Chapter 3

Joanna POV

I wanted to wait for Adrian to come home and ask him clearly, but I waited until dawn without seeing anyone.

I smiled bitterly. Adrian hadn't come home much this past month-why did I think he'd come back today?

My phone suddenly rang. It was Adrian calling.

"Bring two boxes of condoms. I've sent you the address and the brand."

I opened the address Adrian sent-it was "Mystique," New York's largest nightclub.

"Do you really have to humiliate me like this?" My voice trembled as I bit my lip hard.

Was it because I'd already seen them this morning, so there was no need to hide it from me anymore?

Adrian's voice carried not a trace of emotion. "If you want to enjoy the glory and wealth of being a billionaire's wife, you need the appropriate tolerance. Did you think you could just take my mother's money for free?"

Adrian's words struck me like a bolt of lightning.

So he'd been treating me so differently because he knew I'd taken money from Mrs. Blackwood.

"Adrian, I didn't-"

"I only use this brand. If she can't deliver it, don't touch me anymore." Summer's cool voice came through the phone, extinguishing the hope that had just kindled in my heart.

It was never just about the money. If Adrian loved me enough, trusted me enough, he wouldn't think of me this way.

His heart had long since left me. Nothing I said would matter.

"I'll order delivery for you. Hope you have fun."

I hung up and had just opened the delivery app when I received a message from Adrian.

"This brand isn't available for delivery. Get it here within thirty minutes, and I'll give you a hundred thousand."

Thinking of my future with Mother, and the child in my belly, I replied: "Deal."

The Blackwood family driver had already finished work. At this hour, I couldn't get a car at all. Walking down the street, I scanned a bike-share bicycle.

Getting on it, I remembered two years ago when Adrian personally taught me to ride.

Back then, I never would have imagined there'd be a day when I'd ride a bike to deliver condoms to him and another woman.

I rode as fast as I could to the adult store, then headed to the nightclub.

The sky suddenly started drizzling. I had no choice but to pedal desperately.

Finally, right on time, I pushed open the private room door at the 29-minute mark.

I was soaked through, my face pale, my lower abdomen aching faintly. I pulled the bag from inside my clothes and walked to Adrian.

"Transfer the money."

Adrian took the bag and promptly transferred the money. "You really are willing to do anything for money. I transferred three hundred thousand-the extra is my compensation for sleeping with you these three years."

I ignored Adrian's words. I'd already decided to leave, so I wouldn't hold any more expectations for him. Now, except for money, nothing else mattered to me.

Summer laughed lightly beside him. "Girls from ordinary families just can't be presented in society. As long as someone gives you money, you'd sleep with anyone, right?"

Hearing Summer's words, the other men in the room all turned their gazes on me.

Those naked stares made me feel sick.

"How come I never noticed Joanna had such a good figure before?"

"Adrian's got Summer now-why not let us have some fun with her?"

"Hahaha, a woman a billionaire's had-just thinking about it is exciting!"

Adrian's expression darkened. He grabbed a glass from the table and smashed it at the feet of the jeering men.

The glass shards cut several men's faces, but not one dared dodge.

"Shut up!" Adrian turned to look at me, picked up his jacket, and draped it over me to block the others' gazes.

"Joanna, who are you trying to seduce looking like that? Can't live without a man? Can't get money from me so you're sizing up other targets?"

I instinctively protested: "I didn't. I rode a bike here. It's raining outside..."

Summer, sitting on the sofa, took a sip of wine and spoke softly. "It's raining and you don't know to have the driver take you or call a car? You deliberately rode a bike here-trying to scheme against Adrian like you did three years ago?"

Three years ago, it was also a rainy day. I didn't have an umbrella and got drenched like a drowned rat hiding at a bus stop. That very bedraggled appearance made Adrian fall for me at first sight.

I looked at Adrian's darkened face, knowing nothing I said would help.

"Joanna, three years and you haven't even upgraded your tactics? You really take me for a complete fool?"

Adrian gripped my chin tightly, using so much force he nearly crushed my bones.

I was pregnant, and combined with intense exercise and the rain, I was already at my limit. After a sharp pain in my lower abdomen, I lost consciousness.

In the last moment before losing consciousness, I saw the blood spreading on my pants. Adrian completely panicked.

"Get the car! To the hospital! Hurry!"