Switching Brides: I Never Said You Were the One

Keith, seizing the moment while everyone's attention was elsewhere, sneakily pinched Quintin. The baby immediately burst into wailing cries.

Gwen's expression darkened instantly. As she tried to soothe Quintin, she demanded, "Ernest, what exactly are you trying to do? Ever since you got back, you've been causing one trouble after another—first the resignation, now the disrespect.

"I already heard from the hotel staff that you arranged the wedding setup. If you still want to marry me, then apologize to my mother right now! I can let bygones be bygones and allow you to continue as Quintin's father in name, to take care of us both."

Hearing this, I laughed inwardly.

Everyone believed I was hopelessly in love with Gwen that I would stick around even as her unpaid nanny just to stay by her side. However, they all overlooked one thing. It was true I had arranged the wedding setup, but I never said I was the one marrying her.

With that thought, I replied calmly, "Then let's not get married. Gwen, I'm breaking up with you."

A stunned silence fell over everyone.

Gwen froze for a second, then seemed to realize something and let out a contemptuous smirk. "You want to break up with me? Ernest, what kind of brain rot have you been watching online? Are you trying to play hard to get now? You think if you threaten to leave, I'll drop everything and come begging you to stay?

"Know your place. If it weren't for my family, you would've starved to death out there long ago. Instead of wasting energy on these pathetic schemes, how about you focus on serving my family properly? Maybe I'll consider giving you a chance, then."

I was utterly speechless.

"You told me you were afraid of getting married and having children. You asked me to wait, to give you a little more time. Well, I have been waiting for ten years now.

"I left to study abroad, and then you turned around and had Keith's baby. What, was I supposed to just roll over and accept being cheated on?"

At my question, Gwen put on a smile that said she'd seen this coming all along.

"I knew it—you really are just jealous of Keith! Only someone with a filthy mind would see it that way. You think everyone is as sleazy as you? Quintin was conceived through IVF, so I haven't done anything to betray you. Besides, your whole family is a bunch of short-lived, low-IQ, disease-ridden weaklings.

"Am I not even allowed to borrow superior, strong genes for Quintin? How can you be so selfish and not think about Quintin's future at all? As his mother, am I wrong for wanting him to be better and more exceptional?"

As Gwen spouted her twisted logic, her relatives began pointing fingers at me too. They belittled me as petty, narrow-minded, and completely worthless.

But instead of getting angry, I just found it laughable.

My parents died young because they were part of a classified national experiment back in the day. They were exposed to too many chemicals and passed away from cancer. They gave their lives for science, and the nation posthumously awarded them medals of honor for their sacrifice.

As for the wreck my body had become, Gwen had more than a little to do with that.

Back then, she had jumped into starting a business on a whim. She had no connections or understanding of corporate networking; in fact, all she had was a warehouse full of products and no clients in sight.

It was me who ran myself ragged day after day, swallowing my pride and handling the drinking and schmoozing at all those business dinners. Little by little, I built the company's reputation from nothing.

But over time, my health went to ruin. I developed a stomach condition so severe that even the slightest cold or spicy food would send me into uncontrollable spasms and vomiting. And Gwen? She never once noticed any of it.

Now, seeing that I had become the target of everyone's scorn, Keith could barely keep the smirk off his face. Yet, he still had the nerve to step forward, playing the part of the peacemaker.

"Ernest, this is all my fault. I don't know my place. I let myself start thinking I was part of this family. At the end of the day, I'm just an outsider who provided some genes for Quintin.

"Me staying here will only get in the way of your family's happiness. Just let me take one last look at Quintin, and I'll leave right away."

He even managed to squeeze out a few tears, putting on the perfect picture of wounded innocence.

Gwen's heart melted on the spot. She stopped him and said, "Keith, how could any of this be your fault? Ernest is the one who doesn't know what's good for him!"