Episode 1

"I will not marry the man you have chosen!"

Elise's voice echoed in the magnificent dining room of the Van Der Holt family, a wealthy noble family whose name was renowned among the Dutch elite.

"Elise!" Mr. William snapped, his voice booming throughout the room. "You are the heir to this family. Do you think wealth, status, and a great name can fall into your hands just like that without an obligation?"

Elise, in a simple ivory-colored dress, raised her chin defiantly at her father.

"I don't want my life to be controlled just because of inheritance. If you want a grandchild, I will give you one. But not by marrying a foreign man I don't even love," Elise said.

"My dear, you know very well the conditions stated in the will. An heir must produce a legitimate offspring. Without a husband, without a marriage, there is no inheritance right for you. Do you really want to be dethroned? You will lose everything," replied her mother, Madame Cecile.

"I don't care about wealth, Mother!" Elise exclaimed, looking at both of her parents alternately. "All I need is a baby. That's enough for me."

A strange silence immediately gripped the dining room. The words that came out of Elise's lips sounded like madness to their ears, accustomed to rigid aristocratic rules.

"How will you give birth to a baby without a husband? Do you want to embarrass our family in front of all of Europe?" William said, laughing cynically.

"There are other ways, Father. The world has changed. There is technology. I can have a child without having to surrender myself to a man in a forced arranged marriage," Elise said, looking straight at the middle-aged man.

Mr. William froze in place. His jaw tightened, the veins in his neck tensed. Meanwhile, Madame Cecile looked at her daughter with an expression of shock and anger.

"Elise, don't talk nonsense. This is embarrassing. What will people say?" Cecile said.

"I will do it regardless of what people say. With or without your blessing." Elise hurried to her room, ignoring her parents.

That night, Elise hurriedly packed clothes into a large suitcase. Her heart was pounding, not out of fear, but because this step she was about to take was irreversible.

Elise glanced once more at the photo of her late grandmother who always advised her.

"Be yourself, Elise. Never be a puppet that is always controlled by others."

"Yes, Grandma. I will choose my own path. If giving birth to a child is the price I have to pay for my freedom, then I will do it," Elise whispered, looking at her reflection in the mirror.

Without saying goodbye, that night Elise secretly left the luxury and traditions that had bound her all this time.

"I will start my life, a life I choose with all its consequences."

Elise decided to go to Italy, a country famous for its leading fertilization laboratories and advanced medical technology.

*

*

Elise's footsteps echoed in the white corridor of a modern laboratory in Naples. The pungent smell of antiseptic also pierced her sense of smell.

"Signora Elise, the process is quite simple. We have many verified sperm donors. You only need to choose the type of characteristics you want. Height, eye color, educational background, and so on. We will ensure everything is safe and meets your expectations," Dr. Morelli explained in detail.

Elise nodded slowly, her hands felt cold and slightly sweaty. It was undeniable that Elise was really nervous right now.

"I just want a healthy, smart, and intelligent son," Elise said.

"Of course, I will grant your request." Dr. Morelli smiled kindly.

Elise was taken into a sterile room that looked like a futuristic capsule. She closed her eyes, trying to calm herself and dispel all the doubts that haunted her.

"This is my way of life. No arranged marriage, no forced husband. Just me and my future child," Elise thought, praying in her heart.

*

*

That night, the light from the crystal chandelier illuminated a magnificent meeting room filled with classical paintings and luxurious furniture.

In the main seat, sat Diego Frederick, a man known as the most feared mafia in all of Italy. His face was so hard and expressionless. His eyes were dark and intimidating.

Diego had just finished settling scores with a traitor who dared to mess with him.

"Clean it up!" Diego ordered.

"Yes, Sir!"

Soon, Diego's trusted assistant ran hurriedly and approached him with a pale face.

"Sir, there's a problem," reported the assistant in a trembling voice.

Diego turned and looked at him with a sharp gaze. "Problem?" he asked in a heavy voice that made the assistant's hair stand on end.

"Your biological seed, which was stored in the fertilization laboratory, has been lost," Jimmy said.

The atmosphere in the room suddenly became silent. All eyes were on Diego, waiting for the man's reaction.

"Lost, you say?" Diego swirled the glass of red wine he was holding.

Jimmy swallowed hard. He shouldn't have said this now. But, if it was hidden for too long, Diego would definitely find out too.

"More precisely, it has been misused, Sir. Your seed has been inserted into the womb of a woman who signed up for the in vitro fertilization program today," Jimmy said again.

The wine glass in Diego's hand instantly shattered into pieces. His eyes narrowed sharply like a newly sharpened sword.

"Find that woman. I don't care who she is. No one in this world has the right to touch what belongs to me!" Diego ordered with an angry face.

***This work has been signed with NovelToon, and piracy such as reprinting without permission is strictly prohibited.***

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***