Chapter 2

Senna POV

Hearing the word "husband," a crack finally appeared in Payton's perpetually icy expression.

But he quickly recovered that nauseating arrogance.

"Husband?"

Payton acted like he'd heard the joke of the year. His tongue pressed against his palate as he let out an extremely contemptuous snort.

"Senna, you've only been away from me for three months and you're already this desperate to sell yourself? Who's blind enough to marry you? Or is this another pathetic lie you've made up to raise your value?"

In his eyes, I was probably always that gold-digger who would do anything for money, who couldn't survive without him.

"That's none of Mr. Barrett's concern."

I didn't want to keep tangling with him and turned to leave.

"Stop."

Payton grabbed my wrist, his grip so strong it felt like he might crush my bones.

He yanked me back hard, pressing me against the cold wall, his breath carrying a faint smell of tobacco and biting cold.

"Six weeks."

He ground his teeth as he counted the days.

"That would be the week before we broke up. I was on a business trip that week, and the night I got back... do you want me to help you remember how many times we did it?"

"I don't believe it's such a coincidence that you could get pregnant with someone else's child right after."

I endured the severe pain in my wrist, took a deep breath, and met his sinister gaze.

"After that night, I took pills."

Payton's pupils contracted sharply.

"Double dosage. Within 24 hours afterward."

I looked into his eyes, enunciating each word.

"Because I knew Mr. Barrett hates trouble most of all, and hates illegitimate children even more. How would I dare leave you with that kind of leverage?"

"This child was conceived after I left you, with my current husband. We're very much in love, and our family planning has gone smoothly."

Payton's expression visibly darkened, black as the sea before a storm.

Seeing this, Vivian immediately came over and tugged at Payton's sleeve, softly persuading him.

"Payton, there are too many people here... Since Miss Senna has said this, maybe it's true? She has a new life now. We should bless her..."

"Bless her?"

Payton laughed coldly and shook off Vivian's hand, his gaze still locked deadly on me.

"In this circle, who doesn't know that Senna is Payton Barrett's castoff? Who would dare marry her? Senna, do you think I'm dead?"

He pulled out his phone and directly called his assistant Jake.

"Contact the best paternity testing center. Clear it out in half an hour. I want a paternity test."

After hanging up, he looked down at me like a judge pronouncing a death sentence.

"Want to prove your innocence? Then let the evidence speak. If the child isn't mine, I'll give you another ten million. Roll away to wherever you want. But if it is..."

He paused, his eyes becoming extremely dangerous.

"Senna, I'll make you understand the consequences of deceiving me. The child gets aborted, and that so-called 'husband' of yours-I'll make him disappear from this city completely."

I looked at this man I had loved for seven years, and the last bit of warmth remaining in my heart turned completely cold.

"Fine."

I agreed readily.

"But Mr. Barrett, I hope you keep your word. If it's proven the child isn't yours, please never, ever appear in front of me again."

The moment I finished speaking, a clear, gentle yet firm voice suddenly cut through the tense atmosphere.

"No need to wait. You can leave right now."

A warm, broad palm wrapped around my shoulder, rescuing me from Payton's oppression and protecting me behind him.

I looked up to see Julian wearing a white coat with a stethoscope hanging from his chest, looking directly at Payton.

"Mr. Barrett, threatening a pregnant woman-is this your idea of manners?"