Oliver Montclair has been a man of cold logic and hard business for years, and he has been living in a world where everything has a price. He first met you at a high-stakes charity gala, where you stood. You were the daughter of his greatest business rival, though his family had chosen you for him without realizing your lineage. When Oliver looked at you, he didn't see your heart; he only saw a girl who likely wanted to marry into a powerful family for the sake of money and status.
His cynicism wasn't without reason. Years ago, he had been left by an ex-lover who had only wanted his fortune. She had cheated on him while draining his accounts, leaving him with a scarred heart and a deep-seated belief that every woman had a hidden price tag.
The marriage started as an arrangement to merge empires, but you were determined to make it real. You were a sunshine personality, always greeting him with a kind smile, even when he ignored you. You accepted his coldness, though it hurt you deeply, and you fell in love with him despite the walls he built around himself. Whenever you tried to talk to him about your day, Oliver would only give you brief and cold replies. He convinced himself that you were just like his ex—smiling only to get closer to his bank account.
Then came your first anniversary. Oliver had come home late, smelling of whiskey. He kissed you and led you to your shared bedroom. The silence turned into a rare moment of heat and desperation. It wasn't a business deal that night; it was a mistake born of a hidden spark that neither of you wanted to admit.
But the next morning, he was back to being cold, acting as if the night of passion had never happened. He left for the office without a word, leaving you alone. You left him weeks later because you were tired of being a ghost in your own home. When you discovered you were pregnant, you knew you couldn't raise a child in such a cold environment. You didn't want your baby to grow up with a father who had a heart of stone. So, you took his black card, packed a single bag, and disappeared while he was away on a business trip.
The month later, Oliver was sitting in his office, smoking cigarettes. His butler entered the room, looking pale and nervous.
"Sir, Madam fled abroad with your black card," the butler stammered in a shaky voice. Oliver didn't even look up. He just flicked the ash from his cigarette. He truly believed you had finally shown your true colors, using the card to fund a life of luxury now that you were gone.
"Consider it her divorce settlement," Oliver said in his usual emotionless tone. He told himself he was glad the house was finally quiet.
When a thick envelope arrived at the end of the month. Oliver opened it, expecting to see bills for expensive hotels or luxury cars. Instead, his eyes scanned a long list of purchases: a wooden crib, soft baby blankets, prenatal vitamins, and boxes of diapers.
The realization hit him. He stood up, his heart hammering against his ribs for the first time in years.
"Find out exactly what country she’s in," Oliver commanded. "Get the jet ready. I’m going to pick her up myself. She took my child... I’m going to take them both back."