Listening to what Jerry had just said Abigail sat there, her mouth agape in shock.
She had expected all kinds of things—but this?
She did not expect this one.
He wasn't motivated by money.
She couldn't believe he wasn't seeking money.
He just wanted them to be like a real couple—complete with intimacy.
Her mouth was a little ajar, but no sound came out.
'What kind of man was this?'
she said to herself.
Sitting there unable to say a word, Jerry released a soft laugh.
"If you agree," he said, lounging back negligently, "I'll draft my own contract and send it to you."
As he spoke Abigail's fingers closed around the sheets like claws.
"Six contracts," he continued, repeating her own insistence.
"Exactly as you wanted."
And then, in a sudden movement, he leaned his head to one side.
"Only exception is—no money passed."
There was an unyielding determination in his eyes.
"You'll still be my wife, and we'll behave as a husband and wife should," he said quietly.
"Including intimacy all those six years, and if set pregnant within Those years, we keep it."
Immediately Abigail let out a harsh breath, struggling to grapple with his words.
She needed to know.
She needed to know so badly, why he was requesting for this.
"Why?" she finally burst out, her forehead creasing in a scowl.
She rose her chin somewhat, compelling herself to meet his eyes.
"I can actually offer you money," she repeated forcefully.
"That is the entire essence of this partnership, isn't it?"
She narrowed her gaze slightly.
"We don't know each other even," she uttered firmly.
"How can we pretend to be husband and wife?"
Then Jerry's lips curled slightly—but his face remained inscrutable.
"We can, and we're doing it now by the way." he said matter-of-factly.
Abigail let out a frustrated snort.
"How?" she pressed.
However Jerry's eyes did not blink.
"People who marry one another don't know one another from the beginning of time," he said calmly.
"At some point, they were all strangers."
Abigail's lips tightened.
She couldn't argue with that.
But still—This was different.
Wasn't it?
Before she could utter another word, Jerry's following words took her aback.
"I was on my own, all by myself," he said quietly.
His voice remained firm, yet there was something strange about it.
"Until you came and collided with me."
At that moment Abigail sighed angrily, running a hand through her hair, she knows the situation it difficult now, and jerry was capitalizing on it, she can't divorce him now or else she'll lose everything to Penelope and that jerk Owen, and again she doesn't really know Jerry all that well, yet he's asking them to be real, for six years, that was something she never really thought about, who could accept such amounts of money when he couldn't easily get her pregnant, and somehow be in the family.
That was his plans.
Then in low voice she said.
"We don't know each other, and I can't go real with you, that's why I'm offering you one billion dollars," she said, her voice thick with annoyance.
However Jerry simply shook his head.
"It's not the money," he repeated, his voice calm, but resolute.
Again Abigail's fingers tightened against the bedsheet.
She didn't like this.
Not in the least. She had desired a straightforward transaction—one with money and nothing else.
No strings, no expectations.
And yet he was rejecting the money. Why?
She wanted to protest, but words were caught in her throat.
At that moment her mind reeled, trying to come up with a better alternative.
Two billion dollars.
Maybe if she doubled the amount and tacked on a ten-year contract, Jerry would take the deal and leave after six years.
She could continue paying him even after he leave—as long as he leaves.
But before she could even suggest it, Jerry changed gears.
He walked toward her slowly, his steps deliberate, confident.
Abigail's heart beat a bit more rapidly, but she stood still-faced.
Jerry came to a stop before her.
He looked at her directly into the eyes.
"like I said before, It's not about the money," he said again.
Jerry voice was cool, and
Abigail felt a strange shiver run down her spine, without being told she could tell he wasn't kidding.
At that moment, she didn't know what to say.
Jerry added not a word.
Then, he reached into his pocket, and pulled out a small notepad, without wasting anymore time he quickly wrote something down.
Then, he tore off the page and placed it in Abigail's hand.
Immediately she looked down. It was a phone number.
Then Jerry took a step back.
"Call me when you're done deciding," he said.
And with that—
He turned and walked out of the room.
At that moment Jerry walked away from Abigail's hospital room, his expression was still calm and unreadable.
But just as he turned a corner—
A woman's voice called out to him.
"Mr. Jerry?"
Then Jerry stopped. He inclined his head slightly, his keen eyes focusing on the woman some feet away.
She was dressed to the nines in a professional setting, with this air of composure, but there was something about her attitude that told Jerry she wasn't just some random hospital employee.
It was as if she was waiting for him.
"Come with me, please," she said politely, gesturing down a different hallway.
Jerry's eyes flashed at that moment.
He had a sixth sense about what this was. But he didn't protest.
Without saying a word, he followed her down the hall.
They walked a few seconds later in the hospital's lobby.
Not any run-of-the-mill lobby—a expensive restaurant built within the hospital compound.
The hushed murmur of muted chatter filled the air, with the scent of freshly brewed coffee hanging on the breeze.
She led him past the diners sitting at the tables until they stopped before one of them.
There—positioned for his greeting—stood Owen, Ramos, and Amelia.
However Jerry didn't blink.
He'd known this would happened.
The moment they saw each other making eye contact with him, Ramos jumped up right away.
And then a complacent smile covered Ramos's face as he extended his hand.
"Mr. Jerry"he said smoothly.
Jerry stared at him for an instant.
And then he took his hand and shook it.
Hard. Strong.
By now Ramos's smile was even more exaggerated as though he had won already.
"Please, take a seat," he said.
But Jerry waited no longer.
He sat down easily, his position relaxed but alert.
Owen and Amelia watched him carefully, their faces wary but attentive.
No delay was to be had.
The instant Jerry was comfortable, Ramos leaned forward.
His voice was deep, heavy with interest.
"So, without us not wasting anymore time."
Ramos began, his eyes glinting.
"How much did Abigail pay you?"