On the third day after Nate Sterling was convicted and placed on federal death row, his mother offered me a fortune to be his surrogate. She wanted me to leave the Sterling family an heir before his execution. I visited him in that maximum-security holding cell, caring for him with everything I had for three months, until I finally got pregnant. He promised me that if he ever got out of there, he would give me a grand, high-society wedding and make me his legal wife. On the eve of his execution, a miracle happened. His legal team won an appeal, and his name was completely cleared. Mrs. Sterling wept tears of joy and immediately began planning our wedding. But no one expected that his childhood sweetheart—the woman who had ruthlessly abandoned him the moment he was arrested—would suddenly burst through the doors. Clutching a faded promise ring, her eyes red with tears, she cried, "The woman he is supposed to marry is me!" I gripped my handkerchief tight, watching as Nate Sterling dropped to his knees before his mother. "Victoria and I grew up together. We made a pact when we were young. The Sterlings honor their promises. I must marry her as my lawful wife." "Clara Hayes comes from a lowly background, but considering she is carrying the Sterling bloodline, I will keep her as my mistress. We can set her up in the guest house. The wedding date remains the same, but Victoria will be the lady of the estate." Mrs. Sterling looked at me in absolute shock. I, however, let out a quiet sigh of relief. Back then, Mrs. Sterling had promised me: if Nate’s name was cleared but he refused to marry me, I was free to decide my own fate. I had wanted to move to Charleston for a long time. The person who loved me most in this world, my adoptive brother, was recovering from an illness down there. I wanted to go be with him. Chapter 1 The moment Nate Sterling’s words hung in the air, the eyes of everyone in the grand foyer locked onto me. Faint whispers from the household staff drifted into my ears. "Poor Clara. Abandoned by her parents as a kid, and the adoptive brother who raised her got terribly sick at such a young age." "I heard she only agreed to be the surrogate for the Sterling family to pay for her brother’s medical bills. She finally gets pregnant, Mr. Sterling gets exonerated, and we all thought she’d be set for life. Who would have thought..." Mrs. Sterling glared at Victoria, then turned a livid face toward her son. "The Sterling-Kensington alliance was voided the very day you were thrown in a federal cell! The Kensingtons backed out!" Back then, she had begged the Kensington family to use their political influence to help find the truth. Terrified of being implicated, they had literally slammed the door in her face. Thinking of this made Mrs. Sterling shake with rage. "You want to talk about promises?! You should honor the promise you made to Clara! You personally swore you would walk her down the aisle in a white gown!" "If it weren't for her visiting you in that damp, freezing cell every single day, bringing you food and medicine, you would have died in there!" Hearing this, Nate looked up at me. His eyes flickered with a trace of guilt, but he still insisted, "The promise ring is still here, which means our vow isn't void. I must marry Victoria!" "Even as my mistress, I will ensure Clara lives a life of luxury. Victoria is kind-hearted; she will definitely treat Clara's child as her own." Hearing his condescending, charitable tone, I furrowed my brow. I suddenly remembered the scenes of visiting him in prison. The air had reeked of mildew. His designer clothes were torn, his face haggard and hopeless. When he first learned of my purpose there, he gave a bitter laugh. "Even my fiancée canceled the wedding, yet you’re willing to have a baby for a dead man walking?" I had nodded firmly. He pushed me away at first. But I insisted on visiting him every day during visiting hours. He rarely spoke, so I would just ramble on, telling him the latest news and funny stories from New York City. Half a month later, he finally spoke, asking if the media frenzy outside had died down. I pursed my lips and stayed silent. He asked again, "Is my mother's health getting better?" My eyes widened slightly. His voice was hoarse. "I'm not stupid. She hasn't come to see me once in weeks. You're always in a rush when you leave, and you've visibly lost weight." I didn't say anything. He added, "Taking care of my mother, managing the Sterling family's chaotic affairs, and coming here to sit with me every day... it must be exhausting, right?" He looked into my eyes, and for the first time, there was a different kind of emotion in them. After our relationship thawed, Mrs. Sterling's health slowly improved. What happened next between Nate and me—facilitated by the private family visitation rooms—felt natural. He was gentle and affectionate. Stripping away the smell of the prison, everything actually felt somewhat beautiful. His muffled groans carried an undeniable, genuine passion. After that first time, everything fell into place. Two months later, a blood test confirmed I was pregnant. "Mr. Sterling, I will still come to see you every day before your execution date, but we can't... do those things anymore." He stared at my flat stomach for a long time before letting out a soft chuckle. "Clara Hayes, if I ever get out of here alive, I promise to give you the grandest wedding this city has ever seen. I will make you my wife." Hearing those words, my heart fluttered. In that moment, I truly, foolishly hoped for a beautiful future with him. Back then, when he went silent for a few moments, I thought he was mourning the fact that he wouldn't be able to watch our child grow up. But today, I suddenly realized the truth. He was probably thinking about Victoria. Thinking about how it would feel if he could marry her, if they could have children together... He had never forgotten his first love. I looked at Nate, who was kneeling stubbornly on the marble floor. I bowed slightly to Mrs. Sterling. "Ma'am, I refuse to be a mistress..." Before I could finish, Nate frowned and cut me off. "Clara, don't push your luck. You aren't the only woman in the world capable of having a child." My heart physically ached at his words. After he was released, he had been so good to me. He would always look gently at my growing belly, whispering about the future of our family of three. But it turned out, my child and I combined couldn't even compare to a single hair on Victoria's head. I took a deep breath, steadying my emotions. "You misunderstand, Mr. Sterling. I am just a hired surrogate. Towards the Sterling family, I only have one task: safely deliver this baby." "Therefore, I beg Mrs. Sterling to honor our original contract. After I give birth, let me leave." 2 Hearing my words, a flash of shock crossed Nate’s face. He was about to say something, but Mrs. Sterling furiously ordered him out of the room. Only the two of us were left. She looked at me, tears welling in her eyes. "Clara, do you truly want to leave? Nate is just confused right now." "Besides, I will never let Victoria step foot in this house as his wife. Could you please..." I shook my head, maintaining my stance. I gave her a polite bow, turned, and walked out. I was three months away from my due date. I wanted to write a letter to my adoptive brother in advance. Thinking of him, I quickened my pace back to my room. Just as I entered my private courtyard, I heard a woman's whining voice coming from inside my bedroom. "Nate, you're going to marry me, why do you still have to keep Clara as a mistress?" Nate coaxed her gently. "She is pregnant with my child, after all. It would look bad if I threw her out. But I promise, she will never outrank you..." He stopped mid-sentence as he caught sight of me in his peripheral vision. Victoria frowned, glaring at me. "Didn't Ms. Hayes say she refused to be a mistress? What, did you realize your little playing-hard-to-get trick didn't work, so you came crawling back to beg Nate?" I shook my head. "No..." "Are you trying to use the baby in your belly to demand the title of legal wife?" Hearing this, Nate’s brow furrowed sharply. "Clara, learn to be content. Even as a mistress, the Sterling family will never let you want for anything. Stop playing these manipulative games. As long as you quietly give birth to the child, I will give you whatever you want." Victoria’s eyes flashed with dissatisfaction at his generous promise. She quickly put on a pitiful tone. "Nate, isn't it inappropriate for Ms. Hayes to live in the same courtyard as you, considering she's just a mistress?" Nate paused. I was living here because Mrs. Sterling arranged it. While he was in prison, this was the master suite—the best, sunniest part of the estate, perfect for a pregnancy. Mrs. Sterling had said the family had suffered too much bad luck; she wanted to give the absolute best to the only continuation of the Sterling bloodline. Nate had nodded in agreement to this arrangement back then. I looked at the two of them acting like tragic, star-crossed lovers. I lost any desire to speak. Nate’s gaze dropped to my swollen stomach. He hesitated before saying, "Clara, historically, only a husband and wife share the master suite. Why don't you move to the adjacent guest rooms? That courtyard is also..." Before he could finish, Victoria interrupted him. "Let her live in the old pool house at the north edge of the estate. It's quiet and secluded. Perfect for resting during a pregnancy." Nate frowned slightly. The old pool house was at the absolute farthest edge of the sprawling estate, damp and freezing cold. I watched his silence and found it hilarious. Was this his version of ensuring I lived a life of luxury and suffered no grievances? Probably annoyed that I wasn't throwing a jealous fit, Victoria complained, "What's with that look? Are you relying on that baby to show disrespect to the future lady of the house?" "Nate, if she's this disrespectful to me now, how am I supposed to manage the household later? If that's how it is, let's just cancel the engagement. I'm leaving right now!" She turned to storm out. Nate hastily grabbed her arm, immediately barking an order to the staff: "Move all of Clara's belongings to the old pool house. Right now." With that, he didn't even spare me another glance, focusing entirely on coaxing Victoria in a soft voice. "Princess, whatever you say goes, okay?" Victoria finally smiled. "Should I help Ms. Hayes pack?" Nate pulled her helplessly into his arms. "That's heavy lifting. I can't let you do that." I supported my aching lower back, clumsily stuffing my clothes into a duffel bag. When I turned to walk out the door, my eyes met Nate's. He paused, looking as if he wanted to step forward to help me. I immediately averted my eyes and left without looking back. Behind me, I heard Victoria’s sweet, whiny voice demanding his attention. Nate didn't follow me. The old pool house was freezing. I had to put on an extra heavy sweater just to feel marginally okay. I slowly unpacked my things in the dusty room. When I emptied the bag, I realized the silver locket my adoptive brother had given me was missing. Holding my stomach, I walked all the way back to the master suite, only to be blocked at the door by Victoria’s maid. "Mr. Sterling and Miss Kensington are spending quality time together. Outsiders are not to disturb them!" 3 "Mr. Sterling," I called out toward the closed door. "I have no intention of disturbing you. I just need to find something I left behind. Please let me in for a moment." The door swung open. Nate adjusted his rumpled shirt collar. There was a bright red lipstick mark on his neck. "What are you making a scene for?" His eyes were filled with blatant annoyance. "Clara, you've gotten more than enough because of this child. Stop causing trouble." Hearing this, I asked instinctively, "What exactly have I gotten?" Nate's face turned icy. "Do you really think I don't know that when my mother first hired you, she gave you a massive amount of gold and cash?" I froze. Yes, that had happened. But I hadn't accepted any of it. I instinctively tried to explain. "I didn't..." But the moment I opened my mouth, he cut me off harshly. "Enough!" His gaze was freezing. "If you still aren't satisfied, then you can just stay here without any title at all. When the baby is born, it will be legally adopted under Victoria's name!" "What did you say?" I knew he didn't love me, but we had spent months together day and night. The intimacy we shared back then wasn't fake. I stared at him in utter disbelief. Victoria strolled leisurely out of the bedroom, twirling my silver locket in her fingers. A wave of anxiety washed over me. "That's mine." Victoria smiled cryptically. "It has the name 'Arthur' engraved on the back. That's a man's name, isn't it?" Nate’s already cold face turned even darker. I frowned deeply. "It's a gift from my adoptive brother." The moment the words left my mouth, Nate snatched the locket from Victoria's hand and violently smashed it onto the marble floor. With a sharp crack, the silver casing dented and the glass face shattered into pieces. My pupils dilated in shock. That was a gift my adoptive brother gave me when I was eight years old, the day he brought me home from the orphanage. I had carried it with me for ten years. Nate knew exactly what it meant to me! Shaking with fury, I bent down to pick up the broken pieces, but Nate shoved my shoulder hard. "You are about to become a member of the Sterling household. Whether it's an 'adoptive brother' or any other man, you need to erase them from your memory immediately!" Caught off guard, I fell hard backward, landing heavily on the marble floor. A sharp, piercing pain ripped through my abdomen. I curled into a ball in agony, but Nate just scoffed coldly. "Stop using the baby as a shield." I looked up at him, my eyes filled with absolute disappointment. I never imagined that the bright, kind, and gentle young man of the Sterling family could turn into something so monstrous. Meeting my gaze, Nate faltered for a second, but quickly hardened his face again. "Today is a punishment you deserved. Go back to the pool house immediately and reflect on your behavior!" With that, he took Victoria's hand and walked back into the bedroom without a backward glance. Soon, the sound of their playful laughter drifted out, followed by increasingly heavy, ragged breathing. The fall had severely impacted my pregnancy. It took me a long time to even manage to stand up. I stayed holed up in the freezing pool house for half a month before my body finally started to recover. During this time, I heard plenty of gossip from the maids about everything Nate was doing for Victoria. Dropping millions on diamond necklaces, renting out helicopters to write her name in the sky... But none of that had anything to do with me anymore. On a sunny afternoon, I went to a boutique stationery shop downtown to buy some high-quality ink and paper. My brother always loved the supplies from that specific store. When I returned, I entered through the side gate. As I walked past the decorative hedges, I heard Victoria's scornful voice coming from a hidden corner. "Nate's father is a powerful Senator, and he's just a junior partner at a law firm. Sure, he has a bright future, and he's obsessed with me, but why on earth would I marry you?" She didn't see me. The man standing opposite her sounded aggressive. "Your engagement to him was voided months ago! When you were trying to prove your loyalty to me, you literally shredded the marriage contract with the Sterling family. Do you really think the Sterlings will ever let you marry him now?" I froze. The contract was shredded? Then the marriage contract Victoria had shown Nate on the day he was released... was fake? 4 But what did any of this have to do with me? I had no intention of getting involved. I turned to walk back to my quarters, but my dress caught on a jagged branch, making a loud, unmistakable riiiip. "Who's there?!" Victoria shrieked in panic. I grabbed my dress and power-walked forward, but I was intercepted by Victoria near the estate's large decorative koi pond. She narrowed her eyes at me, her gaze toxic. "You heard everything, didn't you?" "I don't know what you're talking about." Seeing my face remain impassive, the malice in her eyes amplified. "People who know too much don't live very long!" She lunged forward and grabbed my wrist. Before I could even react, she shoved me backward into the freezing, deep water of the pond. I was heavily pregnant and clumsy. I thrashed wildly as Victoria held me under the freezing water. In my desperate struggle, I saw Nate walking hurriedly toward us from a distance. When we were both pulled onto the bank, I weakly grabbed Nate's soaked sleeve, gasping for air. "Get... a doctor... my stomach... the baby..." Victoria was coughing and sobbing pitifully next to him. "Clara pushed me into the water... she tried to drown me..." The veins on Nate's forehead bulged with rage. "Clara Hayes, seeing you spew lies with every breath is genuinely sickening!" My stomach was cramping with blinding, excruciating pain. I lay on the grass, convulsing like a dying fish. "Nate... believe me just this once. Hurry... get a doctor... me and the baby... we're going to die..." But he just scooped Victoria into his arms, not even sparing me a glance. The piercing pain in my abdomen was overwhelming. I passed out from the agony, only to be shocked awake by another wave of pain. The estate doctor thoroughly examined Victoria first before finally coming over to check on me. Watching him and the midwife exchange panicked, evasive looks, I smiled silently. This was fine. I had finally repaid the debt I owed him from all those years ago. It was time for me to go to Charleston and be with my brother.
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