Chapter 7 The price
CHAPTER 7: The price
Vera
“It’s mine.”
I took a sharp intake of breath.
“What?”
For a second, I forgot how to breathe. My senses stalled, like it had slammed into a wall it hadn’t seen coming, and all I could do was stare at him…this man standing at the foot of my hospital bed, claiming something that wasn’t his with an ease and calmness that felt almost frightening.
As if it were the simple truth that he fathered the child I was carrying.
He didn’t immediately try to explain himself. Neither did he soften his expression nor take his words back.
He simply watched me, waiting for the shock to settle.
“That shouldn't be a problem,” he said, eyes narrowed slightly. “The father's not in the picture I assume?”
I shook my head, flushing with shame.
I didn’t even know who he was.
That fateful night, Damien had ended my resistance and cries for mercy with the drugs he had forcefully injected me with.
I had no idea who the father of the baby was.
“If you accept my proposal, then I'll assume full responsibility for your pregnancy. In the eyes of the world,” he continued evenly, “I'll be the man that got you pregnant. The baby will have my name. My child. No questions asked.”
My heart slammed painfully against my ribs. That… that was more than I expected. More than I had even dared to imagine.
My fingers curled into the sheets.
“You would… do that?” My voice came out thin, almost disbelieving. “Just like that? Publicly?”
“Yes.”
It sounded too simple. Too clean.
Life had never been that kind to me. Nothing in my life had ever come simply or without a cost, and I had learned that lesson painfully well.
So the idea that he could make these problems disappear so simply…easily felt unreal…dangerous to say the least.
“It's… it's too easy,” I said slowly, my fingers tightening in the sheets.
“It isn’t.”
Relief and dread tangled in my chest.
“What’s the condition?” I asked, forcing the words out. I knew that there must be a catch. It was all too good to be true.
A faint curve touched his lips. It was neither warmth, nor kindness, nor humour. Recognition.
“You’re perceptive,” he said, almost approvingly. “Good.”
My stomach twisted.
“We get married,” he continued, his tone turning clinical again. “We stay married for two years. After that, I'll initiate the divorce.”
I nodded slowly, bracing myself.
“At that point,” he went on, “I will make it public that you were unfaithful. That you deceived me and passed off another man’s child as mine.”
The words hit me like a slap and the room suddenly became too small.
My breath caught sharply.
“What?” my hands trembled, despite my efforts to still them. “You'd destroy my reputation.”
“Yes.”
That single word was spoken with a hint of emotion on his face or in his voice.
“It will be a clean narrative,” he said without emotion. “A scandal that reflects poorly on—”
“Me,” I cut in dazed. “You walk away with…sympathy as the wronged husband,” I whispered, understanding dawning painfully. “And I'd be—”
“Compensated,” he finished, taking a step forward.
My chest felt tight, my thoughts spinning violently.
I almost laughed out loud for even daring to imagine that I could ever catch a break easily.
Humiliation. Shame. Public disgrace. My name dragged through the mud. Being reduced to a headline, a cautionary tale.
I didn’t want it. I hated it.
My life was far from great. It was miserable.
But at least I didn't have the misfortune of being publicly recognised, judged and hated by people wherever I go.
And that was going to my future…my fate, if I accepted Silas Rutherford's proposal.
But then Lily’s image arose in my mind. Pale. Fragile. Hooked up to machines.
And then beneath my hand, my stomach—the child inside me…small, unwanted, but already dependent on me in ways I couldn’t escape.
I swallowed hard.
“How much?” I asked quietly, my voice steadier than I felt.
His eyes didn't flicker. “Ten million dollars.”
My eyes widened before I could stop myself, my breath hitching despite myself.
“Half paid immediately after the marriage,” he continued, watching my reaction closely. “The remaining half after the divorce is finalized.”
Five million.
I stared at him stunned.
“That’s not all,” he added. “Throughout the duration of the marriage, I will provide a monthly allowance. Housing. Security. Medical care. Education. Whatever you, your sister, and the child may need. You have my word that you'll be adequately taken care of.”
My pulse roared in my ears. It was overwhelming. Too much.
I lowered my gaze, my shoulders sagging slightly under the weight of the decision I already knew I was going to make.
The possibility of catering for Lily and myself all alone with the job I had was near impossible, now combined with a baby.
I had no fighting chance. Besides, I couldn't continue to depend on and burden Cherry forever.
There was no real choice here. Not when two lives depended on me.
As long as Lily would not be affected by the aftermath, I'd do it.
“I… I’ll do it,” I said softly.
There was no abrupt reaction from him, only a sharp glint in his dark eyes. It was almost as though he knew I was going to concede at the end.
He didn’t interrupt me and I went on,
“But,” I added quickly, my courage fragile but determined, “I have demands of my own.”
One dark brow lifted. “Go on.”
“I want you to help me set up a business,” I said, my heart racing. “One that belongs to me. Something that will still belong to me after the divorce.”
I needed something to help me stand on my feet after the whirlwind that was coming.
He studied me, silent.
“And,” I continued, my voice trembling slightly, “I want something in place for my sister. Something that ensures she’s protected long-term, no matter what happens.”
For a long moment, he simply looked at me.
“That’s all?” he asked finally. “You’re not really asking anything for yourself or your child?”
I pressed my belly lightly.
There was still a bit of time to plan for the baby’s future, but I had to look out for my little sister now.
I nodded. “Yes.”
He straightened, surprise flickering briefly in his eyes before smoothing out.
“Deal.”
Relief washed over me so suddenly it made me dizzy.
He took a step back and pulled out his phone and made a call to someone.
“Attorney, meet me in my office tomorrow morning. There's something I need you to do.”
He ended the call, but kept scrolling through his phone.
A short, heavy and awkward silence pressed into the room.
There was one more question that lodged in my throat, heavy with embarrassment. I didn’t want to ask, but I had to.
“Sir…” I hesitated, my cheeks warming despite myself.
He took his eyes off his screen, gazing intently at me.
“Silas,” he said flatly. “Call me Silas.”
My mouth dropped open, heat suffusing my face. “Oh…okay.”
He slipped his phone back into his pocket, and folded his arms across his chest, pinning me with a pointed gaze that made me squirm.
“You had something to say?”
I swallowed heavily, and wiped my wet palms on the sheets.
“Will we… will we have to–to—”
He seemed to read the discomfort written all over my face.
“To consummate the marriage,” he supplied, to my relief and embarrassment.
I nodded.
“No,” he said firmly. “This arrangement is strictly business. On paper only.”
I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
No matter how desperate I was, the man was still a stranger, and I wanted to know exactly what I was getting myself into.
“You will not be obligated to me,” he continued. “No marital duties. No bedroom expectations. You simply play your role of a loving wife, only in public.”
Then his gaze hardened, his voice lowering just slightly.
“But understand this,” he added. “I do not tolerate embarrassment. Or humiliation. I expect loyalty within the terms of our agreement. And as long as you remember and abide by that, then there'd be no problems.”
A chill slid down my spine, but I nodded. “I understand.”
“I want the wedding as soon as possible,” he said, checking his watch.
Panic flared again, and I sat up immediately, despite the woozy feeling in my head.
“Please,” I said quickly. “Can it… can it wait until my sister is fully recovered. Until she’s out of the hospital.”
No matter that this was nothing more than a contract, I still wanted Lily there with me.
Plus I wanted to make sure that she was okay and fully recovered before taking this step.
He considered it for a moment. “Fine. We’ll only wait. But only until she’s discharged.”
It was not quite what I wanted, but relief flooded me again.
As he turned to leave, another thought struck me.
“Sir… how will I contact you?”
He paused and looked back at me flatly. “Phones.”
I flushed. “I don’t have your number.”
He walked back toward the bed, stopping far too close. He leaned down, bracing one hand on the mattress, while his other hand reached behind me, his gaze never leaving my face, his presence suddenly overwhelming, his scent filling my senses.
My heart began to race uncontrollably. I held my breath, praying that he didn't hear the erratic beating of my heart.
I was about to speak when the door swung open.
“Vera, you won't believe—”
Cherry walked in…and stopped short, her eyes widening as she took in the sight of him hovering over me.