"You know what they say, a man at thirty is like a tiger. He’s twenty-seven, twenty-eight—right in his prime. He doesn’t eat at home, and he doesn’t cheat on the side. Can you imagine how pent-up he must be? Does he just... take care of it himself?"

COUGH, COUGH...

Mia Kane was drinking water and choked when she heard this.

"Even if he’s not craving it, what about you? Don’t you crave his body?"

Mia Kane’s face turned bright red. "What are you talking about? I’ve realized that men are the most unreliable thing in the world. You can only rely on yourself."

"You’re not wrong about that. Men are definitely unreliable. But what about a child who shares your blood? Mia, if you don’t trust men, why not just have a baby and ditch the dad? Get a child that’s all your own."

"Look at Adrian Preston—his height, his looks, his intelligence and character—they’re all top-notch. His sperm quality must be through the roof! Life is a long and lonely road. Wouldn’t it be much more interesting to have a child, your own flesh and blood, to keep you company?"

"Let me tell you, I don’t plan on getting married either. I just want a child of my own. If I can’t find a suitable man to have one with, I’ll just go buy some from a sperm bank. Pick out some high-quality ’seed’."

Shayla Quinn’s words were like a stone tossed into the lake of her heart, sending out countless ripples.

’Men are unreliable... but what about a child of my own? One who looks like me, who shares my blood.’

’Have a baby, ditch the dad.’

’Borrow some ’seed’ from Adrian Preston?’

"What are you thinking about?"

"I think you have a point. I need to start planning for my future."

"Well then, I wish you a speedy success! If you have a kid, then I won’t need to. We can team up and raise him together. I’ll get to be a mom without any of the pain. How great is that?"

"Let me first figure out how to borrow the ’seed’."

Mia Kane was not one to procrastinate. Once the idea was in her head, she planned to act on it.

’Either I get a child through the most primitive method...’

’Or he provides the ’seed’, and I’m willing to do IVF.’

She even went so far as to write up an agreement. Once the child was born, regardless of gender, Adrian Preston would have no right to take them back.

He would only need to provide the ’seed’. After that, he would have nothing to do with it.

She wouldn’t ask for child support, nor would he have to worry about the child fighting for the family inheritance later. The agreement spelled everything out clearly, freeing him from any future troubles.

In any case, she would take the child and leave Argent, disappearing from his life completely. She wouldn’t put him in a difficult position with his future partner.

She originally intended to show this to Adrian Preston, but she felt it was inappropriate, so she tore it all up and threw it in the trash.

’Knowing Adrian Preston’s character, he would probably never agree to this ’sperm borrowing’ idea. It’s against his morals.’

’And also...’

’If a child really was born, even if I don’t need Adrian Preston to be responsible, given the kind of man he is, how could he possibly stand by and do nothing?’

’So, borrowing the ’seed’ is fine, but he can’t know about it.’

Mia Kane already had a plan forming in her mind. She intended to put it into action after Shayla Quinn moved out.

Night fell. After finishing his work, Adrian Preston was wearily pinching the bridge of his nose.

Just then, his private line rang. It was a call from the villa.

"What is it?"

These people followed Mia Kane’s orders, but they also secretly answered to him.

"Sir... I found something. I’m not sure if I should tell you."

"Speak. What’s wrong with Mrs. Preston?"

"In Mrs. Preston’s room, in the trash can, I found... I found a document..."

"What document?"

Half an hour later, a contract lay on Adrian Preston’s desk, its torn pieces reassembled and taped back together.

Seeing the three large words on the cover, Adrian Preston’s expression turned ice-cold.

"Sperm Borrowing Plan."

Plan A: Natural Pregnancy.

Plan B: Sperm donation for IVF.

From the moment she became pregnant, the child would have no relationship with him whatsoever.

His child would not fight for the family inheritance, would not appear before him, would not take his last name, and would not call him "Dad."

"Mia Kane..."

Adrian Preston silently clenched his fists, her name practically squeezed from between his teeth.

Theo Thorne scurried away. Even he felt that Mrs. Preston had gone too far this time. Having a baby and ditching the dad... what did she take Adrian for?

’Why is Mrs. Preston always trying to get a divorce?!’

...

Shayla Quinn stayed at the villa for three days before Adrian Preston had her new apartment ready. It was a better place, and he paid ten years of rent upfront.

Shayla Quinn couldn’t wait to get back to her new little nest.

Mia Kane used the excuse of thanking Adrian Preston to invite him over for dinner.

She had even bought something special to add to the wine—an aphrodisiac.

That way, it would be perfectly natural for them to end up in bed.

She was also ovulating these couple of days, which would make things twice as effective.

’Adrian Preston looks so fertile. It’ll definitely be a hole-in-one!’

She meticulously prepared a candlelight dinner, and that evening, Adrian Preston arrived right on time.

"You’re here! Go wash up and get ready to eat. I cooked myself tonight as a thank you. If you hadn’t arrived in time, Shayla and I really wouldn’t have known what to do. So, I really have to thank you for this."

"I’ve told you, there’s no need to be so formal between us."

"I know, so we’re just having a simple meal."

She had the red wine in two separate decanters.

The decanter in front of him had something extra in it.

She eagerly went over to pour the wine.

"In such a good mood today that you’re even drinking?"

"A little drink to lift the spirits."

Mia Kane, feeling guilty after all, quickly took a couple of sips herself.

She didn’t dare to look Adrian Preston directly in the eyes.

Adrian Preston tilted his head back and downed the entire glass. Only then did Mia Kane’s heart settle back into her chest.

"Mia, I’m not a veteran homicide detective, so I’m not that great at cracking cases. I’m an undercover agent; my main job is to gather evidence and wipe out the entire network. But even so, your acting is still far too clumsy."

Mia Kane’s heart skipped a beat.

"Wh-what do you mean?"

"You put something in the wine, didn’t you?"

"It’s not poison..."

She hurriedly explained.

"I know. It’s some kind of aphrodisiac."

"You knew, and you still drank it? Are you..."

"Mia, tell me, why do you want to sleep with me so badly that you’d resort to this?"

Adrian Preston hadn’t touched a single bite of food. He just poured glass after glass of wine, then tilted his head back and drank it down without a moment’s hesitation. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

It gave her the illusion that even if she had put poison in the glass, Adrian Preston would have drunk it all anyway.

"If I had asked you directly, you definitely wouldn’t have agreed. I had no other choice. Adrian Preston, I want a child. I think you’re a great candidate. A child with our genes would definitely be exceptional."

"Mia, I told you last time, if you would truly give yourself to me and become my rightful wife, I would protect you and cherish you for a lifetime."

"Have you now come to your senses? Are you ready to stay by my side forever as my Mrs. Preston?"

Mia Kane pressed her lips together.

’She just wanted a child. Staying by Adrian Preston’s side for a lifetime... there was no need for that.’

"In that case, I won’t give you one."

"Then why did you keep drinking?"

Adrian Preston was drinking so fast that the wine in the decanter was almost gone.

This was the last glass.

He swirled the wine glass, and the crimson liquid inside refracted a strange light onto his face.

"Hm? What’s the matter? It’s not like it’s going to kill me, is it?"