Chapter 1

Joanna Thompson had just finished her shower and stepped out of the bathroom when her husband, Jeremy Hansen, shoved her against the edge of the bed.

His strong, muscular hand slid from her waist to her sides and gripped her narrow waist tightly. This left her no room to protest.

"…At 3:00 pm this afternoon, Jeremy Hansen, CEO of Hansen Group, arrived at the airport to welcome the return of the Queen of Cello, Nadine Slinger. To ensure her journey home was undisturbed, Jeremy arranged for his newly purchased Gulfstream G700 to pick her up from Lythalia…"

Upon hearing the voice from the TV, Joanna couldn't help but turn around to look.

On the screen, the strikingly hot Jeremy walked with Nadine as they exited the airport.

Nadine held a large bouquet of red roses in her arms with a bright smile. Her face was full of love and admiration for Jeremy.

A crowd of reporters surrounded them, asking questions.

"Mr. Hansen, we've heard you've been waiting for Ms. Slinger for the past three years. Now that she's back, will you marry her?"

Joanna eagerly awaited Jeremy's response, but the next moment, the screen went black.

Jeremy turned her face toward him and pulled her in for a kiss from behind, forcefully capturing her lips. "Focus, Mrs. Hansen."

Joanna turned to respond to him.

Jeremy freed one hand, reached for the bedside drawer, and pulled out a condom.

…

While Jeremy was in the bathroom, his phone rang.

Joanna glanced at it. The screen flashed "Didi". She ignored it and went to the walk-in closet to grab a silk slip nightgown to wear.

By the time she came out, Jeremy was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, talking on the phone.

He was wearing only a loosely tied towel. Water droplets ran from his hair, tracing down his chiseled collarbone, chest, and abs, before disappearing into the white towel.

Joanna walked over, grabbed the towel that had been tossed on the nearby couch, and was about to dry his hair.

However, Jeremy hung up the phone and avoided her touch. He pulled open a drawer and pulled out a document to hand it to her.

Joanna glanced at it. On the front page was the large, bold text "Divorce Agreement".

"I signed it two days ago. The money you deserve will be transferred to your account without any issue."

As Jeremy looked at her, his gaze was cold and distant, a sharp contrast to the emotion he had just shown. It was as if he had become an entirely different person.

Joanna didn't take it. Smiling, she said, "According to the agreement, there's still three months left until the three years are up."

Jeremy let out a cold scoff. His features exuded an air of intensity and coldness. "What's this about? Got addicted to being Mrs. Hansen? Can't bear to leave?"

Joanna's lips curled into a faint smile, but something dark flickered in her eyes. "Are you going to break the terms of the agreement for Nadine, Mr. Hansen?"

"My business with Didi is none of your concern." Jeremy's face was as cold as ice. "Don't worry. I'll make sure to give you the full compensation for the three months."

"Good." Without wasting any time, Joanna took the divorce papers. "Then please have the money transferred soon."

Jeremy gave her a cold look before walking away.

Three years of marriage—well, no.

To be precise, it had been two years and nine months, one thousand and four nights. During all that time, Jeremy never once shared a bed with her.

After every intimate moment, he would always leave as soon as it was over.

She slept in the master bedroom, while he slept in the guest room. Tonight was no different.

The next morning, Joanna woke up feeling unwell. She felt a dull, constant aching sensation in her lower abdomen.

She wasn't sure if it was because it would have been their last intimate moment before the divorce, but Jeremy had been especially rough last night. He didn't stop until they had gone two rounds.

The ache persisted through the afternoon. Not only did it fail to ease, but it grew more intense with each passing hour.

Eventually, Joanna went to the hospital.

"Congratulations, Mrs. Hansen. You're pregnant, and it's twins. However, the pregnancy isn't stable, so we recommend hospitalization to monitor the situation."

The doctor's words left her stunned.

Since they'd been married, Jeremy had always used protection every time he bedded her. Without it, even when he couldn't hold on any longer, he'd stop.

Jeremy had told her she wasn't worthy of bearing his children. To him, she was nothing more than a tool he married to appease his family and to be with Nadine.

And yet, she still married him. Why? Because she loved him.

But their marriage had always been a deal—three years for 300 million dollars.

Joanna had thought that if she played the role of the perfect wife, maybe Jeremy would come to care for her within these three years.

But in the end, it had all been wishful thinking.

But why was fate playing such a cruel joke on her?

She'd signed the divorce papers and had already received the 30 million dollars in compensation for early termination, but now she was pregnant?

"Mrs. Hansen, would you like me to arrange a VIP room for you?" the doctor asked cautiously, noticing that Joanna had been silent for a long time.

Joanna snapped back to reality, not sure how to respond. Suddenly, her phone buzzed in her bag.

It was Jeremy calling.

After hesitating for a moment, she answered the phone.

"How can you be pregnant?" His deep, cold voice immediately echoed in her ears.

Before Joanna could speak, Jeremy's voice grew even colder as he added, "Tell the doctor to schedule the surgery. Have an abortion before the divorce is finalized."

An abortion…

Those words felt like a sharp knife, thrusting mercilessly into Joanna's chest. The blood seemed to rush out of her. She trembled from the pain.

As a tool who was paid to do his bidding, she had spent almost three years following his every command.

But this time…

Joanna couldn't help but blink back tears. She asked, each word measured and heavy, "What if I don't, Jeremy?"

"Joanna, you don't have the right to say no in front of me."

With that, he ended the call.

She didn't have the right to say no?

Joanna suddenly smiled. She instructed the doctor to arrange for her to be hospitalized for the pregnancy.

Jeremy could boss her around like this not only because she loved him but because of his lofty position as the CEO of Hansen Group. Meanwhile, she no longer had any support or backup to rely on.

A year ago, Thompson Group had gone bankrupt. Her parents fled overseas with her siblings to escape overwhelming debts. Now, she had no family to turn to.

But what she hadn't expected was that the moment she settled into the ward and hooked up to the IV to protect the pregnancy, Jeremy stormed in furiously.

Joanna looked at him, her gaze calm and composed.

"Are you kidding me?" His eyes narrowed as he glared at her. That short question was enough to show his anger.

She met his rage head-on. Smiling, she said, "Jeremy, I didn't think you were the kind of man who would be so irresponsible."

Jeremy's eyes grew colder. In a low, threatening voice, he demanded, "Spill it. How did you get pregnant?"

Joanna smiled faintly. "The child is 100% yours. No doubt."

He scoffed at her words. "Was it artificial insemination or IVF? You're really doing anything to avoid the divorce!"

"Jeremy, are you doubting me, or are you doubting yourself?"

Joanna scoffed as well. "You knew right away when I came to the hospital. If I was running here every other day to make a pair of twins, you wouldn't be clueless, would you?"

"Joanna Thompson!" Jeremy's anger flared suddenly. Veins bulged on his forehead.

In almost three years of marriage, she had always been gentle and accommodating in front of him. He had no idea she could be this sharp-tongued.

"Get the doctor to arrange the surgery, now!" He nearly ground his teeth as he barked orders at his assistant, Kenneth Monteiro.

"Save it, Jeremy. I'm keeping the children." Joanna spoke in a calm, almost indifferent tone. However, her lowered eyes betrayed the unwavering determination she held within.

"So, you think having a child means the divorce won't happen?" Jeremy sneered.

Joanna kept her gaze lowered, saying nothing.

"Well, that works too. After all, you're the reason Didi can never have children again. Borrowing your egg and womb doesn't sound like a bad idea. This way, Didi can skip the pain of carrying a baby for nine months."

"What are you talking about, Jeremy?"

His eyes turned to ice as he glared at her. He uttered each word clearly, "What I'm saying is, you can keep the babies. Didi will be a good mother for them. As for you, you'll have to get lost."