Chapter 1 · The Million-Dollar Escape

The day I discovered I was having quadruplets, I was still worried about how to support them.

My husband, Branson Dalton, sent me a message: [I'll give you 30 million dollars if you agree to the divorce.]

I was so excited that my hands shook as I typed back: [Oh my god! Why didn't you say this sooner?!]

After signing the papers and collecting the money, I disappeared without a trace.

Later, the whole city buzzed with the story: the ruthless Branson had gone mad, searching everywhere for his ex-wife, the one who had taken 30 million dollars and vanished.

*****

The cold ultrasound probe slid across my belly as I stared at the screen, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it might leap out of my throat.

The doctor adjusted her glasses, her expression shifting from calm to surprised, then to utter disbelief.

She checked and rechecked several times before finally turning to me, her voice trembling with uncertainty. "Mrs. Dalton, you... you're..."

"Is there something wrong, doctor?" My heart was in my throat, and cold sweat broke out on my palms.

Oh god, was something wrong with the baby?

"No, it's not a problem," the doctor said, taking a deep breath like she was about to announce some major discovery. "Looks like you're having quadruplets. Four sacs, all with heartbeats."

My brain just shut down.

F-four... quadruplets?

I was not dreaming, was I?

I gave myself a pinch on the thigh, and the jolt of pain confirmed that this was all real.

God, how did I get so lucky? Did I really just win the ultimate lottery?

Walking out of the hospital, clutching the ultrasound printout that felt impossibly heavy, the sun was out but I couldn't feel any warmth—just a sense that the road ahead was a complete mystery.

I had been married into the Dalton family for a year now.

My husband, Branson Dalton, was the most powerful man in town. Our marriage was purely a business arrangement—no love, just profit.

In the year we had been married, we had barely seen each other. He was always on business trips, always in meetings, always... never home.

In the Dalton family, I was practically invisible—just an ornament, constantly looked down on by my mother-in-law Emilie Dalton and Branson's younger sister Paloma Dalton.

Now, I was pregnant with quadruplets.

How was I ever going to take care of them?

Would Branson even care about these babies?

Would the Dalton family even let me go through with this pregnancy?

My head was spinning with questions, and I felt a splitting headache coming on.

I was wandering down the street, completely lost in my thoughts, when my phone chimed.

It was a message from Branson.

My heart jumped as I swiped open the screen.

Just a few words—cold and sharp, but it was like a knife stabbing straight into my heart.

He said: [30 million dollars. Divorce.]

I just stood there, stunned, reading it over and over to make sure I wasn't seeing things.

30 million dollars and got a divorce?

Everything went eerily quiet for a few seconds.

Then, a rush of pure, wild joy exploded inside me, flooding every cell like a volcanic eruption.

I was so excited that my hands were shaking, and I kept jabbing at my phone screen, missing the buttons over and over.

With my fingers trembling, I typed out my reply, carefully, word by word. [Oh my god! Why didn't you say this sooner?!]

I answered: [Oh my god! Why didn't you tell me about this sooner?]

I hit send.

He shot back a reply almost instantly.

Branson, as always, was straight to the point. [Micheal Stafford will bring the papers to you at 10 AM tomorrow.]

I stared at my phone, grinning like a total goofball.

Who cared about not being able to afford them? Who cared if the future's a mess?

30 million dollars!

Four kids? Heck, I could handle forty with that kind of cash.

I carefully folded up the ultrasound printout and tucked it safely into my bag, practically floating down the street.

The four little ones in my belly seemed to pick up on my excitement. They wiggled around, like they were celebrating with me.

"Hang in there, babies," I murmured, gently stroking my stomach. "Mommy's about to move us into a big house and give you the good life!"

Branson? Whatever...

Screw Branson and his fancy Dalton family.

From now on, I was the newest money queen in town.

When I got back to the Dalton family's mansion, my so-called "home" that had always felt so cold and lifeless, I actually felt like the air was fresh for once.

I started humming a tune as I packed up my stuff.

I didn't have much—just one suitcase, and I was done.

As for all those designer bags and jewelry Branson had given me, I didn't touch a single thing.

Please, after taking 30 million dollars from him, I didn't care about a few trinkets.

Gotta keep my standards high.

Gotta live it up and be carefree.

The next morning, at exactly 9:59 AM, the doorbell rang right on time.

I opened the door to see Branson's chief attorney, Micheal, standing there looking all business.

Chapter 1

The day I discovered I was having quadruplets, I was still worried about how to support them.

My husband, Branson Dalton, sent me a message: [I'll give you 30 million dollars if you agree to the divorce.]

I was so excited that my hands shook as I typed back: [Oh my god! Why didn't you say this sooner?!]

After signing the papers and collecting the money, I disappeared without a trace.

Later, the whole city buzzed with the story: the ruthless Branson had gone mad, searching everywhere for his ex-wife, the one who had taken 30 million dollars and vanished.

*****

The cold ultrasound probe slid across my belly as I stared at the screen, my heart pounding so hard it felt like it might leap out of my throat.

The doctor adjusted her glasses, her expression shifting from calm to surprised, then to utter disbelief.

She checked and rechecked several times before finally turning to me, her voice trembling with uncertainty. "Mrs. Dalton, you... you're..."

"Is there something wrong, doctor?" My heart was in my throat, and cold sweat broke out on my palms.

Oh god, was something wrong with the baby?

"No, it's not a problem," the doctor said, taking a deep breath like she was about to announce some major discovery. "Looks like you're having quadruplets. Four sacs, all with heartbeats."

My brain just shut down.

F-four... quadruplets?

I was not dreaming, was I?

I gave myself a pinch on the thigh, and the jolt of pain confirmed that this was all real.

God, how did I get so lucky? Did I really just win the ultimate lottery?

Walking out of the hospital, clutching the ultrasound printout that felt impossibly heavy, the sun was out but I couldn't feel any warmth—just a sense that the road ahead was a complete mystery.

I had been married into the Dalton family for a year now.

My husband, Branson Dalton, was the most powerful man in town. Our marriage was purely a business arrangement—no love, just profit.

In the year we had been married, we had barely seen each other. He was always on business trips, always in meetings, always... never home.

In the Dalton family, I was practically invisible—just an ornament, constantly looked down on by my mother-in-law Emilie Dalton and Branson's younger sister Paloma Dalton.

Now, I was pregnant with quadruplets.

How was I ever going to take care of them?

Would Branson even care about these babies?

Would the Dalton family even let me go through with this pregnancy?

My head was spinning with questions, and I felt a splitting headache coming on.

I was wandering down the street, completely lost in my thoughts, when my phone chimed.

It was a message from Branson.

My heart jumped as I swiped open the screen.

Just a few words—cold and sharp, but it was like a knife stabbing straight into my heart.

He said: [30 million dollars. Divorce.]

I just stood there, stunned, reading it over and over to make sure I wasn't seeing things.

30 million dollars and got a divorce?

Everything went eerily quiet for a few seconds.

Then, a rush of pure, wild joy exploded inside me, flooding every cell like a volcanic eruption.

I was so excited that my hands were shaking, and I kept jabbing at my phone screen, missing the buttons over and over.

With my fingers trembling, I typed out my reply, carefully, word by word. [Oh my god! Why didn't you say this sooner?!]

I answered: [Oh my god! Why didn't you tell me about this sooner?]

I hit send.

He shot back a reply almost instantly.

Branson, as always, was straight to the point. [Micheal Stafford will bring the papers to you at 10 AM tomorrow.]

I stared at my phone, grinning like a total goofball.

Who cared about not being able to afford them? Who cared if the future's a mess?

30 million dollars!

Four kids? Heck, I could handle forty with that kind of cash.

I carefully folded up the ultrasound printout and tucked it safely into my bag, practically floating down the street.

The four little ones in my belly seemed to pick up on my excitement. They wiggled around, like they were celebrating with me.

"Hang in there, babies," I murmured, gently stroking my stomach. "Mommy's about to move us into a big house and give you the good life!"

Branson? Whatever...

Screw Branson and his fancy Dalton family.

From now on, I was the newest money queen in town.

When I got back to the Dalton family's mansion, my so-called "home" that had always felt so cold and lifeless, I actually felt like the air was fresh for once.

I started humming a tune as I packed up my stuff.

I didn't have much—just one suitcase, and I was done.

As for all those designer bags and jewelry Branson had given me, I didn't touch a single thing.

Please, after taking 30 million dollars from him, I didn't care about a few trinkets.

Gotta keep my standards high.

Gotta live it up and be carefree.

The next morning, at exactly 9:59 AM, the doorbell rang right on time.

I opened the door to see Branson's chief attorney, Micheal, standing there looking all business.