Mission: From Divorcee to Millionaire

Selena was completely absorbed in her phone and didn't even notice Everett had come back until he sat down beside her on the bed, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. "What's got you so hooked?" he asked.

His deep, soothing voice was close enough for her to feel his warm, ticklish breath against her ear. The unexpected sound made Selena's heart skip a beat, prompting her to swipe away the video she was watching. But then, a thought popped into her head, and she hesitated.

Without trying to hide it, she confidently showed him the phone screen, leaning casually into his embrace like it was no big deal.

"Everett, don't you think this baby is adorable? He's the latest internet buzz. People are joking that he's already earned enough to pay for college, and he's just a toddler!"

Everett's arm slipped around her waist, absentmindedly stroking her side. He glanced at the phone, seeing it was a video of a child. No wonder she was glowing with that maternal aura.

He quickly looked away, shrugging, "Not cute. Kids are such a hassle."

Selena tightened her grip on the phone for a second, almost pulling back from the conversation. But since they were already on the topic, she figured she might as well push forward and get some clarity.

Choosing her words carefully, she asked, "Sure, other people's kids are a hassle, but what about your own?"

"Same deal," Everett replied without missing a beat.

Selena frowned. "But didn't you say you wanted kids last time?"

Even if he only said it because of Josh, it had given her a glimmer of hope.

Unexpectedly, Everett shot back, "Didn't you say you didn't want any?"

After that, she was even more careful about contraception, and on the rare occasion he forgot protection, she'd be upset and take the morning-after pill.

Selena fell silent. She never imagined that when she wanted to have kids, it seemed out of reach, and when she didn't, the possibility just appeared out of nowhere. Maybe it was all her questioning that tipped him off. Everett suddenly asked, "Selena, why are you asking all this? Are you thinking about having kids?"

She knew he was perceptive, but she

still didn't expect him to catch on so quickly. Her heart raced. She was glad she was facing away from him and leaning against his chest, so he see her expression;

Oise, she would have given herself away.

Swallowing hard, she tried to keep her voice steady, casually saying? "I've been seeing tons of baby videos on Tik Tok lately, just making small talk know... you've always been against having kids."

Hearing that, Everett fell silent, likely taking it as a sign of agreement.

A wave of frustration surged through Selena. If he really disliked kids so much and was all about being childfree, why had he let Margot carry his child?

If he treated everyone the same, she could have accepted it a little easier.

Finally, unable to hold back, she softly asked, "Everett, what if... just what if I was pregnant? What would you do?"

As soon as she said it, she felt

vel

Everett tense up for a moment. Then, in one swift motion, he

her by the waist, turning her to face him as she sat on his lap.

Selena found herself staring into his eyes. Everett's dark gaze was intense and piercing, as if it could see right through her, stripping away all her defenses.