Ethan Black sat in a corner spot, sipping his coffee while watching people go in and out through the door.
His eyes scanned the room as if searching for someone.
"What could be so important that she asked me to meet up? Is it a demand for my responsibility?
We're both adults, she shouldn't be so childish," Ethan thought as he went through all possible scenarios in his head quickly.
Yesterday, he received a phone call from a stranger, a woman. Initially, he thought she had dialed the wrong number until she mentioned a night they spent together a month ago at a hotel after they left Sports Bar.
That's when Ethan remembered the incident. Then, the woman requested to meet him today, and he arranged the meeting at a cafe not far from where he lived.
"Who knows if she is trying to blackmail me or cling to me? It's safer to meet up near where I live," Ethan thought.
At this moment, a stunning figure walked into Grumpy Cafe. She was clad in a black coat, a professional-looking mini pencil skirt, long slim legs wrapped in a pair of black stockings, and black high heels.
Her pretty face and outstanding demeanor instantly attracted many eyes. Needless to say, this beautiful, well-figured, attractive woman was goddess-level material. Ethan's eyes were drawn to her too.
Upon seeing her, he was slightly taken aback, and that night replayed involuntarily in his mind. After all, it wasn't easy to forget such an enchanting face. This absolute beauty was the woman who asked to meet him!
Ethan gently waved at the absolute beauty. Seeing his wave, the woman slowly walked towards him.
Seeing that Ethan actually knew such a drop-dead gorgeous woman, and Ethan might even be her boyfriend or husband, immediately, envious, jealous, and resentful gazes from men landed on Ethan.
The woman slowly walked over and sat down in front of Ethan. "What would you like? I'll order for you," Ethan politely offered, smiling.
"No need," the stunning woman refused emotionlessly, then slowly took out a document from her Louis Vuitton handbag and placed it on the table. "You should take a look at this first."
"What is this?" Upon hearing this, Ethan was puzzled and picked up the document to flip through it.
"Eva Baker, Presbyterian hospital medical report."
"After examination, the fetus is already two weeks old..............."
"What does this mean?" Looking at Eva's hospital check-up report, which was also a pregnancy report, a bad premonition suddenly surged in Ethan's heart.
"I'm pregnant, and the child is yours," Eva stated calmly.
Upon hearing this, Ethan, who had just taken a sip of his coffee, nearly spat it out. Barely managing to swallow it.
He said: "We're both adults now, don't joke with me." To be honest, Ethan admitted to having had relations with this beautiful woman, without taking any precautions.
But he was indeed too accurate to get pregnant just from that one night.
"I'm not in the mood to joke with you." As if she had already anticipated Ethan's reaction, Eva still uttered calmly, "After the baby is born, we can have a paternity test. Besides, there's another purpose for seeing you today apart from delivering this news."
"What is it?" Ethan asked.
"Have a look at this contract." After saying this, Eva took out a contract from her bag and placed it in front of Ethan.
Ethan took the contract and flipped it open. The four words "Marriage Contract" came into view.
Marriage contract?
Does that mean she wants to marry her?
Ethan's mind was filled with confusion. Holding back his questions, he continued to read on. After a while, Ethan couldn't help but twitch at the corner of his mouth.
It was a marriage contract — more precisely, a contract for a "live-in son-in-law". This contract essentially required him to marry into her family.
"What does this mean?" Ethan asked.
"You have read the whole contract. All you need to do now is to make your decision - yes or no." Eva said, "Because you are the biological father of the child, I'm giving you this opportunity.
Of course, if you refuse, you will have nothing to do with the child in the future, and I hope you won't bother me about the child anymore." Eva's words were rather straightforward, pushing Ethan into deep contemplation.
No man would want to be a "live-in son-in-law". However, the benefits offered by this marriage contract were quite tempting to Ethan.
Once Ethan signed this contract and they received their marriage certificate at the City Hall court, Eva would provide him with a bank card.
She promised to transfer thirty thousand dollars into the account every month as Ethan's pocket money.
That's thirty thousand dollars a month—that calculates to three hundred and sixty thousand dollars a year without Ethan lifting a finger.
Considering the current consumption level in New York City, that was more than enough to live a very pleasant life.
However, apart from these benefits, there are also a few restrictions.
For instance, once the child is born, the surname has to be the same as the child's mother, which means the surname Baker. Besides, all other affairs related to Eva's personal property and inheritance bear no relation to Ethan Black at all.
Of course, for someone who only earns a regular monthly wage of 3,000 dollars as an office worker, the benefits of this agreement are indeed quite compelling.
Yet, there was one specific doubt that Ethan had - was the child his?
Even if the benefits stated in the contract are great, if he ends up being a scapegoat, raising another man's child, he definitely won't agree.
As if peering through Ethan's thoughts, Eva continued, "If you are still worried whether the child is yours, then rest assured; it is stipulated in the contract that after the birth of the child, a paternity test can be done.
Additionally, if the test proves that the child is not yours, you would receive a compensation of 10 million dollars."
Ten million dollars is not a small amount, and the fact that Eva could confidently make such a promise suggests that the child is most likely ninety percent his.
Given Eva's beauty and the benefits provided in the contract, there was no need for her to especially deceive him.
Yet becoming a maintained man, Ethan still felt ambivalent.
Suddenly, a system prompt in Ethan's ear rang out. "Ding! Divine Selection System successfully initiated, host binding in progress."
"Binding successful, releasing options!"
"Option one, sign this contract, and you will receive a new member gift package."
"Option two, reject this contract, system will unbind and you will receive a termination compensation of 5 million dollars."