Wendy took a deep breath, suppressing the icy disdain in her heart. You think someone like you could ever marry my son? In your dreams! Hanging up her purse, she sat down opposite Kaia and snatched the remote from the table, turning off the blaring TV. "What the hell are you doing?!" Kaia snapped, her anger plain. In contrast, Wendy appeared perfectly composed. "We need to talk." Kaia's eyes lit up. She sat up straighter. "Talk about what? Have you finally agreed to let me marry your son?" Wendy let out a derisive snort, her eyes full of mockery. "You can forget about marrying him. Even if I agreed, the Cross family never would. Besides, my son wouldn't have you if you were the last woman on earth. I suggest we discuss something more realistic." Seeing the old hag wasn't here to talk marriage, Kaia lost all interest and slouched back in her chair. "If that's all, then never mind. But hey—word is Ines has been hitting up blind dates nonstop these days. Wonder which stuck-up socialite he's gonna pick. Do you think it'd be fun if I crashed her little party, waltzed right in, and announced I'm carrying Ines' baby? How do you reckon that girl and her fancy family would look at the Crosses then?" She threw her head back and laughed. "Now that is a scene I'd love to see!" Wendy's hands trembled with rage. "You—you wouldn't—!" "Try me," Kaia sneered. Wendy clenched her jaw, taking deep breaths. You came here to negotiate, not to fight. Stay calm. Stay calm! When she spoke again, her face was a mask of composure. "Forget about marrying my son. That's never happening. But I'll allow you to keep the baby. After it's born, you'll hand it over to me. I'll claim I adopted it from an orphanage. As for you—don't worry, I won't shortchange you. I'll give you 20 million dollars. In return, you leave Aethelburg immediately and never show your face around the Cross family again." Kaia was momentarily stunned, then a cold laugh echoed in her mind. So she wants to use me as a glorified surrogate. Truthfully, she'd been doing a lot of thinking lately, and marrying into the Cross family seemed less and less likely. A hefty payout wasn't a bad alternative. But 20 million dollars felt a bit low. Her eyes shifted slyly. "Thirty million dollars. Give me that, and it's a deal." Wendy felt like she was having a heart attack. "You—you greedy little snake! What makes you think you're worth 30 million?" Twenty million was all the liquid cash she could access from her personal accounts without raising eyebrows. Anything more would require selling assets, and that would certainly alert her husband. Given her precarious standing within the Cross family, Wendy couldn't risk it. "Twenty million is the final offer. Not a cent more!" she stated through gritted teeth. Kaia, of course, didn't believe her. This was a negotiation. Who showed their full hand on the first round? This old hag was always full of empty promises; of course Kaia had to haggle. She patted her stomach and smiled sweetly, "Then I guess we have nothing more to discuss. You can see yourself out. Come back when you've thought it through. Arguing isn't good for your grandson, you know." Wendy was fuming. The little bitch thinks she has me cornered! "You—" Before she could finish, the door flew open with a violent bang. Both women whirled around. A man stood in the doorway, frame filling it. It took Wendy a moment to process. "I-Ines? What are you doing here?" Kaia's face drained of color, and she instinctively hid behind Wendy.The last time she'd seen Ines was after their one-night stand, when he'd laid bare her schemes and humiliated her in bed. But now— Wait, why should I be afraid of him? Even his mom is practically begging me. What can you do to me, Ines? You insulted me before, but now you and your precious family are the ones bowing and scraping, giving me whatever I want. All because I'm carrying your child! With that realization, her fear vanished. She looked at the damaged door with annoyance and patted Wendy's shoulder. "Your son broke the door. Have someone fix it later." Wendy, though clearly displeased, swallowed her anger. "Fine." Ines let out a short, incredulous laugh, his tongue pressing against his cheek. In two swift strides, he grabbed Kaia's arm, his fingers digging into her chin. "Who the hell do you think you are, ordering my mom around?" he snarled. "Huh? Think that bastard in your belly gives you the right to blackmail my family? Where do you get the nerve?!" His grip was iron-tight. Kaia could only clutch her stomach protectively, powerless to fight back as he held her chin in a vice. At him call her baby a "bastard," a flicker of panic crossed her face, but she forced herself to stay calm. "You know exactly whether it's a bastard or not! That night at the hot springs resort over the holidays—don't tell me you didn't enjoy yourself!" Ines scoffed, "So that's why you disappeared afterward without a word! You were planning this all along! But how can you be so sure it's mine? A slut who's been passed around as much as you—what makes you think the brat is mine?"