Chapter 2

The next morning, Elena got a call from Tanya Verga, Henry's grandma. Her anxious voice boomed loudly in the room.

"The Leone family needs an heir, Elena! Hurry up and do something about it. Do as I say and make the first move tonight. You must produce an heir by this year. Are we clear?"

Elena quickly tried to lower the volume, but Henry heard Tanya anyway. He stepped out of the bathroom. As he was drying his hair with a towel, he paused and questioned, "Just how desperate are you, Elena?"

She hastily tried to explain, "I'm not—"

Before she could finish speaking, Henry had approached her and pinned her down against the bed. His fingers wandered along her collarbone, then trailed downward...

"You're not? Why are you dressed like that, then? Who did you get all dressed up for?"

Only then did Elena look down and notice what she was wearing. She'd gotten drunk last night and had fallen asleep wearing the black lace lingerie she found.

She looked very tempting in the black lingerie, and from Henry's position, he could see the perfect curves. Gulping, he recalled what his friend had teased him with last night.

"She's freaking hot, Henry. How are you still holding yourself back? If I were you, I would've had my way with her ages ago."

Henry shot backward and looked away, saying, "Don't waste your time. You want a child, right? I've made the arrangements to get that over with."

Elena was stumped. He'd made the arrangements for a child? What did that mean?

Half an hour later, a black Maybach pulled up outside a private hospital.

Once Elena looked through the car window, her expression stiffened.

"Why did you take me to a hospital, Henry?"

Henry didn't bother responding.

Several dozen hospital staff were waiting to greet them. Upon seeing Elena, one of them, a doctor named Eric White, came forward and said politely, "Please change into the hospital gown in preparation for the surgery, Mrs. Leone. We'll be giving you a hormone injection shortly to stimulate ovulation and prepare for the egg retrieval. You might feel a little discomfort."

Brows slightly creased, Elena turned to Henry and asked, "Egg retrieval?"

"For the IVF procedure," Henry replied indifferently. "What? Do you think I'd actually touch you?"

Elena stood frozen. "You… Why are you insisting on having this child?"

He was also planning to divorce her, so why bother having a baby through IVF?

Frowning impatiently, Henry replied, "The child is part of the deal. Do you think I'd want one if not for that?"

His words destroyed all feelings Elena ever had for him. Her heart was stinging with pain, and her voice was icy as she declared, "I refuse."

Sneering, Henry got up and closed in on her like a predator.

"Are you rejecting the procedure because you're still holding out hope that I'll sleep with you?"

Grabbing Elena by the jaw, he said coldly, "Do you think I can't see through your little tricks? I'm not asking for your opinion right now. All that's required of you is to do as you're told."

Henry flung her mercilessly to the side and turned to Eric. He ordered, "Drag her in and begin the procedure at once."

Though Elena fought with all her might, she couldn't get away from the people who were holding her down. The moment the needle pricked her skin, her tears fell.

How could Henry be this cruel?

The sedatives took effect quickly. Her mind turned groggy, and she soon lost consciousness.

…

When Elena woke up the next morning, Eric immediately came to check on her. "You're awake, Mrs. Leone. Your body had a strong rejection response earlier, but thankfully, your condition has stabilized."

"Where's Henry?"

"He left after his part was done," Eric replied with a stiff smile.

Elena's heart sank. She closed her eyes, reining in the wave of nausea that hit her. Did Henry do it while listening to Irene's voice again?

Eric continued, "I have some good news. The embryo matching was a success."

He opened up a refrigerated case to reveal six test tubes.

"Once you've recovered, we will choose one of the embryos for implantation."

Staring dazedly at the test tubes, Elena clutched the blanket so hard her nails nearly tore through it.

Just as Eric was about to inform Elena about the upcoming procedure, she abruptly sat up.

"Mrs. Leone! Please put it down!" Eric cried out in alarm.