Chapter 1

I only found out late in my pregnancy that my boyfriend of eight years was the Goodwin heir, Charles Goodwin.

So, at the Goodwin family's formal dinner, I stood up and admitted in front of everyone that I was the mistress. "I was the one chasing after Charles. The baby I'm carrying is nothing but a bastard."

The baby kicked me hard from inside.

An hour ago, I thought Charles was finally going to announce our identities and acknowledge our child and me.

To win the Goodwin family's approval, I served coffee while heavily pregnant, had hot coffee poured on my hand by his mother, Amelia Goodwin, and crouched down to shine his sister Pearl Goodwin's shoes.

I put up with it all.

Charles said that if I endured tonight, I'd finally become his wife.

My best friend, Sophie Lane, tried to comfort me. "Hang in there a little longer. You and the baby will finally have a home."

But at the end of the party, Sophie walked up to the stage, holding onto Charles's arm, and flashed their marriage license for everyone to see.

That was when it hit me. My so-called poor boyfriend, who'd been deceiving me for seven years, was actually the Goodwin heir with billions to his name.

When we were together, he insisted on splitting every meal down the middle.

Even for a one-dollar delivery fee, he'd make me pay him back half.

He made me cover the prenatal check-up fees upfront and the deposit to keep the pregnancy safe. I had to keep track of it and pay him back later.

But for Sophie, he gave her a 2.3 million dollar blue diamond, a 10 million dollar wedding house, and chartered a private jet so she could go see the ocean.

Sophie then pulled out the itemized bill.

She had every expense listed, including folic acid, cab fare, half the prenatal check-up fees, the ninety-nine-dollar birthday cake, and so on.

It all totaled 22.5 thousand.

"If you're really not after the Goodwin family's money, then pay back every cent," Sophie said.

I looked at Charles. "We've been together for seven years. I never knew you were the Goodwin heir."

But he replied with a cold denial, "I have nothing to do with her, and the child isn't mine."

The guests started hurling insults at me.

Amelia slapped me hard across the face.

Sophie thrust the repayment agreement in front of me. "As long as you admit you're the mistress and that the baby has nothing to do with Charles, I won't come after you."

I only had 4.3 dollars left in my account.

"Then, what did these seven years mean to you?" I asked.

Charles stared at me, his eyes cold. "Let's be real. You're only here for my money and my name."

I stood there in silence for a long time, then finally walked up to the live stream camera and slowly lowered my head. "Fine, I will cooperate. I'll pay back every cent I've spent over the years."

*****

After I finished speaking, Charles let out a visible sigh of relief.

He didn't come to me. Instead, he stepped in front of Sophie, blocking the harsh flashes for her.

But Sophie wasn't about to let me off that easy.

She strode right up to the camera and replayed the recording. "Emily, your word alone doesn't count for much. Go ahead and sign the repayment agreement."

She had the lawyer spread the documents out on the table.

On top of the 22.5 thousand dollars, they added seven years' worth of interest, legal fees, and the cost of tonight's party.

All in all, it came to 106 thousand dollars.

I gripped the pen, my fingers trembling uncontrollably.

My belly started to tighten again. It felt like something was grabbing the baby and dragging it down.

"Can you take me to the hospital after I sign?" I asked.

Sophie didn't answer. She pushed the stamp toward me. "Sign first."

I looked at Charles.

He stood a few steps away, not urging me, not stopping me.

I knew that silence all too well.

Whenever we argued, he'd always stand there and wait.

He'd wait for me to apologize first, to admit I was wrong, to take all the blame.

As long as I gave in, he'd hold me again and promise that things would be better from now on.

So this time, I still thought that once I signed, it would all be over.

I signed my name at the bottom of the agreement and pressed my fingerprint.

Sophie picked up the agreement and checked every page for my signature; only then did she finally allow herself a satisfied smile.

Sophie turned the camera back on me. "There's still an apology video. Say you never knew who the baby's father was, but you pinned it on Charles to get into the Goodwin family."

My lips went pale, and I couldn't bring myself to say anything right away.

Charles finally frowned. "Emily, don't back out halfway through. Didn't you say you would cooperate?"

I looked at him, and the last bit of hope I had slowly faded away. "Yes, I don't know who the baby's father is. I went after Charles for the money."

Sophie shut off the recording with a satisfied smirk.