Husband by Mistake, Groom by Design

"Jayden, you're awake?" Eunice's lips quivered, and panic flickered across her face. Her breath seemed to catch for a long, telling moment.

"What... What did you hear just now?" she stammered.

I discreetly wiped away my tears and forced a smile. "Nothing. What video were you watching?"

Eunice, who had finally relaxed, was instantly thrown back into panic by what I said.

I took a step toward her phone, but she snatched it behind her back and offered a shaky grin. "It's nothing."

As I watched the cold sweat gather on her forehead, I couldn't hold back the faint mockery that rose in my chest.

I withdrew my hand, and only then did she finally relax.

Trying to steer the conversation elsewhere, she said, "I wanted to be with you tonight, but my condition is flaring up. Maybe we can try another time."

Her act was so polished it nearly made me laugh out loud. If she really couldn't stand the touch of a man, then how had she ended up carrying Dylan's child?

The truth was, she wasn't allergic to men. She just didn't want me.

And honestly, after finding out she was already married, I was relieved she had never touched me.

I turned to leave, but she hurried after me and casually brought up another topic.

"I've already arranged Jace's first birthday party. Dylan, my ex-boyfriend, might be there that day. Don't mind it."

They were the real family. Why would I care?

I shrugged it off. "You all go ahead. I'd rather stay home and rest."

Eunice's expression immediately darkened.

"How can you miss Jace's birthday? Don't tell me you're jealous of Dylan. You're not a child anymore. Why are you being so childish? You're being completely unreasonable."

She didn't even seem to notice how openly she was already defending Dylan.

Then again, what right did I have to be jealous?

…

When we got to the birthday party, Dylan was already at the center of it all, holding the child like a trophy. He looked like Eunice's husband in every way, seeming as if he were staking his claim.

The moment I entered, the room buzzed with whispers.

"Only a homewrecker could have that much nerve. A decent person would never be this shameless. Is another man's wife and child really that appealing to him?"

"Did he really think he could play that role forever? How naive. Now that Dylan's back, it's time for him to step aside. I heard there's a good show coming up later."

Even though I already knew the truth, hearing them tear open my wounds so openly still cut deeper than I expected.

The other female guests sized me up with hostile glares, their faces twisted with ridicule and barely concealed disdain.

Was this about the "good show" they were anticipating?

A wave of unease washed over me.

I turned to leave. But the moment I did, I ran straight into Dylan, who was carrying the child.

He backed me into a corner. The polite smile he had worn earlier dropped away, exposing something cold and mean.

"How much longer do you plan to sponge off the Mercers? I've never met a homewrecker as shameless as you. Eunice is my wife, and this child is the proof of our love. What exactly did you do to make her let you into this house?"

I was backed into the wall, shrinking away with every step he took, while tears I couldn't stop streamed down my face.

"I was the one who got deceived for five years. I was the victim."

Dylan let out a mocking laugh.

"Victim? Everyone in Valdoria knows you've had a thing for Eunice since you were a kid, and now you want to play victim? You knew exactly what you were doing. While I was working overseas, you conveniently stayed by her side and tried to worm your way in."