Chapter 5 Contract marriage

MAY

How did this happen?

I stared at the screen with wide eyes as I read through the article detailing my pregnancy and all of the details I had just learned not long ago.

"How did they know this?"

"I'm surprised as well," Susan said as she changed my drip bag. She had opted to care for me personally, fearing that Sherlyn and Emma might pay one of the nurses to kill me.

"Isn't this supposed to be confidential?" I asked. "All of this."

"Well, Greenfield has always been in the middle of medical controversies. I've tried weeding out a lot of them, but there are still a few who make a living off leaking sensitive information like this to the media for profit. With how much of a scandal your engagement was yesterday, whoever leaked this must have gotten a huge payout."

"What do we do?" I panicked. "This is going everywhere."

"Nothing we can do now," Susan sighed. "I'll find the bastard that did this, but I'm also not that pissed about this."

I glared up at her.

"What?"

She shrugged in response.

"You were called all sorts of names and accused of being a whore on national television yesterday. At least now, everyone knows that you didn't have sex with anyone."

"I'm still pregnant."

"But, not by being a cheat or a whore," she countered. "Thankfully, it was also reported that this was done during the time of your accident. It should give a few people an idea into what truly happened."

She was right.

This wouldn't exactly clear my name, but it was a step in the right direction.

Unfortunately, that wouldn't make Sherlyn change her decree and my dad can't do anything from his bed.

"I will appeal Sherlyn's decision," Susan said. "I'll take it to court if I have to. As regent, she doesn't have a right to make all of these decrees, especially with your father still alive."

"No," I shook my head. "That would be putting you in a dangerous situation and those two are too unpredictable to trust that they would play fair. I can't let you get hurt."

"What are you going to do then?" She asked. "All you have on you is the phone I bought you."

"I will think of something," I said calmly. "I will find a way myself. I just need to get to my father first."

A knock on the door caught both of our attention and the door opened as Celine walked in. She gave me a small smile once our eyes met.

"I'm glad you're better, ma'am."

I nodded to that.

Celine wasn't close to me but we have a comfortable relationship.

"What is it, Celine?" Susan asked. "You're not supposed to leave your desk."

"Well, I had to," she said nervously. "Madam May has a visitor."

For a second, I thought it was Conan and I was elated.

But only for a second.

The memories of him humiliating me and choosing Emma causing my stomach to twist in disgust.

"Who is it?" Susan asked.

"Nicholas Wesington," a deep male voice said as a towering man about the same height as Conan walked in. His auburn hair and green eyes staring right at me. "The father of your unborn child."

"One of the fathers," Susan corrected. "Mr Nicholas, you didn't inform us that you were coming."

"I know you would lie that she couldn't see anyone," he replied. "I'm pretty sure the other two bastards called, didn't they?"

"Yes, they did," Susan replied. "It's common courtesy to-"

"I'm here to speak to the girl," Nicholas cut her off. "Excuse us."

Susan frowned at that.

"May is my patient. You will only see her when she wants to see you."

"It's okay, Susan," I sighed. "I would have to see them sooner or later anyways. The news is out there already."

"Yes, it is," Nicholas replied, his eyes fixed on me. He then turned to Susan. "Now, excuse us."

Susan lingered for a few more seconds, enough to throw a glance at me to which I nodded before she gave Nicholas a stern look and walked past him.

"Don't stress her," she called from the door.

Once we were alone, Nicholas gave me an appraising look.

"You look like you've gone through shit."

"Thanks for the compliment," I said sarcastically.

"I'll cut to the chase," he said as he strolled over to me. "Your child is mine."

"You know there are two others with their DNA too, right?" I cocked an eyebrow.

I was not going to let myself be intimidated.

Even though he was known as a ruthless and despicable person despite being the most successful, I had gone through enough to not care what he could do to me.

There's nothing worse than what I had already experienced

"Those bastards do not matter," he hissed. "You will give the child to me."

I frowned at that.

"I am not "giving" the child to anyone. I don't even know if I want to have the child yet!"

He tossed a document at me.

"That's a contract for you. Bear the child and give it to me and I will be giving you 10 billion for your trouble. That is more than enough to set you up for life, right?"

"I don't need your money," I hissed. "I am May Greenfield! I am not poor!"

He frowned at that.

"You have nothing to your name though. You lost everything last night."

"Shut the fuck up," I hissed. "I am even less inclined to have you anywhere close to this baby now."

He cocked his head for a few more seconds and sighed.

"I didn't want to have to do this."

He tossed me another document.

I read the contract and my frown deepened.

"A contract marriage?"

"One that would give you access to my name, influence and wealth," he said. "You can use as much of it as you would like to regain your empire and get back all that was taken from you. There will be attachments or intimacy until the child is born. You can have your affairs but you can't divorce me when the child is born. The child be taken into my custody if that happens."

"Why are you so desperate for this child?" I asked. "You could just get another girl pregnant?"

"Unfortunately, I can't," he said calmly, almost regally. "This is my last fertile sperm. I can no longer father children. Discovered that a few weeks ago."

I was dumbfounded at the admission but he didn't seem perturbed by the fact that he revealed that to me.

"So choose, May Greenfield," he said. "What would you rather do? Be a homeless, penniless vagabond with absolutely no hope to regain what is rightfully yours, or be my wife, and have the everyone, including your oppressors bow at your feet while you repossess what you own."

I took a few minutes to think about it, but there wasn't really a choice, was there?

The other two men were rich CEOs on their own, but Nicholas was the richest. The best among them. The most powerful as well.

This was my chance to fight back at Sherlyn, Emma and Conan.

I had no choice.

I took the pen he had offered to me and signed the contract.

"You have a deal, Nicholas Wesington."