His One True Love

Chapter 11---Cold as Ice?

Hmph, bold words indeed. In Gaiara, countless women wish to share his bed, and many vie to be his mistress. But the only one daring enough to stand before him and boldly claim she'll become Mrs. Fields? That's Wendy Moore—the first of her kind.

Where does she get this confidence?

"I do need a wife, but there are countless outstanding women qualified for the role. You don't seem to have the standing to negotiate terms with me, let alone strike a deal."

Just as Chase Fields was about to hang up, Wendy hastily spoke: "Mr. Fields, you publicly advertised the position of Mrs. Fields at your company—your family must be pressuring you hard, right? I'm open to a sham marriage. Once it's done, I won't cling to you."

A sham marriage?

Chase's thin lips curled faintly, unreadable. This woman… was intriguing.

Receiving no response, Wendy suppressed her anxiety and added, "Any other woman—even in a fake marriage—would probably end up clinging to you afterward…"

"And you're so certain you won't cling to me?"

"Of course. To be honest, Mr. Fields, I'm… frigid. And my heart… died three years ago."

Three years ago, she'd fallen overnight from a wealthy heiress to being trampled into the dirt. After enduring the humiliation of surrogacy, her father's suicide by jumping from a building, Brad Howell's despicable betrayal, and the cruelty of Autumn Scott and her daughter Grace, the only thing left in her heart was revenge.

Chase savored the word "frigid," his voice cold yet magnetic. "You'd better be frigid."

"Then… Mr. Fields…?"

"This matter is serious. I need two days to consider."

Wendy let out a barely audible sigh. "Fine. I'll wait for your reply."

…

After hanging up, the study door was pushed open by a tiny arm.

"Daddy! Who were you talking to? You're not spending time with Candy painting!"

The little one clutched a freshly drawn picture, her short legs scurrying into the study. Chase bent down, scooping his daughter into his arms, gazing at her with affection. "Let Daddy see what Candy drew."

He looked at the watercolor painting—drawn a few days earlier. It had originally featured only him and her, but now someone else had been added. He frowned slightly. "Who is this?"

The child chirped sweetly, "That's Mia! Today, when Mia taught us art class, I secretly drew her. The teacher said we must draw Mommy, Daddy, and ourselves. We can't leave out Mommy. Daddy, if I tell my friends this is Candy's mommy, will they believe me?"

Her small, bare finger pointed at the figure of Wendy in the drawing as she tilted her innocent face up at Chase.

Not wanting to hurt his daughter, Chase bent down and kissed the top of her fluffy hair, playing along. "Yes, they will."

"Daddy, if Mommy takes a very, very long time to come back from Mars, can Mia be Candy's mommy first?"

Chase's eyes flickered with surprise. He looked at his daughter, amused, then mused, "Well… you'll have to ask Mia."

The little girl grinned, her big eyes crinkling with joy. "I'll ask her tomorrow at school!"

…

Wendy had just returned to her place when Yvonne Perry started bombarding her with questions.

"Wendy, how did your interview go today?"

At the mention of the interview, Wendy slapped her forehead. "Don't even ask. I went to the wrong place and made a fool of myself."

Seeing her low mood and noticing the portrait of George Moore she carried, Yvonne stepped out of the bathroom with a damp towel. As she gently wiped the dusty portrait, she asked, "You went to Moore Villa this afternoon?"

Wendy nodded. "Yes. I ran into Autumn Scott and Brad Howell. They were moving out."

"What? You saw those two scumbags? Did they do anything to you?"

She shook her head weakly, offering a tired smile. "No. I used to be so naive, manipulated by Autumn Scott and Grace Scott, abandoned by Brad Howell. I've lost everything I could lose. There's nothing left to fear."

"Those two—Autumn and Grace—are nothing but fake sweethearts! And Brad? A total jerk! I'll introduce you to my brother one day—true gentleman material! Forget that bastard Brad already!"

Wendy looked at Yvonne, thinking of her deal with Chase Fields. She bit her lip slightly. If Yvonne knew she was selling herself just to get her father's villa back, would she think her cheap?

Never mind. Better not tell her yet. Wouldn't want Yvonne to misunderstand. Anyway, this deal with Chase probably won't last long.

…

That night, her sleep was deeply restless.

The man's scorching breath burned against her skin like flames, searing and unbearably intimate. On the wide double bed, bodies entwined in feverish passion.

A tall, muscular man pinned her beneath him, his movements wild and domineering, making her heart race.

But he was too overwhelming. She couldn't take it anymore, sobbing, begging him to go easier.

"Gentler? Are you sure? You don't want the ten million?"

She cried like a kitten, as if plunged into a vast whirlpool—her body aching yet tingling with strange numbness. This pleasure terrified her.

"No… please… please… ah—!"

It was a dream!

Wendy jolted awake, sitting upright in bed, drenched in sweat.

Three years had passed, yet this nightmare still haunted her.

Sometimes, she wondered—what kind of man was he, the father of her child? What was he like?

"Wendy, are you okay? Did you have a nightmare?"

Yvonne's concerned voice came from outside the room.

"Oh, I'm fine!"

She glanced at the clock—7:45. Almost eight.

She fell back onto the bed, arm across her damp forehead, lying still for a long moment before finally rising.

After washing up and eating a light breakfast, she headed to Gaiara Foreign Language Kindergarten.

At 8:30 a.m., Wendy had just arrived when little Candy, backpacking a pink Peppa Pig bag, called out from afar in her sweet baby voice: "Mia!"

Wendy turned to see the little girl sprinting toward her, unable to stop in time—her face nearly crashing into Wendy's legs.

"Mia, good morning!"

Wendy smiled softly, ruffling the child's messy short hair. "Morning, Candy."

Holding the child's hand, she instinctively glanced outside the kindergarten. "Who brought Candy to school this morning?"

"Daddy!"

She paused, recalling her deal with Chase Fields, then looked down at Candy. If Candy knew she might become her stepmother… would she be unhappy?

For some reason, the first time she met Candy and learned about her family, she'd felt an inexplicable ache for the little one.

"Mia, I have something I want to show you."

The child tugged at Wendy, who was lost in thought, pulling her to sit on the steps, then unzipped her backpack.

Wendy smiled gently. "What do you want to show me?"

Candy pulled out a watercolor drawing. "Mia, look! I drew you beside me and Daddy! Now we won't be lonely anymore. And you won't be lonely either!"