Sylvia Harlow fell off the harness during a stunt—and that same night, Ashton Wyatt was throwing a welcome party for his childhood sweetheart at the club. The night she found out she was pregnant, he didn't come home at all. The next morning, he walked onto the set with a dewy-faced new girl on his arm, brushed Sylvia's role aside like it was nothing, and told her he'd "make it up to her"—as if he were doing her a favor from on high. Later, at the club, Sylvia was egged on by the crowd to kiss her new boyfriend. Across the room, Ashton Wyatt let a cigarette burn all the way to his fingers without flinching—his eyes barely masking the raw jealousy and fury. In the dark, he pulled her in and bit her lip hard enough to draw blood. "Two men at once—you really think you've got what it takes?" He came crawling back, full of regret. She didn't even look back, climbing higher and higher. All Ashton could do was stand there and watch—her baby bump showing, laughing easily with another man, talking about engagement dates like she was already walking into a whole new life without him. One drunk night, he cornered her in his arms, eyes rimmed red: "Sylvia, just come back. I'd die for you." "Please… don't leave me behind."

Chapter 1When Sylvia Harlow fell from the harness on set, Ashton Wyatt was at his nightclub throwing a welcome home and birthday party for his childhood friend.The drinks were on the house that night, racking up a six-figure tab. The news was everywhere, and everyone assumed an engagement was imminent.The first thing Sylvia heard upon waking up was the doctor saying, "You're pregnant."Her shoulders were slender, and her arm resting outside the hospital blanket looked radiant and fragile.She tore her gaze away from her phone. It took a moment for the doctor's words to register, and her immediate response was, "Can I terminate it?"She remembered how he never used protection when he thought she was safe. His relentless stamina and raw dominance always left her breathless and weak in the knees. Back then, she had asked what would happen if she got pregnant, and he had replied with cold detachment: Then get rid of it.He had said it so casually, as if talking about grabbing dinner. The memory sent a sharp ache through her chest.Dr. Julian Sterling adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, looking entirely professional and compassionate."With your medical history," he said gently, "if you terminate this pregnancy, it may be very difficult for you to conceive again."He paused before asking a slightly intrusive question. "Where is the baby's father?"The unspoken implication was that she should discuss this with him.Sylvia curled her fingers tightly against her palms. After a moment of hesitation, she picked up her phone and called Ashton.He didn't answer the first time.He didn't answer the second time, either.It rang a third time before a sweet, delicate female voice finally came through the line."Hello? Who is this?"The voice sounded inexplicably familiar. Sylvia had heard it before when Ashton was on the phone. His gaze would always soften, and he would show incredible patience for the girl on the other end."I'm looking for Ashton.""Ash? He's in the shower right now. It's not a good time. Call back later."The girl's voice was slightly husky, carrying the lazy, seductive drawl of post-coital bliss.A suffocating wave of despair crashed over Sylvia's chest. She took a deep breath, but her eyes welled up with unshed tears."Could you pass on a message? Tell him I'm at Mercy Hospital. It's an emergency.""Sure, I'll tell him later," the girl said. She seemed to have forgotten to hang up, and a sharp click echoed through the speaker as the phone was tossed onto a coffee table.A moment later, Ashton's deep, husky voice drifted over. "Who called?""Some unknown number," the girl whined playfully, her tone sickeningly sweet. "My legs are so sore. Can you carry me?""Wait right there."The line went dead. Sylvia stared at her screen, completely speechless. She bit her lip, fighting back the crushing weight of her emotions, terrified she would break down and cry.The moment she plummeted from the harness, she had been truly terrified. She had thought she was going to die.The thick crash pad had saved her life, only to deliver a devastating truth.The man who used to hold her with such fierce devotion in bed had betrayed her without a second thought.She had lowered her standards so much, only asking for a clean break. If he wanted to sleep with someone else, he just had to break up with her first. Was that really so hard?Perhaps due to her volatile emotions, a dull ache throbbed in her abdomen. She took a deep breath, trying to suppress the icy dread settling in her chest, but tears betrayed her and filled her eyes.Dr. Sterling, apparently used to such scenes, looked up with sympathetic eyes. "Try to keep your stress levels down for the baby's sake," he advised, handing her a tissue.Sylvia murmured her thanks, dabbing at her wet cheeks.When she looked back up, the tears were gone."Dr. Sterling, I don't want to keep it. Can we do the procedure right now?"Before the doctor could answer, Sylvia's phone rang again. It was the director.Director Charles Carter started with a flurry of superficial concern, telling her to rest well since the accident happened on his set.Then, his tone shifted. "I'm afraid we have to recast your role. Don't blame me, but I have a whole crew to feed. Your part is heavy, and we simply can't afford to wait for you."Sylvia gripped the phone tightly. "Director Carter, I'm fine! I can be back on set in ten days!"She had landed the second female lead, a brilliant character who appeared sweet on the outside but was entirely unhinged underneath. It was a highly coveted role in the industry. More importantly, Sylvia loved the part. She had poured her heart into it, doing take after take of intense wirework stunts without a single complaint.This time, she had slammed hard onto the stage, hitting the back of her head. For a terrifying second, her vision went black and she lost consciousness.After sacrificing so much, how could she just willingly surrender the role?"Director Carter, I really want this part. I know it's a tough spot for you, but we're already halfway through filming. Wouldn't recasting cause even more delays? Besides, my injuries aren't that bad. Give me ten days—no, just three days. I'll be ready."Thanks to her desperate pleading, Director Carter finally caved. He agreed to let her keep the role, on the strict condition that she reported to set in exactly three days.Sylvia hung up and let out a long exhale. At least she still had her job.She looked up at the man beside her. "Dr. Sterling, I have three days..."The doctor's voice hardened. "Forget three days. Even ten wouldn't be enough for a proper recovery, not unless you want to destroy your body completely.""Is this role really that important?" His tone carried a hint of stern reprimand.Perhaps it was simply a doctor's compassion, frustrated by a patient treating her health so recklessly.Watching Dr. Sterling walk out, Sylvia leaned back against the hospital pillows in a daze. She opened her social media feed and saw a post from Ashton's best friend, Luke Zane:[Ashton always goes big. Drinks are on the house tonight. Covering a six-figure tab without blinking.]Below the text was a short video taken at The Reign.Loud club music blasted over the dance floor. In the center of the crowd stood an imposing, unmistakable figure. He was smoking a cigarette, leaning down attentively to speak to a girl, his expression uncharacteristically soft.And here she was, carrying his baby, lying alone in a sterile hospital room.She could not even tell a soul.When they first got together, Ashton had made the rules painfully clear: they were strictly casual, and entirely a secret.-Sylvia checked herself out of the hospital.Her head still throbbed, and a sharp sting radiated from her leg.She stopped to buy a pair of comfortable sneakers before hailing a cab. After giving the driver the address, she leaned back and closed her eyes. Her thick lashes cast shadows over her pale, blood-drained cheeks.The Reign was Ashton's premier nightclub. It was a massive, exclusive venue where the city's billionaires and socialites dropped fortunes on a nightly basis.Sylvia walked through the VIP corridor. She had called Ashton earlier, so she knew exactly which private suite he was in.She reached the entrance and noticed the heavy door was slightly ajar. Just as she raised her hand to knock, a voice drifted into the hallway."I heard Ash on the phone. Is your girl coming over?""Which girl?" another man sneered with a mocking laugh. "The main one or the side piece?""Shut the hell up," Ashton's voice cut through, brushing off their crude joke. The sharp click of a lighter echoed out. He let out a slow exhale. "When she gets here, watch your mouths."That was the exact moment Sylvia pushed the door open.Her sneakers sank into the plush carpet. Her eyes immediately locked onto Ashton, dressed in a fresh designer shirt from last night. She walked straight up to him and, without missing a beat, demanded:"Are we getting married?"Ashton froze, completely blindsided by the question. He forgot to even flick the ash from his cigarette.Luke Zane was the first to react. "Holy shit. Did you just propose to him?"Ashton narrowed his eyes slightly. He raised an eyebrow, reaching out to pull her into his lap. "Where is this coming from? Did you read some garbage gossip article again, hm?"Sylvia rested against his muscular chest, feeling the familiar, burning heat of his body. She couldn't help but remember all the times he had pampered her so tenderly. But the thought that another woman was currently enjoying this exact same embrace turned her heart to ice.She slowly traced circles on his chest with her fingertip. Peering up at him through damp eyelashes, she looked as alluring as a siren."Then give me money.""I've been with you for three years. Three years, thirty million dollars."A collective gasp swept through the VIP suite. It wasn't about the amount, but rather the sheer audacity of her blunt demand.Plenty of women tried to climb into Ashton's bed for fame and fortune, but most had the decency to mask their greed under the guise of love.Of course, Ashton possessed every quality a woman could desire.Sylvia had loved him just like that. She thought of his endless nights of passion and tenderness, of how he used to pull her tight and make her call him hers, of the hidden softness buried beneath his ruthless exterior.Even now, she couldn't entirely let him go.But the moment she pictured him touching someone else, she felt physically sick."Why do you suddenly need that much cash?" Unexpectedly, Ashton didn't just agree. He arched a brow, pinching her chin to scrutinize her face.Sylvia forced herself to hold his gaze, maintaining a flawless facade. "You dropped millions of dollars on drinks in a single night. Is writing me a check really that difficult?"The love was dead. He refused to commit, so was he going to deny her the payout, too?Just then, a derisive scoff echoed from the corner. "You and your brother really are cut from the same cloth."Sylvia whipped her head around and realized her stepbrother, Hugo Logan, was crouching in the shadows of the room.Catching her glare, Hugo offered a sheepish grin. "Sylvia, fancy seeing you here."Hugo was the son of Sylvia's mother and her gambling-addict stepfather. Hugo had followed in his father's destructive footsteps, dropping out of high school to run with a bad crowd. Every dime Sylvia had ever sent home had been squandered by the two of them.Eventually, Sylvia relocated her mother to another city and provided a strict monthly allowance, cutting all contact with Hugo and her stepfather entirely.She had kept her relationship with Ashton a complete secret from them. She had only mentioned it briefly to her mother, strictly forbidding her from breathing a word to the men, terrified they would latch onto her like leeches.Yet here Hugo was. He seemed entirely too comfortable with Ashton's inner circle, proving he had been hanging around for quite some time.A cold dread settled in the pit of Sylvia's stomach."Who told you to come here?"Hugo rubbed his hands together awkwardly. "Dad got locked up by some dangerous guys. I need cash to bail him out before they break his legs. Come on, Sylvia, you wouldn't just let him get hurt, right?"The man who had mocked her earlier watched the drama unfold with immense amusement."Let me guess, his ransom is exactly thirty million?"Sylvia stiffened. Suddenly, it all made perfect sense—this was exactly how Ashton's friends viewed her.To them, she was nothing but a shameless gold digger who had clung to Ashton for years just to funnel cash to her pathetic family.The irony made Sylvia want to laugh.Ignoring the peanut gallery, she locked eyes with Ashton. "Whatever my reasons are, I gave you three years of my life. For old times' sake, I'm only asking for thirty million. Are you going to give it to me or not?"Ashton remained impassive, his predatory gaze studying her intensely.Sylvia shifted on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. She leaned in as if to kiss him, stopping a mere breath away before he could turn his head.Knowing she still held an intoxicating sway over him, she pressed a soft, lingering kiss to the tip of his nose.It was light and incredibly tender, the picture-perfect image of a woman deeply in love.Tears pooled in her eyes. The man holding her was already giving his heart to someone else, yet she had to pretend everything was perfectly fine."Get out," Ashton growled at the room.The others froze for a second before taking the hint, scrambling out of the suite like startled birds....Ashton didn't take her completely. Though she was flushed with desire, she kept wincing in pain, so he brought her to the edge and found his release.Looking down at her dazed, heavy-lidded expression, a smirk played on Ashton's lips. "Pathetic."He pulled Sylvia flush against him. He was absolutely addicted to the way she unraveled beneath him, as clingy and desperate as a stray kitten.His Adam's apple bobbed. He lightly pinched her nose. "What made you come looking for me today?""I missed you," Sylvia said, looping her arms around his neck and blinking innocently.I missed your money.Ashton had always known she was madly in love with him, so he didn't doubt her words. His stoic lips curved into a genuine smile before he forced it down. He knew giving this woman an inch meant she would take a mile."You're sure you aren't here for your dad?" he challenged, raising a brow.Sylvia stared at him with wide, innocent eyes. "I didn't even know about that." She resumed tracing circles on his bare chest, purposefully drawing the number three to drive her point home.Just give me the thirty million.Ashton caught her delicate, wandering hand, his dark gaze narrowing. "We're still in public."She really was a seductive, irresistible little temptress.He had just satisfied her, and she was already begging for more.Sylvia gritted her teeth. "Thirty million..."Ashton leaned back against the leather sofa, his tone lazy as he repeated the question, "What do you even need that much money for?"She muttered under her breath, her bright eyes glinting. "Makeup, designer clothes, luxury bags... They all cost a fortune."Chapter 2When Sylvia Harlow fell from the harness on set, Ashton Wyatt was at his nightclub throwing a welcome home and birthday party for his childhood friend.The drinks were on the house that night, racking up a six-figure tab. The news was everywhere, and everyone assumed an engagement was imminent.The first thing Sylvia heard upon waking up was the doctor saying, "You're pregnant."Her shoulders were slender, and her arm resting outside the hospital blanket looked radiant and fragile.She tore her gaze away from her phone. It took a moment for the doctor's words to register, and her immediate response was, "Can I terminate it?"She remembered how he never used protection when he thought she was safe. His relentless stamina and raw dominance always left her breathless and weak in the knees. Back then, she had asked what would happen if she got pregnant, and he had replied with cold detachment: Then get rid of it.He had said it so casually, as if talking about grabbing dinner. The memory sent a sharp ache through her chest.Dr. Julian Sterling adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, looking entirely professional and compassionate."With your medical history," he said gently, "if you terminate this pregnancy, it may be very difficult for you to conceive again."He paused before asking a slightly intrusive question. "Where is the baby's father?"The unspoken implication was that she should discuss this with him.Sylvia curled her fingers tightly against her palms. After a moment of hesitation, she picked up her phone and called Ashton.He didn't answer the first time.He didn't answer the second time, either.It rang a third time before a sweet, delicate female voice finally came through the line."Hello? Who is this?"The voice sounded inexplicably familiar. Sylvia had heard it before when Ashton was on the phone. His gaze would always soften, and he would show incredible patience for the girl on the other end."I'm looking for Ashton.""Ash? He's in the shower right now. It's not a good time. Call back later."The girl's voice was slightly husky, carrying the lazy, seductive drawl of post-coital bliss.A suffocating wave of despair crashed over Sylvia's chest. She took a deep breath, but her eyes welled up with unshed tears."Could you pass on a message? Tell him I'm at Mercy Hospital. It's an emergency.""Sure, I'll tell him later," the girl said. She seemed to have forgotten to hang up, and a sharp click echoed through the speaker as the phone was tossed onto a coffee table.A moment later, Ashton's deep, husky voice drifted over. "Who called?""Some unknown number," the girl whined playfully, her tone sickeningly sweet. "My legs are so sore. Can you carry me?""Wait right there."The line went dead. Sylvia stared at her screen, completely speechless. She bit her lip, fighting back the crushing weight of her emotions, terrified she would break down and cry.The moment she plummeted from the harness, she had been truly terrified. She had thought she was going to die.The thick crash pad had saved her life, only to deliver a devastating truth.The man who used to hold her with such fierce devotion in bed had betrayed her without a second thought.She had lowered her standards so much, only asking for a clean break. If he wanted to sleep with someone else, he just had to break up with her first. Was that really so hard?Perhaps due to her volatile emotions, a dull ache throbbed in her abdomen. She took a deep breath, trying to suppress the icy dread settling in her chest, but tears betrayed her and filled her eyes.Dr. Sterling, apparently used to such scenes, looked up with sympathetic eyes. "Try to keep your stress levels down for the baby's sake," he advised, handing her a tissue.Sylvia murmured her thanks, dabbing at her wet cheeks.When she looked back up, the tears were gone."Dr. Sterling, I don't want to keep it. Can we do the procedure right now?"Before the doctor could answer, Sylvia's phone rang again. It was the director.Director Charles Carter started with a flurry of superficial concern, telling her to rest well since the accident happened on his set.Then, his tone shifted. "I'm afraid we have to recast your role. Don't blame me, but I have a whole crew to feed. Your part is heavy, and we simply can't afford to wait for you."Sylvia gripped the phone tightly. "Director Carter, I'm fine! I can be back on set in ten days!"She had landed the second female lead, a brilliant character who appeared sweet on the outside but was entirely unhinged underneath. It was a highly coveted role in the industry. More importantly, Sylvia loved the part. She had poured her heart into it, doing take after take of intense wirework stunts without a single complaint.This time, she had slammed hard onto the stage, hitting the back of her head. For a terrifying second, her vision went black and she lost consciousness.After sacrificing so much, how could she just willingly surrender the role?"Director Carter, I really want this part. I know it's a tough spot for you, but we're already halfway through filming. Wouldn't recasting cause even more delays? Besides, my injuries aren't that bad. Give me ten days—no, just three days. I'll be ready."Thanks to her desperate pleading, Director Carter finally caved. He agreed to let her keep the role, on the strict condition that she reported to set in exactly three days.Sylvia hung up and let out a long exhale. At least she still had her job.She looked up at the man beside her. "Dr. Sterling, I have three days..."The doctor's voice hardened. "Forget three days. Even ten wouldn't be enough for a proper recovery, not unless you want to destroy your body completely.""Is this role really that important?" His tone carried a hint of stern reprimand.Perhaps it was simply a doctor's compassion, frustrated by a patient treating her health so recklessly.Watching Dr. Sterling walk out, Sylvia leaned back against the hospital pillows in a daze. She opened her social media feed and saw a post from Ashton's best friend, Luke Zane:[Ashton always goes big. Drinks are on the house tonight. Covering a six-figure tab without blinking.]Below the text was a short video taken at The Reign.Loud club music blasted over the dance floor. In the center of the crowd stood an imposing, unmistakable figure. He was smoking a cigarette, leaning down attentively to speak to a girl, his expression uncharacteristically soft.And here she was, carrying his baby, lying alone in a sterile hospital room.She could not even tell a soul.When they first got together, Ashton had made the rules painfully clear: they were strictly casual, and entirely a secret.-Sylvia checked herself out of the hospital.Her head still throbbed, and a sharp sting radiated from her leg.She stopped to buy a pair of comfortable sneakers before hailing a cab. After giving the driver the address, she leaned back and closed her eyes. Her thick lashes cast shadows over her pale, blood-drained cheeks.The Reign was Ashton's premier nightclub. It was a massive, exclusive venue where the city's billionaires and socialites dropped fortunes on a nightly basis.Sylvia walked through the VIP corridor. She had called Ashton earlier, so she knew exactly which private suite he was in.She reached the entrance and noticed the heavy door was slightly ajar. Just as she raised her hand to knock, a voice drifted into the hallway."I heard Ash on the phone. Is your girl coming over?""Which girl?" another man sneered with a mocking laugh. "The main one or the side piece?""Shut the hell up," Ashton's voice cut through, brushing off their crude joke. The sharp click of a lighter echoed out. He let out a slow exhale. "When she gets here, watch your mouths."That was the exact moment Sylvia pushed the door open.Her sneakers sank into the plush carpet. Her eyes immediately locked onto Ashton, dressed in a fresh designer shirt from last night. She walked straight up to him and, without missing a beat, demanded:"Are we getting married?"Ashton froze, completely blindsided by the question. He forgot to even flick the ash from his cigarette.Luke Zane was the first to react. "Holy shit. Did you just propose to him?"Ashton narrowed his eyes slightly. He raised an eyebrow, reaching out to pull her into his lap. "Where is this coming from? Did you read some garbage gossip article again, hm?"Sylvia rested against his muscular chest, feeling the familiar, burning heat of his body. She couldn't help but remember all the times he had pampered her so tenderly. But the thought that another woman was currently enjoying this exact same embrace turned her heart to ice.She slowly traced circles on his chest with her fingertip. Peering up at him through damp eyelashes, she looked as alluring as a siren."Then give me money.""I've been with you for three years. Three years, thirty million dollars."A collective gasp swept through the VIP suite. It wasn't about the amount, but rather the sheer audacity of her blunt demand.Plenty of women tried to climb into Ashton's bed for fame and fortune, but most had the decency to mask their greed under the guise of love.Of course, Ashton possessed every quality a woman could desire.Sylvia had loved him just like that. She thought of his endless nights of passion and tenderness, of how he used to pull her tight and make her call him hers, of the hidden softness buried beneath his ruthless exterior.Even now, she couldn't entirely let him go.But the moment she pictured him touching someone else, she felt physically sick."Why do you suddenly need that much cash?" Unexpectedly, Ashton didn't just agree. He arched a brow, pinching her chin to scrutinize her face.Sylvia forced herself to hold his gaze, maintaining a flawless facade. "You dropped millions of dollars on drinks in a single night. Is writing me a check really that difficult?"The love was dead. He refused to commit, so was he going to deny her the payout, too?Just then, a derisive scoff echoed from the corner. "You and your brother really are cut from the same cloth."Sylvia whipped her head around and realized her stepbrother, Hugo Logan, was crouching in the shadows of the room.Catching her glare, Hugo offered a sheepish grin. "Sylvia, fancy seeing you here."Hugo was the son of Sylvia's mother and her gambling-addict stepfather. Hugo had followed in his father's destructive footsteps, dropping out of high school to run with a bad crowd. Every dime Sylvia had ever sent home had been squandered by the two of them.Eventually, Sylvia relocated her mother to another city and provided a strict monthly allowance, cutting all contact with Hugo and her stepfather entirely.She had kept her relationship with Ashton a complete secret from them. She had only mentioned it briefly to her mother, strictly forbidding her from breathing a word to the men, terrified they would latch onto her like leeches.Yet here Hugo was. He seemed entirely too comfortable with Ashton's inner circle, proving he had been hanging around for quite some time.A cold dread settled in the pit of Sylvia's stomach."Who told you to come here?"Hugo rubbed his hands together awkwardly. "Dad got locked up by some dangerous guys. I need cash to bail him out before they break his legs. Come on, Sylvia, you wouldn't just let him get hurt, right?"The man who had mocked her earlier watched the drama unfold with immense amusement."Let me guess, his ransom is exactly thirty million?"Sylvia stiffened. Suddenly, it all made perfect sense—this was exactly how Ashton's friends viewed her.To them, she was nothing but a shameless gold digger who had clung to Ashton for years just to funnel cash to her pathetic family.The irony made Sylvia want to laugh.Ignoring the peanut gallery, she locked eyes with Ashton. "Whatever my reasons are, I gave you three years of my life. For old times' sake, I'm only asking for thirty million. Are you going to give it to me or not?"Ashton remained impassive, his predatory gaze studying her intensely.Sylvia shifted on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. She leaned in as if to kiss him, stopping a mere breath away before he could turn his head.Knowing she still held an intoxicating sway over him, she pressed a soft, lingering kiss to the tip of his nose.It was light and incredibly tender, the picture-perfect image of a woman deeply in love.Tears pooled in her eyes. The man holding her was already giving his heart to someone else, yet she had to pretend everything was perfectly fine."Get out," Ashton growled at the room.The others froze for a second before taking the hint, scrambling out of the suite like startled birds....Ashton didn't take her completely. Though she was flushed with desire, she kept wincing in pain, so he brought her to the edge and found his release.Looking down at her dazed, heavy-lidded expression, a smirk played on Ashton's lips. "Pathetic."He pulled Sylvia flush against him. He was absolutely addicted to the way she unraveled beneath him, as clingy and desperate as a stray kitten.His Adam's apple bobbed. He lightly pinched her nose. "What made you come looking for me today?""I missed you," Sylvia said, looping her arms around his neck and blinking innocently.I missed your money.Ashton had always known she was madly in love with him, so he didn't doubt her words. His stoic lips curved into a genuine smile before he forced it down. He knew giving this woman an inch meant she would take a mile."You're sure you aren't here for your dad?" he challenged, raising a brow.Sylvia stared at him with wide, innocent eyes. "I didn't even know about that." She resumed tracing circles on his bare chest, purposefully drawing the number three to drive her point home.Just give me the thirty million.Ashton caught her delicate, wandering hand, his dark gaze narrowing. "We're still in public."She really was a seductive, irresistible little temptress.He had just satisfied her, and she was already begging for more.Sylvia gritted her teeth. "Thirty million..."Ashton leaned back against the leather sofa, his tone lazy as he repeated the question, "What do you even need that much money for?"She muttered under her breath, her bright eyes glinting. "Makeup, designer clothes, luxury bags... They all cost a fortune."Chapter 3When Sylvia Harlow fell from the harness on set, Ashton Wyatt was at his nightclub throwing a welcome home and birthday party for his childhood friend.The drinks were on the house that night, racking up a six-figure tab. The news was everywhere, and everyone assumed an engagement was imminent.The first thing Sylvia heard upon waking up was the doctor saying, "You're pregnant."Her shoulders were slender, and her arm resting outside the hospital blanket looked radiant and fragile.She tore her gaze away from her phone. It took a moment for the doctor's words to register, and her immediate response was, "Can I terminate it?"She remembered how he never used protection when he thought she was safe. His relentless stamina and raw dominance always left her breathless and weak in the knees. Back then, she had asked what would happen if she got pregnant, and he had replied with cold detachment: Then get rid of it.He had said it so casually, as if talking about grabbing dinner. The memory sent a sharp ache through her chest.Dr. Julian Sterling adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, looking entirely professional and compassionate."With your medical history," he said gently, "if you terminate this pregnancy, it may be very difficult for you to conceive again."He paused before asking a slightly intrusive question. "Where is the baby's father?"The unspoken implication was that she should discuss this with him.Sylvia curled her fingers tightly against her palms. After a moment of hesitation, she picked up her phone and called Ashton.He didn't answer the first time.He didn't answer the second time, either.It rang a third time before a sweet, delicate female voice finally came through the line."Hello? Who is this?"The voice sounded inexplicably familiar. Sylvia had heard it before when Ashton was on the phone. His gaze would always soften, and he would show incredible patience for the girl on the other end."I'm looking for Ashton.""Ash? He's in the shower right now. It's not a good time. Call back later."The girl's voice was slightly husky, carrying the lazy, seductive drawl of post-coital bliss.A suffocating wave of despair crashed over Sylvia's chest. She took a deep breath, but her eyes welled up with unshed tears."Could you pass on a message? Tell him I'm at Mercy Hospital. It's an emergency.""Sure, I'll tell him later," the girl said. She seemed to have forgotten to hang up, and a sharp click echoed through the speaker as the phone was tossed onto a coffee table.A moment later, Ashton's deep, husky voice drifted over. "Who called?""Some unknown number," the girl whined playfully, her tone sickeningly sweet. "My legs are so sore. Can you carry me?""Wait right there."The line went dead. Sylvia stared at her screen, completely speechless. She bit her lip, fighting back the crushing weight of her emotions, terrified she would break down and cry.The moment she plummeted from the harness, she had been truly terrified. She had thought she was going to die.The thick crash pad had saved her life, only to deliver a devastating truth.The man who used to hold her with such fierce devotion in bed had betrayed her without a second thought.She had lowered her standards so much, only asking for a clean break. If he wanted to sleep with someone else, he just had to break up with her first. Was that really so hard?Perhaps due to her volatile emotions, a dull ache throbbed in her abdomen. She took a deep breath, trying to suppress the icy dread settling in her chest, but tears betrayed her and filled her eyes.Dr. Sterling, apparently used to such scenes, looked up with sympathetic eyes. "Try to keep your stress levels down for the baby's sake," he advised, handing her a tissue.Sylvia murmured her thanks, dabbing at her wet cheeks.When she looked back up, the tears were gone."Dr. Sterling, I don't want to keep it. Can we do the procedure right now?"Before the doctor could answer, Sylvia's phone rang again. It was the director.Director Charles Carter started with a flurry of superficial concern, telling her to rest well since the accident happened on his set.Then, his tone shifted. "I'm afraid we have to recast your role. Don't blame me, but I have a whole crew to feed. Your part is heavy, and we simply can't afford to wait for you."Sylvia gripped the phone tightly. "Director Carter, I'm fine! I can be back on set in ten days!"She had landed the second female lead, a brilliant character who appeared sweet on the outside but was entirely unhinged underneath. It was a highly coveted role in the industry. More importantly, Sylvia loved the part. She had poured her heart into it, doing take after take of intense wirework stunts without a single complaint.This time, she had slammed hard onto the stage, hitting the back of her head. For a terrifying second, her vision went black and she lost consciousness.After sacrificing so much, how could she just willingly surrender the role?"Director Carter, I really want this part. I know it's a tough spot for you, but we're already halfway through filming. Wouldn't recasting cause even more delays? Besides, my injuries aren't that bad. Give me ten days—no, just three days. I'll be ready."Thanks to her desperate pleading, Director Carter finally caved. He agreed to let her keep the role, on the strict condition that she reported to set in exactly three days.Sylvia hung up and let out a long exhale. At least she still had her job.She looked up at the man beside her. "Dr. Sterling, I have three days..."The doctor's voice hardened. "Forget three days. Even ten wouldn't be enough for a proper recovery, not unless you want to destroy your body completely.""Is this role really that important?" His tone carried a hint of stern reprimand.Perhaps it was simply a doctor's compassion, frustrated by a patient treating her health so recklessly.Watching Dr. Sterling walk out, Sylvia leaned back against the hospital pillows in a daze. She opened her social media feed and saw a post from Ashton's best friend, Luke Zane:[Ashton always goes big. Drinks are on the house tonight. Covering a six-figure tab without blinking.]Below the text was a short video taken at The Reign.Loud club music blasted over the dance floor. In the center of the crowd stood an imposing, unmistakable figure. He was smoking a cigarette, leaning down attentively to speak to a girl, his expression uncharacteristically soft.And here she was, carrying his baby, lying alone in a sterile hospital room.She could not even tell a soul.When they first got together, Ashton had made the rules painfully clear: they were strictly casual, and entirely a secret.-Sylvia checked herself out of the hospital.Her head still throbbed, and a sharp sting radiated from her leg.She stopped to buy a pair of comfortable sneakers before hailing a cab. After giving the driver the address, she leaned back and closed her eyes. Her thick lashes cast shadows over her pale, blood-drained cheeks.The Reign was Ashton's premier nightclub. It was a massive, exclusive venue where the city's billionaires and socialites dropped fortunes on a nightly basis.Sylvia walked through the VIP corridor. She had called Ashton earlier, so she knew exactly which private suite he was in.She reached the entrance and noticed the heavy door was slightly ajar. Just as she raised her hand to knock, a voice drifted into the hallway."I heard Ash on the phone. Is your girl coming over?""Which girl?" another man sneered with a mocking laugh. "The main one or the side piece?""Shut the hell up," Ashton's voice cut through, brushing off their crude joke. The sharp click of a lighter echoed out. He let out a slow exhale. "When she gets here, watch your mouths."That was the exact moment Sylvia pushed the door open.Her sneakers sank into the plush carpet. Her eyes immediately locked onto Ashton, dressed in a fresh designer shirt from last night. She walked straight up to him and, without missing a beat, demanded:"Are we getting married?"Ashton froze, completely blindsided by the question. He forgot to even flick the ash from his cigarette.Luke Zane was the first to react. "Holy shit. Did you just propose to him?"Ashton narrowed his eyes slightly. He raised an eyebrow, reaching out to pull her into his lap. "Where is this coming from? Did you read some garbage gossip article again, hm?"Sylvia rested against his muscular chest, feeling the familiar, burning heat of his body. She couldn't help but remember all the times he had pampered her so tenderly. But the thought that another woman was currently enjoying this exact same embrace turned her heart to ice.She slowly traced circles on his chest with her fingertip. Peering up at him through damp eyelashes, she looked as alluring as a siren."Then give me money.""I've been with you for three years. Three years, thirty million dollars."A collective gasp swept through the VIP suite. It wasn't about the amount, but rather the sheer audacity of her blunt demand.Plenty of women tried to climb into Ashton's bed for fame and fortune, but most had the decency to mask their greed under the guise of love.Of course, Ashton possessed every quality a woman could desire.Sylvia had loved him just like that. She thought of his endless nights of passion and tenderness, of how he used to pull her tight and make her call him hers, of the hidden softness buried beneath his ruthless exterior.Even now, she couldn't entirely let him go.But the moment she pictured him touching someone else, she felt physically sick."Why do you suddenly need that much cash?" Unexpectedly, Ashton didn't just agree. He arched a brow, pinching her chin to scrutinize her face.Sylvia forced herself to hold his gaze, maintaining a flawless facade. "You dropped millions of dollars on drinks in a single night. Is writing me a check really that difficult?"The love was dead. He refused to commit, so was he going to deny her the payout, too?Just then, a derisive scoff echoed from the corner. "You and your brother really are cut from the same cloth."Sylvia whipped her head around and realized her stepbrother, Hugo Logan, was crouching in the shadows of the room.Catching her glare, Hugo offered a sheepish grin. "Sylvia, fancy seeing you here."Hugo was the son of Sylvia's mother and her gambling-addict stepfather. Hugo had followed in his father's destructive footsteps, dropping out of high school to run with a bad crowd. Every dime Sylvia had ever sent home had been squandered by the two of them.Eventually, Sylvia relocated her mother to another city and provided a strict monthly allowance, cutting all contact with Hugo and her stepfather entirely.She had kept her relationship with Ashton a complete secret from them. She had only mentioned it briefly to her mother, strictly forbidding her from breathing a word to the men, terrified they would latch onto her like leeches.Yet here Hugo was. He seemed entirely too comfortable with Ashton's inner circle, proving he had been hanging around for quite some time.A cold dread settled in the pit of Sylvia's stomach."Who told you to come here?"Hugo rubbed his hands together awkwardly. "Dad got locked up by some dangerous guys. I need cash to bail him out before they break his legs. Come on, Sylvia, you wouldn't just let him get hurt, right?"The man who had mocked her earlier watched the drama unfold with immense amusement."Let me guess, his ransom is exactly thirty million?"Sylvia stiffened. Suddenly, it all made perfect sense—this was exactly how Ashton's friends viewed her.To them, she was nothing but a shameless gold digger who had clung to Ashton for years just to funnel cash to her pathetic family.The irony made Sylvia want to laugh.Ignoring the peanut gallery, she locked eyes with Ashton. "Whatever my reasons are, I gave you three years of my life. For old times' sake, I'm only asking for thirty million. Are you going to give it to me or not?"Ashton remained impassive, his predatory gaze studying her intensely.Sylvia shifted on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. She leaned in as if to kiss him, stopping a mere breath away before he could turn his head.Knowing she still held an intoxicating sway over him, she pressed a soft, lingering kiss to the tip of his nose.It was light and incredibly tender, the picture-perfect image of a woman deeply in love.Tears pooled in her eyes. The man holding her was already giving his heart to someone else, yet she had to pretend everything was perfectly fine."Get out," Ashton growled at the room.The others froze for a second before taking the hint, scrambling out of the suite like startled birds....Ashton didn't take her completely. Though she was flushed with desire, she kept wincing in pain, so he brought her to the edge and found his release.Looking down at her dazed, heavy-lidded expression, a smirk played on Ashton's lips. "Pathetic."He pulled Sylvia flush against him. He was absolutely addicted to the way she unraveled beneath him, as clingy and desperate as a stray kitten.His Adam's apple bobbed. He lightly pinched her nose. "What made you come looking for me today?""I missed you," Sylvia said, looping her arms around his neck and blinking innocently.I missed your money.Ashton had always known she was madly in love with him, so he didn't doubt her words. His stoic lips curved into a genuine smile before he forced it down. He knew giving this woman an inch meant she would take a mile."You're sure you aren't here for your dad?" he challenged, raising a brow.Sylvia stared at him with wide, innocent eyes. "I didn't even know about that." She resumed tracing circles on his bare chest, purposefully drawing the number three to drive her point home.Just give me the thirty million.Ashton caught her delicate, wandering hand, his dark gaze narrowing. "We're still in public."She really was a seductive, irresistible little temptress.He had just satisfied her, and she was already begging for more.Sylvia gritted her teeth. "Thirty million..."Ashton leaned back against the leather sofa, his tone lazy as he repeated the question, "What do you even need that much money for?"She muttered under her breath, her bright eyes glinting. "Makeup, designer clothes, luxury bags... They all cost a fortune."