LOGINDaniel returned to his office after the meeting with Richard Hayes.His steps were light. The thin smile had not left his lips.Marcus was already waiting inside with a tablet in hand."Sir, the legal team has sent a complete report on Rachel Chen."Daniel settled into his chair. He took the tablet from Marcus. He began reading with careful attention.Rachel Chen. Age 42. Lawyer specializing in women's rights and domestic violence. Independent practice for the past eight years. A solid track record with a win rate above average.Husband named David Chen. An accountant at a mid-sized firm. A stable but modest salary.Daniel scrolled deeper. Searching for a weakness that could be exploited.And he found it on the third page.Rachel had one daughter. Named Sheila Chen. Age 20. A third-year student at Stanford University, majoring in Computer Science. Recipient of a full merit scholarship from the university.Daniel stopped reading. His eyes narrowed at the detail about the scholarship.S
Richard stared at the medical report in his hands with a hardened jaw.Seven weeks pregnant.Fetus in healthy condition.Mother's mental state fragile and requiring complete rest.All written neatly with the official stamp of Dr. Patricia Ross.But Richard did not believe a single word of it."This is fake," he said flatly. He threw the folder back onto the table.Daniel did not react. He only leaned back in his chair with composure."You're welcome to verify it yourself, as I said. Dr. Ross practices at Greenwich Medical Center. Please contact them directly if you have doubts.""I don't need to verify anything to know this is your manipulation." Richard looked at Daniel sharply. "At the dinner at your home two weeks ago, Alina showed no signs of pregnancy whatsoever. No nausea. No physical changes. Nothing at all.""Early pregnancy often shows no clear symptoms," Daniel answered casually. "Especially in women with a slender build like Alina. It won't become visibly apparent until the
Morning arrived.Alina had not slept all night.She only lay still, staring at the ceiling with vacant eyes. Her body ached everywhere. The traces of Daniel's hands still lingered on her skin like bruises that could not be seen.But the physical pain was not the worst of it.The worst was the emptiness in her chest. A total hollowness after every last hope had been stripped away one by one.Daniel had used the one thing Alina still cared about as a weapon.Junior.The promise of seeing Junior again if Alina would "cooperate." The threat of separating them forever if she refused.And Alina knew it might be a lie. That Daniel might never allow them to meet even if she did everything he asked.But what if it was true?What if this was the only chance?Alina closed her eyes. Tears slid toward her temples.She no longer knew what was real and what was false. No longer knew how to survive in this hell.A soft knock at the door broke the silence.Alina did not move. She did not care who was
On the other side of the mansion, Daniel climbed the stairs with hurried steps.His heart hammered in his chest. Anger still simmered inside him.But there was also pain.Hearing Junior reject his unborn sibling, a sibling not yet even real, with such vehemence.Junior had even called Alina a crazy woman.Daniel reached the corridor leading to Alina's room. The guards stood at their post. They opened the door without being asked.Daniel entered.The room was brighter than usual. The bathroom light was on.Daniel heard the sound of running water, and then the gentle voice of a servant."Ma'am, please tilt your head back slightly. I'll rinse your hair."Daniel walked closer. He stood in the bathroom doorway.He saw Alina sitting in a small chair. A servant was rinsing her wet, shampoo-filled hair.Alina wore only a thin bathrobe. Her long hair hung wet and heavy.Her face was still pale. Her eyes still swollen. But at least she had been washed and looked cleaner than before."Get out,"
Daniel climbed the stairs with hurried steps.Leaving Clarissa still standing frozen in the corridor below.His mind was already fixed on one thing. Alina.He needed to see her. To confirm her condition. To confirm that the woman was still there. Still locked safely within the room that had become her prison.The corridor leading to Alina's room was quiet and deserted as usual.Two security guards stood on duty. They bowed respectfully as they saw Daniel approach."Sir.""Did anything happen while I was away?" asked Daniel as he walked past them."Mrs. Clarissa came earlier this afternoon, Sir. Mr. Harris and I stopped her."Daniel gave a satisfied nod. "Good. Keep watch. Don't let anyone in without my permission.""Yes, Sir."Daniel opened the door to Alina's room with the key he always kept on him. He entered the dimly lit room.The curtains were drawn. The lights were off. Only the fading evening light seeping through the gaps in the curtains offered any illumination.Daniel's eyes
Daniel arrived at the mansion just as the sun began to tilt toward the west.His car stopped at the main entrance. He stepped out with decisive strides without waiting for the driver to open the door.Marcus followed behind with a tablet and briefcase."Handle all remaining work for today," said Daniel without looking back. "Confirm by message once it's done. I have matters to attend to inside.""Yes, Sir."Daniel walked straight into the mansion. He passed through the foyer without acknowledging the servants who bowed respectfully.Heading directly to the basement.To the private security room where Mrs. Helen was waiting.Mr. Harris was already standing at the door. He opened it the moment he saw Daniel approaching."Sir."Daniel gave a brief nod. He entered the small, windowless room.Mrs. Helen sat in a chair with her head bowed. Her back was rigid with tension. Her hands were clenched in her lap.She did not dare look up at Daniel as he entered.Daniel sat in the chair across fro
Daniel stood in the doorway—clearly just down from the second floor, tie still perfect but there was tension in his shoulders. Shortly after, Margaret came from the direction of the main entrance and stood beside him, looking at the scene with narrowed eyes.Junior immediately hid his face in Alina
"You're defending her. Making excuses for her. Questioning decisions you made yourself. You've fallen in love with your contract wife.""I haven't—""Daniel." Margaret's voice was soft but firm. "I'm your mother. I know you better than anyone. And I see the way you look at Alina. The way you hesita
At six in the evening, the sound of a key turning made Alina—who was sitting by the window staring blankly at the garden—jump. The door opened. Daniel stood there in a full suit—clearly just home from the office. Tie still perfectly knotted. Briefcase in hand. But there was something in his fa
Alina was forced to continue walking, but her mind was racing.A new prenuptial agreement?Leverage?What were they planning?In the library, Alina pretended to browse bookshelves, picking up several novels randomly. But her mind wasn't on these books.She needed to know what was being discussed in







