Chapter 2

'So this is my future "husband," Edward Foster?' I thought. 'With a face like that, this deal is a total win! My mental calculator was going wild.'

"Miss Lee, right? Please, have a seat," Mrs. Foster said, her voice a bit raspy but brimming with authority.

I quickly sat down on the sofa across from her, my back straight as a board.

"I've gone through your file and medical report," Mrs. Foster said, her eyes scanning me like an X-ray.

"You probably know about The Foster Family's situation. Eight generations of sole heirs. Now that it's Edward's turn, we can't let the family line die out," she added.

I nodded vigorously. "Yes, I understand."

"We don't care about your family background or what your folks do. All we need is for you to be healthy and able to have kids," Jane said. "From the moment you sign, you belong to The Foster Family. Your sole duty is to give us children, lots of them."

Inside, I was over the moon, but I kept my cool and said, "I understand."

"Take a look at the contract," Mrs. Foster said, nodding toward Edward.

Only then did Edward put down his tablet and finally look up at me.

His eyes were cold and unreadable, like he was just checking out a product on a shelf. Without a word, he handed me another tablet.

I took it and saw an electronic contract on the screen.

The terms were crystal clear—basically what I'd seen online before, just spelled out in even more detail.

For example, it laid out all the obligations I'd need to fulfill after marriage and guaranteed that after I gave birth, the money would be transferred directly to my personal account.

The money would be entirely at my disposal. The Foster Family wouldn't interfere at all.

The last clause said that if things fell apart between us, we could get a divorce.

The kids would stay with the Foster Family, but they'd pay me a huge sum as compensation for my lost youth.

My eyes were practically sparkling. This wasn't a deal with the devil. This was a wealth hack. They even had an exit strategy for me!

"Any questions?" Edward asked, his voice icy.

I shook my head quickly. "No, no questions."

'Seriously, with a deal this sweet, what could possibly go wrong?' I thought.

I was dying to sign it right then and there.

"Then sign it," Edward said, taking the tablet back, bringing up the signature page, and handing it to me again.

I picked up the stylus, my hand trembling a little.

What I was about to sign wasn't just my name. It was my future, my new life, my ticket to endless cash.

I wrote out my name, Autumn Lee, letter by letter, careful and deliberate.

The moment I finished signing, I felt like I was floating on air.

'So from now on, I'm really Edward's fiancée? Even if it's just on paper, I guess that makes me the young Mrs. Foster,' I thought, barely believing it.

"Very good," Jane said, a satisfied look on her face.

"Lauren, take her to see her room. And arrange for them to get their marriage certificate next week," she instructed.

"Yes, ma'am." Lauren bowed slightly.

I stood up, still feeling a bit dazed, and followed Lauren upstairs.

As I walked past Edward, I heard him mutter under his breath, "Hope you're worth it."

His voice was barely more than a whisper, icy and indifferent.

I paused, a little annoyed. Worth the price? Like I'm some kind of product?

But then again, wasn't I exactly that? A baby-making product?

Whatever. Only fools would argue with money.

I straightened up and followed Lauren up the stairs.

My rich-lady era had officially begun.

The room Lauren took me to was ten times bigger than my old rental.

There were floor-to-ceiling windows, plush carpet, and a walk-in closet straight out of a movie, stuffed with designer clothes I didn't recognize but knew were expensive.

"These are all for you, young madam. If anything isn't to your liking, just let us know." Lauren's tone was respectful but professionally distant.

I ran my fingers over the silky fabrics, thinking, 'Jackpot. Absolute jackpot.'

"Um, Lauren?" I hesitated. "Could I... get an advance?"

My father's surgery bill couldn't wait. I couldn't afford to drag my feet.

Lauren seemed to have expected this. She pulled a black card from her purse and handed it to me. "Mrs. Foster instructed me to give you this.

"It has 150,000 dollars on it. Your spending money. No PIN.

"And your family's situation has already been handled.

"Your father has been transferred to the best private hospital in the city. Surgery is scheduled for tomorrow with the top specialist. The Foster family will cover everything."

I took that thin card, my hands shaking.

One hundred and fifty thousand? And they'd taken care of my father? This was rich-people efficiency?

The thing I'd been losing sleep over for days, they fixed it with one sentence.

My eyes stung. I'm not a crier, but this time, I couldn't hold it back.

This money, this help, was a lifeline.

"Thank you... thank you so much," I choked out.

"It's what you deserve, young madam." Lauren's face stayed neutral. "Just focus on resting and preparing for your duties."

I nodded hard. 'Yeah, that's my job, making babies', I thought.

For this kind of help, I'd walk through fire. Babies were nothing.

The next few days were the laziest, most pampered days of my life.

I woke up naturally, had gourmet meals planned by a nutritionist, and ate lobsters and abalone like they were cereal.

My father's surgery went perfectly. He recovered well.

My mother called, crying, saying we were blessed by our ancestors to have met such a generous benefactor.

I didn't tell her who it was. I just said my boss helped me out.

She believed me and told me to work hard to repay them.

I hung up, emotions mixed. Repay? Definitely. With babies.