Chapter 4
The next day, Lauren came to ask me if I wanted to learn something, like flower arranging, painting, playing an instrument, or maybe taking some kind of class.
Looking at that list of fancy hobbies, I had one thought. 'Rich people's lives are just... boring.'
I declined all the artsy stuff and picked the most practical. Driving lessons.
My logic? When I got my money, I'd need a car that matched my status. I couldn't be a rich girl without a license.
So, I ended up being the most unusual student at the driving school.
Every day, I got picked up and dropped off in a private car, and my instructor treated me like I was royalty.
What could he do? I was rolling up in a Rolls-Royce.
Thanks to all the pampering and cash, I was getting healthier every day, and my cheeks had that rich-girl glow.
Even though Edward was still swamped with work, he started coming home a lot more often.
The tension between us had pretty much melted away.
He didn't just use me as a body pillow anymore—sometimes, he'd actually strike up a conversation.
He'd ask how driving school was going, or if the test was giving me trouble.
And before I knew it, I'd gotten used to sharing a bed with him.
One night, things just fell into place. It all happened so naturally.
The whole thing went way smoother than I ever expected.
Edward was so gentle and patient, always making sure I was okay.
Afterward, I was so wiped I couldn't move. Lying on the pillow, I thought dizzily, 'Is my 10 million on its way?'
Once we started, we couldn't stop. We were like any normal married couple doing our normal duty, just with a stronger endgame.
A month later, my period was nowhere to be seen.
My heart skipped. I had a feeling.
I snuck into the bathroom and took a pregnancy test. When I saw those two bright red lines, I almost jumped off the toilet in excitement.
Got it! That was my 1.5 million signing bonus!
I ran out to tell Edward, but he'd left on a business trip that morning.
So I told Lauren instead.
Lauren's usually stoic face cracked with surprise. She called the family doctor immediately.
After a full exam, the doctor smiled. "Congratulations, young madam. You're pregnant, about five weeks."
The news took flight and swept through the Foster Family in no time.
Mrs. Foster was the first to spring into action.
She rushed over from the old mansion that very afternoon, grabbed my hand, and couldn't stop smiling.
"Excellent. Autumn, you did a wonderful job!" she exclaimed.
She patted my hand like I was a golden goose.
Well, I was not a goose but a golden heir-maker.
Edward came back that night, rushing in tired but windblown.
As soon as he walked in, Jane pounced. "Edward, Autumn's pregnant. The Foster line continues!"
Edward's usually cold face softened. He walked over to me quickly, his gaze landing on my belly with a mix of emotions, joy, and maybe... worry?
"Thank you for your hard work," he said.
My heart went all soft again.
From that day on, my status in the Foster Family shot up like a rocket.
I became the family's top priority, basically their VIP.
They laid anti-slip carpets everywhere, padded every table corner, and no matter where I went, two servants shadowed me like bodyguards, as if I might trip over thin air.
The nutritionist's menu got a total upgrade, seven meals a day, all kinds of delicious dishes, never the same thing twice.
I didn't have to lift a finger. My only job was to eat and sleep.
Honestly, it felt less like being pregnant and more like I was being fattened up for a county fair.
The only thing that really bothered me was that Edward moved into the study next door, using the excuse that it wasn't good for the baby.
With my handsome body pillow gone, it felt weird not having him there at night—I just couldn't get used to sleeping alone.
When I was twelve weeks pregnant, Edward came with me for my first official prenatal checkup.
In the ultrasound room, the doctor moved the probe over my belly, and a blurry image appeared on the screen.
"Mr. Foster, Mrs. Foster, look, there's your baby's heartbeat," the doctor said, pointing at the tiny, flickering dot on the screen.
I stared at that little dot, listening to the strong, steady thump-thump of the heartbeat coming from the machine.
Suddenly, something magical washed over me. This was my baby, a tiny life growing inside me.
Edward kept holding my hand, his palm a little sweaty. I could tell he was just as nervous as I was.
The doctor examined me carefully for a long time, and his expression became increasingly strange.
"Doctor, what's wrong? Is something wrong with the baby?" I asked, my heart tightening.
Edward's face fell too.
"No, no, no, the baby is perfectly healthy and full of energy," the doctor said, waving his hands quickly. Then he adjusted his glasses.
He hesitated, sounding a bit unsure. "It's just Mrs. Foster, it seems like you might be carrying more than one baby."
"What do you mean?" Edward asked.
"Well," The doctor took a deep breath and turned the screen toward us. "Look, there's one here, another one here, and I think there's a third one right here."
"If I'm not mistaken, you're expecting triplets," he added.
Triplets? I was stunned.
Edward and I locked eyes, both of us looking like we'd just seen a ghost.
'Damn, my belly's really outdoing itself. Buy one, get two free!' I thought, still in shock.
If all three were boys, that's 10 million times three. Thirty million!
I had never seen that much money in my life. I was about to be rich!
I nearly laughed out loud but managed to hold it in.
But Edward looked not just shocked. There was a touch of real panic in his eyes.
He stared at those three little sacs on the screen, his brows knit together tight.
"Doctor, are you really sure? Triplets?" he asked again, double-checking.
"Absolutely," the doctor replied with a big smile. "Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Foster. This is huge news."
Walking out of the hospital, I was floating on clouds.
Thirty million is sitting right in my belly. I was a human ATM!
But Edward stayed quiet the whole way, looking pretty grim.
"What's wrong? Aren't you happy?" I couldn't help but ask.