Chapter 1

"Mr. Harrington, Seraphina and I are the legitimate married couple. Please leave immediately."

At my darling's tenth wedding anniversary celebration, her sports academy assistant looked at me with disdain, shoving a bright red marriage certificate in my face.

Everyone stared at me in shock, then turned to look at my darling and Langdon, who were arm in arm.

Langdon gazed around the room arrogantly,

"Rylan, back then, Seraphina was just trying to avoid pressure from her family to get married. I was still in high school, so we temporarily let you stay by her side. Now that I've made a name for myself, it's time you knew the truth. Seraphina and I are the ones truly in love."

I looked at the marriage certificate in disbelief, then turned to Seraphina, "Darling, didn't you say you two were just siblings? Tell me he's lying, that this is all fake."

The next moment, Seraphina spoke impatiently,

"It's not like you're anything special in looks or stamina. What's wrong with me choosing a father with superior genes for my child?"

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1

I don't know how I left the hotel. A moment later, my best friend called.

"Rylan, after verification, your marriage certificate is indeed fake. The seal is forged."

I took a deep breath, controlling my trembling voice.

"What about Langdon's? Whose name is in the wife column?"

"It's Seraphina. They are legally recognized as husband and wife."

I clenched my fists tightly, barely managing to keep my composure.

If there was any illusion left at first, now it was shattered in an instant.

For ten years, we were the picture-perfect couple, inseparable. The marriage I had been so proud of was all a lie.

I threw away the marriage certificate and returned home, utterly disheartened.

I sat on the couch, guzzling bottle after bottle of booze straight from the neck.

I couldn't understand how that girl, who once thought the world revolved around her, had suddenly changed.

Or perhaps she had never changed at all, and it was all just an act.

It turns out that my stubborn decision years ago to cut ties with my parents and marry into the Shaw family was all part of a calculated plan.

All the doubts from the past suddenly became clear.

On our wedding day, Seraphina insisted on being child-free, citing company instability as the reason.

As soon as the company stabilized, she took in an underprivileged "brother" and funded his education all the way through.After graduating, unable to bear seeing the sports academy star become a fitness trainer, I made an exception and promoted him to executive assistant.

To establish Langdon's authority, I transferred my sales performance to Langdon's name.

All he had to do was keep Seraphina company, chat with her, and he became the top performer, the company's all-around employee.

When Seraphina returned, I was already sitting on the floor, drinking with tears in my eyes.

She apologetically helped me up, her body carrying the scent of cologne.

She brought water, gently wiped my face, then fed me water, softly patting my back.

For a moment, I felt like I was back ten years ago, when we were deeply in love.

Back then, I had already established myself in the family business, creating a miracle of three consecutive stock market jumps.

But the Shaw family's funds were cut off, on the brink of bankruptcy, and Uncle Shaw was hospitalized in anger.

Seraphina hugged me, crying,

"Rylan, what should we do? What am I supposed to do?"

I decisively resigned to join the Shaw Clan, while proposing to Seraphina. At Mr. Shaw's request, I married into the Shaw family.Father flew into a rage, threatening to disown me and cut all ties if I married into the Shaw family. He swore I'd never be welcome in the Harrington household again.

I agreed, because it was the only way I could legitimately save the Shaw Clan corporation.

At the time, I thought Seraphina would be happy. After all, we'd been childhood sweethearts for over twenty years.

Now I realize she probably felt I was taking advantage of her situation.

Back then, for the sake of the company, I'd entertain clients until the wee hours every night. I had stomach bleeds three times in one month, and despite my young age, my blood pressure and cholesterol were all over the place.

Seraphina would hold me just like this, wiping my face and helping me drink water with tears in her eyes, rubbing my back to comfort me.

She'd cry and apologize for dragging me into this mess.

I'd hug her tightly and promise that I would save Shaw Clan, that I'd make sure she could be the proud heiress of the Shaw Clan corporation.

Seraphina would embrace me, constantly kissing my forehead.

"Rylan, stop this nonsense. I had no choice either."

"Look at the state you're in. If we had a child now, how could they possibly inherit and carry on the Shaw Clan corporation?"I gaze at Seraphina with a heart-wrenching sorrow.

"Who did I sacrifice my body for? Don't you know in your heart? Do you think I wanted this?"

"Seraphina, please, let Langdon go. I'll start taking care of my health right away. We're still young; we can definitely have a healthy little angel of our own."

Seraphina's body stiffened. After a moment of silence, her words pierced my heart like icy daggers.

"Langdon is a perfect ten in looks. I want my child to be just as gorgeous. You can't give me that."

In that instant, I snapped back to reality.