Chapter 1

I bumped into a pregnant woman at a charity gala.

Although I apologized, she refused to let it go.

"Do you have any idea whose baby I'm carrying? It belongs to CEO Ben!"

"This is the sole heir to his family line. Can you afford the consequences if something were to happen?"

"He told me he's going to make me his wife as soon as the baby is born. Shouldn't you be sucking up to me right now?"

I asked, "Which Ben?"

She declared haughtily, "The Tech Prince of Silicon Valley, of course."

My friend and I exchanged a glance.

Because Ben, the Tech Prince of Silicon Valley, is my husband.

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1

"Ben's child? Does he know about it?"

Victoria scoffed, needling her on my behalf.

The pregnant woman's eyes reddened as she lunged toward her. "What's that supposed to mean! Are you saying the baby in my belly isn't Ben's?"

I stepped between them, but my own composure was shattered.

"As far as I know, isn't Ben already married?"

The pregnant woman raised an eyebrow. "Oh, you mean that barren trophy wife? So what if they're married?"

"How could a man of Ben's caliber not want an heir?"

Victoria was livid. "Do you have any idea who she is?"

She pointed at me, and the pregnant woman’s gaze swept over me.

"You're not going to tell me this ordinary, middle-aged woman is some kind of big shot, are you?"

Her mocking laughter hadn't even stopped.

When her phone rang.

Her sneer vanished instantly, her tone shifting completely.

"Hey, baby..."

She deliberately put the call on speakerphone, so Victoria and I could clearly hear the voice on the other end.

A man hummed gently in response.

"How was the banquet tonight?"

The moment I heard that voice, I knew without a doubt it was Ben.

He hadn't just cheated on me.

His mistress's child was about to be born.

I nearly stumbled, and if Victoria hadn't steadied me, I might have collapsed.

The pregnant woman let out a little whimper, her voice thick with grievance.

"I was having such a good day, but then I ran into these two women, and they bumped into me."

Ben's voice instantly filled with alarm.

"They bumped into you? Are you hurt? I'll come pick you up."

Just as the pregnant woman had claimed, he truly doted on her.

The pregnant woman shot us a smug glance. "It's nothing, I'm physically fine. I'm just emotionally upset."

On the other end of the line, Ben let out a sigh of relief, seemingly accustomed to the young woman's pouting.

"What about those two? Are they still there?"

"They're here. I'm not letting them leave."

"Put them on the phone."

With Ben to back her up, the pregnant woman's expression grew even more arrogant, and her voice turned saccharine.

"My boyfriend wants to have a word with you."

Numbly, I reached out and took the phone.

"Hello, this is Ben. My girlfriend is pregnant, and her emotions can be a little unstable. Could you please cut her some slack?"

"If she's caused you any trouble, you can contact me, and I'll compensate you."

So considerate. As if *she* were Ben's legitimate wife.

I took a deep breath.

"Ben, how exactly do you plan to explain this 'heir' to your father?"