Chapter 3
Seeing my terrible attitude towards Max, Joanna frowned and said, displeased, "Marvin, could you calm down?"
After some reprimand, Joanna gently saw Max out.
As Max left, he didn't forget to intimately call Joanna "honey" in front of me.
After the door closed, Joanna frowned at the mess on the floor and demanded, "Marvin, what are you doing?"
I coldly looked at her, feeling no love left in my heart.
"Don't you think it's inappropriate for a married woman to have a child with another man, and to still be lingering at her ex-boyfriend's house?"
"Married to whom? What nonsense are you talking about?" Joanna retorted with a look of astonishment. Joanna looked innocent, as if I were fabricating rumors without reason.
Filled with shock, I couldn't help but demand, "Joanna, you and Max already have a child. How else do you plan to explain yourself?"
As soon as I finished, Joanna abruptly stood up, her voice sharp.
"Having a child is one thing, and marriage is another. Can they be conflated?
"I only co-parented a child with him; I never said I would abandon you. What is your intention in calling yourself my 'ex-boyfriend' every chance you get?"
Joanna, in turn, began to question me, "Have you found someone new this past year, which is why you want to break up with me?"
Faced with Joanna's aggressive counter-attack, I couldn't help but marvel at her strong psychological fortitude.
Seeing my pale face and icy stare at her for the first time, Joanna was momentarily taken aback before softening her tone.
She stepped forward and tightly held my hand, her eyes filled with pleading.
"Don't overthink this. I had this child actually to help Max solve a major problem, so he could inherit the family business with peace of mind.
"Max's parents gave him an ultimatum, saying that if he couldn't produce an heir before he turned thirty, they would strip him of his inheritance and leave him with nothing.
"Just imagine, how could someone who has lived in luxury since childhood possibly endure such a drastic change?
Joanna's words were full of helplessness and compassion, as if she were making a great sacrifice.
"You know, Max and I grew up together, like brother and sister. How could I bear to watch him fall from heaven into hell?
"He returned from abroad specifically to ask for my help with this favor. He said it would be better for me to take on this role than a stranger, as we at least trust each other."
Such a reason sounded so grand.
"Joanna, whether you two are married or not, you've had sex and even had a child. That's a fact."
I took a deep breath and solemnly told Joanna, "I cannot accept this. We're breaking up."
Joanna, however, was unfazed and disdainfully raised an eyebrow.
"Marvin, I just had a child for someone else, didn't I? Do you have to be so petty and threaten me with a breakup?" She chuckled, leaned closer, and casually said, as if coaxing a child.
"Alright, you're just jealous that Max and I had a child. At most, once I recover, we'll have our own child, and I promise the child will be yours."
Joanna spoke about having a child so casually.
Once, I truly longed to build our own family of three with Joanna.
Even after five years of dating, my tolerance and accommodation couldn't change her unwillingness to marry.
Yet, Max's arrival easily made her change her mind.
Seeing Joanna act so carelessly, I felt a wave of disgust. "Once you've recovered, go ahead and have a second child for Max. I don't want anything to do with you anymore."