Don’t Give Me Tainted Love

After three years with my girlfriend, she fell for my adoptive younger brother. I stepped aside and let her go. Not long afterward, I married my childhood friend, the girl who had spent years pursuing me without ever giving up. For eight years, we built what seemed like a perfect life together. Our family of three lived in harmony, and I believed I had finally found the happiness I had once lost. That illusion was shattered the day our son was injured in an accident. What should have been an ordinary hospital visit revealed a devastating truth: he was not my biological child. Desperate for answers, I went to my wife's company to confront her. However, before I could step inside, I overheard her talking to a close friend. "I only married Draven for the sake of Eric’s happiness. "You have no idea how disgusted I feel every time I have to sleep beside him!" Regardless of how blind I had been before, those words finally woke me up. In that moment, every last trace of hope died inside me. If that was how she truly felt, then there was nothing left to save. It was time for this marriage to end. Chapter 1 My head was still buzzing as I left the office. Yvette Shaw's words kept echoing in my ears, over and over again, like the shrill wail of a siren. I went home. The moment I opened the front door, a toy car came flying straight at me and slammed into my forehead. The pain hit me before I could react. Standing in the middle of the living room, my son, James Scott, glared at me with an annoyed look on his face. "Why are you only getting home now? I'm starving." My chest tightened with a mixture of hurt and bitterness, but I apologized out of habit anyway. "I'm sorry. I'll cook right away." James was an extremely picky eater and was allergic to many foods. I had instructed the nanny not to let him touch anything other than the meals I made for him myself. As I turned toward the kitchen, I heard him mutter under his breath, "You don't care about me at all. You're nothing like Papa." I froze. Spinning around, I grabbed James by the arm. "What did you just say?" I demanded. "What did you call Eric?" James blinked, clearly not expecting such a strong reaction. Then, he shoved me hard. "What are you doing? Yeah, I called him Papa. What's wrong with that? Mom told me to, and he's always been good to me, unlike you! You don't even have a job, and you can't even take care of me properly." The shove sent me stumbling backward. At that moment, something fragile inside me finally snapped. Without my knowledge, my son had already become so close to Eric, my adoptive brother. James stopped complaining and frowned in confusion. "Why are you crying?" Instinctively, I touched my cheek. Only then did I realize cold tears were running down my face. James curled his lip in disgust. "You're really useless! Mom was right." I fought back my tears and forced myself to ask one more question. "If Mom and I got divorced, who would you choose to live with?" He answered without a second of hesitation. "Mom, obviously. Dad, you're useless. Eric's the one who should be my real dad." I was the one who raised James. From the day he was born, I had devoted myself to him, playing with him, helping him with his first steps, and sounding out his first words with him. I had poured years of love and effort into raising him, yet the people he loved most were my wife and Eric. Maybe he really was Eric's child. One blow after another had beaten me down throughout the day, and this final realization was the last straw. I completely broke down. Staggering back to my room, I finally let the sobs I had been suppressing burst free. I lifted a hand to wipe away my tears. As I did, my wedding ring slipped from my finger. I bent down and picked it up, gently rubbing the band that Yvette had custom-designed and made. Before our wedding, I had been so touched when she gave it to me that I nearly cried. I had not even cared that it was slightly too large. Then, as I examined it more closely, I noticed something I had never seen before. A tulip was engraved on the inside of the ring. It was Eric's favorite flower. My gaze lingered on the engraving as another realization struck me. Eric's hands were one size larger than mine. The cold metal against my fingertips seemed to force the truth into my mind. The ring had never been the wrong size by accident. It had been meant for Eric all along. The loose fit, the engraved tulip—none of it was a coincidence. They were clues my wife had left behind for him, hidden in plain sight. Shock washed over me. I sank onto the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the ring in my hand as the weight of the truth finally settled in. Just then, my phone vibrated. A message from my best friend popped up on the screen. His new company was about to open for business, and he wanted to know if I could visit. Years ago, because of Yvette and James, I had handed over almost all of my career responsibilities to others to manage. Chapter 2 The ties that had bound me for so many years suddenly felt as though they no longer existed. I quickly replied. [Of course. Give me four days.] James’ birthday was in three days. I planned to leave once it was over. Less than a second after I sent the message, my friend's excited reply popped up. [Can't wait! We'll celebrate properly when you get here.] … After booking my flight, I looked up as Yvette pushed open the bedroom door. She wore the same gentle smile she always did. "What's wrong with you today? Not only did you skip cooking for James, but you've been crying, too?" I stared at her. If I had not overheard those words earlier, I might have believed that warm, caring expression. "I'm sick. The family cook is here. Let her make dinner." "James only likes your cooking," she said. "Stop being stubborn." "I said, I'm sick." Her expression froze for a second, as if she was not used to me speaking to her that way. "Usually, you'd still cook for him even if you had a fever..." She did not care about me at all. The only reason I had never noticed before was that I had spent years deceiving myself. What kind of wife saw her sick husband and only cared about what her child was going to eat? Perhaps my silence made her realize she had gone too far. She quickly added, "Anyway, Eric bought James some fried chicken. If you come out, the two of us can just eat something simple." I gave a faint nod. "Hmm." That only seemed to confuse her more. In the past, the moment I heard James was eating takeout, I would immediately ask about the ingredients. Today, I asked nothing. When I followed her into the living room, I found James holding a piece of fried chicken. He was on a video call with Eric, chatting happily as laughter echoed through the room. It was as if the hostile child from earlier had never existed. I studied his features. The more I looked, the more his eyes resembled Eric's. Yvette scooped James into her arms and greeted Eric on the screen with a gentle smile. Meanwhile, I silently ate the food in front of me. It tasted like cardboard. The three of them laughed and talked through the video call like a perfect family of three. I was the outsider. The family cook carried over a plate of meatloaf and placed it in front of me. "Sir, Mrs. Scott specifically asked me to make this for you. She said it's your favorite. Mrs. Scott is so thoughtful." My hand froze around my fork. I had never eaten beef, and Yvette knew that better than anyone. I had reminded her countless times over the years, yet she still ordered it whenever we went out to eat. I had always assumed she did it because she liked it. Looking back now, I realized I might have been wrong all along. Eric's eyes lit up on the screen. "Oh, meatloaf! I love that." Yvette immediately replied, "And you like it with extra spice, right?" Eric smiled warmly. "That's right." Then, he looked toward the camera. "Draven, you're not upset that James is eating fried chicken, are you? It's my fault. I was only thinking about what James likes." Yvette's expression stiffened. She glanced at me before answering casually, "No. He's fine." A trace of confusion entered Eric's voice. "Huh? Oh... Well, that's good..." Before he could finish speaking, a series of loud crashes suddenly came from his side of the call. Bang! Bang! Bang! It sounded like something was being smashed. The video abruptly disconnected. Yvette shot to her feet instantly, panic written all over her face. Only when she noticed me watching did she casually throw out an excuse. "Something came up at the office." Even her lies were lazy. I did not need to guess where she was going. She was going to find Eric. James jumped up as well and grabbed Yvette's hand anxiously. "Mom, take me with you. Take me!" Without waiting for me to say a word, the two of them hurried out the door. I stared at the empty dining table. Suddenly, the whole thing felt ridiculous. Eight years of marriage, and I had been kept in the dark like a fool. I picked up my fork and put a piece of meat into my mouth. A sharp burst of spice rushed straight up my nose, making my eyes water instantly. Then, I remembered. Every time Yvette ordered food, she would choose salty, spicy dishes. Chapter 3 I had always thought Yvette simply preferred strong flavors, but now that I thought about it, every dish she ordered was just tailored to Eric's taste. … Yvette never came home that night. The next morning, out of habit, I reached for my phone to send her a good morning message. The moment I unlocked the screen, a trending headline caught my eye. [Shaw Family Heiress Spends the Night With Her Beloved Husband!] The accompanying photo showed Yvette and Eric embracing inside a car. James sat beside them, watching Eric with a worried expression. The internet was buzzing with speculation that the man in the photo was the Shaw family's secret son-in-law. Back when Yvette and I got married, her company had been on the verge of bankruptcy. She had told me that the situation was too unstable for a proper wedding. She promised she would give me an unforgettable wedding once the Shaw Group got through the crisis. Over the years, the Shaw Group had grown stronger and stronger, eventually becoming one of the most influential companies in its industry. As the company prospered, however, Yvette never mentioned that promise again. Only now did I finally understand why. From the very beginning, she had never intended to spend her life with me. Suddenly, voices drifted up from the living room downstairs. I got out of bed and headed down. Yvette was sitting beside the sofa, carefully tending to a wound on Eric's arm. "Does it hurt?" she asked, her voice full of concern. "I can't believe she actually hit you!" The pain in her eyes was impossible to hide. "Tomorrow, I'll make the Brooks Group pay for this. Their business has been getting worse and worse anyway." Eric lowered his head, looking pitiful and wronged. "Don't do that, Yvette. I'm still part of the Brooks family. No matter what happens, I don't want things to get ugly." Yvette reached up and gently touched his face. The way she looked at him was soft and full of affection. "Then leave her. Come to me." Her voice was almost a whisper. "The Shaw Group is strong enough now. I can give you everything you've ever wanted." Eric hesitated on purpose, his eyes shimmering with tears. "What about Draven?" James lifted his head from Eric's arms and spoke in a childish voice. "Don't be scared, Papa! I don't want my dad. I only want you!" His vulnerable expression only made Yvette's heart ache even more. "You know how I feel about you..." I had suspected the truth for a long time. Even so, seeing it with my own eyes still sent a sharp pain through my chest. Eric's eyes were quick. He spotted me standing at the staircase immediately and switched to a wounded expression. "Draven, did we wake you up?" A flash of triumph flickered through his eyes before disappearing. Yvette looked up in panic, her gaze darting nervously away. "Y-you're awake." James was still too young to hide what he was thinking. He immediately jumped up. "Dad, you should leave! Mom and I already talked about it. We want Eric to be my dad!" Yvette hurriedly explained. "Eric got hurt. Alicia abuses him. He's going to stay with us temporarily." "Fine," I said. She froze, clearly not expecting me to agree so easily. "We'll give Eric our bedroom. "The bed is bigger. You can stay in the guest room for a few days, and I'll keep you company." Her tone was completely matter-of-fact, as though she had already decided I would not refuse. An icy laugh escaped me. "I don't agree." I could tolerate Eric staying there, but this house was mine. I had bought it before marriage, and the property belonged entirely to me. Why should Eric move into the master bedroom and treat this place like his own home? Yvette's face immediately darkened. "Why do you have so little compassion? Your brother is injured after being abused, and you won't even give him the better room?" "You just said he's my brother," I replied with a mocking smile. "So why are you this worked up about it? Anyone who didn't know better would think you're his wife." Yvette was instantly speechless. At that moment, James grabbed a toy from somewhere and hurled it at me. It struck my cheek. A burning pain spread across my face, and I felt skin break as a thin line of blood appeared. "Don't bully my Papa!" Eric immediately added fuel to the fire, putting on a timid act. "It's okay, Yvette. As long as I have a place to stay, that's enough. Draven has never really liked me anyway." Yvette wrapped her arms around Eric protectively and glared at me in anger. "I never realized you were this petty! You've completely disappointed me!" I looked at the ridiculous scene unfolding before me and curled my lips into a sharp smile. "Let's get divorced, Yvette. You can take James with you. I won't fight for custody." Chapter 4 Yvette froze. It was obvious she had not expected those words to come out of my mouth. A frown quickly formed on her face. "Seriously? You're going to threaten me with divorce over something this trivial?" James immediately joined in. "So get divorced! I want to stay with Mom!" The moment Eric heard that, he shot Yvette a pitiful look. "I've really become a curse, haven't I? Everywhere I go, people blame me. Now, I'm even causing fights between husband and wife." As expected, she fell for it instantly. "It's not your fault," she said, hurrying to comfort him. "I'll take you somewhere else to stay for now." She shot me an irritated look. "I've never seen a husband as cruel as you before. You'd better reflect on yourself. Otherwise, I'm not coming back." A mocking smile tugged at my lips. The Scott family had never been rich, which was why Eric had gone to great lengths to steal Alicia Brooks away. He wanted access to the Brooks family's wealth and the comfortable life it could provide. Now, he was trying the same tricks on Yvette. However, I was different. My mother was the heiress of the prestigious Johnson family in the capital city. There were so many businesses under my name that I could barely count them. Back then, I had been able to walk away without hesitation and let Alicia and Eric be together. Today, I could just as easily cut Yvette out of my life, especially after she stabbed me in the back. … Three days before my departure overseas, every trending headline seemed to be about Yvette showering Eric with expensive gifts. First came the limited-edition sneakers, then the luxury watches. As if that was not enough, she even bought him an outrageously flashy sports car. Eric had joined the parents' group chat for James's elementary school and changed his nickname to ‘James's Dad’. I stared at the notification on my screen. [You have been removed from the group chat.] The irony was almost laughable. Two days before my flight, I was busy handing over responsibilities at the company when a message from Yvette appeared. [Have you realized your mistake yet? As long as you stop targeting Eric, we can go back to being as loving as we used to be.] I let out a bitter laugh and ignored it. Three hours later, another message arrived. [I'll bring James home tomorrow for his birthday.] After all those years of raising him, I still could not completely harden my heart. In the end, I replied with a simple: [Okay.] On my final day before leaving the country, I went home early. I baked a chocolate cake because James had always loved chocolate. I also bought him the newest Transformers toy and carefully decorated the living room, wanting to give him a birthday he would remember forever. Once everything was ready, I sat down and waited for them to come home. Hours passed. When the clock on the wall finally struck twelve, there was still no sign of them. Unable to wait any longer, I picked up my phone and called Yvette. The call connected, but the voice on the other end was Eric's. "Oh, Draven," he said, his voice dripping with smug amusement. "Nobody told you? Yvette decided to throw James a birthday party." Excited laughter came through the phone. Then, James's voice rang out clearly. "My birthday wish is for Mom, Papa, and me to stay together happily as a family forever!" My fingers turned white around the phone. Clinging to the last shred of my dignity, I hung up. That night, photos of the happy family of three celebrating James's birthday climbed to the top of the trending charts once again. In the pictures, Yvette and Eric were smiling brightly as James sat between them. The three of them looked warm, close, and complete. I looked down at the cake in front of me. The frosting had already melted into a mess. A wave of nausea twisted in my stomach. I called a housekeeping service and had all of Yvette's and James's belongings packed up. Along with them, I included the paternity test between James and me and the divorce papers. The next morning, everything would be delivered to the Shaw family estate. After today, Yvette would receive this ‘gift’. The day I left the country, I arrived at the airport early. Before boarding, James called me, but I did not answer. Instead, I threw away my SIM card and boarded the flight to Amarion. For eight years, I had lived inside a web of lies and deception. Now, at last, it was over.