My Wife Had Illegitimate Twins, Now They Want My Fortune

After twenty years of being child-free, my company, Gregory Corp., was finally about to go public.

That day, Melanie, my wife, came home with a pair of twins.

"Zach, these are my children. They're twenty-two now. We're not getting any younger, and it's time to hand the company over to them."

I stared at her, shocked. She wouldn't meet my eyes. One minute, she said having the kids was for my sake, and the next, she called it an accident.

But she forgot one thing. Back then, it was her idea to stay child-free. Melanie said she was terrified of childbirth and all the pain that came with it.

And so, I went along with it.

Right then, she dropped the bomb. "If you don't agree, we'll divorce. I'll take half the company."

Melanie grabbed the twins, almost like she was making a point, and added, "You can't take the company or the shares to the grave. You should be grateful I had the foresight to give birth to these two."

Her words stung, but I didn't respond right away.

Instead, I turned and dialed my secretary's number.

"Ms. Monroe, make my DNA information public worldwide. I'm going to find every one of my children."

——

The next morning, the fraternal twins, with their striking resemblance to Melanie, sat at the dining table, waiting for me.

They handed me a share transfer agreement.

Then, the girl said boldly, "Uncle Zach, we're Mom's children. As her spouse, you should recognize our inheritance rights. You're getting older, and you don't have any biological children. If you treat us well, we'll take care of you in your old age. We'll make sure you're taken care of when you're gone."

I stared at the girl.

Her face looked nearly identical to Melanie's. She couldn't meet my eyes, her gaze flickering with guilt but refusing to connect with mine.

It was clear now, no denying it anymore.

"Melanie," I said, my voice cold. "You really think you have a right to a share of this company? Two illegitimate children? Do you think they deserve to inherit Gregory Corp.?"

Since we got married, Melanie has never worked a day. She always claims health issues. When she isn't at the spa, she's shopping, gambling at the casino, or jetting off on vacations.

It was I, through sleepless nights and working tirelessly until I nearly bled, who built Gregory Corp. from the ground up.

The four of us sat in tense silence.

Then the boy spoke up, breaking the quiet. "Uncle Zach, if you won't accept us, we won't force you. We only want what belongs to our mother."

The girl added, "Legally, we can't inherit your estate. But if Mom divorces you, she'll still get half, right? You might as well be generous and acknowledge us. Let us inherit the company. Out of respect for Mom, we won't throw you out when you're old."

They exchanged glances. I stayed quiet, a sneer curling at the corner of my mouth.

They had been waiting for this moment for twenty-two years. Showing up now so boldly, it was clear they had studied the law and knew exactly when to make their move.

If we divorced, Melanie would walk away with half of everything. The IPO wouldn't just fail to go public; it would collapse. All those early investments would go to waste.

Such calculation. Such cruelty.

In the heavy silence that followed, Melanie scolded the twins, "Archie, don't talk to Uncle Zach like that. He doesn't have any children of his own. Of course, he'll come to love you."

Then she looked at me, her voice softer, as she continued, "Honey, look, it's already come to this. Archie and Noelle both graduated from top American universities. They're thoughtful and well-behaved. You'll need heirs someday. As long as you give them the company, they'll be your children. They'll take care of you when you're older. I promise."

I let out a cold laugh.

Melanie cheated on me, had children outside of our relationship, and now she expects me to thank her for leaving me an 'heir'?

What was I supposed to do? Thank her?

Or else, what—be thrown out onto the street in my old age to scavenge for scraps?

After twenty years of marriage, I looked at Melanie, still youthful and well-maintained, and realized I had grown old.

I turned my gaze back to the twins.

Then, I asked the one question that cut through everything.