Chapter 1

"What is the meaning of this, Vania? You've been married for three years, and you're still not pregnant?"

The sharp question flew from Aunt Rika's lips, her eyes brimming with accusation. The once-quiet dining room was now thick with tension. All eyes were on Vania, as if she were a criminal on trial.

Vania swallowed hard. Her fingers clutched the hem of her long skirt as she lowered her head, trying to contain the storm of shame and anger rising in her chest.

"I'm sorry, Aunt… maybe I've just been exhausted lately."

"Exhausted?" The cold, biting voice now came from her stepmother, Larissa. The woman crossed her arms with a raised brow. "Is the Montgomery family working you so hard your womb has gone on strike?"

Mocking laughter erupted from several relatives at the table. Vania clenched her hands tighter. Her eyes burned, but she refused to let the tears fall in front of them.

"Mother, I'm fine. Please don’t make this worse."

"You’re the one making it worse, Vania. You’re Devandra’s wife, the Montgomery heir’s wife. A good daughter-in-law knows her main duty is to produce an heir. Do you think we’ve let you sit around doing nothing for the past three years for fun?"

"Enough."

Devandra, who had been sitting silently at the end of the table, finally spoke. His voice was calm—too calm—but held no trace of defense for anyone.

Vania turned to him, hope flickering in her chest. But he simply sipped his coffee and said nothing more.

After the suffocating dinner ended, Vania followed Devandra to his study. She knocked softly on the door and entered when there was no response.

Devandra sat on the sofa, laptop open in front of him. He didn’t even glance her way as she walked in.

“Devandra,” Vania said gently. “Can we talk?”

“I’m busy,” he replied flatly, eyes still on his screen.

“Please… we need to talk about what happened just now.”

He finally closed the laptop and looked up, his face emotionless.

“What exactly do you want to talk about? Your family’s nagging at dinner?”

Vania bit her lip, struggling to keep her emotions in check. “I… I know it’s embarrassing, but… they’re right. We’ve been married for three years, and we still don’t have a child.”

Devandra scoffed. “So what? You came here to ask me to sleep with you?”

Vania nodded, though the shame crushed her. “Yes… if that’s what it takes to save this marriage, I’m willing.”

His cold laugh lashed at her like a whip. “You’re willing? Do you think I’m some toy you can pull into bed whenever you feel like it?”

“Please, Dev… we’re husband and wife…”

“Husband and wife?” Devandra stood and walked toward her, eyes mocking. “We’re married because of a business deal, Vania. You knew that from the beginning. I never promised you love—let alone a child.”

“But… I’m still your wife…”

“A wife on paper. And from now on, don’t come crying into my room like some desperate woman.”

“But—”

“If you want a child,” he said, voice low and cutting, “why don’t you just sleep with another man?”

Vania froze. Her eyes widened, her breath caught in her throat.

“You… what are you saying?!”

Devandra smirked coldly. “You heard what the family said earlier. They want an heir. If you’re feeling pressured, go find some man, get pregnant, and make everyone happy.”

Vania’s hand flew to his face, slapping him hard. But what hurt even more… was that he laughed.

“Go ahead, Vania. Maybe that’s the only way you’ll ever be useful in this family.”