Chapter 1

Secretly married for seven years to Vivienne, a powerful businesswoman. She doesn't love me, and she certainly doesn't love our two children.

She never allows our kids to call her "Mom".

No matter how hard the children try to win her affection, she remains unmoved.

At the school's parent-teacher conference, both children asked me with hopeful faces:

"Dad, all the other kids have their moms with them. Can we ask Mom to come too?"

To my surprise, the usually cold-hearted woman nodded in agreement.

But on the day of the conference, she showed up with her high school sweetheart and his daughter, who had just returned from overseas.

"Daddy, why is Mom accompanying other kids instead of us? Does she dislike us that much...?" they sobbed.

I held them close, my voice trembling with a mix of pain and helplessness:

"Mom's true love has come back. Should we leave together?"

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"Zander, are you... really planning to resign?"

I paused what I was doing and looked at my colleague beside me, forcing a strained smile.

"Yeah, the kids' mom is alone overseas. It's pretty tough on her, so I need to take the children over to be with her."

After saying this, I stood up and walked towards the printer.

"Makes sense. It doesn't look right for a grown man to be raising two kids alone. Besides, how can you manage without a woman around?"

My male colleague leaned in closer, a hint of teasing in his smile.

"You know what? We've all been thinking you were a single dad."

Hearing this, I gave a bitter smile.

After printing out my resignation letter, laughter suddenly erupted from the CEO's office not far away.

"Vivienne, I'm craving that Italian restaurant outside the school today. I loved it back in college, and it's been seven years since I've had it. I really miss it!"

Then I saw Vivienne walking out arm in arm with Fintan.

I quickly averted my gaze and turned my back.

My male colleague asked curiously, "Zander, what's wrong?"

I shook my head and said, "Nothing."

Because no one knew that Vivienne was my wife.

This year marks the seventh year of our secret marriage.

It's also the sixth year she's forbidden the children from calling her mom. Yesterday, she had clearly promised to accompany the child to the parent-teacher conference. But even as it was about to begin, she was still unreachable.

When the child and I disappointedly headed to the classroom, we discovered she was already there, sitting next to her Pure Love and his daughter, looking every bit like the kid's parent.

At that moment, I was utterly devastated and resolved to leave.

Today, I came to the company to resign, never expecting to witness such an affectionate scene.

As they walked past me, I suddenly snapped back to reality and instinctively called out:

"Viv..."

Vivienne, arm-in-arm with Fintan, abruptly halted. She frowned, turning to face me with a displeased expression, her tone carrying a hint of warning:

"Assistant Stratton, what is it?"

I took a deep breath, silently handing the document to Vivienne, and said in a low voice:

"Ms. Everhart, could you please sign this..."

Vivienne frowned as she took the document, just about to open it for a closer look when Fintan suddenly asked her with a smile:

"Vivienne, it's been seven years. Do you think that place has changed owners?" Vivienne gazed at Fintan with adoring eyes, a gentle smile playing on her lips. "It hasn't changed."

Without even glancing down, she picked up the pen and signed her name on the document. Then, turning away, she linked her arm through Fintan's and, and walked out without a backward glance.

Behind me, a male colleague sidled up, water cup in hand. He nudged my shoulder playfully and said with a gossipy grin:

"Zander, did you see that? Our ice queen Ms. Everhart has finally blossomed!"

I forced a bitter smile.

The usually frosty Vivienne instantly blooms whenever she encounters Fintan.

As for me, I'll never see her blossom in my lifetime!

And our two children have never known a moment of maternal love because of it.