"I didn't get the chance to," I replied. "I was dealing with a call from the hospital, threatening to cut me off from my father if I didn't pay for the broken equipment.
Do you really not remember?"
"I remember that," he said. "But I also remember telling you to read through the contract before you signed it. You didn't listen. Instead, you signed it and requested an upfront payment of 1.3 million dollars."
I blinked, taken aback. "Okay… and why is all this important? What does it have to do with me going to the hospital?"
He paused, letting the question hang in the air before answering. "It's stated in the contract that we will be married for two years. During that time, you'll have to carry my child. And after breastfeeding, you will be paid 25 million dollars and sent to any country of your choice to have a new beginning."
Nathan's POV:
She didn't utter a single word.
Throughout the entire flight from Mexico to California she just sat motionless, staring out of the window.
I didn't bother to break the silence. what was the point?
When we finally landed in California and stepped onto the tarmac, she turned to me.
"I will not be going to any hospital."
She looked like she was still in shock, so I didn't argue. Not yet.
"Fine," I said simply, gesturing to the car waiting for us. I instructed the driver to take us straight home.
The moment we arrived, Emily stepped out of the car and slammed the door with such force I thought it might come off its hinges. Then she stormed toward the house.
"Emily!" I called, but she didn't stop.
I rushed out as well, and before she could get inside, I grabbed her wrist and turned her to face me. "Acting like a spoiled child won't help you, Emily," I said coldly. "Did you really think you'd be paid $25 million just to play pretend wife?"
Her eyes blazed with anger. "Are you fucking kidding me? I have to sleep with you, get pregnant, go through nine months of stress carrying your child and then what?"
"Then you'll be paid $25 million," I retorted, crossing my arms.
She scoffed, shaking her head. "Oh, and what happens to the baby? I should just abandon my child with you and get shipped off like garbage?"
"Your child?" I repeated, laughing bitterly. "Do you really think I want to sleep with you? Let me spell it out. You'll carry the child, but the egg will be purchased. My sperm and a donor's egg none of it will be yours. You're just the surrogate. Nothing more. And yes, for your trouble, you'll be paid an amount you'll never see again in your life."
Her expression shifted from fury to disbelief. "Wow." She muttered, clapping slowly. "You know what? I don't want to do this anymore. I'm calling off the deal."
I raised an eyebrow. "Fine. But be ready to return the $1.3 million you already took and pay an additional $30 million for breaking the contract unfairly after your debts and desires were taken care of."
Her jaw dropped. "Excuse me? Aren't you the selfish one here? You want me to go through all of this just to clean up your PR mess?"
I stepped closer. "Selfish? You're the one trying to back out of a deal that saved you from drowning in debt."
"Fine!" she snapped, her eyes narrowing. "Then I'll go public. I'll tell the world everything—about this fake marriage. I would even lie that you bribed your employees to cover up for Ken Manchester, and that you manipulated everyone for your benefit. Let's see how that plays out for you."
I smirked, unfazed. "Go ahead. Just remember—revealing the contents of our contract to anyone will cost you $1 billion in damages. It's all outlined in the agreement you so conveniently didn't read."
"Even though I can't get pregnant for a man I don't even feel attracted to," Emily spat, her voice sharp, every word laced with venom.
My eyes darkened. A slow, mocking scoff slipped past my lips as I stepped closer, towering over her, my presence swallowing the space between us.
"Not attracted to me?" I murmured, almost amused. My voice was low, dangerous daring her to repeat herself.
Before she could react, my hand shot out, pinning her against the sleek black car. My fingers brushed deliberately down her thigh, the lightest graze, yet enough to send an involuntary shiver racing up her spine.
"You're burning up already," I whispered, my breath hot against her ear. "Don't lie to yourself, Emily. Your body knows me, even if your pride refuses to admit it."
Her chest rose and fell, heat pooling where my touch lingered. She hated it the way her heart betrayed her, hammering against her chest. The way her skin tingled under my fingertips.
Her lips parted, as if to retort, but the words tangled with the rush of unwanted desire clawing through her.
And then—
The front door banged open.
"Lily," I muttered darkly, just as a blur of perfume and chaos launched herself at me.