Chapter 1

I’d applied to leave Doctors Without Borders a year early, all to return home and marry Nathan Rivers.

But when I got back, Nathan was already a dad.

He instructed the housekeeper, “Keep Sarah Miller overseas for a while longer. It’s best if she doesn’t come back. If she finds out I have a son, she’ll make a scene.”

That’s when it hit me: he’d deceived me.

Three years earlier, he’d said, “Go be a Doctor Without Borders for three years. Toughen yourself up. Then, with a more mature personality, you’ll be a better wife for me.”

Yes, I had matured. I didn’t cry and throw tantrums like I used to.

My tastes had changed too. I wasn’t interested in him anymore.

I arrived home, carrying gifts painstakingly chosen for Nathan, only to find the house empty except for a table laden with flowers.

Cheers erupted from the garden. I walked towards the sound, step by careful step.

“Nathan, you’re so lucky! Your son is gorgeous, and your wife is beautiful!”

A man’s jovial voice cut through the air.

My body froze. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

As I drew closer, I saw Nathan.

He held a baby in his arms; a petite woman stood beside him, her arm linked through his.

“Yeah, I am incredibly lucky. But it’s mostly thanks to little Lily,”

His eyes were filled with tenderness as he ruffled the woman's hair.

She giggled, her eyes sparkling with happiness.

A picture-perfect family. The envy of anyone.

I stood there, stunned, like a voyeur watching them.

A banner hung on the wall behind them:

Ryan Rivers’ First Month Celebration

Ryan Rivers…

I remembered cuddling with Nathan, saying, “Nathan, I want to have a son with you someday. Let’s name him Ryan Rivers.”

He’d asked why. I’d beamed, “Ryan Rivers! It means a lucky year. I want our child to be lucky every year.”

And now, his child, with another woman, was named Ryan Rivers.

“Hey, Nathan, Sarah Miller’s almost back, right? Aren’t you worried she’ll cause a fuss when she sees you’re a dad?”

One of Nathan’s friends asked.

Nathan gently stroked the baby's face.

“You reminded me.”

He immediately made a call, saying, “Keep Sarah Miller overseas for a while longer. It’s best if she doesn’t come back. If she finds out I have a son, she’ll make a scene.”

My breath hitched. I took a step back.

Nathan had suggested I become a Doctor Without Borders three years ago.

He thought I was too flighty, that I cried at the drop of a hat and made a fuss whenever he was with other women.

He’d said, “It’s not that I don’t like you, but you’re too immature to be my wife.”

“So,” he’d continued, “go be a Doctor Without Borders for three years. Toughen yourself up. Then, with a more mature personality, you’ll be a better wife for me.”

I believed him. I studied hard and applied to Doctors Without Borders.

When I got accepted, I was ecstatic.

I thought, Once these three years are over, I can marry Nathan.

But now, here I was, and he was a father.

I realized my eyes were streaming, the tears flowing uncontrollably.

“I really don’t want her to come back,”

Nathan said casually, taking Lily’s hand in his.

“I only want to be with Lily, hand in hand, for the rest of our lives.”

“That’s awesome, man! Makes me want to have kids with my girlfriend!”

Someone cheered.

“So, Nathan, have you thought about how you’re going to explain things to Sarah?”

His face hardened at the mention of my name.

“I haven’t thought about letting her come back.”

He lowered his head to comfort Lily.

“The housekeeper will handle everything. Don’t worry, it’ll just be you and me.”