The Contract That Saved My Daughter

“From the very beginning, we told you to abort that child!” Seraphina froze at Margaret’s words. Her mother-in-law’s voice was filled with such coldness that it sent a chill down her spine. “All we wanted was a son, not a sickly little girl like her. Don’t waste money on a child who might not even survive!” Seraphina clenched her fists. Her daughter, Aurora, had been born with a heart defect and desperately needed surgery, yet her husband’s family acted as though the baby’s life was worthless. “Mom, please. Aurora still has a chance. She just needs surgery as soon as possible.” “Enough! This family will not waste that much money on a useless child!” Seraphina turned to Nathan, her husband, silently begging him to defend their daughter. Instead, he merely sighed. “Nathan...” she called softly. “Just let it go. There’s no point wasting time on that child. Besides, you’re still young. You can always have another baby.” “Who knows? Maybe the next one will be a boy,” Oscar, Nathan’s father, added without the slightest hint of remorse. Seraphina stared at them in disbelief. How could they talk about having another child when their own daughter was fighting for her life? Tears finally spilled down her cheeks. They didn’t even consider Aurora a grandchild worth fighting for. “Daddy!” The moment a little boy’s voice rang out, Nathan immediately turned around. His cold expression softened as Nicho, Vivienne’s four-year-old son, came running toward him. “Nicho, you’re awake?” Nathan scooped the boy into his arms and kissed his cheek. Seraphina watched the scene with a heart full of pain. Nathan always had time for Nicho, the son of his first love, yet he had never shown the same affection toward his own daughter. “Why are they here?” she asked when she noticed Vivienne coming down the stairs. “Nicho wasn’t feeling well, so I asked Nathan if we could stay here,” Vivienne replied sweetly. Seraphina let out a bitter laugh. “You can worry about that shameless woman’s child, but you’re willing to let your own daughter suffer, Nathan?” Slap! A sharp slap landed across Seraphina’s cheek. “Shut your mouth! Don’t you dare insult Vivienne!” Seraphina stared at her husband, her eyes glistening with tears. “Then what do you call a woman who lives in another woman’s home with her child and lets that child call someone else’s husband Daddy?” “Nathan, it’s okay. Maybe Seraphina is just overwhelmed by Aurora’s condition,” Vivienne said, pretending to wipe away her tears. “Nicho and I can leave. I don’t want to ruin your marriage.” “Don’t say that!” Nathan immediately took her hand. “You and Nicho aren’t going anywhere.” Watching them protect each other, Seraphina felt sick to her stomach. “Nathan, I want a divorce!” Nathan turned to her sharply. “What did you just say?” “I said I want a divorce. I’ll take care of Aurora myself, and you can keep playing daddy to that bastard child with Vivienne.” “You can hate me if you want, but don’t you dare insult Nicho!” Vivienne cried. “Watch your mouth, Seraphina,” Nathan warned, once again taking Vivienne’s side. “If she really didn’t want to ruin our marriage, she should have left from the beginning.” “Enough!” Margaret snapped. “Nathan, just divorce this ungrateful woman!” Nathan glared at Seraphina, his face dark with anger. “I’m giving you one last chance to take back what you said.” “There’s no need. I’ve made up my mind.” Seraphina turned and walked out of the house without looking back. “Seraphina, stop!” Nathan was about to chase after her when Vivienne quickly caught his arm. “Let me talk to her. I’ll explain everything.” Nathan nodded, trusting her without hesitation. But the moment Vivienne stepped outside and made sure no one could hear them, the gentle expression on her face vanished. A sinister smile curled her lips. “You don’t have to wait for Nathan to divorce you, Seraphina.” Seraphina stopped in her tracks. “What do you mean?” “Because Nathan never married you in the first place.” The color drained from Seraphina’s face. “What?” “Your marriage certificate is fake. Nathan never made you his wife, let alone loved you.” Vivienne gave a soft, mocking laugh. “He only kept you around because you look like me. All these years, you’ve been nothing more than my replacement.” Seraphina shook her head in disbelief. She wanted to demand proof and force Nathan to explain everything. But after watching him repeatedly defend Vivienne, she no longer believed there was any truth she could get out of that house. Vivienne wasn’t finished. “Now that I’m back, take your bastard child and get out of our lives! Don’t ever bother us again!” Slap! Seraphina slapped her across the face. “What the hell are you doing?!” Nathan rushed outside and immediately pulled Vivienne behind him protectively. “Seraphina, have you lost your mind?!” Seraphina stared at the man she had loved for so long. Even now, Nathan had chosen Vivienne without giving her a chance to explain herself. At that moment, something inside her finally shattered. She would no longer beg for the love of a man who had never truly made her his wife. “Seraphina!” She turned and walked away, ignoring Nathan’s calls. Tears streamed down her face, but she quickly wiped them away. All these years, she had believed she was Nathan’s wife. Now she had discovered that even that title had never truly belonged to her. She might lose her husband, but she would not lose Aurora. The doctor’s warning echoed through her mind. She had less than two days to pay the down payment for Aurora’s surgery. After that, there would be no guarantee that her daughter could still receive the operation in time. With trembling hands, she called the number that had offered her a deal just moments earlier. “Mr. Victor, I’m willing to marry your son.” “Then come to my house. We’ll discuss the details.” “All right.” After ending the call, Seraphina immediately headed to the address Victor had given her. Time was running out, and Aurora was still lying in the hospital. Seraphina couldn’t afford to spend any longer mourning Nathan’s betrayal. “Mommy will save you, sweetheart,” she whispered, her voice filled with determination. --- The Romano estate stood majestically behind towering black iron gates. Guards were stationed along the driveway, making Seraphina realize that this was no ordinary family. She followed one of the guards into the living room, where Victor Romano was already waiting for her. “Have a seat, Seraphina.” She sat down across from the middle-aged man. “After I marry your son, will you really cover all of Aurora’s medical expenses?” “Of course. I’ll pay for her surgery and all her medical care.” “And in return, I have to marry Damien and take care of his two children, correct?” Victor nodded. “That’s right. I want my grandchildren to have a mother figure in their lives. As long as you fulfill your responsibilities, I’ll keep my promise.” Seraphina breathed a sigh of relief. Victor was the only person willing to help her when everyone else had turned their backs on her. She knew this marriage might trap her in a life she had never wanted. But compared to losing Aurora, there was no price too high to pay. “I’ll hold you to your promise, Mr. Victor.” Victor offered a faint smile. There was something unreadable in his eyes, but Seraphina was too desperate to question it. Suddenly, a man’s voice rang out from the doorway. “So, this is the woman you bought, Dad?” Seraphina turned toward the sound. A man in a black suit stood in the doorway. He was strikingly handsome, with a sharp jawline and cold gray eyes. His commanding presence made the atmosphere in the room feel suffocating. Damien Romano. Victor’s son and the heir to a family notorious for its ruthless power. “Watch your tongue, Damien,” Victor warned. Damien ignored his father. He strode toward Seraphina and looked her up and down, his gaze cold and dismissive. “How much did you pay for a woman this time?”