Chapter 2

Ingrid messaged me at last, feeling completely distraught as she begged me to lend her 800,000 dollars for the surgery.

I had been attending a banquet with my dad at that time and didn't see her message until very much later. However, as soon as I saw it, I immediately transferred the money to her.

Yet, her second message popped up almost at the same time. She sounded absolutely in despair.

"I'll do anything you want as long as you'll lend me the money!"

My heart sank to the bottom of my stomach. Damn it! She was going to think that I only lent her the money because of her second message!

Just as I suspected, she thought that I was trying to buy her with the 800,000 dollars.

There was a horrible thunderstorm in the morning the next day, with rain pelting down from the heavens. Yet, Ingrid suddenly appeared outside my home.

I rushed out at once and grabbed her moments before she lost consciousness and hit the pavement.

"Indy!"

I scooped her up and ran back into the house, but she just wouldn't wake up no matter what I did.

I called a private doctor to look at her. Apparently, she had collapsed from fever and exhaustion.

I cared for her tirelessly, and she later moved in with me. Out of consideration for her dignity, I said nothing about it and also made no demands nor laid a finger on her at all.

Two months later, she suddenly brought up marriage with me.

I felt my heart pounding wildly at that moment after having suppressed my feelings for so long. An overwhelming sense of happiness welled up inside me.

However, I later learned that day that Hank had gone abroad with a rich heiress, and that Ingrid had only told me that she wanted to marry me because she wanted Hank to change his mind and come back to her.

"Oh my god, I can't believe that Hank still refused to stay with me after I told him that I was about to marry someone else!

"I don't think I'm getting back together with him, Carol! I'm going to have to marry Jordan for real! What should I do!"

I accidentally overheard Ingrid's call to her best friend, Carol Lozanom for help, as I stood outside her bedroom room. I heard every word she said.

So, it turned out that she believed it was my fault that she couldn't have a future with Hank.

No matter how nicely I treated her in the eight years after that, or how devoted I was to her, all I received in return was her ever-growing resentment. Things didn't change even after we had our daughter, Gaby Newman.

Fortunately, with my help, she successfully rose to become a leader in her industry.

However, my family then ran into some financial problems and went bankrupt. It was completely dead, just like how my feelings for her were now.

I felt only a sense of endless bitterness and helplessness after staring at her for a long time.

Whatever.

"Let's get divorced, Ingrid. I'll take Gaby. You can have your freedom back."

Ingrid's face turned dark at once. She glared at me like I was a clown.

"Who do you think you are? Who gave you the courage to even bring up divorce with me? Don't you ever let me hear that damned word from your mouth again! And you'll never take our daughter with you! She belongs to me!"

She was the one who refused to reveal Gaby's identity and hid her. Even I had to tell her beforehand every time I wanted to visit my own daughter. And after doing all that, she still had the nerve to say that Gaby belonged to her!

"Now go and make dinner! Hank will be coming over in a while."

She ordered me around as usual. This was a habit she had developed after I used to listen to every word she said in the past. But now, I just felt annoyed.

"Go make it yourself!"

Ingrid immediately slapped me across the face. "What the fuck are you making a fuss about? I've already explained the wedding to you!"

I stared at the woman before me and left in disappointment. I was going to find Gaby myself. Ingrid was now married to someone else, and Gaby would be doomed if she were to continue staying with her.

I had a billion dollars in my possession now. I could give her a good life if she would just come with me.

I reached Gaby's home and saw her tiny body asleep in bed, looking very cute and adorable. Even if I couldn't bear to wake her up, I still had to. I had to take her away with me.

"Gaby, baby, wake up. Daddy's bringing you home."

Gaby woke up. However, she immediately began struggling when she realized that it was me.

She cowered in a corner and exclaimed, "I'm not coming with you! You're useless trash! Mommy said that she'd find a new daddy for me! You're poor and can't earn any money! I want a better daddy who can earn lots and lots of money!"

I was shocked. How could Ingrid have said such things to Gaby!