Chapter 2

"Julian, are you going to sign it or not?"

"If you don't, then this engagement is off. Don't you dare treat our Chloe like a breeding machine."

Ryan pointed an accusing finger at me, his tone righteous, then shoved me, urging me on.

Anyone who didn't know better would think he was Chloe's father, protecting his precious little girl.

I snatched the agreement, threw it at his face, and spoke, my voice chillingly low,

"What gives you the right to meddle in Chloe's and my private matters?"

Then, ignoring Ryan's furious glare, I turned to Chloe.

"Chloe, this is between us. I'll listen to you!"

Chloe looked at me with a conflicted expression, then at Ryan, before finally mumbling,

"Julian, I… I really think we should wait a few years before having kids. I'm just not ready."

My heart felt like it was being ripped to shreds, a searing pain spreading through my entire body.

Six years of devotion, and I was twenty-eight. She still wanted me to wait 'a few years.'

Last night's whispered conversation echoed in my ears:

"Chloe, my dad's been diagnosed with late-stage cancer. His biggest wish before he dies is to have a grandchild."

"Chloe, what am I supposed to do? For all these years, you've been the only one in my heart. How can I give him a child?"

"Chloe, would you help me have a child? Please? As long as my father's wish is fulfilled, I'll dedicate my life to you. I'll never marry anyone else, and I won't ask for any official title, just to be by your side."

Chloe hesitated.

"Ryan, tomorrow I'm getting engaged to Julian. The wedding date is even set. What about him?"

Ryan excitedly stood up and hugged Chloe.

"It'll be fine, Chloe. Tomorrow, I'll force him to sign a prenuptial agreement. If he refuses, the engagement's off."

"Julian loves you so much, he's waited six years for you. He definitely won't want to cancel the engagement. He'll agree to anything."

Chloe eventually fell silent.

That day, I still held onto a sliver of hope. I thought she wouldn't agree to such an absurd agreement, that she just found it difficult to argue with Ryan.

I never imagined that at our engagement party today, she would actually ask me to sign a fertility agreement.

And when I pressed her, she even said Ryan was doing it for her own good.

How could she say that with a straight face? Didn't she feel any shame?

Seeing my silence, Ryan thought I was scared. He shot me a smug, triumphant look.

"Julian, if you don't sign, you're treating Chloe like a breeding tool. Then you can forget about this engagement."

"When you learn to respect Chloe, then we can talk about getting engaged."

He believed a mere engagement cancellation would scare me. He was leveraging my endless love for Chloe, thinking he could manipulate me into signing this humiliating agreement.

But I wouldn't.

*Slap!* I swung my hand across his face.

"You're so eager to stop Chloe from having kids with me. Are you implying you want her to have them with *you*?"

Chloe's face changed, then she angrily retorted,

"Julian, what are you talking about? Ryan is only looking out for me. How can you be so barbaric?"

She then lovingly checked Ryan's face, gently stroking his cheek.

I let out a soft laugh.

"Looking out for you? Oh, he was 'looking out for you' so well, he ended up in your bed."

"Just like some people 'care' for you until their twisted schemes come to fruition."