"Mr. Hughes, don’t make things difficult. These aren’t part of our agreement. You help Wenyard’s lab, and I give you my body. I can’t do anything else."

Avery Jane’s chin was pinched by his fingers, forcing her to meet his gaze. She looked up at him, eyes wide open, without a hint of fear in her response.

Her life was already ruined, but she didn’t want it to be completely destroyed.

At least she wanted to keep a small corner of her heart, where some memories were beautiful. They lay in the depths of her memory like the most fragile yet beautiful flowers. She wanted to protect these colors silently in her heart.

Suddenly, everything calmed down. The sheer curtains by the floor-to-ceiling windows gently danced with the night breeze. Joshua Hughes looked at Avery Jane’s stubborn little face, her full, luscious red lips lightly biting, her beautiful eyes swirling, not looking at him, seeming unfocused.

She lived in his Imperial Garden, where his most beautiful and best memories resided. He didn’t even want to casually place her there.

But this woman was heartless.

Maybe she did have a heart, but it was already taken away by the man in the grave.

Here, she was like a lifeless, beautiful doll, staying until nightfall to satisfy his desires.

That’s what he thought at first, that he would enjoy her body. But why was he becoming greedier? Now he wanted more than just her body; he wanted her heart too...

"Give me a child."

Joshua gently caressed her face. Only a child could bind her to him. He wanted her to give birth to a child belonging to both of them.

"Are you crazy?" Avery Jane was stunned on the bed by his words, her wide, watery eyes filled with disbelief as she looked at the man before her.

The most terrifying thing had happened.

She didn’t want this. If she had a child, she would forever be this man’s servant, never able to escape, only waiting here for time to slowly pass.

This was too terrifying, worse than death.

:"I am crazy if that makes you behave a bit."

His voice was hoarse as he slowly unbuttoned his suit and shirt, one button at a time, until a large expanse of his sexy, firm chest was exposed.

"This wasn’t part of our arrangement. I don’t agree. I don’t want..."

Avery Jane recoiled in terror as he moved with elegance and slowness, a mysterious smile on his face.

"In my world, the rules of the game can change at any time. Avery Jane, you’re too naive. This isn’t a matter of whether you want it or not."

If he couldn’t keep her heart, then let another version of him, their child, stay with her.

Joshua had to admit that his thoughts in this moment were somewhat insane.

According to the Hughes Family’s rules, he couldn’t marry a woman like her, even though he was her first man.

But now he didn’t care about any of that. The child, he wanted her to have his child right away, also giving himself peace of mind, sparing himself the constant worry that she might run away.

This man was terrifying, wanting to use this cruel method to kill her self-respect, to bind her freedom.

Avery Jane knew he wasn’t joking; he seriously wanted her to carry his child.

Her mind quickly calculated the days; thankfully, today was still in the safe period, but in a few days, it would be dangerous.

Even if she could avoid it today, what about the future?

This man was utterly reckless in this regard. If he wanted her to have a child, it wouldn’t be difficult.

The man before her exuded an oppressive force. Once he took off his suit, he was like a beast shedding its civilized attire, his entire body muscular and well-defined.

His eyes were as sharp as an eagle’s, fixed on her with bloodthirsty possession.

Avery Jane shrank back. Whenever this man got close, she could clearly feel the increasing tension in the air...

"Don’t think about any tricks, Avery Jane. You can’t win against me. If I want a child, you’ll obediently give me one."

Joshua looked into her eyes, flickering unpredictably. His low voice carried a mocking tone. Whatever little trick she had, she couldn’t escape his eyes.

The dark suit trousers wrapped around his sturdy long legs. The sound of his belt unbuckling made her shiver lightly, as her body seemed to have a reflexive reaction to his every move.

The musk emanating from him slowly filled the air, mixed with a faint scent of wine, in this moonlit night cool as water. It was the most primal and most tantalizing temptation.