Zachary Mann appeared to have drunk a lot, lost in a fog of inebriation. He muttered under his breath, "How could Kay Snider be so heartless, filing for divorce so readily? Why hasn't he come back to apologize yet..."

Standing nearby, Zachary’s good friend Wilbur couldn't help but give some advice, "Buddy, why don't you just swallow your pride and apologize? Women can be really forgiving, you know."

Unexpectedly, Zachary's face turned cold, and he shouted at him, "Apologize? Does Kay Snider really need me to coax him? He should be thanking me! All he does is stir up trouble. This time, he better be on his knees begging for a reconciliation, and maybe then I'll consider it!"

"Otherwise, he's constantly misunderstanding my relationship with Fern. Can't a guy have a close female friend without all this drama? It's ridiculous..."

People around them shook their heads and stopped trying to persuade him. After all, what man in his right mind would give up his family and wife for a close female friend? It seemed only Zachary Mann, oblivious to his own blessings, would pull such a stunt.

As Zachary's good friend, I had witnessed his efforts over the years. Although I felt bad for him, I knew I couldn't meddle in matters of the heart.

Zachary looked as though he was trying to convince both Wilbur and himself. "Fern Medina has been my friend since childhood. Now that she's in trouble, I can't just abandon her. Besides, her family has done so much for mine, I have to protect her..."

"And what about Kay Snider?" Wilbur asked.

Zachary raised his head, staring blankly at the ceiling, lost in thought. "As long as he admits he's wrong first, I promise I'll treat him well from now on. After all, we've been through so much together..."

For the next while, Zachary seemed distracted both at work and in daily life. It was as if he was waiting for an important call. He frequently checked his phone, swiping the screen before closing it in disappointment.

Suddenly, his phone rang and Zachary answered reflexively, "Kay Snider, finally, you..."

"Zach...it's me, Fern... I'm pregnant."

"Why are you telling me you're pregnant?" Zachary Mann instantly had a bad feeling.

Fern Medina's voice was shy as she said, "It must have happened that night..."

Zachary's face darkened. "I was drunk that night. That's impossible!"

On the other end of the phone, Fern's voice choked up, and she began to cry, "Even if you don't want to admit it, this child is very important to me..."

"I know Kay Snider is a renowned gynecologist, but I can't get an appointment... Zach, could you help me talk to Kay Snider?"

Zachary pressed his fingers against his temple, feeling troubled. "This isn't a good idea. She already has the wrong impression about us..."

"Wouldn't this clear things up?"

Zachary hesitated for a moment before speaking. "This child can't possibly be mine, right?"

Fern laughed softly. "Don't you know yourself, Zach?"

Zachary had no memory of that night, only remembering being heavily intoxicated, waking up in a hotel suite with Fern beside him. He was certain he had been too drunk to even stand.

After repeatedly assuring himself, Zachary finally spoke, "Even if I help, Kay Snider won't agree."

Fern responded calmly, "Zach, Kay Snider loves you. How could she refuse? Besides, it's just a check-up. It's not a big deal. Please, just ask her for me, okay?"

Zachary agreed.

I watched as he opened my WhatsApp chat window, typing and deleting, deleting and typing, over and over.

[Kay Snider, Fern Medina is pregnant.]

[Aren't you a renowned gynecologist? Could you check Fern out?]

[Can you do me this favor? If it's inconvenient, I understand...]

[Kay Snider, where are you? Why aren't you...']

Perhaps he couldn't bring himself to send any of these messages.

In the end, he reached out to another famous gynecologist to get Fern an expert consultation.

At that moment, my heart felt numb, with a dull, swelling pain in my chest.

A few days later, the fetus in Fern’s womb seemed to be in bad condition. Several renowned gynecologists advised her to terminate the pregnancy. Fern threw a fit in the hospital, refusing to comply.

She had always struggled to conceive, and now that she finally had a child—a tool to bind Zachary to her—she wouldn't give up easily.

It wasn't until Zachary spent hundreds of thousands to bring in an international expert that Fern finally relented, her tears turning to smiles.

I watched as Zachary compromised for Fern again and again, spending a fortune to keep her happy, feeling my heart ache painfully. Eventually, however, the pain numbed.

Suddenly, I felt as if my heart, long dead, had finally died completely.

I touched my stomach.

Fern Medina's child received so much attention and care, while my child would forever remain asleep, never having the chance to enter this world.

During one of Fern's consultations, a famous doctor made an offhand remark.

"It's a pity, the specialist for this surgery, Professor Marshall, passed away a few years ago... Such a shame."

Fern’s face turned serious. "Is there nobody else who can do it?"

"There is," the doctor said thoughtfully. "I remember Professor Marshall had a disciple named...named..."

"Right, named Kay Snider!"