The Cold Surgeon's Contract Bride novel Chapter 449

He said, "Be good. Don't be stubborn. Take it."

He said, "You have so many responsibilities right now. Everything requires cash."

The tone was practically identical to that night years ago.

A bitter gust of wind snapped me out of my memories, whipping my hair across my face and sending a violent shiver down my spine.

I stared up at the amber streetlight. At some point, it had started to snow. The fine, powdery flakes drifted down under the glow, creating a romantic, cinematic atmosphere right out of a romance novel.

I let out a harsh, cynical laugh.

Cinematic, indeed.

I was delusional again.

Standing in a familiar place, listening to his voice through the phone, the nostalgia had tricked my brain into romanticizing his tone.

In reality, there was nothing gentle or affectionate about Ferris's words.

He didn't care about me. He wasn't worried about my financial struggles.

He was threatening me. It was a cold, tyrannical ultimatum.

Don't be stubborn.

He was demanding I accept his money and agree to his sickening terms.

He was ordering me to stay single forever, ensuring I never posed a threat to his precious pet's happiness.

He knew exactly how desperate I was for cash. He knew I had to cover Maxwell's astronomical medical bills, Sabrina's international tuition, and Lucille's lavish lifestyle.

Even Uncle Silas's recovery required a massive sum.

He knew I was strapped for cash, so he was forcing this money on me, ordering me to stay in line and complete our final transaction.

But I refused.

I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood, fighting the urge to smash my phone against the pavement.

How could I be so stupid? I wasn't a billionaire like Ferris. My account had strict transfer caps. I couldn't just wire a fortune back to him in a single tap.

It felt like a brutal slap across the face.

And the worst part was, I couldn't even slap him back!

To make it even more pathetic, I couldn't even afford to throw my phone in a fit of rage.

Ferris had been right about one thing: I desperately needed money. Walking away from this marriage meant I was basically drowning in debt. I couldn't afford to buy a new phone just to make a point.

I forced myself to pocket the device, feeling utterly pathetic and defeated.

All I could do was kick the base of the streetlight, venting all my fury and frustration into the cold metal.

Just then, a familiar, gentle voice called out from behind me. "Dr. Hayes, is something wrong with your shoe?"