Chapter 1

At our engagement party, my fiancé refused to move forward unless I signed a prenuptial agreement first.

To him and his circle, I was nothing more than a calculated gold digger.

When I fell in love with Julian Vance, a ruthless underworld boss, I spent five years bending over backward just to meet his family's impossible standards.

It wasn't until I got pregnant that his parents finally approved of me and agreed to let us marry.

Yet Chloe, Julian's so-called "best friend," still treated me with utter contempt. Every time she saw me, her tongue dripped with venom.

"I've seen girls like you a million times," she'd sneer. "Playing the innocent, devoted, long-suffering saint---all just to sink your claws into the Vance fortune."

She even went out of her way to humiliate me in front of everyone at the party.

Seeing me hesitate over the papers, she smirked triumphantly. "Look at her. Any second now, she's going to demand a luxury penthouse and a sports car."

I turned to Julian, desperately hoping he would defend me.

Instead, he just nodded slowly.

"Good thing you're here, Chloe. Otherwise, I might've actually fallen for it." He looked at me coldly. "Let's make this clear right now. After we're married, you get eight hundred dollars a month for living expenses. Not a penny more. If you don't want to sign, we don't get married."

"Then let's not," I replied calmly.

Without another word, I turned and walked away.

I was never short on money. If he couldn't give me the love and trust I deserved, then I didn't want him either.

Stepping outside, I dialed the recruiter from a premier investment firm.

"That Wall Street offer? I'll take it."

Seeing me walk out, Julian instinctively reached out to grab my arm.

Chloe immediately stepped between us. "Don't stop her, Julian! This is classic reverse psychology. She's just waiting for you to chase after her, pamper her, and throw more money at her feet."

Julian looked at me, his eyes clouded with deep disappointment.

"Lauren, when did you become so materialistic? You really disgust me right now."

"No, Julian. I'm the one who's disappointed," I said with a bitter scoff. "You never trusted me."

I turned on my heel and left.

As soon as I was out of the venue, I called the hospital to schedule an urgent checkup.

Hanging up, I gently rested a hand on my stomach, a hollow numbness settling over my chest.

I was four months pregnant. At first, I had anticipated this baby's arrival with all the joy in the world.

Now, I was terrified I might lose it.

My phone buzzed with a new notification. It was an email from the Vance family's attorney containing an addendum to the prenup.

It clearly stated that my monthly allowance after marriage would be capped at eight hundred dollars.

Eight hundred dollars. That wouldn't even cover my basic groceries in this city.

I remembered the day Julian found out I was pregnant. He had been ecstatic, holding me close and whispering promises.

"Lauren, I'll give you and our baby the best life imaginable. Just stay home and let me take care of you."

It was because of that promise that I willingly quit my job as a senior equity analyst, walking away from a six-figure monthly salary.

Taking a deep breath, I drove to the hospital for a preliminary checkup.

My health wasn't great. I had an underlying blood clotting disorder, meaning I had to take medication to stabilize my levels before any emergency surgery could be safely performed.

A high-risk monitoring procedure was scheduled for a week later---the exact same day as our wedding.

The moment I stepped out of the hospital, Julian called.

He didn't even greet me, launching straight into a furious interrogation.

"What were you doing at the hospital? Do you really have to throw such an embarrassing tantrum?"

I quickly realized what had happened. Julian's cousin, Lucas, worked at that hospital. He must have spotted me and immediately reported back to Julian.

Before I could answer, Chloe's voice drifted through the receiver.

"She's put on a show, Julian! If she really wanted to walk away, she would've done it weeks ago, not waited until the second trimester. She just wants you to beg and hand over your black card. Gold diggers always stick to the same playbook."

Julian's tone turned icy. "Lauren, are you really that desperate for cash?"

Listening to them take turns degrading me, an overwhelming wave of exhaustion washed over me.

"Think whatever you want."

I hung up.

When I returned to Julian's penthouse, both he and Chloe were waiting in the living room.

Before I could even kick off my shoes, Chloe lunged forward and snatched my purse right out of my hands, rifling through it.

She pulled out my medication, an arrogant "I told you so" plastered across her face.

"Weren't you supposedly in the hospital for surgery? Why did the doctor only prescribe blood-stabilizing medication?"

She waved the bottle in front of Julian like a trophy.

"What did I say? How could she bear to get rid of your baby? It's all a game. She's pretending to walk away so you'll crawl back and apologize."

Julian glanced at the pill bottle, then shifted his gaze toward me.

"Lauren, what game are you playing now?"

I snatched the medication back and slid it into my bag.