Love Was Never the Deal

My name is Alice Becker. When I was seventeen, Old Mr. Knight saw my IQ test results. Back then, I was still in college, full of hope and dreams for the future. Then, everything changed without warning. My grandma suffered a sudden stroke, and the surgery costs loomed over me like an unbearable mountain. My parents died early; it was just my grandma and me against the world. My relatives avoid me like the plague, and the hospital bills keep piling up, each more urgent than the last. I crouched at the end of the hospital corridor, burying my face in my knees as silent tears fell. Someone gently tapped my shoulder. It was Old Mr. Knight's special assistant, who handed me a business card and a contract. "Ms. Becker, Old Mr. Knight would like to discuss something with you." I followed the assistant to the lounge next to the VIP ward. Old Mr. Knight wore a well-tailored suit, his expression calm yet carrying an undeniable authority. "I know about your grandma's condition." He got straight to the point. I clenched the edge of my clothes, waiting for him to go on. "I can cover all your grandma's medical expenses, including her ongoing rehab." My heart leapt, sparking a flicker of hope. But there's no such thing as a free lunch. "The condition is that after you graduate, you marry my son, Eddie Knight." I was stunned, completely unprepared for such a demand. "Our goal is clear: marriage and children." Old Mr. Knight's tone was calm. "You're incredibly smart, with excellent genes—just the kind of mother I want for my grandson." My first instinct was to refuse. Marriage shouldn't be a business deal, and you shouldn't have children with someone you don't know. "I'll give you three days to decide." Old Mr. Knight handed me a bank card. "There's half a million on here—take it and use it to pay the hospital fees first." I looked at the bank card, then thought of my grandma lying unconscious in the hospital room. Without this money, my grandma wouldn't even be able to get surgery. In the end, I took the bank card. Three days later, I signed the official contract. The contract lasts five years. If I successfully have a child, I will receive a large compensation and can freely choose whether to continue the marriage. If I fail to have a child within five years, the contract will automatically terminate, the Knight Family will reclaim part of the support, and I will walk away with nothing. The first time I saw Eddie Knight was at a family dinner after signing the contract. He wore a perfectly tailored suit and had handsome features, but carried an icy distance. The way he looked at me felt like I was nothing more than a lifeless object. "I know about my dad's arrangement." He spoke first, his tone cold, "We both get what we want. Don't expect too much." I nodded. "I understand." Our marriage was clearly a transaction from the very start. After graduating from university, I went ahead as planned and registered the marriage with Eddie Knight. The wedding was quiet but dignified, inviting only close family, friends, and business associates. On our wedding night, Eddie came home very late. He reeked of alcohol and an unfamiliar perfume. "I can handle my dad." He took off his coat and tossed it onto the sofa. "It's just a formality. Don't expect me to have any feelings for you." I didn't say a word, quietly sitting on the edge of the bed.