Chapter 2Widower Asked Me to Take Her Place

Tristan watched my face fluctuate between tears and a hysterical grin, his brows knitting together. "Val? What did you want to say?"

I took a deep breath, threw my arms around him, and buried my face in his chest. "Tristan, you won't believe how lucky we are! That scratch-off you gave me? We won! It’s a five-million-dollar jackpot!"

His body stiffened instantly. "You... actually told me?"

"Of course I did! You're the love of my life, and you bought the ticket. With this money, we can finally build our future together."

Up on the steps, Vivian's face practically shattered. She marched down, her voice sharp. "Valerie, stop being so brainless! I told you, that card is fake! Tristan is just playing you!"

So what if my golden goose wanted to run a little security check before raining cash on me? I was more than happy to play along.

Inside my belly, the little guy gasped. "Wait, my mom actually used her brain? But now that the toxic snake exposed it, how is she going to save this?"

Just sit back and watch your mother's award-winning performance, I thought back.

"Wait... you can hear me?" the baby wondered.

I ignored him, focusing instead on the ticket. My eyes welled up with tears right on cue. "It... it's a fake?"

"Val, let me explain," Tristan pleaded, his composure slipping.

"I thought we finally made it," I choked out, looking up at him with tear-filled eyes, letting a single tear roll down my cheek. "I thought you wouldn't have to work three jobs anymore just to save up for our future."

I let out a shaky breath, wrapping my arms tighter around his waist. "But it's okay. I know you were just trying to make me happy. It was nice to dream for a second. It just means you'll have to keep working hard, and I'll be right there beside you."

I buried my face back into his chest, letting out soft, muffled sobs.

Tristan cupped my face, gently wiping away my tears. "You sweet, silly girl. The ticket is fake."

"But you passed the test. This is your real reward."

He slid something into my palm.

I looked down. An Amex Black Card, and a key fob to a penthouse overlooking Central Park. I swallowed hard.

"What... what does this mean? Tristan, where did you get this?"

"My family is actually the Mercers of New York," he admitted softly. "I had to hide my identity while dating. I want to bring you home, but my family required a test first. You have no idea how terrified I was that you'd leave me for five million dollars. Thank you, Val. I promise to love you with everything I have."

Vivian turned deathly pale. "Valerie, did you not hear him? He's been lying to you from day one! He's just playing with you. Men like him never marry girls like us! Throw that trash back at him! Don't sell your soul for money!"

The little guy in my belly snorted. "My dad is the sole heir of the Mercer line. The old patriarch is dying for a great-grandchild. If my mom spills the pregnancy news right now, the family gates will swing wide open for her."

Seeing Vivian reach out to snatch the card and keys, I quickly shoved them into my pocket, covering my stomach. "But I'm already pregnant with his child. I don't want my baby growing up without a father."

Vivian froze.

Tristan looked like he’d been struck by lightning. "Val... what did you say? You’re pregnant?"

When I nodded, he immediately pulled out his phone, made a rapid-fire call, and scooped me up in his arms, walking toward a sleek black Maybach that had quietly pulled up to the curb. "I'll have the wedding planned immediately. First, we go to the hospital."

The baby purred happily. "Not bad, Dad. But don't celebrate too early. That toxic snake Vivian isn't going to give up easily. She already knew your true identity and has been plotting to tear you two apart so she can take my mom's place."

Resting in Tristan's arms, I gently caressed my stomach. But I have you now, don't I, my sweet reborn baby?

After the hospital confirmed the pregnancy, the Mercer patriarch immediately gifted us a sprawling estate in the Hamptons as a welcoming present.

Everything was picture-perfect. Except for Vivian. And my baby was about to give me a very grim warning about what she had planned next.