Volume One, Chapter One: The Womb Is Yours

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On our wedding night, my wife and her first love secretly went to the hospital for IVF, all to fulfill the dying wish of his father.

“My uterus is my own. It’s my right to choose for whom I bear a child,” my wife declared.

If that’s the case, what’s the point of this marriage?

...

“Li Ya, Uncle Zhao watched me grow up. He’s terminally ill now, the doctors say he has no more than a year left. His greatest wish is to hold a grandchild.”

“Tonight, I’m going to the hospital with Brother Zhao for IVF. That’s why I didn’t discuss it with you in advance.”

“Don’t worry, it’s only IVF. Nothing will really happen.”

In the festive room, Li Ya sat at the edge of the large bed, dressed in a suit, his eyes blankly staring into the air. On the wall still hung their wedding photo. This was supposed to be their wedding night, yet his bride, Su Yunjin, had secretly run off to the hospital with another man.

On this day of celebration, Li Ya was left alone in the empty bridal chamber.

Perhaps to prevent him from interfering, Su Yunjin had done everything quietly—even the hospital they’d chosen was kept secret, leaving Li Ya no chance to stop them.

“Sorry, the number you have dialed is unavailable...”

He couldn’t remember how many times he’d tried calling, but every time, the result was the same: he was blocked.

As time passed, Li Ya’s heart grew colder, until finally, it was completely numb. By now, he no longer called hoping Su Yunjin would change her mind, but simply out of stubbornness.

“Ding—”

Suddenly, a message popped up on his phone, from an unfamiliar number.

“Brother Li, don’t worry. Yunjin has me by her side. Nothing will happen. I’ll take good care of her tonight.”

Right after, another photo arrived.

In the photo, his bride, Su Yunjin, was lying on a hospital bed. Even in a plain hospital gown, her refined beauty shone through. She gazed at the camera with deep affection.

But Li Ya knew that look was not for him, but for Zhao Qian, who was taking the picture.

Li Ya collapsed backward onto the bed he had carefully chosen, the room filled with things he’d selected to make it feel like home. He’d spent countless nights dreaming of building a warm, cozy home with Su Yunjin, growing ever more excited at the thought.

Now, the soft bedding brought him no warmth, only a chill that seeped into his bones.

He recalled his memories with Su Yunjin. They had met, grown close, and fallen in love in college—a golden couple, envied by all.

When had cracks begun to form between them?

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It must have been the year they graduated college—the same year Zhao Qian returned.

That was when Li Ya learned that Su Yunjin had a childhood sweetheart: Zhao Qian. After high school, Zhao Qian had gone to study abroad, and their innocent affection ended before it began. From then on, Zhao Qian became the unattainable love of Su Yunjin’s youth.

After Zhao Qian returned, Su Yunjin’s relationship with him quickly heated up. She’d travel with him under the pretense of work, watch sunrises together, cuddle on the beach at sunset, and even embrace and kiss beneath the Antarctic auroras.

How did Li Ya know? Because Zhao Qian would deliberately, sometimes subtly and sometimes overtly, let him see their intimate photos.

Li Ya quarreled fiercely with Su Yunjin over this, but every time, she had the same explanation.

“Can’t you stop being so suspicious?”

“If I wanted anything with Brother Zhao, it would’ve happened long ago!”

“I never realized you could be so unreasonable. Brother Zhao and I are just friends now.”

And so on.

Now, even after their wedding, Li Ya believed Zhao Qian would finally be out of their lives. Yet, on their wedding night, Su Yunjin went to the hospital with Zhao Qian for IVF.

“Ring ring ring!”

Just then, his phone rang. Li Ya answered, and a familiar voice came through.

“Aren’t you coming home yet?”

That voice was one Li Ya knew all too well—since he’d come of age, the man on the other end had called him once every year.

Li Ya let out a cold laugh. “Why should I? To see how well you’re living now?”

A silence, then a sigh. “I’m afraid next year, I won’t be able to make this call.”

Li Ya retorted mercilessly, “Good people die young, but evil lasts forever. Someone like you, dying so easily?”

The other end fell silent.

After ten minutes, Li Ya finally asked, unnerved, “Are you really out of time? Don’t joke. You have the best doctors, the best medicine. Who could outlive you?”

“It’s been four years. Isn’t it time to let go? I was wrong to hide your mother’s death from you, but it was a crucial moment—and it was your mother’s decision as well.” The voice, that of a man who could sway the fate of countless companies, now sounded unprecedentedly weary.

Li Ya snorted, but his tone was less cold than before.

“And even if you resent me, shouldn’t you at least come back to see the last gift your mother prepared for you?”

Sensing Li Ya’s shifting mood, the man on the other end dropped another bombshell.

A flicker of hesitation crossed Li Ya’s eyes.

“Haven’t you always wanted to investigate your mother’s death? I don’t have time to look into it anymore, but if you take over everything from me, you can investigate as you wish.”

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After a moment’s silence, Li Ya gritted out, “Send someone to pick me up tomorrow!”

“Good!”

The call ended.

Meanwhile, in a luxurious villa, a middle-aged man hung up the phone, his expression relaxed.

Only then did the butler dare to speak. “Sir, your health...”

“Don’t worry. I’m fine!” the man replied slyly.

The butler was taken aback and asked, “Then what about what you just told the young master?”

The man smiled like a fox. “Hmph, how else could I trick our family’s little dragon back home without a bit of cunning?”

The next day.

Creak—

Li Ya was awakened by the sound of the door opening. He shot up in bed, realizing he’d fallen asleep at some point the night before, still dressed in his wedding suit.

At that moment, the door to the bridal room opened, and a man and a woman walked in. The man was gently caressing the woman’s belly.

Su Yunjin beamed with happiness. She met Li Ya’s gaze, her face flustered for a moment before quickly regaining composure.

“We haven’t eaten since last night,” she said coolly. “Why don’t you make us breakfast?”

Ever since their relationship began, Li Ya had cooked different dishes for Su Yunjin every day; she was used to ordering him around.

Then Zhao Qian scolded, “Li Ya, is this how you take care of Yunjin?”

“The doctor said she’s not fit for IVF right now. We made a trip for nothing.”

“You need to help Yunjin recover. We’ve already scheduled the next IVF appointment.”

At that, Li Ya sneered, “Why bother with IVF? Why not consummate right here? The room’s ready, no need to trouble yourselves with extra trips. How about my suggestion?”

Both Su Yunjin and Zhao Qian were stunned, shock evident in their eyes.

Li Ya had always been cold to any man around Su Yunjin, but now he was suggesting they consummate the marriage right in front of him. It was wholly out of character.

A moment later, Su Yunjin recovered from her shock and shouted angrily, “Li Ya, do you realize what you’re saying? We just had our wedding yesterday, and today you say something like this. What do you take me for?”

Li Ya brushed off his suit, stood tall, and replied coldly, “It’s just about having a child, isn’t it? You said yourself it’s to fulfill Uncle Zhao’s dying wish. If you can’t even handle consummating, what’s the point?”

Then, his tone turned mocking. “Besides, you, Su Yunjin, went to the hospital with another man for IVF on our wedding night. Do you still expect me to see you as a person?”

“Look in the mirror—do you even deserve it?”