Chapter 3

Brendan, wearing light gray pajamas, towelled his still-damp hair. The top few buttons of his pajamas were undone, revealing his pectoral muscles.

He dried his hair nonchalantly, deadpanning, "You don't have to do that. It's useless, even if you're naked."

Brendan's casualness clouded Naomi's face.

Slowly putting on her tailored jacket, she said calmly, "Cooperate and complete the mission, Brendan. No matter what you want to do in the future, I won't interfere."

She then suggested, "If you really don't want to do this, we could try in-vitro fertilization."

At Naomi's words, Brendan tossed the towel to the floor and grasped her chin. "Do you think of me as a walking sperm bank, Naomi?"

A walking sperm bank?

Naomi was forced to meet his gaze, unable to retort. They stared at each other. As their eyes locked, Brendan leaned closer, almost kissing her lips.

Naomi instinctively recoiled as he leaned in. Then, Brendan snapped back to his senses. He straightened, saying frostily, "So you want my baby, Naomi?"

He paused. "You're not qualified."

Not qualified?

Naomi's heart sank. He didn't like her. Their marriage was arranged by their parents, a business merger between their families. That's why Brendan looked down on her.

He placed his hand on the back of her neck, pulling her toward him. Looking into her eyes, he reminded her, "You have another year. If you can't get me to sleep with you this year, go back where you came from."

He turned, walked to the closet, selected a dark suit, dressed, put on his gold-rimmed glasses, and left, slamming the bedroom door shut. Naomi weakly sat on the bed, leaning her palm against her forehead.

She didn't know Brendan liked Chloe. Had she known, she wouldn't have agreed to marry him when his father, Samuel Ludwig, proposed it—even if it meant never having children.

She sat for a while before retrieving a change of sleepwear. Though she was used to it, each rejection felt like a failure as a woman. She had gone so far, yet Brendan still refused her. There was nothing more she could do.

The next morning, Heather called.

"Mom."

"How was it with Brendan last night, Naomi? Did you two make peace?"

Naomi didn't know how to answer. For two years, Heather's constant pressure to get pregnant had nearly driven her mad. If she wanted grandchildren so badly, she should have had more children herself instead of pinning her hopes on Brendan.

She remained silent, finally saying, "He left after a while."

Heather's hopelessness was palpable when she realized another chance to become a grandmother had been lost. She advised, "You need to care for Brendan more and be more proactive, Naomi."

Naomi thought, I practically begged him to sleep with me. How could I be more proactive?

She furrowed her brows. Heather continued, "You just don't care enough. Bring Brendan his lunch to the company later. Mrs. Ludwig is not insignificant. Don't let others think you're vulnerable."

Naomi knew Heather meant Chloe, Brendan's secretary.

Reluctantly, she complied. She dressed nicely and drove to Ludwig Corporation with the lunch prepared by their housekeeper.

"Do you think this modification is good, Brendan? Should I put this…"

Naomi stood outside Brendan's office. Before knocking, she heard Chloe's soft voice from inside. The door was ajar, and Naomi discreetly observed. Brendan held a document, looking at Chloe, who was bending beside him. He explained, "This data is unreasonable. It will cause safety problems for the project."

"And this location in District D—" Brendan changed the subject. "You can bring a chair over and sit down."

Chloe smiled at Brendan's consideration. She pulled a chair closer and sat beside him.

Outside the door, Naomi rolled her eyes. She didn't know if their interaction was normal, or if a secretary sitting so close to her boss was usual. But she knew Brendan had never spoken to her so gently. He hadn't cared if she was standing, sitting, kneeling, lying down, alive, or dead. Last year, after her car accident, when the doctor needed a family member to sign documents, Brendan had hung up on her. She was hospitalized for days, and he remained unaware.

After waiting awhile, Naomi realized their discussion wouldn't end soon. She turned and left, lunchbox in hand. Passing a drugstore, she thought of Heather's advice and returned to the company.

Whether Brendan admitted it or not, she was the Ludwig family's daughter-in-law and his legal wife. Why should she hide when she'd done nothing wrong? Returning to Brendan's office, she pushed the door open without hesitation.

Inside, Brendan and Chloe looked up at the sound.