Chapter 1 In my third month of pregnancy, I took a part-time job at a local bar. That very same night, I bumped into my husband and his buddies hanging out in a VIP booth. Carter Sterling leaned back against the plush leather sofa, raising his hand to light a cigarette. “Is a five-hundred-thousand-dollar monthly allowance too little for a wife?” His best friend nearly jumped off the couch in shock. “Five hundred grand is too little? Your wife must blow through cash like crazy.” “Are you sure she’s not keeping a sugar boy on the side?” The booth instantly fell dead silent. Carter’s expression turned grim. “Last night she said she was strapped for cash, so I wired her another hundred and fifty grand.” “But this morning she asked for a divorce. She told me if I couldn’t afford to provide for her, I should let her go.” Standing outside the door, I trembled with absolute rage. Looking down at my slightly rounded stomach, I couldn’t hold it back anymore. I shoved the door open and stormed in. Before he could even process what was happening, I slapped him hard across the face. “Tell me the truth. How many wives do you actually have?” His eyes were bloodshot. He practically gritted his teeth as he spoke, “Only you…” I froze. “Then why do I only get one hundred and fifty dollars a month?” After my period was late for a whole month, I had gritted my teeth and bought the cheapest pregnancy test at the pharmacy. When I saw the two pink lines, my vision went completely dark. I quickly took a picture and sent it to my best friend, Mia. “What do I do, Mia? I’m pregnant, and I’m at the brokest point of my entire life.” She replied instantly. “Carter is a dog. It’s bad enough he doesn’t give you any money, but he gives you something nobody wants.” After cursing Carter out, she turned her wrath on me. “Didn’t you have your own birth control? Are you an idiot? Why didn’t you use it?” Even through the screen, I could feel her fury. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to use it. It was because I couldn’t afford to buy any… With the $150 deposited into my account every month, I barely had enough to eat. Buying birth control wasn’t even on my radar. And as fate would have it, Carter had always dreamed of having a kid. When I didn’t buy any protection, he was thrilled. I never expected to get knocked up on the first try. The loud growling of my stomach pulled me back to reality. Holding the thirty dollars Mia had lent me, I went downstairs to buy a loaf of bread and a carton of milk that were about to expire. For no other reason than they were half-price. I leaned against the wall, taking a bite of dry bread and chasing it with a sip of milk. Suddenly, I felt entirely ridiculous. I was the dignified wife of the Sterling Group’s CEO, living in a fifteen-million-dollar penthouse, yet I was so broke I had to stake out the grocery store for discounted food. Swallowing the last bite of bread, I finally called Carter. Unsurprisingly, his secretary, Bella Vance, answered the phone. She was Carter’s executive assistant and also the one in charge of distributing my living expenses. “Mrs. Sterling, if I recall correctly, your allowance for this month has already been transferred.” I forced myself to stay calm, trying to keep my voice from shaking. “I’m pregnant. Please send a little more this month.” There was a pause on the other end, followed by a scoff of pure disdain. “Last time you claimed you had low blood sugar, and I made an exception and transferred an extra twenty dollars. Now you’ve made up a lie about being pregnant?” “Mr. Sterling’s money doesn’t grow on trees. I suggest you learn some self-control.” Before I could even explain, she hung up. When we first got married, Carter had promised to provide for me, telling me to relax and enjoy the life of a wealthy socialite. But $150 a month was simply not enough to survive. Later, I tried to get a part-time job at a local coffee shop to earn some pocket money. When Carter found out, he bought the entire franchise. “Do I look like a man strapped for cash? Why the hell is my wife working a minimum wage job?” He wasn’t strapped for cash, but he still didn’t give me a single dime more. I thought back to Mia’s question: “Are you going to keep the baby?” To be honest, I didn’t know. Maybe once Carter found out, for the sake of his child, he would finally give me a little more money. I made an appointment at the hospital. The doctor said the baby was over two months along and developing normally. Chapter 2 The only issue was that I was severely malnourished. I hesitated for a long time before finally asking. “Excuse me, how much does an abortion procedure cost?” The doctor looked up in surprise. “An abortion? You’re a married woman of a good age—does your husband agree to this?” I lowered my head, unsure of how to answer. He sighed, his tone filled with pity. “The total cost will be around fifteen hundred dollars.” I glanced at my phone. After putting the ultrasound fee on my credit card, I only had a fifty-dollar credit limit left. Leaving the hospital, I took my ultrasound results and went straight to the Sterling Group headquarters. I wanted to ask him face-to-face. After all, if I was going to keep the baby, the prenatal vitamins, follow-up exams, and hospital registration would be a massive expense. Outside the CEO’s office, Bella stepped in my way. “Mr. Sterling is in a meeting. Do you have business here, Mrs. Sterling?” I gripped the ultrasound printout, my tone practically begging. “I really am pregnant. If I’m going to keep the baby, I need money…” Bella glanced at the paper quickly, then batted it right back at me. “You really don’t give up, do you, Mrs. Sterling? You even forged a fake ultrasound.” “What’s next? Are you going to fake a miscarriage next month just to demand a medical payout?” Hearing the commotion, several employees from the executive suite turned their heads. “No way. Doesn’t Mr. Sterling give his wife a massive allowance every month? Why is she faking a pregnancy for cash?” “She really treats the CEO like a walking ATM.” With every whisper, my head sank lower. Bella stepped around me and pressed the ‘Down’ button on the elevator. “Mrs. Sterling, please do not disrupt our work environment. Please leave.” I shoved the ultrasound back into my purse and took the elevator down amidst the humiliating gossip. Walking through the ground-floor lobby, I heard Bella on the phone, aggressively scolding the front desk. “Never let a debt-collecting beggar like her into the building again!” Hearing that, I could only quicken my pace and flee the company. I touched my flat stomach, murmuring to myself, “Baby, what is Mommy supposed to do?” Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of the Hermès bag on my shoulder. An idea struck me. I practically ran to the nearest luxury consignment boutique. Seeing how desperate and frantic I was, the store owner knew I needed cash immediately. He only offered me twelve thousand dollars. This was the birthday gift Carter had given me this year. It was a nationwide limited edition—something money usually couldn’t even buy. But I had no choice. I sold the bag. Having lived in poverty for so long, the moment the funds hit my account, I finally felt a sense of security. That night, the headline “Sterling Group CEO’s Wife Pawns Second-Hand Designer Bags” shot to the top of Twitter. The article featured a clear photo of me handing the bag over to the boutique owner. The comments were wild—some said I was spending recklessly and selling bags to pay off debts, while others speculated our marriage was crumbling and I was liquidating assets to run away. Very quickly, Carter called me. His voice was suppressed with rage. “Are you really that desperate for money that you’d sell the birthday gift I gave you?” “No wonder Secretary Vance said you came to the office with a fake ultrasound to demand a payout.” I wanted to explain. But he didn’t give me a single chance to speak. “If you need money, you can just tell Secretary Vance. Why would you weave such a pathetic lie?” His voice was laced with exhaustion, sounding profoundly disappointed. The words I had prepared died in my throat. All I could say was, “I understand.” I hung up the phone. I hadn’t even decided if I was keeping the baby yet. Suddenly, a notification popped up. The $12,000 I just got from the bag, along with the money Mia had lent me, was completely transferred out of my account. Bella sent me a text message: “Mr. Sterling said you spend recklessly without any restraint. This money has been transferred out, and I will be keeping it in a secure account on your behalf.” The very next day, every valuable item in the penthouse was moved out. The genuine leather sofas, the smart appliances, even the potted plants on the balcony—everything was stripped bare. Chapter 3 Bella stood at the doorway, holding a clipboard and logging every single item the movers carried out. “Check everything carefully. Don’t miss a thing. Otherwise, Mr. Sterling won’t even know his house was emptied and sold off.” I stood awkwardly to the side, possessing absolutely no authority to stop her. Once they left, I looked at the empty, echoing penthouse and let out a bitter laugh. A year ago, when I first moved in here, Carter had personally picked out and bought all of this for me. At the time, he had just rescued me from the clutches of my gambling-addict father. He had said, “From now on, you are my woman. You will never have to live in fear over money again.” His vow was sincere and passionate, and so I believed him. But now, I had no idea if I had chosen the wrong path. A local notification popped up on my phone. It was a late-night part-time gig at a bar, paying sixty dollars a shift. If I worked quietly for a month, I would have enough for the abortion. When I went for the interview, the bar manager saw my earnest attitude and hired me on the spot, telling me to start in three days. Walking out of the bar, I pulled out my phone to text Mia. Before I could even finish typing, a violent wave of nausea hit my stomach. My vision went black, and I collapsed onto the pavement. When I woke up, I was already in the hospital. A young nurse noticed I was awake and began injecting something into my IV bag. “You’re suffering from long-term, severe malnutrition. This is a nutrient drip.” “This is my first time seeing a pregnant woman actually pass out from starvation. Where is your husband? This is incredibly irresponsible.” I gripped the edge of the blanket, my tone flat. “I don’t have a husband.” Hearing that, a look of deep sympathy crossed her eyes. “The baby is innocent. You can’t keep torturing yourself like this.” I nodded. I used to think that having a child meant I would, at the very least, be allowed to eat a full meal. But on the day I was discharged, I called Carter three times in a row. Every single call was declined. Left with no choice, I borrowed money from Mia to pay the hospital bill. She transferred the money without a second thought. “You literally passed out, and Carter still ignores you and the baby?! Is he not afraid of being struck by lightning?” “I’m going to go tear him apart.” I quickly stopped her. “Mia, please. Let me handle this myself.” “I’ve made up my mind about the baby. I’ll contact him tonight.” To my surprise, when I got home, Carter was there. He was wearing an apron, carrying a dish out of the kitchen. Seeing me return, he didn’t look particularly thrilled. “Why is there absolutely no food in this house? Is this how you usually live?” Before he could finish, the heavy smell of cooking oil assaulted my senses. I sprinted to the bathroom and dry-heaved over the sink. Carter frowned and followed me in. “What’s wrong? You look awful.” He handed me a glass of water. “When did you get so fragile?” I took the glass, rinsed my mouth, and finally felt a little better. “Give me some money.” The air froze for a few seconds before Carter let out a dark scoff. “So after all this drama, you’re just asking for money?” “Those three phone calls today—were they just for money, too?” I leaned against the wall to support myself. “Yes.” Carter looked at me, his eyes terrifyingly cold. “You really never change, do you? You’ll do absolutely anything for cash.” He grabbed his coat and stormed toward the front door. Before stepping out, he paused. “I’ll have Secretary Vance transfer it to you.” Then, the door slammed shut with a deafening bang. I don’t know how much time passed before I finally dragged myself to the dining table. On the table was a plate of glazed ribs—my absolute favorite dish. But looking at it now, it only made my stomach churn with nausea. Early the next morning, I received a text from Bella. “Mrs. Sterling, human greed is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant. Your endless, uncontrolled demands will only make Mr. Sterling despise you more.” Chapter 4 “Mr. Sterling said that if you ask for money again, your living expenses for next month will be cut in half.” Immediately following the text was a transfer notification for thirty dollars. I stared at the transaction record for a long, long time before finally clicking ‘Accept’. At least my breakfast was secured. But this marriage—where I couldn’t even secure a full stomach through begging—was suffocating me to death. After agonizing over it for a long time, I finally sent Carter a text. “Since you can’t afford to provide for me, let’s get a divorce.” That evening, I arrived at the bar for my part-time shift as scheduled. After changing into a black and red uniform, I sat in the breakroom, eating a cheap hot dog I had bought on the way. The manager held his phone, glancing between the screen and my face. “You know, you look exactly like the wife of the Sterling Group’s CEO. Are you sure you don’t have some ulterior motive being here?” I waved my hand and took a bite of my hot dog. “You’ve got the wrong person. I’m no billionaire’s wife.” He looked me up and down and let out a sigh of relief. “Make sense. No matter what happens, a billionaire’s wife wouldn’t sink to looking like you.” “Hurry up and finish eating. Get to work.” It was my first day on the job, and I was pretty clumsy. The shift leader was walking me through my daily tasks, but there were too many customers tonight, and he was overwhelmed. “Sydney, take this bottle of liquor to VIP Room 8. Don’t make the guests wait.” I took the bottle, feeling incredibly anxious as I checked the room numbers one by one. Every now and then, a drunk customer would try to hit on me. At the very end of the hallway, I finally found VIP Room 8. Just as I was about to push the door open, I saw a figure I recognized instantly sitting on the leather sofa. Carter. It looked like he had been drinking heavily. A man who usually held his liquor incredibly well now had a flush on his cheeks. Right now, he was only wearing a black dress shirt, the top two buttons undone. He leaned lazily against the sofa, raising a hand to light a cigarette. “Is a five-hundred-thousand-dollar monthly allowance too little for a wife?” The friend sitting next to him snapped his head up. “I didn’t mishear that, did I? Half a million a month isn’t enough for your wife?” I recognized this man. It was Carter’s childhood best friend, Mason Brooks. I had met him a few times. Carter exhaled a ring of smoke and gave a flat “yeah.” “I originally thought that because she was abused by her gambling addict father growing up, she wouldn’t spend recklessly even if she had money.” “But Secretary Vance says she blows through her allowance every month, frequently visits luxury nightclubs, and never stops shopping for a single day.” Mason practically jumped off the sofa in shock. “Bro, is your wife keeping a sugar boy on the side? I never expected someone who looks so quiet and innocent to be playing the field so hard in private.” Carter finally turned his head to look at him. He narrowed his eyes and crushed his cigarette into the ashtray. “These past few days, she’s been getting more and more out of hand. She even claimed she was pregnant, demanding Secretary Vance wire her money constantly.” “Last night she put on a pathetic act, crying about being broke. I had no choice but to have someone wire her another hundred and fifty grand.” He paused and downed the liquor in his glass in one gulp. “But this morning, she texted me saying if I couldn’t afford her, I shouldn’t keep her. She even asked for a divorce.” Standing outside the door, I absorbed every single word. If I hadn’t opened my own banking app and stared at the $150 deposits I received every month, I almost would have believed him. If it wasn’t me receiving the money, then it was someone else. Trembling with absolute rage and unable to suppress it a second longer, I violently shoved the door open. When Carter saw me, he completely froze. “Sydney? What are you doing here?” Mason’s face drained of color as he instinctively stepped in front of Carter. “Sydney, please, calm down.”
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