Chapter 1

On my wedding night, just as I was carrying my new bride toward the bedroom, my deadbeat brother-in-law stretched out an arm to block my way.

"Logan, you want in? That’ll be an entrance fee of $8,888."

I thought it was just a typical playful wedding prank, so I smiled and handed him the envelope of cash I had prepared in advance.

He weighed it in his hand, sneered, and tossed it straight to the floor.

"What is this, pocket change for a beggar? I’m talking about your daily overnight fee from here on out!"

I froze, wondering if I had misheard him.

Right then, my mother-in-law, Brenda, stepped out of the hallway, her face smug and matter-of-fact:

"Logan, my family put down the down payment on this place, so we won't charge you rent."

"But I raised my daughter to be a prize. If you want to sleep with her, you have to pay. Until Chloe turns thirty, it’s $888 a night."

"After thirty, when she starts losing her looks, I’ll give you a fifty percent discount."

I stared in disbelief at Chloe in my arms, but she just looked away, dodging my gaze.

A bitter laugh escaped my throat.

"Sure! Just an overnight fee, right? I'll pay!"

Little did they know, once they actually took that money, they would soon be on their knees, begging me to take it back.

……

I pulled out my phone and wired $8,888 directly to her account right in front of them.

Hearing the ding of the notification, Tyler curled his lip.

"Tch. Look at you acting like a big shot. Wouldn’t it have been easier to just pay up from the start?"

Brenda's face instantly shifted into a greasy smile.

"Now that’s a good boy. A real man shows his worth by spending money on his wife. Alright, you two get some rest. And don't forget—breakfast service tomorrow morning is $200. Wire it to me before you come down."

With that, mother and son swaggered off down the hall.

As the door clicked shut, I looked at Chloe in her bridal gown. Rage was boiling in my chest, but the moment my eyes caught the faint scar on her wrist, I forced it all down.

Three years ago, I was in a horrific car crash. My vehicle flipped off a bridge into a rushing river.

I didn't know how to swim. Through the haze of fading consciousness, all I remembered was someone desperately dragging me toward the shore.

When I woke up in the hospital, Chloe was sitting by my bedside, soaked to the bone, with a deep cut on her wrist sliced down to the bone.

She told me she was the one who pulled me out.

To repay her for saving my life, I had spent the last three years treating her like a queen.

When her family demanded an exorbitant engagement sum, I paid it.

When Tyler wanted designer sneakers, I bought them.

When Brenda wanted diamond jewelry, I gave it to her.

Even tonight, faced with this absurd "overnight fee," I swallowed my pride just to honor that debt of life.

Noticing the tension in my shoulders, Chloe stepped forward and wrapped her arms around my waist.

"Babe, don't be mad. Tyler still doesn't have a job, and Mom isn't getting any younger. They just want some financial security. You’re the backbone of this family—if you don't take care of them, who will?"

"Besides, my body has never been the same since I dove into that freezing water for you. The doctor said I can't overexert myself. Mom setting these fees is just her way of protecting me, making sure you truly cherish me."

I let out a heavy sigh and stroked her hair.

"I get it. As long as you don't cross the line, I'll handle the money."

Chloe stood on her tiptoes and pecked my lips. "You're the best, babe! Tonight... whatever you want."

That night, as I held Chloe, an uneasy ache lingered in the back of my mind.

I thought this was just a rough start.

I had no idea it was only the beginning of a nightmare.

The next morning, Tyler was waiting outside our door holding a sheet of printed paper.

"Morning, Logan. Mom stayed up late drafting the household service rates. Sign here."

I grabbed the sheet. My vision went black for a second.

*Household Service Price List:*

*Cooking: $200/meal (groceries not included).*

*Laundry: $50/item (underwear doubled).*

*Accompanying errands/outings: $100/hour (doubled on weekends and holidays).*

*Childbearing: $200,000 for natural birth, $300,000 for C-section (medical recovery and leave compensation extra).*

*Emotional distress fee: $500–$5,000 depending on Chloe’s mood.*

……

Over thirty line items, packed tightly.

"What is the meaning of this?"

My hand was shaking.

"It means exactly what it says," Tyler replied, chewing on a toothpick.

"Logan, you're a department director at a major firm. You make six figures. This is pocket change to you. Besides, my sister is high-maintenance royalty. You think having her wait on you comes free?"

Chloe walked out of the room, fixing her robe.

"He's right. Mom talked it over with me last night, and I think it's fair. Even basic maids cost a fortune these days. I'm your wife—am I worth less than a maid?"

"We are married! We're building a life together!" I shouted. "What kind of couple itemizes every single breath like a commercial contract?"

Chloe’s expression turned icy, and tears instantly welled in her eyes.

"Logan, are you yelling at me? Did you forget who dragged you out of that river when you were about to drown? If something had happened to me back then, could you ever repay me with your life? Now you're screaming over a little cash? Where is your conscience?"

I closed my eyes, inhaling sharply.

"Fine. I'll sign."