From His Pawn to His Rival's Queen

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Seven years of love, and Ethan forced me to donate a kidney and become a surrogate for his true love. He even abandoned me when I was dying.

I smiled, removed my wedding ring, and chose his exiled, unhinged uncle, Adrian Blackwood.

Everyone said I was courting death.

Until the wedding day, when Ethan was dragged off to prison and the Blackwood empire changed hands.

The man he once looked down on wrapped an arm around my waist and announced to the hall:

"Let me reintroduce myself. I'm the new head of the Blackwood family and her husband."

Nina's POV

I've always had a sharp eye for men, the same killer instinct I use in venture capital.

After seven years together, Ethan Blackwood and I weren't just perfectly in sync at the negotiation table. In bed, we fit together seamlessly.

Especially tonight. The usually restrained and ascetic Blackwood Group CEO seemed determined to devour me whole.

From the floor-to-ceiling windows to the bathroom, and finally to that thoroughly disheveled king-sized bed. The air was thick with the lingering traces of our passion.

By the time dawn broke over the horizon, I was completely spent and begged for mercy. Only then did this marathon finally come to an end.

Afterward, Ethan threw on a bathrobe and efficiently cleaned me up, his expression returning to that noble, detached look he wore during business hours.

I leaned against the headboard, watching this man who controlled my family's lifeline.

Broad shoulders, narrow waist, straight spine. The way he lit his cigarette was elegant and cold, as if the man who'd been gasping in my ear moments ago was someone else entirely.

I suppressed the ache in my body and habitually reached for my birth control pills.

Just as I popped one out of the pack, a large hand clamped down on my wrist.

Ethan's voice still carried the hoarseness of aftermath, but his words were cold as ice.

"Let's have a baby."

My fingers froze. I looked up at him.

"Our prenup was clear. No children before the IPO."

Ethan's gaze wasn't even on me.

"Isabella's back."

Isabella White. Ethan's precious girl-next-door. His savior.

Ethan continued.

"Her health is poor. The doctor says she'll have difficulty conceiving. The Blackwood family needs an heir, and I need to give Isabella closure."

A sharp pain pierced my chest. I understood his subtext perfectly.

"So Mr. Blackwood wants to borrow my womb to give your beloved a child?"

"Don't make it sound so ugly."

Ethan frowned, clearly displeased with my phrasing.

"You'll still be Mrs. Blackwood. I'll extend your family's debt another five years. The child will be registered under your name, but Isabella will participate in raising them. You know she's kind and loves children."

I stared at the man before me, unable to speak.

Seven years of my youth-I could've fed it to a dog and at least gotten a tail wag in return.

But in Ethan's eyes, I was nothing more than a well-bred incubator.

Even our seven years as bed partners was only because I was useful.

I set down the pill and smiled.

"Fine."

Ethan looked momentarily stunned.

I met his eyes directly.

"But I want the West Bay project restarted, and I want veto power."

That was my father's dying regret.

Ethan studied me for two seconds, then his expression relaxed.

"Deal. We'll sign a supplementary agreement tomorrow."

As long as it was about profit, I'd agree to anything.

Just then, Ethan's private phone on the nightstand vibrated.

He answered, his expression softening.

A girl's tearful voice came through the speaker.

"Ethan, it's thundering outside. I'm scared..."

"Don't be afraid, Isabella. Take your medicine. I'll be right there."

While soothing her, Ethan buttoned his shirt and grabbed his car keys, heading for the door.

At the doorway, he seemed to remember I was still in the room.

He paused slightly, though he didn't turn around, simply tossing out a sentence.

"Cover for me with Grandfather. Once I've calmed her down, I'll go with you to try on wedding dresses next week."

The door slammed shut. The luxury car drove away.

I swallowed the birth control pill and placed an overseas call.

"Adrian, I don't want to give Ethan that undisclosed maritime route."

"If you dare come back and crash the wedding, it's yours as my wedding fund."

Nina's POV

I drove straight to the Blackwood family estate.

Pushing open the study door, I found Ethan kneeling on the floor.

When he saw me enter, his grandfather Jason's face turned iron-gray as he threw the agreement in Ethan's face.

"I've kept you by my side for seven years. Even a dog would have shown some loyalty by now!"

The papers sliced across Ethan's cold, handsome face. He didn't flinch, his tone resolute.

"Business is business. Nina wants the project, I want a child. It's mutually beneficial. Perfectly fair."

I stood in place, looking at Jason.

"Jason, the Stewart family may have fallen, but we're not so degraded as to bear children for our rival."

Ethan's head snapped up, thin fury flashing in his eyes.

"You agreed last night."

"That was last night."

I laughed coldly.

"Now, I've changed my mind."

I turned to Jason.

"Cancel the engagement. I'll repay the Stewart family debt with full interest."

"No!"

"No!"

Ethan and Jason spoke almost simultaneously.

Ethan didn't want to lose his perfect tool.

Jason couldn't bear to lose my talent or risk the Blackwood Group's trade secrets I held leaking out.

He pondered for a moment, his gaze sharp as a blade.

"The engagement can't be canceled. It affects Blackwood Group's stock price. But the groom can be replaced."

He pointed to the spread of Blackwood family photos on the desk.

"Aside from this bastard, choose any eligible Blackwood man. Whoever you choose, I'll support."

This was compensation for me, and a warning to Ethan.

Ethan stood, a mocking smile curling his lips.

"Nina's a smart woman. She knows which choice maximizes her interests."

He was certain I couldn't leave him.

"Stop this tantrum and sign. Next week's wedding proceeds as planned."

I ignored him.

My gaze swept across those photos-most of them mediocre men.

My eyes stopped on a file buried at the very bottom.

No photo, just one name: Adrian Blackwood.

Ethan's uncle in name only-in reality, the illegitimate son from Jason's affair.

I'd heard he was exiled overseas years ago, violent by nature, notorious on Wall Street for his ruthless business dealings, specializing in hostile takeovers and corporate dismantling.

But that was exactly what I needed.

Only a ruthless player would dare to savage a wolf like Ethan.

I extended two fingers and picked up that file.

"No need to choose. I'll take him."

The study fell deathly silent.

Ethan's pupils contracted violently, then he let out a derisive laugh.

"Nina, have you lost your mind? A madman disowned by the Blackwood family-you choose him?"

Jason also frowned deeply.

"Adrian hasn't returned to the country in years. If you choose him, this marriage may exist in name only."

"In name only is perfect. His name is all I want."

In front of Ethan, I removed the engagement ring I'd worn for seven years.

"You're right, Ethan. I am a smart woman."

I looked at Ethan's suddenly darkened face and smiled.

"So I've chosen a man who will force you to submit."

With that, I ignored Ethan's murderous gaze, turned, and pushed through the door.

Walking out through the mansion gates, my phone vibrated.

Adrian's text was concise, yet radiated raw intensity.

"Wait for me."

The next day, I went straight to the law firm to prepare asset trust agreements.

I was going to divide my assets.

Though I depended on the Blackwood family, I wasn't without my own safety nets.

The offshore shell companies I'd registered and certain patents held in my mother's name were my final trump cards.

I'd just finished when Ethan called, his tone commanding.

"Go pick up Isabella from the airport."

"Mr. Blackwood seems to have forgotten-we broke up."

"Adrian won't marry you. Pick up Isabella, clear up the misunderstanding, and I'll forget about today. Also, bring her that haute couture dress of yours."

I narrowed my eyes.

"Which one?"

"Isabella has her first media interview since returning tonight. She doesn't have anything suitable. That one you just bought will work perfectly."

That dress I'd won at auction in Paris-one of a kind in the world.

"Sure."

I agreed with unusual cheerfulness.

Nina's POV

I stood in the Four Seasons Hotel interview area watching Isabella surrounded by a swarm of reporters.

She looked like a frightened rabbit, pitifully hunching her shoulders.

When she saw me approaching, her eyes lit up.

"Nina, Ethan said you were just upset. I knew you wouldn't abandon me."

She tried to link arms with me affectionately, but her gaze stuck to the garment bag in my hands, the haute couture brand logo printed on it.

I sidestepped her touch and handed over the bag.

"From Mr. Blackwood."

Isabella took the bag and opened it in front of all the reporters.

The next second, a scream pierced the hall.

"Ah! What-what is this?!"

The priceless dress was covered in coffee stains, with several torn gashes.

I calmly wiped my hands.

"Sorry, I didn't hold it steady on the way here. But Miss White loves picking up other people's discards, doesn't she?"

"Nina! What are you doing?!"

Ethan rushed out from backstage. Seeing the ruined dress and the reporters' flashing cameras, his face darkened terribly.

He pulled Isabella protectively behind him and shoved me hard.

"Have you lost your mind? You want to humiliate the Blackwood family in front of the media?!"

He put no restraint in that push.

Wearing stilettos, my ankle twisted and I fell hard onto the marble floor.

My right wrist hit first. Excruciating pain shot through me.

Ethan froze for a moment, seemingly not expecting such a hard fall, and instinctively reached out.

"Ethan... I'm so scared. Those reporters are photographing me..."

Isabella suddenly clutched her chest and collapsed against his back, her face deathly pale.

Ethan's half-extended hand froze in midair. He immediately pulled it back, turned, and caught Isabella.

"Don't be afraid. I'll get you out of here."

Without another glance at me on the floor, he carried her through the crowd while bodyguards immediately surrounded them to block the cameras.

In that vast interview area, only I remained, sitting disheveled on the ground.

My wrist throbbed with piercing pain-I didn't even have the strength to stand.

Just then, my phone rang.

I answered with trembling hands. A low voice came through.

"Seems I've called at just the right time."

My voice shook with pain.

"Adrian?"

"Mm."

The man on the other end gave a soft laugh.

"Does it hurt?"

I said nothing. Tears silently hit the floor.

"Stay where you are. My people are there. As for that hand that pushed you... I'll make him pay back tenfold."

As soon as he finished speaking, several stern-faced men in black pushed through the crowd and walked straight to me.

The leader bowed respectfully.

"Miss Stewart, Mr. Blackwood has sent us to take you to the hospital."

After getting my wound bandaged at the hospital, I returned to the villa.

Pushing open the door, I was nearly overwhelmed by the heavy scent of rose perfume.

I instinctively looked at the living room wall.

The painting my father had loved most once hung there-my only comfort these past years.

Now it had been replaced with an artistic photo of Isabella.

Footsteps sounded on the stairs.

Isabella came down wearing a bathrobe, Ethan following behind her.

He glanced at the gauze on my hand, frowned, looking displeased.

"Why are you back so late? Isabella has trouble sleeping in new places. She's afraid to sleep alone, so she'll take the master bedroom tonight. You take the guest room."

I stood in the foyer, unmoving, nails digging into my palms.

"Where's that painting?"

Isabella shrank her neck and hid behind Ethan.

"It looked a bit old, so I had the housekeeper put it away. If you like it, I'll have Ethan buy you a better one tomorrow."

I laughed in anger.

That painting was an authentic masterpiece-priceless and irreplaceable.

I looked at Ethan.

"You just let her touch my things?"

Ethan rubbed his temples impatiently.

"It's just a painting. I'll buy you another if you like it. Can you stop being so petty?"

Seven years ago, before the Stewart family fell, this villa was my asset.

Now that I'd fallen on hard times, in his eyes I'd become petty?

I pulled out my phone and made a call in front of them both.

"Bring chainsaws and a moving company. Now."

Ethan's expression changed.

"What are you doing in the middle of the night?"

I stared into his eyes.

"Since Miss White likes other people's things, I don't want any of this anymore."

Half an hour later, workers charged into the second-floor master bedroom with chainsaws.

The harsh sound of sawing wood echoed throughout the villa.

I stood in the doorway directing them.

"Miss White slept in this bed. It's filthy. Saw it up."

"She touched that wardrobe. Smash it."

"And all this trash on the floor..."

I pointed at the decorations Isabella had brought.

"Throw it all out."

Isabella screamed in fright, covering her ears and cowering in the corner.

Ethan rushed up in fury. Bodyguards immediately blocked him from the doorway.

"Nina! Have you had enough? This is my house!"

"Mr. Blackwood has a poor memory."

I casually picked up a vase.

"The deed still has my name on it. I have the right to dispose of my half."

The vase smashed at Ethan's feet, shards flying.

I walked through the debris to stand before him, raising my bandaged right hand.

"Ethan, what I don't want, no one else gets to touch either."

"These seven years, I haven't just stayed by your side. I've been managing Blackwood Group. I negotiated the overseas channels. If we're settling accounts, let's settle them properly."

"Starting tomorrow, I'm taking back everything that's mine, piece by piece."

I sneered and turned away from the pathetic couple.

That night, Adrian sent a photo.

The background showed a New York airport gate. He said:

"See you soon."

Nina's POV

I moved to a downtown apartment.

Ethan was too busy comforting Isabella to care where I'd gone.

On the third day, Blackwood Group held a yacht celebration for the Bay Area new development.

I had to attend to sign documents.

At the dock, Ethan and Isabella stood on the deck.

Isabella wore Ethan's suit jacket, chatting with investors.

Seeing me appear, Ethan's expression turned cold.

"Why are you only just arriving? Mr. Li has been waiting."

He made no mention of that night, as if I were still his obedient fiance, ready at his beck and call.

I ignored him, my gaze sweeping over Isabella.

"Miss White should stay inside if she's not feeling well-wouldn't want her fainting and dragging others down again."

Isabella's eyes reddened as she clutched Ethan's sleeve.

"Ethan, Nina still blames me..."

"Enough."

Ethan cut her off.

"Nina, go to the lower deck and verify the equipment data. Isabella gets seasick. I'll stay up here with her."

Before, this kind of grunt work was for assistants. Now he was making me do it.

I didn't argue, just turned and headed to the lower deck.

The yacht left the harbor. The sea wind picked up.

I'd just finished checking the data when the vessel suddenly shook violently.

Alarms shrieked.

"We've hit rocks! The lower deck is flooding! Run!"

Someone screamed. The ship began to tilt.

I grabbed the railing, trying to run up, but the panicked crowd knocked me staggering backward.

In the chaos, a cargo rack crashed down, pinning me beneath it.

"Help!"

I screamed desperately, but all around me were the shrieks of people fleeing for their lives.

Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared at the top of the stairs.

Ethan.

He seemed to be looking for someone.

Seeing me pinned down, shock flashed in his eyes. He instinctively took a step forward.

"Ethan! Save me! The water's rising! I'm so scared!"

Isabella's heart-wrenching wail came from the deck above.

Ethan's steps stopped dead.

He looked at the water already up to my waist, then up at the deck above.

No words.

Ethan turned and ran toward the stairs without hesitation.

That resolute retreat hit me like a blade to the chest.

"Ethan!"

My voice came out hoarse. Desperate tears mixed with seawater.

At my moment of life and death, he chose Isabella.

Water submerged my chest. Suffocation set in.

Just as consciousness began to fade, a tremendous crash came from above.

The rack pinning me shifted, then came crashing down with even more force.

Pain exploded. I blacked out completely.

When I woke again, blinding white filled my vision.

I tried to move. The right side of my body was numb, my right hand encased in thick plaster, fixed to a support frame.

"Awake?"

A low, cold voice.

I turned my head with difficulty.

A tall man sat in a wheelchair, playing with a black pinky ring.

He sat backlit, eyes deep as an abyss, staring fixedly at my ruined hand.

Adrian.

My gaze dropped to his impeccably tailored suit pants. My voice came out raspy.

"Your legs..."

Adrian gave a soft snort, then swung his long legs out and stood steadily from the wheelchair.

"The old man has eyes everywhere. Send him a crippled bastard, and he sleeps soundly."

He pushed the empty wheelchair aside and strode to the bedside, asking me:

"Does it hurt?"

"My hand..."

My voice was hoarse. I tried to move my fingers but realized with horror that my right hand had no feeling.

"Severed nerves."

Adrian's voice was calmly cruel.

"The doctor says you'll have trouble even holding a fork from now on, let alone playing piano."

My mind went blank with a roar.

Ruined?

I opened my mouth but couldn't make a sound. Large tears rolled down.

"Why cry?"

Adrian rolled the wheelchair to the bedside and reached out ice-cold fingers to wipe away my tears.

His eyes were sinister.

"Your hand's ruined. I'll take care of you."

"As for those two who hurt you..."

His fingertips caressed my face, lips curling into a bloodthirsty smile.

"I'll smash their hands and feet to pieces and let you play with them like building blocks. How's that?"

Footsteps sounded outside the door.

"Is Nina awake? Isabella insisted on checking on her..."

Ethan's voice.

Adrian's eyes went cold. He quickly retreated into the shadows.

In that instant, I saw the small scars at the corner of his eye.

Completely overlapping with that boy who'd carried my feverish body five kilometers through a rainstorm years ago.

So it really was him.

The door opened. Ethan looked exhausted, Isabella following behind, completely unharmed.

Seeing me awake, Ethan sighed in relief.

"Good, you're awake. Isabella's been worried you'd have nightmares. The doctor says your hand is injured but with some rehab won't affect your daily life."

He paused, tone casual.

"Besides, you'll be Mrs. Blackwood from now on. Just stay home comfortably. No need to do that exhausting work anyway."

Won't affect daily life?

No need to work?

I stared at this man, hatred reaching its peak in that moment.

I forced words through clenched teeth.

"Get out."

Nina's POV

Ethan froze, as if he hadn't heard clearly.

He approached the bed, gaze falling on my plastered hand, expression somewhat awkward.

"Nina, the situation was urgent. Isabella can't swim and has a bad heart. You're the future lady of the Blackwood family. Be understanding. Don't throw a tantrum over something so small."

"Small thing?"

I laughed bitterly.

Severed hand nerves. That's a small thing?

"Ethan, since it's such a small thing, let's talk compensation. By the Stewart family's valuation, my right hand is worth five percent of Blackwood Group's original shares. Or transfer those New York properties under your name to me. Choose one."

Isabella gasped at the doorway.

"Nina, how can you scheme against Ethan? Talking about money hurts feelings..."

"My fianc chose another woman at my moment of life and death. Since we can't talk feelings, let's talk money."

Ethan's face darkened.

He couldn't touch the 5% original shares, but those properties...

He gritted his teeth.

"Fine. The New York properties are yours. Stop making trouble. Next week's wedding proceeds as scheduled."

I smiled brilliantly.

"Deal. Take your time leaving, Mr. Blackwood."

What I wanted was to crush this pair of scumbags underfoot.

Ethan thought I was still throwing a tantrum. He put his arm around Isabella and left.

"Isabella hasn't had breakfast. I'll take her to get something."

Only after the door closed did I look toward the shadows.

"Come out."

Adrian rolled out in his wheelchair and tossed me a voice recorder.

"Didn't get the 5% shares. Disappointed?"

"Not disappointed."

I picked up the property transfer document with a cold laugh.

"Because buried under those properties is Blackwood Group's biggest liability-serious environmental violations. Once exposed, their cash flow will collapse."

Adrian's eyes deepened with amusement as he pulled out an exquisite box and placed it in my hand.

"A meeting gift."

A uniquely designed black pinky ring with tiny crabapple flowers etched inside.

My heart jolted violently.

Those were my favorite flowers at the orphanage-the secret between me and that boy.

Adrian's voice was low.

"From today on, you're my accomplice."

I slipped it onto my ring finger. Perfect fit.

"Pleasure doing business."

Not ten minutes after Adrian left, the hospital room door was violently thrown open.

The tremendous noise hurt my eardrums.

I instinctively protected my plaster-wrapped right hand and looked up to see Ethan's stormy face.

His shirt collar hung open, spotted with dark red bloodstains.

"Get up."

Ethan strode over and yanked back my blanket, voice urgent.

"Come with me to the operating room."

The cold air made me shiver. I braced myself against the bed with my good left hand, looking at him.

"Have you lost your mind, Mr. Blackwood? I just had hand surgery. The anesthesia hasn't even worn off."

"Isabella's in shock."

Ethan completely ignored my objection, eyes terrifyingly dark.

"The doctor says it's acute renal failure with coagulation disorder. Critical condition. You're a rare blood type, kidney match. The transplant surgery must happen tonight."

I couldn't help laughing.

"Ethan, my right hand was just ruined by you-not even twelve hours ago-and now you want to harvest my kidney?"

I thrust my heavily plastered hand in his face.

"I'm your fiance, not your spare parts inventory."

"Precisely because you're my fiance!"

Ethan swatted my hand away, the force so great it sent pain shooting through my wound.

He stepped closer, his tall shadow looming over me.

"You've enjoyed the Blackwood family's protection for seven years. You should make this sacrifice."

"I won't do it."

I bit down hard, gripping the sheets.

"You don't get a choice."

Ethan lost his last shred of patience.

He pulled out a document and slapped it on the table.

The patent rights transfer for Blackwood Group's core R&D department.

This was the foundation of Ethan's standing with the board-and the technology the Stewart family desperately needed to make a comeback.

Ethan's cold expression held a trace of anxiety.

"Sign this. It's yours. You go in and give Isabella one kidney. This deal-you profit either way."

I looked at that document, feeling cold-the kind of cold that seeps from your bones.

Isabella's life on one side, his business empire on the other.

He'd traded the latter for the former without hesitation, still forcing me to be the sacrifice.

"Fine."

With my good left hand, I picked up the pen and signed my name cleanly on the document.

The moment the pen tip touched down, my gaze rapidly scanned the transferee at the document's end.

It was one of my secretly registered offshore shell companies.

My fingers paused slightly.

Watching Ethan, too anxious to even read the terms carefully, I suddenly found him ridiculous, like a clown jumping through hoops.

He hadn't noticed that the legal department had already been infiltrated by Adrian's people.

"Ethan."

I put away the document.

"My kidney for you. From now on, we're even."

"Hurry up!"

He grabbed me and forcibly pulled me from the bed, dragging me toward the door.

I stumbled after him, speechless.