An offer she refused

The next morning arrived too quickly.

Lumi barely slept.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw his face again. She heard his voice. She remembered the way he had controlled everything without asking for her opinion.

You keep the baby.

Those words had haunted her all night.

She slowly sat up in her hospital bed, her back against the headboard. The private room was silent. Too silent. The soft hum of the air conditioner was the only sound in the room.

Her gaze fell on the small table beside her.

The stack of bills was still there.

She hadn’t touched it.

Not once.

Her fingers clenched the blanket.

“I won’t do it,” she murmured. “I won’t let him control my life.”

She had thought about it all night. From every angle. Through all her fears.

Yes, she was desperate.

Yes, she needed money.

Yes, her father was still lying in that hospital bed. But this…

This felt wrong.

Before she could sink any deeper into her thoughts, the door suddenly opened.

Without knocking.

Without warning.

Aaron walked in.

Lumi’s head snapped up, her eyes wide with surprise.

“What are you doing?” she exclaimed. “You can’t just barge in like that!”

Aaron closed the door behind him as if her words meant nothing.

“I didn’t come to ask permission,” he replied calmly.

She felt her chest tighten.

Of course not.

He had never asked for anything.

He had simply taken.

She clenched her teeth. “You should learn some manners.”

“I didn’t come to argue,” he said, stepping further into the room. “I came for something important.”

She let out a bitter laugh. “Obviously.”

Aaron ignored the sarcasm.

“I’m here to make you an offer.”

Those words froze her. A done deal.

Her gaze briefly went to the money on the table.

Then back to him.

“I’m not interested,” she said immediately.

Aaron’s expression remained impassive.

“You haven’t even heard it.”

“No need,” she replied. “I already know what you want.”

She took the money, grabbed the stack, and held it out to him.

“Take it back,” she said firmly.

Aaron’s gaze settled on the money, then slowly returned to her face.

“I thought about it all night,” Lumi continued, her voice more assured. “And I won’t do it. I won’t keep the baby.”

She stepped closer and held the money out to him again.

“I want an abortion.”

Silence filled the room.

Aaron didn’t move.

He didn’t react.

Then, slowly, his brows furrowed slightly.

“That won’t be possible,” he said.

Lumi blinked.

“What?”

“You won’t have an abortion.”

Her chest rose sharply. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me.”

Anger flared instantly.

“You don’t get to decide that!” she cried. “It’s my body!”

Aaron took another step closer, his presence filling the space between them.

“You will keep the baby,” he repeated in a tone that left no room for discussion. “And I have a better solution for both of us.”

Her stomach twisted. “I don’t want your solution.”

“Yes, you will.”

Before she could answer, he placed a folder on the bed in front of her.

“Read it.”

Lumi stared at the papers, then looked back at him.

“I said I’m not interested.”

“Read it,” he repeated.

Something in his tone made her hesitate.

Reluctantly, she took the folder.

Her fingers were ice-cold as she opened it.

The words stared back at her.

Marriage contract.

She frowned as she began to read.

The more she read, the tighter she gripped the papers.

Her eyes moved faster.

Then slower.

Then they stopped dead.

She slowly raised her head.

“This…” she began in an uncertain voice.

She looked down at the paper.

Then at him.

“This is a joke, right?”

Aaron said nothing.

Lumi let out a small, incredulous laugh.

“This is madness,” she said. “There has to be a mistake.”

She flipped through the pages again, her heart racing.

Marriage.

Twelve months.

Carry his child.

Live under his roof.

She was breathless.

“This is a marriage of convenience,” she said loudly. “You want me to marry you?”

“Yes.”

She stared at him.

For a moment, she was speechless.

Then the shock turned into something else.

“This is absurd,” she said, shaking her head. “No one does this in real life.”

Her voice grew sharper.

“And even if they did, why me?”

Aaron crossed his arms slightly.

“Because you’re already pregnant with my child,” he said simply.

She felt her chest tighten again.

“This is crazy,” she murmured. “This is really crazy.”

She looked down at the papers, then threw them onto the bed.

“I won’t do this.”

Aaron’s gaze hardened.

“You don’t have a choice.”

That was too much.

Her anger exploded.

“I don’t have a choice?” she repeated in a trembling voice.

Despite the weakness that overtook her, she got out of bed. “Yes, you do,” she said. “You have a choice. You just think money gives you control over everything.”

Aaron’s face darkened slightly.

“This is the best offer you’ll get,” he said. “Think carefully before you refuse it.”

She let out a breath that almost sounded like a laugh.

“The best offer?” she repeated. “You call this a good deal?”

“You get financial security. Your father’s medical expenses will be covered. You’ll have a job in my company. And all you have to do is give birth to my child.”

She clenched her fists.

“All I have to do?” she said softly. “You make it sound so simple.”

“It is simple.”

“No, it’s not!” she shot back sharply.

Her chest rose and fell as she tried to calm herself.

“I’m not a machine,” she continued. “I’m not a woman you can buy and use because it suits you.”

Aaron’s jaw tightened. “You’re exaggerating.”

Her eyes burned.

“No,” she said in a lower voice. “You’re underestimating me.”

She bent down, picked up the money, and without hesitating,

threw it at him.

The stack hit his chest and fell to the floor.

“I may be desperate,” she said firmly, her voice trembling with emotion, “but not that desperate.”

Aaron didn’t move.

His eyes remained fixed on her.

“I won’t let you turn my life into a simple business transaction,” she added.

She grabbed her bag from the chair beside the bed.

“I’m not interested.”

With those words, she turned and headed for the door.

Her steps were unsteady.

But she didn’t stop.

She didn’t look back.

She opened the door and walked out.

Silence filled the room.

Aaron stood there, motionless.

For a few seconds, he didn’t react. He said nothing.

Then, slowly, his gaze fell on the money scattered on the floor.

His expression changed.

It darkened.

He bent down and picked up the money, his movements controlled.

But inside, anger was already rising.

She had rejected him.

That thought crossed his mind.

She had really rejected him.

He straightened up, gripping the money lightly in his hand.

How?

How could she have refused such an offer?

Everything she needed was right there in front of her.

The money.

The security.

The power.

And she had thrown it at him.

His jaw clenched.

It was absurd.

It shouldn’t be.

He let out a sigh, but it did nothing to calm the irritation rising in him.

“She doesn’t know what’s good for her,” he murmured.

His gaze went to the door she had just walked through. For a brief moment, another thought crossed his mind.

Not just anger.

Something sharper.

Interest.

Then it vanished.

Replaced by cold determination.

“If she thinks she can get away with this so easily…” he murmured.

His face hardened.

“She’s wrong.”

Aaron turned and left the room.

And this time, he would not accept a refusal.