Chapter 1

The day I went to register my marriage with Ryan, a girl's voice suddenly rang in my mind.

She was crying, warning me not to go through with it.

She screamed, "Don't marry Ryan. He's a scumbag. Something bad will happen, and he'll leave you behind to save his true love.

"Mom, trust me. I'm your unborn child. The man that night wasn't him. Don't be fooled by him."

I froze, gripping my ID card tightly, unwilling to take another step forward.

Just a week ago, I had gone to the hospital and found out I was one month pregnant.

Could it really be my unborn child trying to warn me?

Just then, she continued, "Mom, he's only marrying you because you're rich. Once you get your marriage registered, he'll take everything from you.

"Grandpa will have a stroke, and I'll be tortured to death. So if you marry him, we're all doomed."

I met Ryan's loving gaze and smiled calmly.

Then, hand in hand, we stepped into the city hall.

Don't worry, my child. I was the one in control all along.

*****

"Jenny, once we're married, you call the shots in the house. I'll follow your lead in everything," Ryan Chase said, his voice full of affection.

Hearing that, I pulled out the prenup I'd prepared long ago and handed it to him.

"Ryan, if you're really going to let me run things, how about signing this prenup?" I teased, keeping my tone light.

Ryan frowned, his expression darkening for a moment.

He chuckled with a frown. "Jenny, you still don't trust me, right? Is that what you think? That I'm only with you for your money?

"The prenup just shows you don't trust me at all. Who exactly do you think you're protecting yourself from?"

Ryan played the trust card, trying to guilt-trip me into backing down.

It was a tactic he relied on often.

In the past, I would always yield and adapt, but this time, I wouldn't.

A furious voice rang in my ear. "Mom, he's only with you for your money. And he's out to take everything you have. I told you not to come to the city hall. Why did you still go with him?"

My heart skipped a beat, and my hand instinctively drifted to my belly.

My sweet girl, it was time for your first lesson in survival.

Ryan took the prenup and said coldly, "Jenny, do you really think it's appropriate to talk about a prenup right here at city hall?"

I put on my most innocent face. "Why not? We haven't even signed anything yet. There's still time for everything."

Ryan was clearly caught off guard by my words.

He angrily tossed the prenup aside and turned to leave. "You're disrespecting me. If this is how it's going to be, maybe we shouldn't get married at all."

I sighed, giving him a helpless look. "If you don't want to, then just forget it."

Ryan stopped dead in his tracks.

He never expected me to be so nonchalant about it.

Just as I was about to walk away, Ryan grabbed my hand.

He cleared his throat. "Jenny, do we really have to sign this prenup?"

Holly, my unborn daughter, said, "Mom, I already told you he'd wreck our whole family, and you still want to stick with him. Do you really think a prenup can keep him in check? Don't be so naive."

I smiled, saying nothing. This wasn't just a prenup; it was the only thing that might save me.

I fell head over heels for Ryan the very first time I met him.

We had known each other since college. I had witnessed his highs and lows, and now, he stood at the peak of success, a rising star in the social scene.

Everyone thought I was beneath him, bending entirely to Ryan, losing myself in the process.

To help him get ahead, I went to my dad's business partners and connected them with him.

I helped him find office space and negotiate the lease, securing it below market rate.

Every step of Ryan's success had my hand in it.

My friends would joke, "Ms. Rogers, ever since you settled down, you're like the perfect wife every man wants."

I didn't care what anyone said. My whole world revolved around him.

Whenever Ryan needed, I'd come to him, no matter what. Even if everyone was against us, I'd still choose to be with him.

Somewhere along the way, I got lost in a relationship that was mostly fake, with just a sliver of real feelings mixed in.

One night, I went all out, throwing a big anniversary celebration for Ryan and me.

He helped me, drunk as I was, back to the hotel.

Ryan gazed at me, eyes full of affection. "Jenny, I used to think you were spoiled, always acting like a boss, but now I see your boldness and genuine nature. They're truly rare.

"I come from humble beginnings, so I know I don't deserve you, but I just can't get you out of my mind."

He gripped my wrist, his voice trembling with desire. "You're the one who got me into this, and now, I'm never letting you go."

I thought things were finally coming together for us, and that maybe we were about to take a step further.

Afterward, I even congratulated myself, thinking I'd finally found the love of my life.

However, as I stood outside city hall, Holly's voice suddenly echoed in my mind, desperate to stop me. "Don't marry him. Don't get the certificate. He'll ruin your life.

"He's got a beloved girl, and they even have a son together. You think you're the real deal, but you're just the other woman he pushed into this mess."

I took a deep breath, locking eyes with Ryan, who looked at me like I was his whole world. In that moment, everything in my head became clear.

I'd been torn on the way, wondering if I should really ask Ryan to sign the prenup.

Now, I had finally made up my mind.

I should never change my goals for a guy.

I could give him everything he ever wanted, but now, it was his turn to give me what I deserved.