Chapter 2

Before I could finish, the woman said, "Ms. Sutton, Mr. Oliver said if you refuse, he will come and get you himself."

I bit down on my lip. "Fine. What time?"

"Nine in the morning. Twenty-eighth floor, Oliver Group headquarters."

After I hung up, my head spun.

I couldn't understand what Marty was doing. We were divorced. Why was he looking for me?

And if he found out I was carrying his child, things would get complicated.

I looked down at my stomach. At four months, it wasn't very obvious yet, but there was a small curve if one looked closely.

I had no idea what I should do.

*****

The next day, I wore a loose coat to hide my stomach.

When I arrived at the Oliver Group building, I went straight to the 28th floor. The elevator doors slid open. I took a deep breath and stepped out.

"Ms. Sutton, this way," the receptionist said and led me to an office door. "Mr. Oliver is waiting for you."

I nodded and walked over. I pushed the door open.

Marty sat behind his desk, flipping through some papers.

He looked up. His eyes lingered on my face for a second, then slowly moved down to my stomach.

My heart started pounding.

"Mr. Oliver, how can I help you?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

He stood up and walked around the desk toward me.

He was much taller, and when he stopped in front of me, I had to tilt my head slightly to meet his eyes. There was something unreadable in them.

"Madge, you've lost weight," he said quietly.

"Mr. Oliver, if you brought me here just to talk, I'm busy," I said.

"Busy?" He tilted his head slightly. "Busy taking care of a baby?"

My face instantly turned pale. How did he know?

Before I could react, he reached out and gently lifted my chin. "Madge, we've been divorced for three months. But you're four months pregnant. Whose baby is it?"

My lips parted, but no sound came out.

"It's mine, isn't it?" His voice dropped lower, edged with anger.

"Marty, let me go," I struggled. "We're divorced. This baby has nothing to do with you."

"Nothing to do with me?" He let out a cold laugh. "You're carrying my child. You disappeared for three months. And now you're telling me it has nothing to do with me, huh?"

"What do you want?" I snapped. "We're divorced. Do you want me to get rid of it?"

He went still. He stared at me, something shifting in his eyes. "Who said anything about getting rid of it?"

"Then what?" I asked.

"Let's get remarried."

I was stunned, caught completely off guard. "What?"

"Let's get remarried," he repeated. "Madge, let's be husband and wife again."

I stared at him, then let out a short laugh. "Marty, you're crazy."

"I'm not," he said.

"Then you must be out of your mind." I pushed his hand away. "You're the one who forced the divorce, and now you want to remarry. What do you think I am?"

"I think you're..." He stopped, the words dying halfway. "Madge, I need to take responsibility for this child."

"I don't need you to." My voice turned cold. "I can raise it on my own."

"You can?" he sneered. "With the money you have, how many months of rent can you cover?"

I went stiff. He was right.

"Madge, stop pretending to be strong," he said, his tone softening. "Come back with me. We can start over."

"Start over?" My eyes burned. "Marty, why would I ever say yes?"

He stepped closer and leaned in, his voice low near my ear. "Because you still love me."

A shiver ran through me. "That's not true."

"We both know it is." He stepped back. "I'll give you three days. Think about it. In three days, either we remarry, or—"

"Or what?" I shot back, my voice trembling.

His eyes darkened. "Or I'll bring you back by force."

I looked at him. For the first time, I realized that I had never truly known him.

*****

Three days later, I gave in.

It was not because of his threat. It was because I couldn't afford to raise a baby alone.

Doctor visits, food, hospital bills, clothes—everything cost money. I was barely staying afloat.

I stood in front of him. "I'll remarry you. But I have conditions."

"Go ahead," he said.

"First, we keep it a secret for now," I said.

Marty frowned. "Why?"

"I don't want people talking," I said, lowering my eyes. "Getting divorced and remarried right away doesn't look good."

He stayed quiet for a moment, then nodded. "Fine."

I continued, "Second, this marriage is only on paper. You can't touch me."

His eyes dimmed slightly. "Madge, we'd be married."