Chapter 11
Samuel brushed right past Edward and crouched in front of Cecilia. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"
Samuel had rushed over after receiving a call from the police department about an assault case at his firm involving Cecilia.
Cecilia slowly raised her head. Seeing Samuel, a flicker of light returned to her empty eyes.
Just then, an icy voice cut through the air above them.
"Mr. Hughes, getting handsy with my wife right in front of her actual husband seems rather inappropriate, don't you think?"
Samuel froze mid-motion and looked up.
Edward stood before them, the harsh lighting casting long shadows behind him that completely engulfed Samuel and Cecilia on the ground.
His handsome face was expressionless, but his eyes were glacial.
"My wife's affairs don't require your concern, Mr. Hughes." Edward's gaze landed directly on Cecilia, still seated on the bench. There was no concern in that look—only the displeasure of an owner whose possession had been touched by someone else.
He turned slightly to instruct Teddy, who had followed him in: "Five minutes."
Teddy nodded and walked straight to the officer handling the case.
Samuel wanted to say something more, but Cecilia had already stood up and moved to Edward's side.
Cecilia opened her mouth to speak but couldn't find the words.
Edward finally shifted his gaze from Samuel to her face, examining her pale complexion and disheveled hair with a furrowed brow.
Cecilia looked up at him and whispered, "Thank you."
Edward made a soft scoffing sound and turned to leave.
Cecilia followed behind him, pausing briefly as she passed Samuel. "Thank you, Samuel," she said in a voice only he could hear.
Samuel wanted to tell her it was nothing, but before he could speak, she had caught up with Edward, who grabbed her wrist none too gently and bundled her into his black Maybach.
Five minutes later, Teddy slid into the passenger seat and reported to Edward through the rearview mirror: "Mr. Cruz has dropped the charges and apologized to Ms. Mellon. The law firm's security footage confirms he made inappropriate advances first. Ms. Mellon's actions were clearly self-defense."
Edward made a sound of acknowledgment, but the atmosphere in the car remained heavy.
Teddy continued, "Also, per your instructions regarding Ms. Mellon's unusual activities... we found she was at Samuel's firm tonight doing part-time work on a commercial infringement case."
"Part-time?" Edward tasted the word, then turned to her. "You're that desperate for money?"
His tone was cold, laced with mockery.
Cecilia bit her lip. Seeing her silence, Edward's voice grew even colder. "Cecilia, how little respect do you have for your position as my wife?"
He said "position as my wife," not "me."
Cecilia nearly bit her lip bloody. "Mr. Clifford, this is just a transaction. I need money, but I don't want to be useless, just lying around waiting for handouts."
"Relying on your own abilities?" Edward acted like he'd heard the joke of the century. "Cecilia, have you forgotten? Your time and your body were sold to me in a package deal when you signed that agreement."
His words stripped away the last layer of pretense she'd used to comfort herself.
Cecilia's eyes instantly reddened, her voice carrying a tremor she didn't even notice. "I need money, urgently. Should I beg you? Wag my tail like a dog asking its master for a bone?"
"What else?" Edward moved closer, that familiar cedar scent mixed with terrifying anger overwhelming her senses. "I bought you for five million dollars. Your purpose is to please me and give me a child. Nothing else matters."
The color drained completely from Cecilia's face.
She stared at him blankly as tears slid down her cheeks. Edward's eyes flickered, and Cecilia quickly wiped them away, turning her head.
Edward's anger blazed hotter. He took out his phone and opened his banking app right in front of her.
"How much more does your brother's medical treatment need?"
Cecilia's body tensed.
She turned back, gritting her teeth. "At least eighty thousand dollars."
Edward tapped the screen a few times. Cecilia's phone in her pocket chimed with a notification.
[Pioneer Federal Bank: Your acct XXXXXXXX has been credited with $1,000,000.00 on Sep-15. Avl bal: $1,000,325.50.]
One million dollars.
Cecilia stared at the string of zeros, her eyes burning while her body felt ice cold.
"Is that enough?" Edward leaned back against his seat, resuming his lofty demeanor. "If not, I can add more. Consider it an advance payment for renting your womb."
Renting her womb.
Cecilia froze as Rachel's words flashed through her mind, a wave of nausea churning in her stomach.
"What, too little?" Edward's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Or does my money offend your 'dignity' of earning your own living?"
Dignity? From the moment those million dollars hit her account, she no longer possessed such a thing.
She slowly unclenched her fists, raised her head to look at Edward, and a smile gradually appeared on her face. It was a faint smile, yet somehow more heartbreaking than tears.
"No, of course not," she said softly. "I love your money. Thank you, Mr. Clifford."
She took out her phone and turned the screen toward him. "Money exchanged for goods. Pleasure doing business with you."
The mockery on Edward's face faltered slightly. He had anticipated her breakdown, her anger, even her tears.
But he hadn't expected this calm acceptance. As if what he'd thrown in her face wasn't money and humiliation, but payment she deserved.
It was like punching a pillow.
Edward fell silent, his face cold.
The Maybach glided smoothly into the city traffic.
Cecilia said nothing more.
One million dollars. Her expensive womb apparently commanded a market premium.
She even wondered if her mother had known this price, would she have delivered Cecilia directly to Edward's bed.
"Quit that part-time job."
Edward's voice suddenly broke the silence.
Cecilia paused before responding, "Okay."
Her compliance irritated Edward more than any defiance would have.
He turned his head, staring at the outline of her profile reflected dimly in the car window. "Starting next month, your 'salary' will double."
"Thank you, Mr. Clifford." Cecilia finally deigned to pull her gaze from the window and turn to him. "You are very generous."
She even considered making a joke, asking if this counted as hazard pay, considering how long she'd sat at the police department, surely causing irreversible damage to his "property's" image. But she ultimately said nothing, feeling only exhaustion.
Edward's brow furrowed.
He suddenly realized that money—his infallible weapon—seemed to be losing its effect on her.