mom and me with you! Our family will be together forever!"

David affectionately ruffled Emily's hair, saying with adoration, "I asked the doctor, it is a little brother in Mom's tummy. Emily, you're going to be a big sister soon!"

"Yay!"

I thought my heart had turned to stone, but seeing this warm, harmonious family scene, I felt a stabbing pain in my chest.

The wife and child I had cherished were now someone else's treasures.

And I was just an outsider.

I had given everything, only to end up with nothing.

How ironic.