I was pregnant with twins, and my sugar daddy of six years told me he was finally going to give me a title. When he proposed, asking if I would marry him, I was just about to say yes when two tiny, childish voices echoed out of nowhere: 【Mommy, don't say yes! My daddy isn't Liam Hayes!】 【The baby in your sister's belly is Liam's!】 Those two short sentences completely fried my brain... The entire venue was waiting for my answer, but I stood frozen on the spot. If the babies in my belly weren't Liam's, then whose were they? The next second, the little milky voices piped up again. 【Silly Mommy, that scumbag has been hooking up with your sister for a long time. If you marry him, he's going to sell you to human traffickers in international waters!】 【Hurry, ask my dad for help! He's the one off stage wearing the black suit and the Buddhist amulet!】 I was shocked, my gaze involuntarily drifting toward the man sitting at the main table, radiating a lethal, chilling aura—the underground arms king of New York, Arthur Vance. ... Even though today was my wedding to Liam, everyone's attention couldn't help but gravitate toward him. This man exuded an intimidating "keep away" aura, casually playing with a blood-red Buddhist amulet in his hand. His eyes were sharp as a hawk's. I glanced at him and accidentally met his icy stare. I immediately looked away, my heart pounding in terror: My sweet babies, do you know who he is? The Arthur Vance, who controls half the arms trade in North America, has never had a woman by his side. How could you possibly be his kids? Even if Liam is just a mid-level boss, you can't just maliciously frame someone else and refuse to acknowledge your own father! Be good, accept reality. It's too late to pick a new dad on the spot. Try again in your next life. I tried to comfort the little dumplings, thinking they were just rejecting Liam because his gang was too small-time. But I didn't expect the tiny voices to scream in protest: 【Did you forget about the time you woke up in the VIP suite of that casino?!】 【Your fiancé and your sister tricked you into going to the casino, planning to use you to pay off a gambling debt. But you went into the wrong room...】 【The man lying next to you that night was Arthur Vance!】 I gasped in shock: That was Arthur? I thought it was Liam... Memories flooded back like a tidal wave. The late night, my back covered in hickeys, limbs intertwined. The air thick with the smell of gunpowder and cigars. Liam was still looking at me tenderly, but all I could see was the sweat and suppressed panting of Arthur from that night. He had handcuffed my wrists to the headboard as he took what he wanted. The legendary, terrifying arms dealer was shockingly ferocious in private. Seeing my lack of response, the officiant repeated, "Ms. Chloe Jenkins, do you take Mr. Liam Hayes to be your lawfully wedded husband?" Liam squeezed my hand, looking concerned. "What's wrong, Chloe? Are you not mentally prepared yet?" He gently scratched my palm to soothe me: "Don't be afraid. Once you marry into the Hayes family, I'll make sure you enjoy endless wealth and luxury." 【Don't believe him! He has a hidden dungeon in a warehouse by the docks specifically for locking up disobedient women!】 I shuddered in terror and immediately shouted at the top of my lungs, "I do not!" The moment I spoke, the entire hall erupted in an uproar. The Hayes family was a decently powerful syndicate in the city. No one expected me to publicly reject Liam. Especially since I had been Liam's submissive mistress for six years. Everyone called the eldest daughter of the Jenkins family a notorious gold digger. Now that I was finally getting "promoted" to wife, I was actually turning down this golden opportunity. Liam's face instantly darkened. He clearly hadn't anticipated I would reject him at our own wedding. "Chloe, stop fooling around. This is our wedding! If you have a problem with me, we can talk about it after..." 【If you wait until after the wedding, it'll be too late! My real dad is about to take his private jet to Mexico for a business deal!】 【Mom! Time waits for no one! Hurry up and kick this scumbag to the curb! Go grab onto the thigh of my ruthless, billionaire dad!】 "I'm not marrying you!" I answered firmly. My own flesh and blood wouldn't lie to me. If they said Liam was a scumbag, then I absolutely could not marry him! Right then, my younger sister walked onto the stage, her belly slightly protruding, and stood next to Liam. "Sister, what kind of tantrum are you throwing now? Hasn't Liam already agreed to marry you?" It wasn't until she got close that I noticed the diamond necklace she was wearing was from the exact same collection as my wedding ring. Comparing the quality, my ring looked like a cheap knockoff from a street vendor. In a flash, I understood everything. The baby in my belly was nothing but a pawn in a scheme she and Liam had planned long ago. As an adopted daughter, she didn't have the status to be Mrs. Hayes. And I was merely the stepping stone for her to climb the ranks. My parents stood up and furiously berated me: "Chloe! Haven't you embarrassed the Jenkins family enough? Do you think you can just ruin a wedding on a whim?!" "You were the one crying and begging to be with Liam back then, and now you're backing out at the altar! Do you think marriage is a game?! Why can't you be sensible like your sister, Mia?!" "You are marrying him today whether you want to or not!" 2 No one expected the wedding to turn into a farce. The guests were whispering amongst themselves, eager to watch me make a fool of myself. "This Jenkins girl really has no sense. She threw herself at the Hayes heir for six years, and now that she's finally becoming the wife, she backs out? The whole underworld is waiting to see her thrown into the ocean!" "The adopted daughter is so much more sensible. She knows her place, found herself a rich backer, and is living a comfortable, secure life." "The Jenkins family is so unlucky, giving birth to such an ungrateful biological daughter." Hearing the malicious gossip, I realized my reputation in the city was already completely ruined. Yet, I used to be the elegant, well-educated heiress of the Jenkins family. It seemed that ever since my adopted sister, Mia, entered our home, my status began to plummet, and the attitudes of my parents and Liam slowly changed. Liam grabbed my hand directly, ignoring my words, and announced to the crowd, "Chloe is just throwing a little tantrum. Please forgive her. She has agreed to marry me, and I am willing to take her as my wife." Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mia clenching her fists. I took a deep breath and violently shook off Liam's hand: "I said I'm not marrying you, and I mean it! I already know about the dirty secrets between you and my sister! The baby in her belly is yours, isn't it, Liam?" Those words hit the banquet hall like a bombshell. 【Great job! Mom! Tear off the hypocritical masks of this cheating couple!】 【Your adopted sister has been spreading rumors about you non-stop. Your reputation is ruined entirely because of her!】 The little dumpling, thriving on the chaos, cheered excitedly in my belly. "What nonsense are you talking about?!" Mia covered her mouth, looking pitiful and wronged. "Sister, it's bad enough you bully me normally, but why would you falsely accuse me of something so huge in public?!" "How could you use my baby as an excuse to run away from your wedding?" Hearing her words, Liam's expression shifted from guilty to composed. He said righteously, "Chloe, you're crossing the line! Even if you don't want to get married, you shouldn't slander me and your sister!" My parents looked at me with immense disappointment, their faces twisted in anger: "Are you out of your mind?! Humiliating your sister and fiancé in public? How did the Jenkins family raise such a daughter?!" "Do you realize your words have turned us into the laughingstock of the city?!" The guests below were almost laughing out loud: "This is too good. This Jenkins heiress is truly trashy, spreading rumors about her own sugar daddy and sister in public!" I ripped off my veil, threw it on the ground, and turned to leave, but several heavily tattooed thugs immediately blocked the exit. Taking advantage of my momentary shock, Liam grabbed my wrist, intending to force me through the rest of the ceremony. His voice was squeezed through his teeth, his usually gentle demeanor now incredibly ferocious: "Once you become Mrs. Hayes, you'll never have the right to be this willful again!" The eyes of the people around me were filled with mockery and ridicule. Not a single person respected my wishes. For the first time, it felt like a bucket of ice water had been poured over my head, waking me up. My situation was this dire. I had been used as a pawn by my adopted sister and my supposed backer for their own interests. The little dumpling yelled anxiously: 【As soon as this wedding ceremony is over, your husband will find an excuse to lock you up in the dock warehouse!】 【The black SUVs are already lined up at the door. The second you walk out, you'll be tied up!】 【Mom, hurry up and ask my real dad for help!】 Arthur? I looked toward where he had been sitting, only to find him standing up, leading two bodyguards in black suits toward the exit. 【Oh no, my dad is taking a helicopter to Mexico!】 This might be my last lifeline! In a moment of desperation, I bit down hard on the webbing between Liam's thumb and index finger. He yelled in pain and let go. I turned, bolted, and threw myself toward Arthur. The bodyguards ran to intercept me, but I directly flipped over a display table, sending a towering pyramid of red wine glasses crashing to the floor. The long train of my wedding dress wove through the chaotic crowd. People screamed, and the venue dissolved into total mayhem. Ignoring everything, I dragged my wedding dress and sprinted straight for Arthur. His bodyguards didn't react in time. Hearing the commotion, Arthur turned around, and I crashed directly into his chest. "Take me away, please!" Arthur's face was obscured by the backlight. The next second, I was shoved away violently. He brushed off his suit as if he had touched something filthy, looking at me with sheer disgust: "Get lost. Didn't you know I absolutely loathe women getting close to me?" 【So fake! Don't believe him, he's just acting tough right now. Once my dad falls in love with you, he'll turn into a totally devoted puppy!】 Arthur turned to leave again. I desperately grabbed the cuff of his trousers, refusing to let him go. Footsteps rushed up from behind. Liam and his bodyguards caught up and pinned me down. My parents looked at Arthur's barely suppressed anger with terror in their eyes: "We're so sorry, Mr. Vance! My daughter is mentally unstable and offended you. We will personally visit your estate to offer a formal apology!" Liam also chimed in, his expression subservient: "Mr. Vance, it's my fault for not keeping my woman in check. I will discipline her properly when we get back. Please, be magnanimous and forgive us!" Mia, however, looked at Arthur with absolute infatuation. This was the man almost every woman in the city both feared and desired. Arthur didn't reply. He looked down at my hand gripping his trouser leg. Mia also noticed and raised her high heel, stomping down hard on the back of my hand. "Sister, how could you offend Mr. Vance? Let go, now!" I screamed in pain. Arthur took the opportunity to pull his leg free and strode away coldly. Seeing his back about to disappear, I yelled at him in panic: "Arthur! The babies in my belly are yours!" 3 Arthur stopped abruptly. The atmosphere descended into an eerie silence. The guests in the banquet hall stared at me. Their eyes were no longer mocking, but looking at me like I was already a corpse. Mia, not expecting me to drag Arthur into this, looked at me with unconcealed schadenfreude. She whispered in my ear, "Sister, trying to climb the social ladder? You picked the wrong target." "Arthur Vance isn't a man you can just attach yourself to." She was right. Everyone knew Arthur avoided women and despised physical contact. The blood-red Buddhist amulet in his hand was the symbol of his ruthless, lethal decisiveness. The last woman who approached him with ulterior motives was thrown into international waters to feed the fish. "Is this woman asking for a death wish? I thought she was just cheap, but she's actually insane. No one who crossed Mr. Vance has ever lived to tell the tale in one piece..." The crowd held its breath, waiting for Arthur to erupt. As expected, Arthur turned around. His lips were pressed in a tight, freezing line. His cold eyes stared at me like I was dead. He rubbed the amulet in his hand and said coldly, "My children? Heh, Ms. Jenkins, you really are bold." "There isn't a single person in this city bold enough to stand in front of me with a pregnant belly and fake a claim. I've heard of your reputation, but have you really sunk so low that you'd try to pawn your kid off on another man at your own wedding?" The amulet flipped through his fingers, striking a rhythmic beat against the silence. It was a sign that Arthur was about to unleash his wrath. Liam quickly grabbed my head and forced it to the floor, apologizing to Arthur while forcing me to kowtow: "I'm so sorry, Mr. Vance! She's truly out of her mind. Please, just spare her this once!" "Apologize to Mr. Vance right now, hurry!" Seeing Liam completely unbothered by my claim that the child wasn't his, I knew he was well aware that I wasn't carrying his baby. He just wanted to control me, so he could openly carry on his affair with Mia later. 【Mom, don't be afraid! As long as there's evidence that we're his kids, he won't abandon you!】 【Once you have the Vance family backing you up, everyone who bullied you will get their karma!】 Evidence? I smiled bitterly. Where was I going to get evidence? I didn't even know Arthur as a person. My parents rushed forward and slapped me hard across the face twice, screaming, "Apologize to Mr. Vance immediately! Are you trying to get the entire Jenkins family killed?!" Arthur looked down at me from his towering height. I looked as pathetic as a maggot in the dirt. The intoxicating memories of that night felt as unreal as an illusion. Suddenly, remembering something, I looked up at Arthur and said calmly, "Mr. Vance, I saw the gunshot wound on the side of your waist." As soon as the words left my mouth, Arthur froze. Though his expression didn't change, his eyes were filled with shock. The gunshot wound on his waist was from a violent gang war in his early years. It was in a hidden location; no one knew about it unless they were incredibly intimate with him. The rest of the hall exchanged confused glances, not understanding what I was talking about. But Mia was smart and quickly interrupted: "Sister, everyone in the underworld has a gunshot wound. How can you use such a boring piece of evidence to prove you have a relationship with Mr. Vance? Do you know how many women have tried similar tricks over the years?" "If you really want to prove the seeds in your belly belong to Mr. Vance, why don't we just do a paternity test?" Mia looked immensely smug. She didn't believe for a second that I actually had any involvement with Arthur. After all, how could an unremarkable Jenkins daughter possibly get involved with the city's arms king? Even his presence at this wedding today was only secured after Liam pulled massive strings, offering up a significant amount of weapons and territory. The people around me agreed: "Yeah! Do a paternity test! Slap this woman right in the face!" "Who does she think she is, trying to claim ties with Mr. Vance? And claiming the baby is his at her own wedding? What a shameless slut!" "She was yelling so confidently, let's do the test and expose her ugly face personally! Let's make sure she can never show her face in this city again!" Arthur's eyes were dark and unreadable. Then, he nodded, giving me a chance. "Fine, let's do a paternity test. I'll make sure you die knowing exactly why." 【Mom, you're a badass! I finally get to see my dad's face get slapped, hahaha!】 【Don't worry, I'll teach you how to handle him. By the time he falls in love with you, you'll have a perfectly obedient, loyal puppy!】 The farce at the wedding quickly became the talk of the town. Old Mr. Vance, Arthur's father, heard the news and rushed to the scene. Seeing my blood being drawn by a private doctor, he stood to the side, unable to hide his joyous expression. "Wonderful. To think I'd get to hold my grandchildren while I'm still alive." Arthur sneered. "When she's exposed in a few minutes, I hope she can still walk out of here in one piece." I closed my eyes, letting the blood drain from my body. My parents stood by in terror, deeply afraid I would implicate the Jenkins family. Liam's face was as dark as ink. At his wedding, his woman was getting a paternity test for another man's children. Even if that man was Arthur Vance, he felt a crushing sense of humiliation. 【Thank god Mom didn't marry this Hayes guy! He's plotting how to deal with you as soon as the wedding is over!】 【Wuuuwuuu, drawing blood hurts so much, but for Mom's happiness, I'll endure it!】 At this moment, my body was covered in bruises. Drawing blood made me so weak I could barely stand. I leaned on the comfort of the little dumpling's voice to keep waiting for the results. The guests sized me up with mocking eyes. They were all waiting to see Arthur punish me ruthlessly. No one believed that Arthur, who abstained from women, could possibly have a child. I also realized that if the babies weren't Arthur's, I would face absolute annihilation. Finally, hurried footsteps echoed outside the door. Arthur's personal subordinate rushed in nervously, holding a report, and whispered into Arthur's ear. Arthur's cold expression was instantly replaced with absolute shock. Old Mr. Vance impatiently tapped his cane on the floor: "What are you whispering about? Are they my biological grandchildren or not? Spit it out!" Mia covered her mouth and giggled nearby. "Is there even a need to say it? How could it be the Vance family's flesh and blood? It's all my sister's lies..." The subordinate wiped the sweat from his forehead and announced loudly: "The genetic similarity between Ms. Jenkins's children and Mr. Vance is 99.99%!" 4 The room was silent for a moment before exploding into a frenzy of discussion. Everyone stared at me in sheer disbelief: "How is that possible?! A girl from such a small family, how could she get pregnant with Mr. Vance's child?" The Buddhist amulet in Arthur's hand was suddenly squeezed tight. He frowned: "I don't even know this woman, how could..." But the paternity report, and the gunshot wound on his waist, proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that the bride standing in front of him was indeed his woman. He suddenly remembered a night three months ago. After finishing an arms deal at a casino, he was ambushed, drugged, and ultimately passed out in a VIP suite. That night was a haze. He was consumed by lust and unable to pull himself out. When he woke up, he thought it was just a dream. He never expected it to be reality. "Sister, you are truly shameless!" Mia jumped out again. When she first heard that the babies in my belly were Arthur's, the mask had slipped for a second, revealing intense jealousy. But seeing Arthur completely refuse to acknowledge me, she regained her smugness. "You cheated on Liam behind his back, and then shamelessly climbed into Mr. Vance's bed! You're too manipulative! You've played us all for fools!" "The virtuous and elegant image of the Jenkins family has been completely destroyed by you! I can't believe we produced such a promiscuous woman like you!" Hearing her words, the crowd finally processed the situation. I was pregnant with Arthur's child while marrying Liam. This was simply a gross violation of public decency. The guests immediately started attacking me: "Exactly! This woman clung to the Hayes heir, and then secretly plotted against Mr. Vance behind his back! How does someone like her deserve to enter the Vance family?!" "A cheating woman actually has the nerve to claim paternity at her own wedding! Why hasn't the Jenkins family thrown her out yet? Still dreaming of climbing the ranks through her children? The Vance family won't let her off easily!" "Kick her out of the city! Immoral, low character, cheating in public... it's absolutely disgusting!" The insults directed at me grew louder and louder. Unable to bear the humiliation, my parents yelled: "The Jenkins family does not have a disgraceful daughter like you! Get out of here!" "Mia is the only daughter of our family!" Liam stood silently to the side, taking a vindictive pleasure in watching me being berated by the crowd. Suddenly, a cane struck the floor heavily. Old Mr. Vance's voice carried an unquestionable authority: "Enough! What kind of place do you think this is? A whole crowd of people bullying a little girl!" "As long as the flesh and blood in Ms. Jenkins's belly belongs to the Vance family, she is the daughter-in-law of the Vance family!" "Marcus, escort Ms. Jenkins to the car. We're going home!" The bodyguard nodded and reached out to help me. By this point, I was utterly exhausted from the stress and pregnancy. After two steps, my body went weak, and I pitched forward. Just as I was about to hit the floor, a pair of hands caught me, sweeping me up into a firm embrace. Arthur looked entirely aloof. "Although I won't acknowledge you, you are carrying my seed and you have been my woman. I will not allow others to bully you." He carried me, his sharp gaze sweeping over the people who had just been mocking me. "From now on, Ms. Jenkins is part of the Vance family. If I hear any more malicious gossip, don't blame me for turning hostile." With that, he took long strides out of the banquet hall. Over his shoulder, I saw the faces of Mia and Liam. They glared at me with vicious eyes, clearly unwilling to let this go. I was quietly placed inside a black, bulletproof SUV by Arthur. When he got in and sat beside me, I instantly felt the immense pressure of his presence. The man sitting next to me had carved a path through blood and violence, building his own arms empire in the city. He was the eldest son of the Vance family, with a status that was completely out of reach. Logically, someone of my class shouldn't even have the right to interact with such a massive figure. He closed his eyes and rested beside me. A moment later, he answered a satellite phone: "Cancel the helicopter. Just bring Elena back to the country later." 【Mom, your biggest rival, Elena, is about to appear! She's my dad's one and only 'white lotus' first love! This woman is much more formidable than your sister!】 【But don't worry! No matter if it's your sister or Elena, Dad and I will absolutely back you up!】 I rubbed my belly and smiled bitterly. Even though the little dumpling said that, I didn't hold out any hope. I was a woman who almost married another man, a woman he only had a one-night stand with. How could I possibly catch the eye of an arms warlord? I escaped Liam's control and ended up with the Vance family. Who could say if I hadn't just jumped from the frying pan into an even bigger fire? Arthur squinted, sizing me up. His suspicion of me had never vanished: "Ms. Jenkins, even though you're carrying my seed, I will never marry you." He sneered. "I don't care what methods you used to get pregnant, or how long you planned out this little show today, but getting into the Vance family won't be that easy." Hearing his words, the little dumpling started screaming again: 【Fake! So fake! You have no idea how much he reminisced about that night after it happened!】 【He's the ultimate hopeless romantic! Mom, you don't even need to use any tricks. He'll convince himself to fall in love with you!】 I closed my eyes, took three seconds to digest Arthur and the little dumpling's words, and answered obediently: "I never thought about entering the Vance family. I just want to give birth to the children safely and watch them grow up healthy." Arthur didn't say another word, but the little dumpling issued a notification: 【Dad's heart rate is rising! He's very satisfied with your answer! Falling in love with you is just a matter of time!】
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