A flicker of annoyance crossed Vanessa's eyes. She cursed her own body for being so uncooperative. If she were pregnant right now, Walden wouldn't just be siccing his lawyers on lan.

He would be doing everything in his power to deal with lan and sever her contract with him.

"Walden, you're the best to me," Vanessa cooed. Right now, Walden was the only one who could help her escape lan.

Walden was pleased by her display of dependence; it was a great boost to his ego. He held her tighter and vowed, "Don't worry, someone like lan doesn't even register on my radar. You just focus on getting healthy and ready to continue the Wells family line."

Vanessa nestled into his embrace, a compliant smile on her face, but her eyes held a cold, calculating glint. She had to get pregnant as soon as possible. Only then would she secure an unshakable position and have a real say with Walden.

***

The next morning.

Ultimately, Vanessa didn't dare defy lan's order. She arrived at Dr. Smith's office on the final day stipulated by her contract.

"Miss Shannon," Dr. Smith said as gently as possible, "I hope we won't have to bother Mr. Goodwin again next time. He's a very busy man."

Under the cold, white lights, Vanessa's face was pale and drawn. She watched her crimson blood flow through the tube into the collection bag, and she felt as though her own life was draining away with it.

A wave of unprecedented panic seized her heart.

Since signing that contract, she'd lost count of how many times she'd had her blood drawn. Each time, she was left feeling exhausted and dizzy for days before she recovered.

She wasn't in her early twenties anymore; she was twenty-eight. If this continued, would her body break down? Would her life be shortened by a decade or more?

No, she couldn't let this go on. She had to find a way to break this damn contract for good.

She thought back to when she had signed it without a second thought. Half of it was for the money, but the other half was for lan.

The moment she'd nearly run into him at that overseas lab had been breathtaking.

At nineteen, lan had been like a distant, brilliant star-cold and untouchable. She had longed to get closer to that star, to bask in its light.

But a decade of effort hadn't earned her his special consideration, only his detached cruelty.

Looking back now, it was all so laughable.

She knew that in lan's eyes, it had been a straightforward transaction from the start. Yet she had foolishly believed she could win him over, believed

become Mrs. Goodwin, and bear his children.

FindNovel.net

A sharp pain in her arm brought her back to the present. The nurse was removing the needle. She took a cotton ball and pressed it to the spot gathering her thoughts After resting for a few minutes she left the lab.

Sitting in the back of the luxury SUV, her assistant, Laverne, immediately handed her something to eat to replenish her energy Vanessa bit her lip. She had to find a way to get away from lan.

Walden was her only lifeline now. She knew it was naive to rely solely on a man's affection; she needed a more tangible guarantee.

A child who shared Walden's blood-that was the key to securing her place in the Wells family.

Just then, her phone rang. She picked it up, her voice instantly turning sweet. "Hello, Walden."

"Vanessa, something's happened to Tammy. I have to go abroad."

Tammy was Walden Wells's son, who had always lived overseas. While there was little affection between them, he was still his flesh and blood, and Walden doted on him.

Vanessa's voice filled with concern. "What happened to him?"

"He—he was shot during a robbery overseas. He's in critical condition, and they're trying to save him at the hospital now," Walden's aging voice was filled with anxiety and panic.

Though he was often displeased with his undisciplined son, the matter of life and death was a devastating blow.