My Life Is One Big Scam, Starting with My Wife

Later, when Melody got pregnant, her parents refused to let me even care for her.

When Lily was born, they blocked me from entering the hospital, claiming my presence would bring bad luck.

When they discovered the baby was a girl, Rose went on a three-day tirade, calling me useless and claiming my bloodline was cursed.

It was only after Melody insisted she was happy with a daughter that they finally dropped the subject. Even then, they claimed I would pass my "curse" onto Lily. They took Lily away to raise her themselves, and as her father, I was never allowed to see her.

It wasn't until Lily was nearly school-age that she finally came to live with us. But by then, the damage was done. Her grandparents had poisoned her mind; she hated me just as much as they did.

Lily called me a freeloader who didn't deserve to be her father. She forbade me from ever identifying myself as her father in public, claiming it would embarrass her.

I wanted nothing more than to raise her right, but all I ever received in return was disgust.

Yet, with Benjamin, she was strangely affectionate.

She never allowed me to attend her parent-teacher meetings, and now, she had even replaced me with Benjamin as her emergency contact.

Melody allowed all of it. They told me I wasn't manly enough—that I was acting like a bitter, nagging housewife.

If they all despised me this much, then there was no reason for me to keep enduring it.

It was time to end this.

"Melody, if you don't sign these papers today, you're not walking out that door." I stood firmly, blocking the entrance.

"Ivan Gage! We can't keep putting up with your nonsense!" Melody finally snapped. In a blur of motion, she swung her hand and slapped me hard across the face.

Only after the blow landed did Benjamin slowly step in to "stop" her. Melody's face was flushed with rage as Benjamin wrapped his arms around her, murmuring, "It's okay. It's not your fault. Mr. Gage is just emotional right now. Let's calm him down first."

There was only one way Melody knew how to "calm" me. She told her mother to bring Lily downstairs.

Lily emerged half-asleep, wearing only a thin nightgown. As she walked down the stairs, she murmured, "Mom, Mr. Carter… Good evening."

It was as if I didn't exist.

Seeing how lightly she was dressed, I instinctively took off my coat and draped it over her shoulders.

But she immediately flung it to the ground. "That's gross. Don't touch me with your rags!"

Then she ran straight into Benjamin's arms.

"Mr. Carter, you're so warm. I love hugging you. Unlike someone else, who smells awful…"

Melody reached out and gently stroked Lily's cheek. "Your dad is upset because he didn't get to go to your school meeting. You should apologize to him. Otherwise, he's going to leave us."

To my surprise, Lily's eyes lit up with genuine joy.

"That's great! Then I won't apologize. That way, I never have to see this loser again!" She clapped her hands happily.

My chest tightened. Was this really my daughter?

Melody frowned, her voice rising. "I never taught you to be this rude. Apologize now!"

Lily clenched her jaw, refusing to do so.

Melody looked helpless, but then Benjamin crouched down and hugged Lily.

"Lily, if you just say sorry, your dad will stop making a scene. Then your mom and I can go out. So for my sake, just apologize, okay?"

Lily lowered her head, hesitated for a moment, and finally relented. "Sorry. Is that enough?"

Melody turned to me instantly. "She apologized. Don't humiliate yourself any further. Be considerate for once."

Just then, Benjamin's phone buzzed twice.