Chapter 2 Negotiating Terms

• When I burst in, my parents stopped arguing and stared at me in surprise.
• "But I have a condition," I said, wiping away my tears. "I want to go back to my mom in our country. If you return all the belongings that belong to my mom to us, then I'll agree to marry."
• I clenched my hands repeatedly, refusing to show any weakness in front of him, slowly calming down inside.
• Although I had been away from my home country for years, I had heard of the Reid family in Greenville City since I was a child.
• With their vast wealth and noble status, the young master of the Reid family was naturally held in high esteem.
• I couldn't believe such a good opportunity had come to me.
• The young master of the Reid family might be extremely unattractive or perhaps have some physical defect.
• But I had no other choice; this was the best way for me to return to my country.
• If I played my cards right, I might even be able to retrieve my mother's dowry.
• "Aria... you can't joke about your marriage. I don't agree," my mother interjected after hearing my agreement to my father's request.
• Afraid my mother's persuasion might make me unwilling to marry, my father quickly added, "Fine. As long as you're willing to marry, I'll let you go back to your country."
• "What about my mother's dowry?" I asked coldly as I looked at this man who was supposed to be my father.
• My main goal was not just to return to my country; I also wanted to reclaim the belongings that belonged to my mom!
• When my mother married him, she brought a substantial dowry.
• Seeing my father's pained expression, I pushed further. "Dad, my sister must be very beautiful. She deserves better. If she marries a man with a physical defect, her life will be ruined. Besides, you and my mom are already divorced. You should return the money she brought to the Monroe family."
• My father gave me a cold glance. "It seems your mother hasn't taught you any manners in all these years. You don't know the first thing about respect. Once you're married, I'll give you the belongings."
• Seeing my father's displeased expression, I knew I had made the right bet. The young master of the Reid family must have some kind of flaw or illness. My father couldn't bear to let his youngest daughter marry him. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been my turn.
• As my father left the hospital room, he coldly said, "Get ready. We’re going back tomorrow."
• "Aria, marriage is a lifelong commitment. Please, don't do this," my mother pleaded desperately.
• She must have understood the reason behind my decision.
• But I have no better way now. It was impossible for me to return to my country on my own. The opportunity was right in front of me, and I could not let it slip away.
• I placed the lunch box on the bedside cabinet and said as I opened it, "I'm not marrying a stranger. He is your friend's son."
• "She passed away a long time ago. I know nothing about her son. Even if I break my promise, I want you to marry someone you love, not to use marriage as a bargaining chip. I would rather stay here forever."
• Someone I love? I could only smile helplessly at my mother's words.
• A woman like me, who could even sell her own body, would anyone ever love me?
• Even if I meet someone in the future, I wouldn’t be worthy.
• So be it.
• It didn’t matter who I married. What mattered was reclaiming everything that had been taken from me.
• In the end, my mother couldn't persuade me to change my mind, and we returned to our country the next day.
• My father looked down on us, mother and daughter, and didn't let us enter the gates of the Monroe family. Instead, he arranged for us to rent a house nearby, and on the day of the wedding, I had to return on my own.
• This suited me just fine. If I went back, my mother would have to face the third party who ruined her marriage. It was better to stay here in peace.
• But my mother still worried and asked me, "Aria, if this is a good marriage, it wouldn't fall on you, even though Mrs. Reid and I were once friends."
• I didn't want to discuss this with my mother, so I changed the subject: "Mom, eat something quickly."
• My mother sighed, clearly seeing that I didn't want to talk about it.
• I held the spoon and fork in my hand, looking at the ordinary food on the table, but I had no appetite. In fact, I even felt a bit nauseous.
• "Are you feeling unwell?" my mother asked with concern.
• I didn't want her to worry, so I lied and said the plane ride had made me lose my appetite.
• I put down the spoon and fork and went into the room, closing the door behind me.
• Leaning against the door, the nausea only grew worse instead of going away.
• Although I had never been pregnant before, I had seen my mother during her pregnancy.
• She had been nauseous, unable to eat, and I was feeling the same way now.
• It had been over a month since that night, and my period was ten days late.
• I didn't dare to continue thinking about it. That night had already been humiliating enough, and I kept remembering the mocking expression of the middle-aged woman that night.
• If it hadn’t been for my mother and brother, I would never have sold myself.
• I started to tremble.
• But when I arrived at the hospital, the doctor's words hit me like a bolt from the blue.
• "You're pregnant. Six weeks.”