Chapter 4

With that, she took the lead and walked out.

Once we got into the private room, she personally poured me a glass of wine.

"Celeste, regarding Willow, James is definitely in the wrong here. The apartment given to your brother isn't hush money, but an apology from the Parkers to your family. Besides, you wouldn't want people to find out that the so-called Mrs. Parker is actually just a surrogate mother, would you?"

Maggie's tone was gentle, but her words cut straight to the point, tearing a bloody hole right through my heart.

Seeing that I stayed silent, she pulled a check out of her bag and slid it in front of me. "There's no amount filled in on this check. You can write whatever number you want. Plus, I'll arrange a managerial position at Parker Group for your brother. Does this compensation satisfy you?"

Hearing that, my mom's eyes lit up instantly, and she nodded repeatedly. "Of course, that's definitely satisfactory."

Then, she secretly tugged at my sleeve and whispered, "Celeste, don't be a fool. Take it right now! With this kind of money, you can live however you want.

"If you really can't accept Willow, just have another child of your own with James. That way, all the Parkers' assets will belong to you in the future."

I turned to look at her and let out a mocking laugh. "Mom, do you really think the Parkers' money is that easy to take?"

With that, I shifted my gaze back to James. He sat there in silence, lost in thought.

"James, when you married me back then, it wasn't because you were touched by me, right? You just wanted me to be a surrogate for Olivia," I asked.

Hearing my question, he finally looked back at me, though he didn't answer directly. "That was Olivia's dying wish, and I had to fulfill it."

"Her dying wish was for me to give birth to your child?"

"Yes." His reply was brief.

My fingers clenched tightly, and the rage burning inside me dissolved into a soft laugh.

'Olivia, you really are ruthless. I have to admit, whether you're alive or dead, I could never win against you.'

I glanced down at the blank check in front of me. "Since you're all being so generous, there has to be a catch, right?"

Maggie picked up her teacup and took a light sip. "It's not really a condition. We just hope you'll continue being a good Mrs. Parker and a mother to Willow. That shouldn't be too hard for you, should it?"

Just as her voice trailed off, James added, "Celeste, I only ever want to have Willow as my child. Even though Willow isn't biologically yours, she was still born from your womb. You're her birth mother all the same."

I stared at James for a long time before speaking in a slow, quiet voice. "James, I didn't marry you for your money. I did it purely because I loved you."

Emotion flashed across James' eyes, but he still said nothing.

"The first time I saw you, you were wearing a white button-down shirt. Back then, I remember thinking, 'How can there be such a guy in this world?'

"Now that I think about it, I wish I had been blind and stupid back then. At least, that would have saved me from being trampled on by you like this!"

James finally looked me straight in the eye. "Celeste, I..."

"James," I cut him off sharply. "You don't deserve my love."

With that, I picked up the blank check from the table and tore it to shreds under my mother's shocked gaze.

"Let's get a divorce."