Her Child Was Never Mine

On the day of Isabelle Jensen's coming-of-age ceremony, the Jensen family went bankrupt and was acquired. Both her parents took their own lives.

Her childhood sweetheart called off the engagement. When she threw herself into the sea in despair, I was the one who saved her.

I gave up my chance to study abroad and stayed by her side as she fought her way through the business world.

We spent eight years together. We built a publicly traded company from nothing.

But at our child's birthday celebration, her childhood sweetheart burst into the banquet hall, a vicious smile twisting his face.

"You swore to me back then that your first child would be mine."

"As the child's father, I should be allowed at my own son's celebration, don't you think?"

His words hit me like a thunderbolt. I turned to Isabelle, waiting for an explanation.

She just looked back at me, expressionless. No denial. Nothing.

In that moment, the heart that had loved her for twenty years died completely.

"Do you really have nothing to explain to me?"

My voice trembled as I asked Isabelle.

Zachary Mitchell's arrogant voice still hung in the air. Every guest at the banquet looked at me with eyes full of mockery, trampling whatever was left of my pride.

Isabelle's expression was calm. She tilted her head, almost confused.

"Explain? Didn't you promise me that you'd love any child of mine?"

She looked at my pale face and spoke flatly.

"I already told you. You're the father. Having a child for him was just keeping a promise I made a long time ago."

She took my hand. Fake reassurance.

"I'll make him leave right now."

"It's a happy day. Don't make that face. Everyone's watching."

Her voice was gentle, but to my ears it sounded as cold as a viper's hiss.

I stared at her, furious. My heart felt hollow.

So she knew exactly how many people were here today?

And still she let them trample my dignity. In public. In front of everyone.

The security guards rushed over and tried to pull Zachary away. He shook them off and walked up to me, a malicious smile on his face.

"I'm not here to fight you for the child. I've got nothing now anyway. The kid will get the best education staying with you."

"And then inherit all your assets."

"Today I'm just here to give you a birthday present."

He pulled a bright green hat from a black bag and placed it on my head, laughing wildly.

"I picked it out myself. It suits you perfectly."

He leaned close to me with the arrogant posture of a victor, speaking mockingly.

"Take good care of my child for me, you pathetic cuckold!"

Humiliation and rage flooded my chest. I couldn't hold back anymore. I grabbed a plate from the table and smashed it hard into his disgusting face.

Zachary's head was covered in blood from my strike, but his eyes flashed with triumph.

The next second, Isabelle's indifferent expression turned anxious as she rushed to Zachary's side, carefully supporting him while shoving me away with her other hand.

I hadn't guarded against her. I stumbled and fell to the ground. My palms were pierced by glass shards, blood flowing freely.

I gasped in pain, but Isabelle didn't notice at all. All her attention was on Zachary.

I stared at her fixedly. In the eight years we'd been together, she had never shown me such concerned, anxious expressions.

Now she was worried about her enemy. Bitterness spread from my heart through my entire body.

Eight years ago, I saved Isabelle from drowning herself in the sea. She cried uncontrollably in my arms, begging me to help her make the Mitchell family pay.

I gave up my own dreams, tore up that acceptance letter from a foreign university, and fought alongside her in the business world, slowly rebuilding the Jensen Corporation.

I still remember that to secure a contract worth hundreds of millions, I drank with the client for three days straight before finalizing the deal. That same day I was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment.

When I woke up, what I received wasn't Isabelle's concern, but her cold complaint:

Why couldn't I have held on one more day before going to the hospital? The client almost canceled the cooperation when they saw me collapse.

Back then, I told myself she was too focused on revenge to notice the people around her.

Now, watching her worry over Zachary, I finally understood.

She never cared about me. Not once.

But that's fine. I know how to love. And I know how to let go.

Isabelle Jensen, since you've betrayed me, I don't want you anymore.

"I'll send you... I'll have someone take you to the hospital."

Isabelle looked at the guests. Halfway through her sentence, she changed her words. She walked toward me somewhat guiltily, frowning at my wound.

"How did you get hurt so badly? I'll take you to the hospital."

I watched Zachary leave with a triumphant expression all over his face, and coldly withdrew my hand.

"No need. You should go accompany your little lover instead!"

Isabelle frowned. "Do you have to speak so nastily?"

I looked at her sarcastically.

"I'm not pathetic enough to stay with you after being cheated on. Let's get a divorce."

"Wait. I almost forgot. You and I never actually got married."

I smiled bitterly, laughing at myself from eight years ago who gave away his whole heart.

Eight years ago when I proposed to her, she agreed but told me she no longer believed in marriage. She could be with me, but wouldn't register the marriage.

I pitied her for having her heart broken by her childhood sweetheart. For these years I stayed by her side without title or status.

Friends advised me that I was working for free.

If she ever changed her mind, my years of youth would be wasted and I'd get nothing.

Back then I didn't believe them. Now their words had come true. I had become a complete fool.

Hearing me talk about separating, Isabelle's expression changed. She looked at me in disbelief.

"I just kept a promise. That's all. Zachary and I are done after this child."

"We can still have a good life together. Why are you so hung up on one thing?"

"You keep saying you love me. Is this how shallow your love is?"

I stared at Isabelle. She was still as beautiful as the day we met.

But her heart had changed.

She was no longer that kind girl. Now she was petty. Hypocritical. Selfish.

I closed my eyes, hiding the tears in them, and spoke coldly.

"Yes, I'm not that magnanimous."

"Don't talk to me about love anymore. You're not worthy of my true heart!"

After saying this, I left resolutely, leaving Isabelle alone in the banquet hall.

I drove straight to the hospital. When the doctor cleaned my wound without anesthesia, I didn't feel any pain. The ache in my heart had already filled my brain's nerves.

My mind wandered. The first time I met Isabelle was in a village. I came from a single-parent family and lived in poverty from childhood.

The Jensen Corporation came to the village to do charity work. Young Isabelle handed me a set of books, encouraging me to study hard. Her innocent, kind smile left a mark on my heart.

I had always admired Isabelle from a worshipful position, which is why when the Jensen family went bankrupt, I gave up my dreams without hesitation to help her.

I thought I had finally picked the rose, but it was just an illusion.

After my wound was bandaged, I suppressed all my emotions and stood up.

Forget it. We'll part amicably. Consider it repaying the Jensen family's kindness to me.

After leaving the hospital, I first went to the company to resign and pack up my personal belongings, then drove to the villa to pick up Shadow.

Shadow was the only thing my mother left me. I could give up everything else.

But him, I had to take with me.

However, when I opened the villa door, I saw a scene that tore my heart apart.

Shadow lay dying in a pool of blood. Zachary held an axe, smiling cruelly,

while Isabelle stood nearby, smiling indulgently.

"What are you doing?"

I rushed over like a madman, my hands trembling as I held Shadow.

Shadow stretched out his tongue to lick my palm, his gentle eyes full of reluctance.

"Shadow, hang on. I'll take you to find a doctor right now."

Tears streamed down my face. I frantically tried to run out with Shadow in my arms, but was pinned down by security guards.

Zachary stepped on my shoulder, looking down at me from above.

"Pure black dog blood is the most nourishing. I lost so much blood."

"Killing this beast to replenish my body is only right, isn't it, Isabelle?"

I glared at Isabelle with reddening eyes and roared.

"Isabelle Jensen, you know perfectly well that Shadow is the only thing my mother left me. He even saved your life!"

"Do you have any conscience? For this enemy, you'd even kill Shadow!"

Isabelle slightly avoided my gaze and argued unreasonably.

"If you hadn't impulsively injured Zachary, he wouldn't have had to die."

"He was just an old beast about to die anyway. Dying while contributing to people, accumulating some merit-maybe he'll be reborn into a good life."

Zachary laughed loudly. As I watched with splitting eyes, he chopped off Shadow's head with one axe blow. He laughed triumphantly.

"Adrian Stone, so what if you've licked her boots for eight years?"

"In her heart, you'll never compare to me!"

He looked at Isabelle, his tone frivolous.

"You've already completed two of the three promises. For the last one, I want you to register our marriage with me."

I didn't hear his words. I just stared blankly at Shadow's corpse. Endless hatred grew in my heart. To hell with parting amicably.

I looked at Isabelle with bloodshot eyes, cursing her word by word.

"Isabelle , you bitch! If your parents' spirits in heaven saw you bearing a child for their enemy, they'd probably regret ever giving birth to you!"

"Five years ago, Shadow shouldn't have risked his life to save you from those criminals. He should have let you be violated to death."

"Isabelle Jensen, you're not worthy of anyone's love!"

Isabelle's expression changed drastically, as if my words had struck a painful spot. She spoke impatiently.

"You keep talking about gratitude. If we're talking about that, the Jensen family's kindness to you is greater!"

"My parents supported you growing up. Helping me was your obligation from the start. Don't try to guilt-trip me!"

I laughed loudly at Isabelle. Through my blurred vision, I seemed to see again the woman who once cried and promised to love me forever. In another blink, what I saw was her hypocritical, selfish face.

Overcome with anger and grief, I passed out directly.

When I woke up, I found myself in a hospital bed. I struggled to leave but was stopped by security guards. Isabelle had imprisoned me in the hospital.

She didn't arrive until evening, handing me an urn. She said softly.

"Shadow's ashes."

I took the box and held it tightly in my arms, speaking sarcastically.

"Should I thank you for collecting his remains?"

Isabelle looked at my cold eyes, feeling a slight stabbing pain in her heart. I had always been gentle and considerate toward her. She was very uncomfortable with this coldness.

She comforted herself that I was just angry. Once she completed the three promises, she would properly soothe me.

With this thought, her heart settled. She held my hand and spoke gently.

"Adrian, my heart isn't made of stone. After eight years together, I've long since fallen in love with you."

"Once I fulfill my last promise to Zachary, I'll live a good life with you."

"I'll give you a grand wedding, even grander than the one with Zachary."

I looked at her mockingly.

"What gives you the illusion that I'd still be with you?"

A flash of anger appeared in Isabelle's eyes. She raised her voice.

"You're a penniless househusband now. If you don't stay with me, where can you go?"

I thought I wouldn't be hurt by her anymore, but these words still stabbed my heart.

Back then, I willingly returned to domestic life for the sake of the child, wanting to create a warm and happy family of three.

All those beautiful visions had now turned into arrows, piercing my heart until it bled.

"Get out! I don't want to see you anymore!"

I roared, chasing her away. Isabelle wasn't angry. She gently patted my hand.

"I'll give you time to accept reality. No matter what, I won't abandon you."

"Just be good. While Zachary and I are preparing for the wedding, don't appear. It'll save us from uglier rumors spreading."

After saying this, she turned to leave. Before going, she didn't forget to tell the security guards to take good care of me.

Hearing her hypocritical concern, I felt physically sick.

After she left, I tore off the necklace I'd been wearing. The built-in alarm was triggered.

Half an hour later, all the security guards Isabelle had left were subdued. I looked at the butler, Mr. Morrison, standing respectfully before me and said coldly.

"I agree to return and inherit the family assets. But first, investigate all of Zachary's and Isabelle's interactions over these years!"

I patiently waited for Mr. Morrison's investigation results. I understood Zachary very well. He was selfish and mean by nature.

Isabelle bankrupted the Mitchell family. He wasn't some lovesick fool-how could he still love her? There must be a conspiracy here!

Mr. Morrison moved quickly. Half an hour later, he handed me a thick stack of documents. After reading through them, I laughed loudly, tears forming at the corners of my eyes.

Just as I thought, this was all a scam. Zachary approached her only for revenge.

He just told one lie-that his betrayal of her back then was forced-and Isabelle stupidly believed it. She even went to have his child through IVF under his coaxing.

But in reality, that child wasn't hers at all. It was Zachary's and his true lover's.

All of this was just Zachary's revenge on Isabelle!

And Isabelle, the woman I once cherished-with just one simple sentence from Zachary, she suspected I had ulterior motives staying by her side. She wanted to break my self-respect and train me into her most convenient tool.

In the darkness, the rage and hatred in my eyes were particularly evident. These two people toyed with my true feelings and destroyed Shadow, whom I cared about most. Did they really think I was a powerless orphan?

Zachary Mitchell, Isabelle Jensen!

I silently chewed on these two names, my teeth grinding loudly. You joined forces to trample my dignity.

This generous treatment-on your wedding day, I will definitely prepare a generous gift in return!

Seven days later, the wedding proceeded as scheduled. Isabelle wore a white wedding dress. Looking at Zachary walking toward her, she unconsciously revealed a happy smile.

The two completed the ceremony under the pastor's blessing. Just as they were about to toast, several drones flew in, scattering DNA test reports into every guest's hands.

In the chaos, I walked onto the stage. Dressed in mourning clothes. Laughing.

"Today's my ex's wedding. How could I, the ex-boyfriend, not show up to toast the happy couple?"

"First glass. To you two scumbags. Locked together forever. May you never part."

"Second glass. On behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Jensen. Their own daughter married the man who drove them to their graves. They must be spinning in theirs."

"Third glass. To you, Isabelle Jensen. The fool who got played from start to finish. Carrying another man's child for him. Congratulations, new mother."

My voice echoed through the speakers, filling the entire hall.

Isabelle's face went pale. Her body swayed. Then she shrieked.

"Security! Throw this lunatic out! Don't let him say another word!"

Two burly guards rushed over, pinned me to the floor, and covered my mouth as they dragged me away.

The next second, dozens of black-suited bodyguards burst through the doors. A voice boomed like thunder.

"Who dares lay a hand on Raymond Parker's son?!"