"It's my first time... be gentle..."
The woman beneath him blushed crimson, her voice barely a whisper.
Colin Cox held a cute teddy bear in his hands, his mind drifting back to that night three months ago.
That was when his wife, Iris Fox, had conceived his child.
A daughter.
Every spare moment, Colin would catch himself grinning like a fool, picturing what she might look like. He'd almost forgotten who he used to be.
Once, he had been the Dragon Lord, standing at the pinnacle of martial arts. In his final battle, his beloved had died in his arms.
He'd barely survived himself—gravely wounded, his power shattered.
Broken in spirit, Colin had cast everything aside. He sealed his own strength with the Dragon Seal and vanished to the coastal city of Seacliff.
Here, he'd met Iris. Married her. And now, a daughter on the way...
When Colin returned home clutching the teddy bear, excitement bubbling in his chest, something felt wrong.
His in-laws and brother-in-law sat on the sofa, their faces dark as storm clouds.
Strange. With his secret guidance, Iris's career had skyrocketed. She was now a businesswoman worth hundreds of millions.
Today was their wedding anniversary. Colin had even prepared a special gift—a partnership contract with Longtide Group.
Why the long faces?
"I'll go start dinner," he offered, hoping to avoid whatever tension hung in the air.
"Colin." Maxwell Fox's voice stopped him cold. "Come here. We need to talk."
His father-in-law, once a shabby, down-on-his-luck man, now sat draped in gold and silver like some wealthy patriarch.
"What is it, Dad?" Colin approached.
"Look at this."
Maxwell slid a document across the table.
Colin's eyes fell on the cover page. Five words, bold and unmistakable: DIVORCE AGREEMENT.
"Dad, what is this supposed to mean?" The smile drained from Colin's face.
Maxwell took a drag from his cigarette. "Exactly what it looks like. Iris is different now—a CEO worth eight or nine hundred million. The Fox family is one of the most respected names in Seacliff. But you..."
He exhaled smoke. "Apart from decent handwriting, you've got nothing going for you. Staying in this family, staying in this marriage—it's an embarrassment. People laugh at Iris behind her back."
Colin's expression went cold. The joy he'd carried home evaporated like morning frost.
So this is what I get, he thought bitterly. I gave everything to this family, and they hand me divorce papers.
They had no idea. Everything Iris owned, everything the Fox family had become—it was all because of him.
But Colin was no ordinary man. He steadied himself quickly. "Is this your idea, or Iris's?"
"Does it matter?" Maxwell tapped ash from his cigarette, staring Colin down. "Just sign the papers. I expect you to be sensible about this. We've lived under the same roof for three years—let's end things amicably."
"If this is only your idea," Colin said without hesitation, "I won't sign."
Who gave them the right to decide his happiness?
SLAM!
Kate Galloway, who had been seething in silence, finally snapped. She slammed her palm on the table.
"Colin!" She fixed him with a venomous glare. "We were going to let you leave with some dignity, considering you've waited on this family hand and foot. But I see now—you're completely shameless!"
She rose to her feet, jabbing a finger at his face. "You worthless deadweight! You've become a millstone around Iris's neck!"
"Do you know who she deals with now? Business titans. Millionaires. At the very least, executives running major corporations."
"And you? You're nothing but a pest nobody wants around. The Fox family has risen to the top. There's no place for you here anymore—pack your bags and get out!"
Colin drew a slow breath. His eyes filled with sorrow.
Gerard Fox shot to his feet. "You've been living off my sister for three years, eating her food, spending her money. You're nothing but a dog she kept around—and you actually thought you were family?"
"Sign the damn papers and get lost. Or else."
"I'll ask one more time," Colin said quietly. "Is this what Iris wants?"
"You bastard!"
Kate shoved him hard. "Are you brain-dead? How many times do we have to tell you?"
"Mom, step aside." Gerard snatched up a baseball bat leaning against the wall. "If he won't sign today, I'll break his legs myself!"
He charged at Colin, raising the heavy alloy bat high overhead—
"Stop."
The cold voice cut through the room.
Iris Fox emerged from the hallway. Her figure was stunning, her features flawless, her skin pale as jade.
Beside her walked a sharply dressed young man—handsome, confident, impeccably groomed.
Henry Harrington. Heir to the Harrington Group.
He and Iris moved with an easy intimacy as they stepped out of the bedroom together.
Colin's body went rigid. He stared at his wife in disbelief.
Her eyes flickered away from his, guilt flashing across her face for just an instant.
That told him everything.
But he clung to one last shred of hope, his voice trembling: "Iris... is this real?"
She looked at him—at the color draining from his face—and felt a twist of pain in her chest. But she nodded anyway.
"Yes, Colin. Let's get divorced."
"What my parents said just now..." His voice cracked. "Is that how you really feel? You think I'm not good enough for you anymore?"
She gave a small nod. "We're living in different worlds now. It just... doesn't work anymore."
Colin inhaled deeply and closed his eyes, his heart splitting open.
An eternity seemed to pass.
Slowly, he walked to the corner and picked up the teddy bear.
"Fine. I'll sign. But only after our daughter is born." That was his bottom line.
Iris shook her head. Like an executioner delivering the final blow, she carved his heart out with her next words.
"Our daughter... is gone."
"What?"
Colin's eyes flew wide. The veins on his forehead bulged. His breathing stopped.
"I... I had an abortion."
The words hit him like lightning.
Colin stood frozen, his world collapsing around him.
The teddy bear slipped from his fingers and fell limp to the floor.
