"You can probably guess the rest. Before Mr. Quigley passed away, he used the family fortune to threaten Felix into marrying me. So, Felix found me and we signed a private agreement. The contract stipted that our marriage would onlyst for


    three years."


    "During those three years, neither of us could tell anyone we were married. A single vition would result in a fifty-million-dor penalty. As you know, I don''t have that kind of money, so I didn''t dare tell a soul, not even you. And if either of us broke the contract early, the penalty was three hundred million."


    "Then, just as the three years were almost up, Felix''s grandmother fell ill. Besides you and Ms. Gilmore, his grandmother is the only person in the world who has ever been truly kind to me. For the sake of her health, we extended the contract for another three years, and the penalty fee jumped to five hundred million.”


    ire let out a long sigh. "But it''s almost over. I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel."


    She was counting down the days on her fingers. It gave her something to look forward to.


    "If you don''t want to continue, I can have awyer talk to Felix," Noreen said, worried ire was sacrificing too much.


    But ire shook her head. "I''ve put up with it for five years; what''s another month or so? Considering he saved my life back then, I can endure it."


    When her uncle had tried to force her into bed with an old man, it was Felix who had rushed in and saved her.


    She never forgot that debt.


    So, no matter how terribly Felix treated her, she never said a word. She considered it repayment.


    Noreen respected ire''s decision.


    But then, ire told her something else.


    She took Noreen''s hand and ced it on her still-t stomach, a wide grin on her face. "You''re going to be a godmother."


    Noreen''s eyes widened in shock, and for a long moment, she was speechless.


    Just as she was about to say something, ire put a finger to her lips. "Jerk Quigley doesn''t know yet, and I have no intention of telling him.”


    This baby had certainlye at an inconvenient time, but ire was determined to keep it.


    Not for Felix, of course, but for herself. She hadn''t had a family in years.


    "You have a little over a month left on your contract with Felix, right?" Noreen asked. ire nodded.


    Noreen did some quick calctions. "Then you should avoid him as


    much as possible during this time so he doesn''t suspect anything 19 have Henry Brooke fin


    suitable house in Meritania where you can rest during your pregnancy. As soon as the divorce is finalized, you''ll head straight there. That way, you''ll be out of Felix''s sight and can prepare for the baby in peace."


    "Okay, I''ll do whatever you say!"


    With that settled, ire made herself at home at Noreen''s ce.


    They both kept the pregnancy a closely guarded secret, not wanting anyplications to arise before the divorce was final.


    Jennifer stayed in Rivercrest City for a week. On herst night, Noreen treated her


    to dinner at Willow Brook.


    Jennifer seemed unustomed to such a formal restaurant, and a little embarrassed. After all, whenever she was in town, she was either at a club opon her way to one. Being in such an elegant ce for the first time made her feel surprisingly refreshed.


    "Howe ire isn''t here today?" Jennifer had hit it off with ire immediately and was fond of her.


    "She was supposed toe, but she had a doctor''s appointment and couldn''t make it,” Noreen exined. It wasn''t just any appointment, of course, but a prenatal check-up.


    "Well, we can always get together next time,” Jennifer said, her easygoing nature shining through. She didn''t press the issue.


    After they finished their meal, Jennifer hesitated before bringing something up.


    "I ran into Mr. Harcourt at a dinner party a couple of days ago."


    Noreen''s hand paused as she poured tea, then she replied nonchntly, "Oh? What a coincidence."