Adrian Sullivan looked down at Isabella Valentine with cold detachment. "You have one week to decide."

He turned to leave.

Isabella threw herself against the glass partition, her nails screeching across the surface. "I'll agree right now!"

Adrian paused mid-step.

He hadn't expected this selfish woman to choose the child over herself.

When he turned back, his lips curled in a mocking smile. "Think carefully, Ms. Valentine. Without the child, you'll serve a few years at most. Keeping it means death."

Isabella clutched her shirt hem tightly. "I don't care if I die. The baby must live."

Adrian narrowed his eyes. "The day the child is born, you'll end your own life. Sign the agreement. Try anything clever—"

"I'll sign!" Isabella cut him off desperately. "Adrian, you promised me. You have to keep your word."

She lifted her face, tears glistening in her eyes.

Something twisted unexpectedly in Adrian's chest.

He strode quickly from the visitation room.

As the door closed, he caught a glimpse of Isabella curled up on the chair, her thin shoulders shaking violently.

Her chestnut hair was a tangled mess, like a stray cat drenched in rain.

Adrian slammed the door shut.

He hated this unwelcome pang of sympathy.

Autumn rain drizzled outside the detention center.

Adrian lit a cigarette, the smoke mingling with the misty rain.

Suddenly, he remembered Nicole.

That gentle girl who always wore a floral apron while bustling around the restaurant.

Her mapo tofu burned his tongue with spice, yet he couldn't stop taking another bite.

During their freshman year, Nicole had gotten pregnant.

Victor Sullivan flew in personally to handle the situation.

She hemorrhaged on the operating table and never woke up.

Adrian crushed the cigarette butt violently.

He dialed Victor's number. "Father, I want this child."

A long silence stretched on the other end.

Victor's voice rose sharply. "Have you lost your mind? That's a murderer's child!"

"My blood." Adrian sneered. "Ethan's children are treasures, but mine are weeds?"

"You—"

"Two years ago, that car accident caused by Victoria and her daughter made Sophia miscarry." Adrian's tone turned icy. "Are you afraid of offending them?"

Struck where it hurt, Victor hung up abruptly.

Back at the Laurent residence, the old man was pruning bonsai.

"Grandfather, I'm going to be a father."

Scissors snipped through a branch with a sharp crack.

The elderly man didn't look up. "Whose daughter?"

"Just a surrogate." Adrian's lips curved. "This will be the firstborn grandson—before Sophia has one."

Finally, the old man turned. "Does your father know?"

"He can't stop me." Adrian's eyes darkened. "Just like he couldn't stop Nicole from dying."

A month later, the verdict was delivered.

Victoria Windsor received the death penalty. Due to her pregnancy, Isabella was granted off-site enforcement.

Adrian placed her in a suburban villa.

That evening, Victor arrived at Moon Bay with nutritional supplements.

"Sophia..." He rubbed his hands awkwardly. "Adrian's being stubborn..."

Sophia stood silently by the window, the setting sun stretching her shadow long across the floor.

Victor rose sheepishly. "Don't worry, once the child is born..."

As the door closed, his muttered words drifted in. "The one who should conceive can't..."

Sophia's fingers clenched the curtains violently.

Her knuckles turned white.