Forced to Marry an Infertile Billionaire, Yet I Got Pregnant

In a corner near the staircase, Carys looked at the name flashing on her phone screen and answered despite her disgust.

"Hello."

"Carys."

Diana's voice came through cautiously, sounding unusually gentle.

"I heard Evren woke up. Are his legs really crippled?"

The doctor had only just delivered the diagnosis, yet the Norwood Family already had insider information.

Diana did not ask how the Arledge Family was treating the substitute bride. She did not ask how Carys had spent her wedding night.

Instead, she was fishing for information.

Carys's heart grew even colder.

"If there's nothing else, I'm hanging up."

"Wait!"

Diana called out anxiously.

"Help Odessa! Evren has a major project in his hands, a collaboration between Aether Dynamics and Arledge Consortium. If you can persuade him to sign the Project Transfer Agreement, Odessa will be able to marry Tristan, the Arledge Family's eldest young master. Then the two of you can even be sisters-in-law."

Carys laughed in disbelief.

"What makes you think I can help? I have no status there."

Diana patiently coaxed her.

"The moment you married into the family, Evren woke up. The entire second branch is counting on you now. Besides, he's already a cripple. What's the use of holding onto that project? He might as well give it up and help Odessa and Tristan."

Greed flashed through Diana's eyes.

Once completed, that project would generate billions in profit.

It was the very project that had secured Evren's position within Arledge Consortium.

"I can't help you."

Carys moved to end the call.

Diana's voice suddenly turned sharp.

"That old woman from the countryside has already been brought to the Norwood Family! If you don't agree, you'll never see her again."

"Are you even human?!"

Carys shouted.

"That's my grandmother! Your mother-in-law!"

If her grandmother had not raised her all these years, she would have died long ago.

Her grandmother had lived a hard life, scrimping and saving to support her education. The years of labor had ruined her health.

No matter how hard Carys studied medicine under Gideon, she could not reverse a body that had already reached the end of its strength.

And now Diana had forced the elderly woman to travel such a long distance.

Who knew how much hardship and humiliation she had endured?

"Your father died years ago. That old woman and I aren't related by blood."

Diana's voice was cold and heartless.

Carys gripped her phone so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

Her fingers trembled.

Biting her lip, eyes red, she asked quietly,

"Am I still your daughter?"

Diana fell silent for a moment before speaking indifferently.

"I raised Odessa myself. She has a good family background, elegance, and talent. If you can marry Evren Arledge, then naturally she deserves someone even better."

"I don't care whether you steal or rob. You must make it happen."

"On the day you return to visit your family, I expect good news. Otherwise..."

Her voice grew even colder.

"At her age, anything could happen to that old woman."

Then Diana hung up.

A chill rose from the soles of Carys's feet and spread through her entire body.

Even breathing hurt.

The air felt like countless blades scraping her throat and lungs.

...

After a long while, footsteps sounded near the staircase.

"Young Madam, why are you hiding here?"

India had been searching everywhere for her.

Taking Carys by the arm, she hurried toward the master bedroom.

"The Young Master woke up and immediately asked for you."

Suppressing all her worries, Carys followed India inside.

The moment Mrs. Arledge saw her, she warmly pulled her to the bedside and said to the stern man lying there,

"This is Carys. Your wife. We arranged the marriage while you were unconscious."

Meeting Evren's icy gaze, Carys lowered her head awkwardly.

He must think she was some shameless woman with no self-control.

A storm seemed to brew behind his eyes.

His brows lowered, coldness radiating from him.

"Divorce."

His voice carried unmistakable authority.

Carys stared at him in surprise.

"No!"

Jane's voice rose immediately.

"Carys is your lucky star! What if you die after the divorce? Are you still thinking about that little vixen?"

"Mother."

Having only recently recovered, his voice remained low and hoarse.

"I'm awake, but I'm still a cripple. I've already lost my inheritance rights. Why drag someone else down with me?"

Mrs. Arledge's eyes reddened.

Covering her mouth, she sobbed.

"It'll get better. As long as we find that doctor! You still have resources left. You can make a comeback. Everything will be fine!"

"Then have you asked this lady whether she's willing to spend her life as a widow?"

As he spoke, Evren looked directly at Carys.

There was something deeper hidden in his gaze.

The memory of last night's embarrassing encounters instantly resurfaced.

Carys felt as though ants were crawling all over her body.

Did he really think she was that desperate?

Mrs. Arledge looked guilty and turned toward Carys.

"Carys, are you willing to stay with Evren? Our branch may have lost influence, but I still have substantial assets. You'll never have to worry about money."

Her eyes were full of hope.

Carys pressed her lips tightly together.

Her nails dug deeply into her palms.

Diana was using her grandmother as leverage and wanted Evren's project.

Yet that project seemed to be the second branch's only hope of recovering their position.

Should she really take that hope away?

But what about Grandma?

Her silence was interpreted differently by the mother and son.

To them, it meant unwillingness.

The man on the bed looked detached and composed, as though he had already reached a conclusion.

"We'll file for divorce tomorrow."

Carys suddenly came back to her senses.

Her soft voice rang out.

"I won't divorce you!"

Ignoring Evren's terrifying stare, she gathered her courage.

"I'm already married to you. I'm willing to remain a widow."

Mrs. Arledge immediately relaxed and smiled through her tears.

"Good child. I knew you were different from those women outside."

She turned toward India.

"Let's go. We shouldn't interrupt the young couple from building their relationship."

"Of course."

India nodded and threw Carys an encouraging look.

The two women left and shut the door behind them.

Carys stood beside the bed, lowering her head as she twisted her fingers together and licked her dry lips.

Evren's sharp gaze remained fixed on her.

After a long silence, he finally spoke.

"Carys, if you want money, I can give it to you. That little dowry my mother mentioned is tied up in the stock market. She lied to you."

Carys bit the inside of her cheek.

"I'm not after money."

Images from the previous night flashed through Evren's mind.

His chest rose and fell with frustration.

"Now that I'm awake, I won't tolerate you treating me the way you did last night."

His voice turned colder.

"And if you're talking about living as a widow, that means you won't be touching a single finger of mine."

After a brief pause, his expression darkened further.

"Not even for your own amusement."

Carys's face became so red it looked ready to bleed.

Was kissing and hugging really considered "amusement"?

"I wasn't..."

Her voice was soft and quiet.

"Besides, you can't do it anyway."

"What did you say?"

Evren asked.

Carys shook her head.

Releasing her clenched hands, she finally made up her mind.

Her bright eyes were clear and determined.

"I'm confident I can heal your legs."

"Heh."

A cold laugh escaped him.

From a favored genius to a cripple, his pride had been shattered.

And now this woman kept humiliating and teasing him.

Even someone with Evren's self-control had reached his limit.

"Get out."

Carys frowned stubbornly.

"I'm not lying."

"Do you even have a medical license? Have you successfully treated anyone? What proof do you have?"

Carys shook her head.

"No. But I've treated many people in the countryside. While I was helping you wash up, I examined your Shenting point. It's..."

"Get out!"

Now she was getting annoyed too.

Walking forward, she suddenly grabbed his blanket and yanked it away.

Then she pulled off his pajama pants.

His muscular, well-defined legs were instantly exposed to the air.

Fury flashed across Evren's face.

"Carys!"