Chapter 2

My name was Labia Croft, and I used to be the secret lover of Rey City's most prominent CEO, Klein.

For three years, our arrangement had been... satisfactory.

Until today.

Holding my pregnancy report, I felt a mix of excitement and anxiety as I went to his office to see him.

Klein was still in a meeting, so his secretary told me to wait.

As I sat in his office, my eyes fell on a bridal magazine lying near his computer.

Since when did Klein start looking at wedding dresses?

Could it be because I'd casually mentioned wanting to take wedding photos before?

A small, hopeful flutter stirred in my heart.

Maybe I did mean something to him after all.

But then I caught sight of him through the office window, walking with a tall, elegant woman who clung to his arm.

I recognized her immediately. I'd seen her photo in Klein's private album before. It was his first love.

My heart sank as I lowered my gaze and smiled bitterly. Of course. Klein would never remember something I said in passing.

His true love was back, and he was choosing a wedding dress for her. Was he going to marry her?

I grew up in a blended family. After my mom passed, my dad remarried and had a son with his new wife, leaving me to be raised by my grandfather in the countryside. When my grandfather suffered a stroke and became paralyzed, I took on the responsibility of paying his medical bills.

By the time I was in college, I was supporting myself and him entirely.

During my junior year, someone told me nightclub jobs paid well. What I could earn in one night there was equivalent to three or four days working at a café.

Desperate, I applied and got a job as a server.

That was how I met Klein. That night, he was drunk and heartbroken. I happened to be serving his private room.

He pulled me into his suite, and the next morning, I could barely walk.

My manager assumed I'd slacked off and ignored my duties all night. Without hearing me out, they fired me.

I couldn't explain the truth, nor did I dare to.

So I asked Klein to compensate me for my lost wages.

Surprisingly, he was generous and offered me a lucrative job instead: as his companion. If I kept him satisfied, I could earn tens of thousands a month.

The arrangement was degrading, but what choice did I have?

I couldn't let pride stand in the way of survival.

I'd already given Klein my first night; there was no point being sentimental about it.

Besides, he was tall, fit, and ridiculously handsome, with bronzed skin and abs like a model straight out of an action movie.

If I had to sleep with someone, it might as well be him.

After two seconds of deliberation, I accepted. We signed a contract.

Three hundred thousand a month, on the condition that I was at his beck and call.

When we signed the agreement, he made one thing clear. "Don't fall in love with me. I won't take responsibility," he said.

He didn't want love, and I pretended not to either.

For three years, I played my part, hiding my feelings while we kept things strictly transactional.

But now, the woman he truly loved had returned, and he was ready to settle down.

He didn't need me anymore.

Not as a lover. Not even as a transaction.

And to top it all off, I was pregnant.

The timing couldn't have been worse.

I quietly folded the ultrasound report and slipped it into my bag just as Klein walked into the office.

I looked up at him.

He seemed immaculate as always, his tailored suit sharp against his cool, chiseled features.

Sitting down at his desk, he asked, "What do you need?"

I'd come to tell him about the pregnancy, but now... what was the point?

He was getting engaged. Our arrangement was ending.

There was no way he'd let me keep this baby.

But after three years of being hidden in the shadows for him, I wasn't the naïve girl I used to be.

Besides, I knew I wouldn't fall for another man.

This baby might be the only family I'd ever have. And I wasn't about to lose that.

I walked over to Klein and poured him a glass of water, feigning ease as I made up an excuse. "I saw a jewelry set I liked."

Klein extended his arm, pulling me into his embrace. His deep, magnetic voice brushed against my ear. "What jewelry? Wasn't the last set I bought you enough?"

"Orvis just released a new emerald-diamond necklace. It's not too expensive, just over 200 thousand. I really want it," I replied playfully.

"Have Mars take you to get it later," he said without hesitation.

Feigning delight, I leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you, Klein."

A barely perceptible smile played on his handsome features.

His warm fingertips brushed across my cheek as his thick lashes lowered slightly. His gaze slid down to my lips, smoldering with suggestiveness. "That's all you wanted?"

As someone who had been his mistress for three years, I'd learned how to read his mind.

Catching on immediately, I giggled softly, feigning shyness as I climbed onto his lap. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I tilted my head upward to kiss him, cautiously yet seductively.

Even when he was sitting still, his presence was overwhelming, exuding a quiet intensity. As our lips met, the faint scent of pinewood filled the air around him.

Before long, he took control, tightening his hold on my waist and prying my lips apart with the heat of his tongue.

Breath mingling, I could feel the warmth of his exhale against my skin, his restraint unraveling as he carried me into the lounge and pressed me onto the sofa.

Just as he leaned over me, a sharp pang shot through my lower abdomen.

The sudden discomfort jolted me back to clarity.

Protectively cradling my belly, I pushed him away with all my strength.

He frowned, his annoyance evident as he stared at me.

"I... I'm on my period," I quickly lied, offering an awkward smile.

"It should be the next week, isn't it?" His scrutinizing gaze pinned me down as if he could see right through me.

Flustered, I forced myself to sound confident. "I've been staying up too late recently. My hormones are all over the place. Can't I have an irregular cycle?"

He sighed softly and shifted off me, a rare trace of complaint lacing his tone. "And yet you still tried to seduce me."

Adjusting his disheveled tie, he sat up and smoothed out his suit.

I followed suit, fixing my own appearance, and hesitated before asking, "Klein, do you like children?"

"No," he answered without a second's thought.

The chill in my chest deepened. Of course.

Then, lifting his gaze, he asked, "Why the sudden question?"

Feigning nonchalance, I chuckled. My voice came out soft and slightly hoarse. "Oh, it's nothing. I just ran into a lost little boy at my apartment earlier. He was adorable."

His eyes narrowed slightly, studying me. "You want a child?"

"Not at all. I just think they're cute. If I had to have one, I'd pass," I replied casually.

"Good," Klein said coldly as he got up, straightened his suit jacket, and left the lounge.

I trailed behind him, hurrying to leave the company.

Once outside, my resolve solidified. I had to leave.

Checking my bank account, I realized I only had 500 thousand.

It wasn't nearly enough. My grandfather was still in the hospital, and I had to ensure his medical bills were covered before disappearing.

I had to leave my 500 thousand to him. After all, I wouldn't come back until I gave birth to my baby a year later.

So, I must get all the money I needed from Klein.

This seemed to be an urgent mission that was impossible to complete.

I was already pregnant, and it wouldn't take long before my belly became obvious. My time with him was running up.

After much consideration, I decided to sell all the jewelry and handbags Klein had given me over the years.

At the shop, the owner appraised everything, tallying up the amount.

"Five hundred thousand," she said.

Shock rippled through me. These were luxury items, some even limited editions that Klein had spent millions on.

How could she only offer me 500 thousand?

The owner explained that second-hand items depreciated significantly in value compared to gold, which retained its worth.

Though disappointed, I gave her my account information and waited for the transfer. Once the money was in my account, I turned to leave.

That was when a well-dressed, dignified middle-aged woman called out to me.

Turning around, my stomach knotted.

It was Klein's mother, Marina.

"Labia, are you that desperate for money? Looks like my son doesn't treat you very well," she sneered.

"Not at all," I murmured softly, overwhelmed by the oppressive aura of an elite matriarch. Instinctively, I wanted to walk away.

"Wait," Marina said, stopping me. "I need to talk to you."

In a nearby café, she casually slid a check across the table and said in disdain, "Klein's engagement is imminent. Here's a million. Leave him."

My heart leapt. I snatched the check eagerly, unable to suppress my joy.

With this million, along with the 500 thousand I already had, I could start fresh with my baby.

Marina's eyes flickered, her expression shifting from scornful to mocking. "A million was all it took? I thought you'd demand far more."

I didn't care about her opinion. All I could think about was the money in my hand.

Now, I could leave Klein as quickly as possible.

"Thank you, Mrs. Barrison. I'll keep my word and ensure there's no further..."

"Nothing further between us?" A voice, as cold as ice, cut through the air.

Turning my head, I froze. Klein's flawless face loomed before me, his sharp features carved with an icy chill.

My body stiffened as I inhaled sharply.

"What kind of deal are we discussing?" Klein's gaze flicked to the check in my hand. His lips pressed tightly together, his eyes filled with frost.

I immediately looked down, avoiding his piercing stare.