Chapter 1
In a luxurious villa, Jackson Grant held a cute, bubbly girl in his arms.
The girl sat on Jackson's lap, her arms wrapped around his neck as she whispered something to him.
Jackson's alluring eyes narrowed slightly, a warm smile playing on his lips.
He gently pinched her nose in an affectionate gesture.
I clenched my fists, took a deep breath, and walked inside.
"Jackson."
I looked at him, my voice flat.
My voice startled the other people in the room, and they quickly stood up.
"Oh, Stella, you're back. We'll head out then."
The girl next to Jackson glanced at me with a sweet smile.
"Hello, Stella."
She seemed polite and sweet, but she didn't budge from Jackson's lap.
Over the past three years, I had seen too many girls like her. I was already used to it.
The others made a move to leave, but I stopped them.
"You don't have to go. I just need to say a few words."
Jackson lazily opened his eyes, his large fingers playing with the girl's hair.
"Need money? How much do you want this time, and what are you going to trade for it?"
The room fell deathly silent.
For a split second, I wanted nothing more than to run away.
Jackson was my childhood sweetheart and my partner in a marriage of convenience.
I had known since childhood that I would marry him, so I had always cared deeply for him.
He had been incredibly handsome since he was a boy, with those alluring eyes that could steal anyone's heart.
Countless girls adored and chased after him.
But in the end, he married me solely because of our matching family backgrounds and business interests.
Staring into his contemptuous eyes, I lowered my head and swallowed my pride.
"Evan's condition is getting worse. He needs 500,000 for his surgery."
I spoke slowly, my voice raspy.
This would be Evan's final surgery. As long as I got the money, there was a chance he would wake up.
Jackson sneered, "Of course."
"Stella Sterling, if you're asking for a favor, you should act like it. Why don't you learn from her today and see how to please me? If I'm happy, the money is yours."
The girl beside him leaned in coyly to kiss him, but he held her back.
"Well?"
