Maggie wiped her tears, her eyes red and swollen. She followed Charlie’s confident strides through the maze-like corridors, the air filled with the scent of polished wood and expensive cologne.
As they entered Aldrich’s lavishly decorated office, Maggie couldn’t help but feel small and out of place in this opulent environment. The room was adorned with dark European-style furniture, exquisite paintings on the walls whispering of wealth and power.
Aldrich, dressed impeccably in a well-tailored suit, regarded Maggie with a mixture of disdain and aloofness. His meticulously groomed appearance and steely gaze made it clear that he was a man accustomed to getting what he wanted. He leaned against his mahogany desk, exuding an aura of authority that sent shivers down Maggie’s spine.
After the humiliating incident in the restaurant, Maggie felt like a startled bird, unable to endure more blows. Under Aldrich’s piercing gaze, her heart raced with nervousness and anxiety. Just meeting his eyes was enough to make her tremble.
“Maggie…” Aldrich’s voice was low and commanding, his brows furrowed. As he took two steps closer, she was taken off guard. She instinctively assumed a defensive posture, her voice tinged with fear. “What do you want?” Maggie hesitated for a moment, and it was a baffling question. Was he insulting her, suggesting she was greedy?
Maggie waved her feeble fists, their softness posing no threat to Aldrich. Like an injured kitten, she pitifully exposed her non-threatening claws.
“Don’t move.” Aldrich clasped Maggie’s wrist, his hand significantly larger than hers, effortlessly enveloping her delicate wrist. His deep and captivating eyes possessed the power to effortlessly entice any girl.
His palm rested on her wrist, the dry warmth of it sending a jolt through Maggie’s body, causing her to lose control over herself. She felt like a lamb caught by a wolf, helplessly watching as Aldrich lifted his other hand and brought it close to his cheek.
Recollections of the cruel and humiliating slap in the crowded restaurant, under the gaze of many, rushed into Maggie’s mind, making her shiver. However, the expected pain didn’t arrive. Instead, Aldrich’s warm hand gently caressed the hot and painful mark on her cheek.
Maggie opened her eyes in astonishment, torn between conflicting emotions of resistance and panic. A mysterious warmth emanated from Aldrich’s touch, spreading through her entire body. Her shattered spirit quivered, longing to find release in the form of tears.
“Aldrich…” She subconsciously called out his name.
Aldrich pretended to speak gently, “Don’t speak, Maggie. You need help. I’ve asked someone to bring an ice pack to ease your injury.”
Charlie’s assistant fetched the ice pack, and Maggie thanked him cautiously. She carefully pressed the ice pack against her swollen cheek, trying to alleviate the pain while struggling to endure it.
Before the wide floor-to-ceiling window, Aldrich turned away from Maggie. For some reason, he could still keenly sense every flicker of pain in her lips. Strangely, he found himself wanting to take the ice pack from her hands and personally tend to her, reducing her suffering, even though he had grown to despise her.
Charlie seized the opportunity to speak, “Our CEO, Mr. Barrett, has approved Miss Nelson’s request for a refund on the ‘Wolf Dance’ brand handbag.”
Aldrich nodded with a dismissive air. “It’s a small matter. I can handle it for you, Miss Nelson.” His tone suggested that this was a trivial issue.
Maggie felt relieved, her gratitude welling up. “Thank you so much, Mr. Barrett,” she said appreciatively.
Seeing that the moment was ripe and that Maggie was growing fond of him, it was time to unveil their plan.
“Just a moment…” Aldrich paused, contemplating how to broach the subject without harming this fragile woman’s pride. He had been increasingly unsettled by this woman recently. He wanted Maggie to disappear completely from his world after giving birth to his child. Money was the quickest way to achieve this, especially since she was a vain woman.
Aldrich sat on the couch in front of Maggie and handed her a cup of coffee. “Maggie, ever since you appeared, my life has had some unexpected turns. However, I don’t allow others to dictate me. In my world, I’m the one who dictates others.”
Maggie wondered why Aldrich was so worked up; it was entirely out of character. It wasn’t until she saw the check and a cooperation agreement on the table that she understood Aldrich’s intentions: to buy her recently conceived child with money and keep her away from the city, with no contact with the child. Did the wealthy really have the right to trample over others’ dignity and interfere in their lives?
“No!” Maggie quickly tore up the agreement. “Mr. Barrett, it seems you have a gross misunderstanding about my principles. Do you think that money can solve everything? You shouldn’t hold out any hope! My child will not be sold to anyone!”
“Why are you refusing?” Aldrich took a deep breath, frustrated by Maggie’s direct rejection.
There was tension in the air, and Maggie’s gaze was filled with anger. “You’re treating a child as if it were a commodity to be traded!”
“This isn’t a trade! Watch your words!” How could the offspring of an Alpha be called a mere commodity? If it weren’t for his unique genes and the fact that an appropriate match couldn’t be found in a short time, he wouldn’t even consider dealing with this woman. Aldrich was furious, his chest heaving violently. Did this woman think the conditions weren’t generous enough?
“I’ll offer you five million dollars as compensation. Is that enough? This money will ensure your financial security.”
“You’ve never considered how a mother feels. You actually want me to sell my child to you. What makes you any different from those animals?” Maggie acknowledged her own vulnerability, but she would never sell her child like a commodity.
Aldrich rose to his feet, a sarcastic smile on his face. His anger burned intensely. He was furious, unable to believe that this woman could stir his emotions so uncontrollably. He despised himself for feeling such deep sympathy for her, only for her to question his motives. “How can someone like you, struggling to make ends meet and still dreaming of a lavish lifestyle, possibly be a responsible mother?”
“On what grounds can you say that? I yearn to have my own child, and you can’t define that for me!” Maggie’s lips curled into a sardonic smile. “Someone like you is the least deserving of having their own child!”
Maggie provocatively stared at Aldrich, breathing heavily, and said resolutely, “Rest assured, I’ve chosen a basketball player’s sperm; my child has nothing to do with you, f**k!”
Aldrich, usually composed, finally lost his cool, his face contorting. “It seems you are completely unaware.”
In that moment, all the harmony between Aldrich and Maggie shattered.