Love after my wife's betrayalChapter 1
Chapter 1
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For five years, I hid my true identity as a billionaire CEO, choosing to live a simple life with my wife, Naomi. On the morning of our fifth anniversary, she surprised me with a positive pregnancy test. I was flooded with joy. Finally, I’d be able to tell her everything, to come clean about the life I’d hidden, to share in the happiness of this moment as a family. But just as I prepared to reveal my truth, a notification on her phone caught my eye.
It was from her first love, Ben. He was terminally ill, and the words on the screen sent a chill down my spine.
“I’m endlessly grateful to my ‘forever friend,’ who’s offered to bring my child into this world just before I leave it,” read his post. Attached were a sonogram and a picture of the two of them in a tight embrace.
The million-dollar necklace I had hidden away for her sat heavy in my pocket. My heart felt cold, and instead of joy, anger began to take over. With a twisted smile, I typed, “May this loving family always be happy!” and left it at that. Then, I made a decision. I proposed a divorce to Naomi that night.
She broke down when I brought it up. She cried, her eyes red and swollen, begging me to stay. But before I could even leave, Ben’s name flashed on her screen again. I answered, wanting to hear it from him.
His voice was calm but dripping with satisfaction. “I’m sorry, Eli. I thought Naomi would’ve mentioned it. She’s willing to have my child, to keep some part of me alive when I’m gone. You understand, right?”
I gritted my teeth.
“Relax,” he continued, laughing softly. “It’s just IVF. No cheating here. You’ll still be the dad, technically. The baby will even call you ‘Dad’ someday.” His voice was filled with mock pity. “Naomi’s your wife, Eli, but she’s still the one who promised to do this for me. Doesn’t that say something?”
I clenched my phone until I could feel it nearly cracking. But it was Naomi’s voice in the background that tore me apart.
“Why do you care about him, Ben? He wants a divorce because he can’t handle the truth.” Her words came clear as a bell, dismissive, cold. “You really think he’d leave me? He just needs time to calm down. He’s so predictable.”
Her laughter floated through the phone, and all I could do was listen as she comforted Ben. “Just focus on your health, okay? Our child can’t wait to call you ‘Daddy.’”