I had always known that my mother-in-law disliked me.
To her, I was the man Melissa didn’t want—someone clinging pathetically to her precious daughter, a disgrace to Adriana. After so many miscarriages, her disdain for me only deepened.
Still, because she was Adriana’s mother—and because I believed the problem might truly lie with my own body—I swallowed the guilt and endured her scorn.
And Adriana… at least she used to defend me, even if just a little. That was enough to keep me silent.
But now, her heart and attention were entirely on Khalil.
She didn’t even remember I existed.
For a fleeting moment, I wanted to scream the truth, to reveal everything. But in the end, I didn’t.
I had already decided to leave—what point was there in fighting back now?
Wordlessly, I turned and went upstairs.
That’s when I noticed Khalil’s bedroom door was slightly ajar.
Something compelled me to walk toward it.
Inside, what I saw nearly tore me apart.
Khalil—disheveled and half-dressed—was pressed against Adriana, who lay beneath him.
“Adriana, you really do love me the most. Melissa can’t have kids—if Allen has a child first, she’ll lose her right to inherit the company. Who knows how much I’ll suffer because of that.”
Adriana’s breath was uneven, her cheeks were flushed with lust. She asked gently, “Is Melissa treating you well? Has she been mean to you?”
“No,” he chuckled. “Ever since we successfully combined our fertilized egg, she thinks she’s really pregnant. Keeps praising how manly I am, spoiling me like crazy. She's also afraid that I'll be tired so massage my feet, and even treating me better in bed.”
Adriana’s smile faltered. There was a trace of bitterness in her voice.
“As long as she treats you well... as long as you’re happy... then I have no regrets.”
“Adriana, you’ve done so much for me. I can’t marry you, but I can give myself to you. Tonight, I’m yours.”
Adriana finally gave in, lifting her face to meet his lips. The two fell into a frenzied embrace, losing themselves in each other.
I had never imagined that the always cold, restrained Adriana could be so reckless—so lost in passion.
Tears fell silently as I turned and stumbled back to the guest bedroom.
She didn’t come back the entire night.
—
The next morning, Adriana looked at me with an apologetic smile.
“Allen, I really meant to come back last night. But Mom pulled me aside to talk for hours—I just couldn’t get away.”
I didn’t expose her lie. I simply turned toward the door and waited for her.
That’s when a bucket of cold, greasy slop came crashing down over my head.
Khalil stood in front of me, still holding the empty slop bucket, grinning like the devil.
“So, Allen... how’d you like the way Adriana looked under me last night?” he taunted.
He had left the door open on purpose.
Smirking, he added, “Losing a child hurts, doesn’t it? But hey, that won’t be a problem for you anymore. Adriana can’t carry your children ever again.”
“You had the audacity to keep getting her pregnant? Trying to compete with me for the role of Lawson Group’s CEO’s husband? Keep dreaming.”
“Adriana gave everything up for me. She willingly forfeited her inheritance, endured countless painful extractions—just so she could fuse with my sperm. Even those dead babies of yours... they became my nourishment.”
My head shot up, my voice trembling.
“What did you say?”
He sneered, lips curling in triumph. “Why do you think Adriana never let you see the babies after she miscarried? She always said they were buried, right? No—she just didn’t want you to know. I told her eating them would strengthen my body.”
A wave of despair, rage, and disbelief crashed over me.
That’s why she never let me see the babies?
For Khalil... she went that far?
He laughed cruelly.
“Don’t give me that pitiful look. Who can you blame but yourself? Useless father, useless man. Your kids were only ever good enough to feed me.”
I couldn’t take it anymore.
With all the strength in my broken heart, I raised my hand and slapped Khalil hard across the face.
