Chapter 1

By the third year of my marriage to Arthur Sterling, I needed three separate approvals just to spend more than thirty dollars.

His assistant, Mark, reviewed the request first. My mother-in-law, Victoria, reviewed it second. Arthur had the final say.

At sixteen weeks pregnant, a cold snap hit, so I submitted a request for a space heater.

Mark rejected it.

“Nonessential expense.”

I changed the request to a hospital bag.

Victoria rejected that one.

“Too early. Waste of money.”

I forwarded both rejections to Arthur.

He read the message and never replied.

Three days later, I was diagnosed with a threatened miscarriage and told I needed to be hospitalized immediately.

The deposit was two thousand dollars.

I called Arthur nine times.

He didn’t answer once.

Mark stood there holding his coffee, looking uncomfortable.

“Claire, emergency hospitalization has to go through the expedited approval process. I don’t have the authority to approve it.”

As the pain in my abdomen grew worse, I saw a post from Emily Hart—the woman Arthur had never gotten over.

In the photo, she was curled against his chest.

[It was just a stomachache, but he canceled everything to stay with me for three days.]

The next second, $55,000 disappeared from our family account.

Purpose: Ms. Hart—VIP hospital suite and recovery expenses.

Mark approved it instantly.

Victoria approved it instantly.

Arthur approved it instantly.

The whole process took seventeen seconds.

That was when I finally understood.

The three-step approval system had never been about controlling spending.

It had been about controlling me.

I took off my wedding ring and pawned it.

They gave me exactly two thousand dollars.

After I paid the hospital deposit, the approval page was still open on my phone.

I closed each request, one by one.

Then I closed the marriage.

When the doctor handed me the consent form for treatment to save the pregnancy, the pawn shop payment notification popped up on my phone.

Two thousand dollars.

Just enough for the deposit.

The nurse glanced at my pale face.

“Claire, you’re bleeding. Stay in bed for now. When your family gets here, we’ll need them to confirm the payment and caregiving arrangements.”

I folded the pawn ticket and tucked it into my medical file.

Half an hour later, Mark arrived.

He didn’t ask about the baby.

His eyes went straight to my bare ring finger.

“Claire, where’s your ring?”

“I sold it.”

His face changed instantly.

He called Arthur.

Arthur picked up almost immediately.

Emily’s voice came through first.

“Arthur, I think I can have soup tonight. Make sure they don’t put pepper in it.”

Arthur answered her gently.

Then Mark told him I’d sold my wedding ring.

Arthur’s voice turned cold.

“Claire, did you sell our wedding ring just to spite me?”

Lying in the hospital bed with one hand over my stomach, I let out a bitter laugh.

“Did your assistant tell you I’m about to lose our baby?”

Silence.

It took him several seconds to remember he was supposed to care.

“How’s the baby?”

“I’m in the hospital. For now, the baby’s still alive.”

Before I could say anything else, Emily gasped.

“If the baby’s fine, why would you sell your wedding ring? Oh, Claire, you’re not upset because of me, are you? My condition was urgent. The doctor said there was a risk of a perforated stomach, so of course Arthur was worried. Please don’t misunderstand.”

Arthur immediately followed.

“Claire, and you still claim you’re not being unreasonable? When I proposed, didn’t I tell you that ring was never to be sold? What does my love mean to you?”

“I had no money!”

I couldn’t hold back my anger anymore.

“The hospital wanted a two-thousand-dollar deposit, so I sold the ring for two thousand. I didn’t have time to think, because every second I wasted could’ve cost me my baby.”

I laughed bitterly.

“Pretty funny, isn’t it, Arthur? I’m your wife, and I couldn’t even get my hands on two thousand dollars.”

I thought that would finally make him understand.

Instead, his voice remained light, almost accusing.

“You could’ve called me.”

“Are you seriously trying to blame me for not giving you money?”

“Claire, I’m not that petty. I’m just worried because of your family background. I don’t want you suddenly getting access to large amounts of money and spending recklessly.”

I listened quietly, forcing back the burning behind my eyes.

“Arthur, I called you nine times.”

“And even now, you’re still blaming me. Have you once thought about coming to see me?”

Arthur sounded genuinely confused.

“Didn’t you just say the baby was fine?”

“Don’t worry, Claire. Mark’s there with you. Emily doesn’t have anyone with her, so I hope you can understand.”

“And the ring. It cost a hundred and twenty thousand dollars, and you pawned it for two thousand. Go get it back after you’re discharged.”

Just then, the nurse pushed open the door.

“Claire, is your family here? The doctor needs to discuss the risks of the medication.”

Arthur immediately asked, “Could the medication affect the baby’s intelligence?”

The nurse answered, “The risk of leaving her untreated is much higher. You should come to the hospital.”

“I’m with another patient. Mark can approve the expenses.”

Emily coughed softly.

Arthur hung up immediately.

Mark awkwardly opened the financial system.

“Arthur approved the deposit. He marked it as a temporary loan. It’ll be deducted from your quarterly allowance.”

My quarterly allowance was only three thousand dollars.

Then Mark handed me another form.

“Sign this, and I’ll go redeem the ring.”

“No.”

“Claire, that’s your wedding ring.”

“Not anymore.”

His phone suddenly buzzed.

I saw Arthur’s message.

If she refuses to sign, suspend payment for the special medication. Make her complete the statement first. Stop indulging her.

A nurse pushed the treatment cart into the room. After checking the doctor’s orders, she frowned.

“Claire, your family requested that we switch you to standard medication, but your doctor doesn’t believe the standard treatment is appropriate for your condition. We won’t change the treatment plan without medical approval. We’ll continue contacting the person responsible for payment.”

The pain in my abdomen spread slowly.

Even now, Arthur still thought I was waiting for him to give in.

I took the statement from Mark.

On the signature line, I wrote two words.

I refuse.

The door opened again.

Arthur stood outside.

A gray blanket from Emily’s hospital room was still draped over his shoulders.

His gaze landed on those two words.

Then he placed a new household expense authorization form on my bedside table.

“Fine. We’ll pay to save the pregnancy.”

He looked me straight in the eye.

“But first, prove the baby is mine.”