Pregnant With The Cold CEO's Heir

"I have good news."

Chloe Matthews lifted her head from the plate. The greasy pork chop was left untouched, not touched at all. A cold, hardened knot was twisted in her stomach—cold and hard.

Her adoptive father, Clément, cleared his throat, his face flushed from cheap beer and a strange, unsettling excitement. Across from her, her foster mother Brittany smiled faintly, but that smile was not visible in her eyes. It was a sharp, predatory smile that made the hairs on Chloe's arm stand on end.

"What news?" Chloe's voice was so soft it was almost inaudible. She had just returned from her job as a waiter, her feet aching, and her body longed only for rest. And this unusually sumptuous dinner—pork chops, mashed potatoes, and even a store-bought apple pie—was already the first warning sign. The Matthews family never wasted extravagantly, unless they had ulterior motives.

"Don't look so bitter, darling." Brittany's voice was so sweet it was cloying. She reached over the table, her long red nails gently tapping Chloe's hand. "We're celebrating your good fortune."

Chloe pulled her hand back. "My good luck?"

Clément leaned forward, the scent of stale alcohol wafting above the dining table. "That's right. A real opportunity, a chance to completely change the fate of this family. ”

The knot in Chloe's stomach tightened even more. She was all too familiar with this routine—first ambiguous promises, then a bunch of complaints about money.

"Clermont has caused some trouble again." Brittany's voice became well-trained and melodious. "Those horses...... He said that was almost guaranteed. She sighed exaggeratedly. This time, he owed quite a lot. ”

Chloe's heart sank. They are always "in debt." Every day she lived in this family was immersed in the heavy cycle of Clermont's gambling debts, Brittany's expenses, and their endless financial crisis.

"So," Clément's voice carried a false cheer, full of momentum, "I found you a good match." A good man. He will help us out of trouble. ”

Chloe's lungs felt as if the air had been suddenly drained, as if he'd been punched. "Target?" What are you talking about? ”

"A husband!" Brittany cheerfully called out, took out her phone, swiped a few times, and turned the screen toward Chloe. "Look, his name is Donavin Weeks. A very successful businessman. ”

Chloe stared at the photo. A man old enough to be her father, his hair slicked back with gel, his thick neck peeking out from the shiny collar of his shirt, and a pair of small, pig-like eyes. His stomach churned.

"No." That word tasted like ashes in her mouth. "Absolutely not. I'm still in college. I won't get married. ”

The fake joy on Clément's face vanished instantly. He slammed the table hard, making the plate jump. "You have no say in this matter! It's settled then! ”

"But think about what kind of life he can give you, Chloe." Brittany coaxed, her voice piercing like fingernails scraping across the blackboard. "No more working hard for tips. You will have a big house and beautiful clothes...... He really likes you. ”

"He doesn't even know me." Chloe's voice trembled with fear and anger. "What on earth is going on?"

"He's willing to pay $50,000 to help pay off the debt!" Clément shouted, his face flushed red and mottled. The truth finally came out—naked and ugly.

Fifty thousand. The US dollar.

That number echoed in the room's sudden silence. That was her price—the value of her life, her future, and her body. A chill, deeper than the depths of winter, seeped into her very bones. These people who should have been her parents are now selling her.

She stood up, the chair scraping against the leather floorboard with a harsh sound. When she spoke, her voice trembled but was firm. "I won't get married."

"You ungrateful little wretch!" Brittany screamed, her face twisted with anger. "We've done so much for you! I'll give you food, I'll give you a place to live! ”

"This isn't helping this family." Chloe's tears welled up, burning and stinging. "This is called selling me."

"We've already collected the deposit!" Clément roared and stood up. He was a big guy, and his shadow hung over her, suffocating. "If you change your mind now, usury will kill us all!" Is this what you want? ”

Emotional blackmail became the final blow. They didn't just sell her; they wrapped up the deal with guilt and obligation, making her responsible for their lives.

Her gaze drifted to the wall, where a framed photo of her sister Kimberly hung, wearing a cheerleading uniform and smiling brightly. A bitter, sarcastic smile escaped Chloe's lips.

"Why not Kimberly?" Her voice was cold and hollow.

That question hung in the air, heavy and full of venom. Brittany and Clément froze, their faces masked with shock and anger.

"Your sister...... She's still young! Brittany stammered, her eyes flashing with the genuine maternal protection she had never shown to Chloe.

"She's twenty." Chloe said, and that laughter turned into her uncontrollable sobs. "She's only one year younger than me."

The unspoken truth echoed like a scream in that cramped, suffocating room. Because Kimberly is their child—their real daughter. And Chloe...... Chloe can be discarded at will.

The challenge to his authority, the exposure of his absurd logic, was simply too much for Clément. His face twisted into a roar of pure anger.

He moved much faster than she expected.

He raised his hand, turning into a blur of shadow.

The sound of slaps rang out like gunshots in the quiet room. Chloe suddenly shook her head to the side. A dazzling, burning pain exploded on her cheek, followed by a sharp buzzing in her ear.

The world has quieted down. The taste of pork chops and aged beer has disappeared. All that remained was the burning pain on her face and her utterly, utterly alone, cold sense of being alone.