The Road Back No Longer Exists

My name is Cedric Bainbridge.

For six years, I've been hiding the fact that I'm married to Beatrice Thorne, the CEO. Despite everything, she won't allow our son to call her "Mom".

Once again, his birthday slips her mind. Her thoughts are entirely consumed by her male secretary.

I've had enough. I sign the divorce papers and walk away with our child for good.

For the first time, Beatrice, who is always so calm, completely loses control. She storms into my office, demanding to know where I've gone.

But this time, neither my son nor I will ever look back.

"Ms. Hathaway, I'll be going overseas for further studies next month. Here is my resignation letter."

The HR manager, Kelly Hathaway, looked at me in surprise. "What's with the sudden notice?" she asked.

I gave her the explanation I'd prepared long ago. "My son's mother is in Austera. I'm planning to take him there so we can be reunited as a family."

Kelly nodded. "That's good. It must be hard for you to raise a child alone here. We all thought you were a single father."

I smiled. I hadn't been, but that was about to change.

As soon as I stepped outside, I ran straight into Beatrice Thorne and Maxwell Conrique. Not only was Beatrice my superior, but she was also the mother of my child.

Seven years ago, I had been her personal secretary. One drunken night, we ended up conceiving a child.

This year marked the sixth year of our secret marriage. It was also the sixth year she had refused to let our son call her "Mom".

Beatrice walked slowly, deliberately matching the pace of the man beside her.

Maxwell held a report in one hand, his other arm draped around Beatrice's waist. The closeness between them was almost suffocating.

As we brushed past each other, my heart skipped a beat. Unable to stop myself, I called out, "Beatrice…"

Beatrice halted abruptly, her expression cold and unyielding. "Good morning, Mr. Bainbridge."

Her polite, distant tone carried an unspoken warning, as if reminding me that this was the office and our roles were strictly professional.

I caught the hidden meaning in her words and forced myself to suppress my emotions. "Good morning, Ms. Thorne," I replied.

Beatrice responded with a faint nod. She kept walking, as if I were nothing more than a stranger to her.

I smiled bitterly, the words of my resignation hanging in my throat.

But then again, she probably wouldn't have cared.

Suddenly, my phone lit up. It was a message from my son, Parker Bainbridge, sent via his smartwatch. "Dad, will Mom come back to celebrate my birthday?"

I was caught off guard and instinctively turned around. Beatrice was looking up at Maxwell with a gentle smile, speaking to him as if they were the closest of friends.

As someone walked by, she instinctively nestled into his arms, her gaze revealing a tenderness she couldn't hide.

Fighting the bitterness that twisted in