For a moment, I’m certain that I’ve misheard her. It simply can’t be. Three children? I didn’t sign up for three children! I only wanted one heir.

This complicates things dramatically, not to mention potentially endangering Charlotte’s health. I don’t know how this happened; short of fertility supplements, I can’t imagine triplets are particularly common.

Charlotte looks as surprised as I am. However, some moments later, she has an expression of realization and resignation.

“Three. Three children. How…” I manage, shifting over to the bed where Charlotte’s trying to wipe the ultrasound gel off.

Seeming to sense the rising tension in the room, the nurse excuses herself politely. For her part, Charlotte shrugs rather noncommittally and I can’t help feeling as if she knows something I don’t. I reach out to touch her shoulder, and she looks at me from the corner of her eye.

“How can you be so calm? This isn’t what we agreed on,” I demand, sounding somewhat more accusing than I’d intended.

Her eyes narrow dangerously, and she slaps my hand away.

“Don’t raise your voice at me,” she snaps, and before I can apologize, she’s speaking again. “Multiple births run in my family. I have a twin sister, and my grandma has a twin as well. While triplets certainly aren’t as common…” She trails off, looking stressed.

I brace myself against the examination table, staring at the now-blank ultrasound screen. What I’ve seen is unmistakable—three tiny and distinct hearts steadily beating along.

“I only wanted one heir,” I begin, trying not to sound as uncertain as I feel.

Anger darkens her eyes, with tears simultaneously pricking the corners. I’m not sure if she’s going to cry or lash out at me, and I hesitantly take a step back. I have no idea how to process the news, and her immediate angry reaction is only serving to upset me in turn.

“You should have told me about this family…quirk of yours. I wanted one child. Not three,” I continue.

“Well, you wanted one heir for one million dollars. Now, you get three for three million,” she says icily.

Fury surges up within me, and I cross my arms over my chest, leveling her with a glare.

“You know that’s not how this works, Charlotte. You’re being ridiculous,” I hiss, trying to keep the bite out of my tone.

I’m not particularly successful, judging by the wounded expression on her face. She rests her hand on her stomach, its noticeably larger-than-average swelling finally making sense. Drawing her lip between her teeth, for a brief moment, it appears she may apologize. A single tear trickles down her cheek, and I part my lips to try to calm the situation.

“The contract was for one million dollars per child. It’s only fair that you pay the three million. You’re not the one ruining your body in the process. You’re not the one—” she begins, but I’m quick to interrupt.

“You’re not the one raising them, Charlotte! As far as the contract, it was clearly written for one million dollars upon the provision of a single heir. The way I see it, the contract is null and void,” I shout, anger lancing through my being.

She looks shocked by my outburst, and truthfully, I can’t say I’m proud of myself. We’re too far gone for apologies at this point, however. If she insists on making this about money, I fully intend to enforce her contractual obligations.

“I actually thought you cared about me,” she whispers, quickly pulling her clothes back on.

I can’t help but roll my eyes, fumbling in my pocket for my phone as it begins to vibrate.

“You’ve made it abundantly clear how you feel about me, Charlotte. We didn’t enter this contract under the pretense of having feelings for each other. I made it very clear that I have no desire for any sort of baggage. I wouldn’t go developing feelings for a woman who has gone out of her way to try and ruin me,” I say coldly, my heart breaking a bit at my own words.

While it’s the furthest thing from the truth, if she wants to wound me emotionally, I’m prepared to defend myself.

My phone continues to vibrate in my hand, and for the moment, she remains silent. I answer the call before it’s able to go to my voicemail. It’s one of my business associates in China, explaining that there’s some sort of emergency halting the deal in its tracks. I swear under my breath before swapping to the other language, explaining that I’ll return within 24 hours. The man on the line sounds pleased, and I quickly hang up before turning to consider Charlotte for a moment longer.

Tears stream down her cheeks, and her shoulders shake from the force of her sobs. She refuses to look at me, and it strikes me just how callous my words have been. I approach the bed nervously, reaching out to touch her shoulder.

“Don’t touch me,” she snaps weakly.

I draw away, wringing my hands nervously.

“You know what? You’re right. I suppose you’re smarter than I gave you credit for. You’ve finally come to terms with the fact that I’ll never feel anything for you but hate,” she hisses, shoving me away from the bed.

I stumble back, eyes widening in shock at her words. I want to believe she’s as hurt as I am, but her lips are twisted into a cruel smile.

“You think these tears are for you? I’m simply mourning the loss of my million dollars,” she continues, rubbing her eyes.

“You don’t…” I trail off, letting the statement die on my lips.

Of course she means it. All she’s ever wanted is to ruin me. I’m being foolish, believing that there was ever anything more to our relationship. While it occurs to me that I was the one to start this confrontation, I’m confident that a good person couldn’t be as cold as to say what Charlotte is directing towards me. I never should have believed there was something more behind those angry green eyes.

“I’m leaving,” I say abruptly, and she looks at me with wide eyes.

“What?” she demands, moving to swing her legs off of the cot.

“I’m needed in China—clearly much more than I’m needed here. I know when to cut my losses, and you’ll find that the contract was ironclad in its terminology. If you expect to get a dime out of me, you’re more of a fool than I’ve been,” I explain calmly, though my insides feel as if they’re about to implode.

She looks surprised as I turn to the door, as if she doesn’t expect me to actually leave.

“You can’t be serious. You can’t do this to me, Dillon. You—” her voice catches, and she begins to weep again.

As much as I want to turn and console her, insist that I’ll be there no matter what, I won’t allow myself to be captured in her grasp again. I hear her call out for me as I step through the door, pushing it closed behind me. The nurses in the hall look away as if they’ve not been listening to every word exchanged in the room.

The walk towards the exit is something of a walk of shame, and I find myself faced with the doctor before I’m actually able to leave. He looks torn, glancing from me to the door I realize he’d been listening as well. I cross my arms over my chest, almost daring him to speak ill towards me.

“You know, it’s obvious how you feel about each other,” he offers. I inhale a shuddering breath, pushing past the man. “She loves you, Mr. Bradshaw. I’m no love doctor, but I’m sure of it,” he calls after me.

I push down the large part of me that wants nothing more than to believe him. Even if she had cared about me, even loved me, I’m sure that’s not the case anymore.

Returning to China will give me some time to clear my head, and truly consider what I want to do in regards to this relationship. Granted, it can’t exactly be called a relationship. As I step out the door, I feel a dampness on my cheeks. I glance upwards at the sunny blue sky above. There’s not a cloud in sight.

Unfortunately, there will be no obscuring my tears. I can’t lie, even to myself. I reach to wipe them away before ducking into the limousine where Milo waits. If he’s curious as to where Charlotte may be, he doesn’t show it. I simply direct him to take me to my personal jet, and as always, he obliges.

While some help and happiness can be purchased, it seems the most important things in life have no real price tag. It’s too bad I’ve already screwed everything up by trying to tack one onto the only woman I’ve ever loved.

Charlotte can never be bought.