"Where are you going?"

Alexander didn't look back.

"Home!"

Marcus mumbled something and fell asleep again.

He slept until daylight.

Marcus was awakened by his vibrating phone.

Attorney Miller had sent several messages.

He immediately called back.

Attorney Miller's voice came through.

"Mr. Valentine, the results are out."

Marcus Valentine woke with a throbbing headache.

He fumbled for the water glass on the coffee table.

Bringing it to his lips, he caught the sharp scent of alcohol.

He slammed the glass back down.

His lawyer’s voice came through the phone.

Marcus stilled, his fingers trembling slightly.

He stared down at the carpet pattern, his voice hoarse. "The results?"

He didn't even notice the hope in his own tone.

The lawyer was silent for a few seconds. "It's... azoospermia."

The voice on the line was fearful, as if privy to some terrible secret.

Marcus said nothing for a long time.

His nails dug into his palms. "Understood."

The dial tone echoed in the room.

He slumped back on the sofa, a bitter twist to his lips.

How ridiculous.

Because of Mina Sherwood's words, he'd doubted the family doctor's diagnosis again and again.

He had humiliated himself repeatedly.

What must the lawyer think now?

The infallible Marcus Valentine, lacking the most fundamental ability of a man.

Azoospermia wasn't impotence.

But to outsiders, there was no difference.

That riding accident years ago had damaged him critically.

The prognosis had never been good.

Only he and the family doctor knew this secret.

Now the lawyer knew too.

Marcus let out a low laugh and hurled his glass against the wall.

Glass shattered, fragments flying everywhere.

His headache intensified.

He loosened his tie and stood up.

Familiar laughter drifted from the next room.

"Did you go to the Valentine-Sherwood engagement banquet yesterday?"

"Of course! But I don't get it. Why would Marcus Valentine marry that?"

"You mean Mina Sherwood? I heard she's slept with half the elite. Is it true?"

"She's a high-class call girl! Whoever does business with her uncle gets a night with her. Everyone knows!"

"The Sherwoods would allow that?"

"Her uncle branched off from the main family. Lost their status completely..."

"Between us, I've slept with Mina Sherwood..."

"Aren't you disgusted?"

"She's a beautiful woman. Don't tell me you've never been tempted."

"Damn it! I have been, just never had the chance..."

"I did it! Her skin was so soft. A real society lady, that texture..."

Before he could finish, the door was kicked open.

The two rich heirs, deep in conversation, jumped and turned.

"Who the hell—"

A fist smashed into Justin Evans's face.

Marcus recognized him now. Justin Evans, fifth son of the Evans family.

The Evans family was on par with the Valentines.

But Justin was just a playboy who usually smiled obsequiously around Marcus.

Being hit in public was a massive blow to his pride.

"Marcus Valentine, are you insane?!"

Marcus's eyes were icy. "Slandering my wife. What do you think?"

He flexed his wrist slowly, knuckles cracking.

Justin's friend tried to mediate. "Mr. Valentine, Justin was just mouthing off. Now that Miss Sherwood is with you, how could she—"

Justin shoved his friend away, spitting blood. "It's not slander! I did sleep with her! What are you so arrogant about, Marcus Valentine? You're just an heir who hasn't even taken over yet!"

His friend paled. "Justin, apologize!"

Justin sneered. "Apologize for what? Marcus Valentine, didn't you check her reputation before marrying her? It was before the marriage! Haven't you slept with her too? Otherwise, where did the child come from?"

Marcus's expression changed drastically.

Justin caught it immediately and laughed louder. "No way? You haven't slept with her? So you're raising someone else's kid? You'd wear that green hat? If she's pregnant and you haven't touched her, doesn't that prove I'm right?"

Marcus grabbed him by the collar. "Shut up! The child is mine!"

"Yours?"

Justin scoffed. "So sure? The baby's over a month old, right? Funny, I slept with her around then too. Maybe it's an Evans! You better get a DNA test, Mr. Valentine. Don't let some bastard corrupt the Valentine bloodline!"

Fists rained down.

Marcus pinned him to the floor, punching ruthlessly.

"He's killing me! Call the police! Call the police!"

Justin screamed in agony.

His friend fumbled for his phone but froze under Marcus's glare.

Marcus landed punch after punch on Justin's face. "Tell the truth!"

Bloodied and broken, Justin finally begged. "Stop! I'll talk! I'll tell the truth!"