Chapter 2

A bunch of trash.

After confirming that the post was definitely made by Ryan, I quickly packed my bags.

He was messing with me like this behind my back? I wouldn't let him get away with it.

As I walked out with my suitcase, Ryan happened to come out to use the restroom. He paused, surprised:

"Baby, where are you going in the middle of the night? With luggage?"

To avoid raising his suspicions, I had to say:

"My mom isn't feeling well. She wants me to stay for a few days, and we can discuss our wedding details.

"Ryan, you should talk to your mom about the money situation soon too."

He didn't suspect a thing. He even drove me home himself.

But as soon as I put my luggage away, I saw his post update again:

【Guys, in my situation, since I'm not making her have a baby, does that mean I don't have to give her any money for the wedding?】

Someone replied:

【Of course! Don't they always say money is for the 'baby fund'? So if she's not having the baby, why would you give her any money?】

【I say, even if she *did* have the baby, you shouldn't have to give her money. The baby is for *her* to have, why should she get paid for it?】

【Exactly, it's an outdated tradition! When I get married, I won't give any woman a single cent. Marry me or die!】

Ryan liked all their comments.

I clenched my phone tightly and told my mom:

"The wedding's off, Mom. Please tell all our relatives not to come."

My mom didn't understand why. She worriedly stroked my hair:

"What happened, sweetie? Tell me."

I handed her my phone. Halfway through reading, she became furious:

"I'm so mad! What is Ryan thinking? Messing around with his mom and then wanting to find someone else to have a baby?

"What does he intend to marry you for? Purely to ruin you?

"Sweetie, don't worry, we definitely can't go through with this wedding, but we're definitely not letting them get away with this."

Of course, we wouldn't. So I only notified my side of the family to cancel.

As for Ryan's family, the wedding would proceed as planned!

While my mom was still calling relatives one by one, Ryan called me:

"Baby, my mom wants you to come over. She said she wants to talk about the money."

Remembering Ryan's words in the post, I still went.

Brenda sat primly on the couch in a tight-fitting mermaid dress. Ryan leaned back against the sofa behind her, playfully twirling her curled hair.

They used to be this close, and back then, I'd just thought of it as the most normal mother-son affection.

But now, it just looked utterly disgusting to me!

"Chloe's here, huh? Before, you mentioned $20,000 for the wedding gift.

"I was originally fine with that, but yesterday, Ryan told me you don't want to have children. So that price isn't quite right now.

"What do you think?"

I glanced at Ryan:

"You told her I don't want to have kids?"

He averted his gaze for a second, then quickly said:

"Baby, I just can't bear for you to have to go through it, but my mom's right too. Maybe we can discuss taking a little less money."

I forced a smile:

"How much less is 'a little less'?"

"Eight dollars and eighty cents!"