The Billionaires Baby Bargain

Meet Alex Knight, a hardworking young man burdened by crushing debt and a bleak future. When his new boss turns his life into a waking nightmare, Alex finds himself trapped in a job he can't escape, his future held hostage by the whims of a tyrant. Just when he believes he has one anchor left—his girlfriend's love—a devastating betrayal leaves him utterly broken. But then the world changes. The system descends, dragging everyone into a chaotic new reality. Alex becomes the first to sync with it, earning a mysterious title: [Apocalypse Baby] [You have awakened the skill: Exploding Touch] [Anything you touch turns into a bomb.] Armed with a deadly gift, Alex rises from the ashes of his former life to become an unstoppable force in an urban fantasy world where power rules and vengeance drives him forward. Author’s Note: This story is about a man who loses everything—his freedom, his love, his sense of self—before the world itself collapses into chaos. Alex isn't a stoic hero who shrugs off pain. He feels it, breaks under it, and then rebuilds from the wreckage. Some readers might call him dramatic. And they're right—this isn't a power fantasy about a flawless protagonist. It’s about a man clawing his way back with explosive power, raw emotion, and zero filters. If you're into emotionally intense underdogs who explode (literally and metaphorically), welcome to the ride.

#Romance #Fantasy #Romantasy #Werewolf #Action #Adventure #Revenge #Betrayal #CEO #Business #FemaleLead #WomenEmpowerment Eleanor Whitmore, the second daughter of the prestigious Whitmore family, was born with a golden spoon in her mouth. Wealth and social status followed her throughout her life. She had a caring mother and a protective sister... or so she believed. But one day, her perfect world shattered like fragile glass. Just when she thought life couldn’t get any worse, she had no idea the worst was yet to come. After a series of shocking events left her with nowhere to hide, she chose to fight back against those who had conspired against her. Tormented, tortured, and nearly killed, she eventually found herself carrying an unwanted child. In that moment, she made a choice... she would become a mother. And so, a single mother embarked on a long and arduous journey to seek justice... not only for herself, but for her child.

She lost her fiancé to her sister… and gave her heart to a stranger she was never supposed to meet. Athilda ’s world crumbled the day her older sister stole the man she was supposed to marry. Betrayed and humiliated, she swore off love for good. All she wanted now was a child, not romance, not promises, just a baby to call her own. One night, fueled by pain and desperation, she walked into a VIP room and asked a stranger to give her what she needed: no names, no strings, no commitments. But destiny has a cruel sense of irony. The man she chose for a one-night escape turns out to be more than just a stranger, he’s her sister’s ex, the same man who once had his heart broken by the very woman who ruined Athilda ’s life. Now, with a child possibly growing inside her and emotions she never meant to feel, Athilda finds herself caught between old wounds, complicated feelings, and an unexpected second chance. Was that night a mistake… or the beginning of something she never dared to hope for?

Rejected by her mate, she had a one-night stand with a stranger the same day. Selene is ousted by her pack after she's discovered to be pregnant. She returns five years later, only for the Alpha of their pack, who happened to be her mate who rejected her, now wants her back. Will Selene forgive him and get back together? Who's the mysterious man from that night, the father of her triplets?

Jayden Omari has spent his entire life in the shadows—of poverty, of rejection, of a name he never knew was his. As the poorest student at an elite private school, he’s mocked by classmates, abandoned by the girl he loved, and dismissed as just another nobody from the slums of Nairobi. But fate has a secret. When a mysterious letter leads him to a mansion in the heart of Karen, Jayden discovers a shocking truth: he is the only son of Richard Lexington, one of Africa’s wealthiest and most feared billionaires. Overnight, his world flips. Money, power, and legacy are suddenly within reach. But Jayden doesn’t want the spotlight. He doesn’t want to lose the few friends who loved him before the fame. So he creates a second identity—secretly using his wealth to help others, all while pretending to be the same broke boy from Kibera. As his former girlfriend tries to return and old enemies emerge from the shadows, Jayden must navigate a double life of lies, love, and loyalty. How long can he hide the truth? And when the masks fall… will he lose everything? The Billionaire’s Child is a gripping, emotional journey of heartbreak, power, revenge, and redemption—a modern coming-of-age story set in the heart of Nairobi, where wealth can build empires, but only truth can build a life.

Feared by minds. Whispered by gods. And known only by those who’ve died too many times to remember. It has no beginning. No end. It simply... is. But even infinity can tremble. From the rift between realities, John awakens. His soul — cursed, or perhaps blessed — bears an unholy burden: A monstrous infant that breathes, thinks... and watches. A second will. A second hunger. To live, he must grow. To survive, he must fight. To reign... He must become what even the abyss refuses to name.

I whimpered in pain. This is how it feels like to be cursed, right? That's me, Kaidaira Steele. Sold by mother, raised to be Ryder's little whore, rejected by best friend of nineteen years and husband of six years! It gets worse! Destined to die from a fucking severed bond from a miscreant with the weakest fucking wolf in existence! *** I pressed my ear to the door. I could hear my parents talk. “Who will take a deviant like her if she's incapable of doing the bare minimum. She's sterile! You heard Alpha Greg on national TV!" "So what are you saying Michael?" It was my mother's voice. "I'm saying it just became extremely harder to pawn her off to some poor unsuspecting beta. I'm saying she's extremely useless to us. I'm saying who could love and accept a miscreant like her. I'm saying let her be the pack whore. That way she's not entirely useless to me and my warriors will be in a good mood” *** Kaidaira is rejected by her husband because she's barren. She runs from the pack that disgraced and humiliated her and She goes back to her own pack hoping her loving parents would welcome her back but all she meets are parents who have turned cold and a pack who regard her as bed warmers, the pack public whore to be! After almost encountering an assault, Kaidaira decided to take up her brother's offer to enter in the yearly gala for a second rate mate. Reluctantly she goes but sneaks out because it reeked of desperation and she was in heat. There she meets Delta Kinnley, A Prince who has a secret of his own thus they strike a deal of the century. A contract marriage. Kaidaira has one demand - prove the world wrong by getting pregnant! Cover is not mine. credit goes to the rightful owner

"Alethea and the Billionaires" Dark Billionaire Romance | High Society Alethea Vione was born into a world that worships power and money—two things she never had. Abandoned, betrayed, and sold to the highest bidder, her life became a game played by cruel billionaires and aristocrats who only saw her body, never her soul. They wanted to control her. They wanted to break her. But they forgot— Even a shattered girl can be dangerous when she learns to bleed with grace. Behind every forced smile, Alethea hid her pain. Behind every designer gown, she carried her scars. And behind the madness, one man quietly watched— not as a predator, but as a protector. In a world where loyalty is rare and lust is currency, will Alethea become their perfect prey, or rise as the woman they never expected to fear?

All she wanted was to save her brother. And all he wanted was a child. He bought her, bound to a contract to give him a child and disappear from his life afterwards, but what hit her like a storm was love... falling for the masked monster who bought her body. Andrew Sterling hated greedy women, and every woman he'd contracted to bear his child, heir to the Sterling Enterprises, had been just that. When Anne, his third contracted surrogate, showed up, he saw her as the very same type of woman until she peeled open his stone-cold heart. What ties them next isn't just a baby contract, but an unexpected marriage formulated by Andrew's grandfather. But a man who has always despised marriage will never be tied down, not even by his contracted surrogate, because the minute she gave him the child he needed, he would send her out of his life. But when the tables turn on him... He says to her, "With a husband as rich as me, right now you're the wealthiest woman alive." "We're only married till I give birth," she retorted. He frowns at that, feeling internally displeased. "It doesn't matter how long we're married for. From now on, everything I own is yours. If you want heaven and earth, I'll buy it for you. My wife will never be found lacking a single fucking thing." She stared at him in disbelief. When did he start feeling something for her? He couldn't remember.

Mallory must hide her daughter, Harriet, from Harris's wealthy and influential family, which wants full custody of her. While juggling her work as a hotel receptionist and her responsibilities as a single mom, Mallory is heartbroken by her daughter's desire to have a complete family. While Harris tries to break away from his engagement with Nicole, he works to win Mallory's heart back. He is torn between obligations to their group of companies and following his heart. Will there be a future for Mallory and Harris in which they can live as a family, as their daughter, Harriet, has ever wished for?

What if you could go back? What would you give up to do it? Luana has lost everything—her family, her place in the world, and even the will to keep going. All she wants is one more chance. One moment to rewrite the past and fix what was broken. So when a mysterious hooded figure offers her the impossible, she says yes—no matter the price. But every wish comes with a cost. And when time is your bargain, the debt cuts deeper than memory. A short, emotionally-driven fantasy about grief, sacrifice, and second chances. Note: This is a short story to get a feel for my writing! Want more? Check out I Died from Overwork and Became a World-Building Goddess.

Born from betrayal. Marked by shadows. Chosen by a forgotten god. Wasuren was never meant to survive. An illegitimate child of the divine Sunblood clan, he was cast aside—ignored by his father, shunned by his siblings, and thrown into the lowest ranks of the army like a burden to be discarded. With little training, no title, and no light to protect him, he was sent to the frontlines to die. But when death came for him, he cried out—not to the gods of his blood, but to the void. And the void answered. A forgotten goddess rose from the dark—the deity of ash and shadow, Yami-no-Anagami. In his final breath, he made a bargain. His soul for her power. His light for her darkness. Now reborn in black flame, branded with the sigil of a sun swallowed by ash, Wasuren Hoshigami is no longer the heir who never was. He is something more. Something cursed. Something feared. This is his bargain. This is his rise. This is the birth of the Black God.

Samantha and Rei were high school sweethearts — two dreamers sharing the same sky. Rei wanted to build a band, write songs, and one day, perform in front of thousands. You? You had your eyes on the world — fashion runways, cameras, a life where people knew your name. You supported each other through exams, deadlines, and life’s early storms. Even in college, when everything got harder — late-night study sessions turned into rare text messages, dates became short calls, and weekends got lost in responsibilities. Still, Rei held the relationship steady, always finding time for you. He thought love was enough. Until you got that offer — a modelling opportunity in the U.S. You accepted it silently, afraid to hurt him, hoping it was better to go quietly than to make it harder with goodbyes. Three days before your flight, Rei found out. He didn't yell. He didn't beg. "If this is your dream… then go." You promised him you'd come back. *You never did.* **Years passed.** You're back in Manila — not permanently, just for a few weeks. You’re successful now, your face on billboards, runways in Milan and Seoul under your heels. Jessi, your old college friend, hands you a VIP pass to a local concert — “Trust me, you need this.” You roll your eyes. You’re not in the mood. But you go. The sky was already dark when you and Jessi arrived at the venue — a converted warehouse packed with glowing lights and pulsing energy. You hadn’t wanted to come, not really. It was just another night in Manila, just another stop before you left again. But she insisted. “Come on, it’s your favourite band. You’ll thank me later.” You didn’t even look at the ticket. You didn’t care. Until you stepped through the entrance—and froze. Because the voice pouring from the speakers? The one echoing through the crowd, raw and achingly familiar? **Add my novel to your library and read for more ^^**

Desperate to pay off her mounting debts and avoid disgrace, Ana takes a job as a stripper for just one night. That evening, she crosses paths with Fred Nork, the elusive and wildly successful CEO of Majesties, a luxury brand dominating the high-end women's footwear industry. Known for his power, wealth, and icy demeanor, Fred isn't the type to entertain attachments, but something about Ana draws him in. What begins as a fleeting moment of passion turns into something far more intense. Their one-night stand leaves Ana overwhelmed with shame. Before the sun rises, she slips away, leaving nothing behind, except the memory of a night that would change her life forever. The next morning, Fred wakes up to find blood on the sheets and a cold, empty bed. The realization hits him hard, he had been Ana’s first. Something unfamiliar stirs inside him, but with no way to find her, he forces himself to move on. Weeks later, Ana discovers she’s pregnant. With nowhere else to turn, she decides to contact Fred using the business card he had slipped into her bag that night. But when she finally arrives at his office, she’s met with a devastating sight, Fred is engaged to Tiana Monroe, a wealthy socialite with her ruthless ambitions. Before Ana can even process the heartbreak, her cruel stepmother throws her out upon discovering her pregnancy, leaving her homeless and alone. With no options left, Ana stumbles upon a job listing for a cleaning position at Majesties and seizes the opportunity, determined to survive for her unborn child. Inside the towering empire of luxury and wealth, Ana does her best to stay unnoticed. But her beauty and quiet strength make her impossible to ignore. Soon, she catches Fred's eye, though he doesn’t immediately recognize her as the woman who slipped away that night. Intrigued by the shy yet resilient cleaner, Fred finds himself drawn to her in a way he can’t explain. But not everyone is pleased. Tiana senses Fred's growing fascination with Ana and is determined to eliminate any threat to her position. When tensions explode into a fiery confrontation between the two women, a shocking truth is revealed, Ana is pregnant, and the child belongs to Fred. Now faced with a choice that will alter the course of his life, Fred must decide, will he fight for the woman he can’t seem to forget, or will he let the expectations of high society dictate his future? As secrets unravel and emotions ignite, Ana must ask herself, can she trust a man like Fred with her heart, or is she destined to be just another forgotten night in his past? With love, power, and betrayal at stake, one question remains, will Tiana let go of the man she has claimed as her own?

She was the price of her father’s freedom. He was the monster who wrote the check. When Amelia Donovan’s father’s empire crumbles overnight, leaving debts, shame, and the threat of prison behind, there’s only one man powerful enough to save them—Andrew Reynolds, the ruthless billionaire CEO with a cold heart and an even colder reputation. But his help comes with a cruel price: Amelia must become his wife. Thrown into a gilded cage of wealth and secrets, Amelia struggles to survive her loveless marriage, haunted by the man she once loved and the best friend she trusted with her life. Until one night, she sneaks into Andrew’s study—and uncovers the first crack in the perfect facade. A secret deal. A forged signature. And a file that links Andrew to the very destruction of her family. Now trapped in a web of betrayal and lies, Amelia races to uncover the truth. But when she runs to her best friend for help, she discovers a devastating betrayal: her ex and her best friend have been part of the plan all along. She was never meant to escape. She was meant to break. But Amelia Donovan is done being the bargain. She’s ready to become the price no one can afford.

The transmigrator wondered why he transmigrated into villain's baby form, can he even survive this crappy world until he reaches his 18th birthday so he can kill the protagonist? And why are his parents younger than him? - Jay died. He woke up in the body of a baby, and he thought he was reborn with the memory of his past life. Then, the System happily told him that he transmigrated into an unpublished novel which he stole when he was alive, and he's the main villain called Kaon the Blood Prince, the most vicious superpower human to ever graced the Earth, yet the author didn't develop him very well. The only thing that Jay knows about Kaon is his superpower is using his opponent's blood to make rain. The system said his mission is to take down the protagonist Kade the golden boy. That's easy enough, the protagonist is nothing compared to Kaon in terms of sheer power, and Kaon won in the original work. If Jay completes his mission, he can be reborn in his original world. There's one tiny little problem: Kaon is a baby, barely one year old. His stats? All zeros. At least he's starting at level 1. According to the System, he's being taken care of by two people: an undead fifteen year old villain and a thirteen year old hero-traitor-to-be. None of them know how to hold a baby properly, let alone raise one in poverty. It seems like everything is out to kill the baby villain. Can he survive to adulthood? And why is everyone named Jay in here? - Special Chapters • Every 15th chapter: Excerpt from another world • Every 20th chapter: User 1's Interlude • Chapter 25, 33, 36, 49, 50, 51: Villainous Parents' Misadventures - 2/3 of the book will be focused on the baby growing up into an adult, nightmare mode all the way. The romance will slowly engrave itself into the plot. _____ please yell at the author in the comments to get consistent updates.

#R18 Content - If this is not for you, don't read it. My name is Mathew, and I’m a gigolo. My mission is to become the richest man in this fantasy world in which I have been reincarnated. How can I do this, you ask? With the help of my Sugar-Baby System. Are you ready to join me on this erotic adventure?

On the day of her wedding, Selene catches her fiancé in bed with her best friend. Humiliated by their betrayal and their cruel body-shaming.She makes one reckless decision: sleep with a stranger and walk away. Five years later, she’s a confident single mother with nothing to prove….until her new job brings her face-to-face with her new CEO… the same man from that night. Nikolas Darkos. Billionaire. Cold. Magnetic. And now offering her a six-month marriage contract—a golden opportunity for revenge against those who once broke her. But there’s one thing he doesn’t know: Their one-night stand of passion resulted in a son. Can Selene keep her son a secret for six months? Or risk losing everything? And what happens when the fake tension between them turns into something dangerously real? ******************* “I don’t believe you, Selene King.” His face now barely few inches away from hers as his lips brushed against the tip of her nose. Very bone in her body tensed. Tucking her lower lips under her teeth as she bit down to stop a groan from escaping her lips. Resting his hand on the wall,he leaned closer,“Well, congratulations. Girlfriend you just became my wife.” The words dropped from his lips like a bomb exploding in Selene’s head. “What do you mea—” But,Before she could finish her sentence, his lips crashed on hers, pulling her into a deep hungry kiss.

"You're a monster," she spat. He blinked at her, his eyes glimmering with amusement. "Are you only realizing that?" He asked, a crazed expression on his face. *** Isla Cruz is done being a pawn in her father’s ruthless Mafia and werewolf empire. When she rebels against an arranged marriage to her abusive ex, she finds herself in the arms of a dangerous stranger, Dominic Argento, the infamous “Grimreaper Alpha.” Dominic is a demon-born werewolf feared by all, a cold conqueror hiding a lonely heart beneath his ruthless exterior. What starts as a reckless one-night stand spirals into a deadly game of power, revenge, and forbidden desire. When Isla discovers she’s caught in the middle of an ancient prophecy and that Dominic is her fated mate, she must navigate betrayal, dark secrets, and the fierce pull of a bond neither can deny. But can trust and love survive when enemies become lovers, and the price of passion is everything they’ve ever known? Follow my new IG account for more updates on my books: beronicaprk55

Leo, Penyihir berusia ribuan tahun terbangun dalam wujud bayi setelah lama tertidur demi memulihkan tubuhnya pasca perang yang tak berkesudahan. Namun ketika ia keluar dari Ruang Jiwa ... "Baby ... ," Seekor Naga jantan, menatap batita kecil di depannya dengan mata yang berkilau cerah. Iris emas itu penuh kebahagiaan dengan sentuhan kejutan yang tak tertahankan. "Baby, panggil Papa." " ... ." Sebentar ... BUKANKAH MEREKA BEDA SPESIES?! BAGAIMANA BISA NAGA INI MENGANGGAPNYA ANAK?! Leo sakit kepala. Degan tubuh bayi dan bahasa Naga yang terdengar cadel, pada akhirnya ia mendidik Ayah angkatnya dari Naga Primitif yang konyol dan idiot, menjadi seekor Naga berdarah murni yang berwibawa. Oh, ini Papanya! Leo bangga. Namun sayang, masa depan selalu tidak terduga. Art Cover by: Fai

“I’ll give you power, but I’ll take everything else.” Avery Quinn never believed in devils—until one answered her desperate plea. With her little brother dying and no one left to turn to, she signs a deal with the cold, ruthless Dante Harlan. He offers protection and strength… at a terrifying cost: herself. Thrown into a world of shadowed bargains and deadly secrets, Avery must navigate life under Dante’s roof, where obedience is demanded and rebellion comes with consequences. But as the line between power and possession blurs, she realizes that surviving the devil isn’t as simple as saying no. Can she hold onto her soul, or will she fall deeper into his world—until she can no longer escape it? A story of vengeance, twisted romance, and the flames of a hellish bond. He owns her fate. But can he ever own her heart?

Selene Carter never expected her life to turn into a storm of passion, power, and dangerous temptation until she got caught between two billionaire brothers. Lucian Blackwood is intense, ruthless, and impossible to resist. He takes what he wants without hesitation, and he’s made one thing clear, Selene is his. Ethan Blackwood is careful, protective, and nothing like his older brother. He offers Selene safety, a way out of the chaos that comes with Lucian. But the more he warns her to stay away, the harder it is to ignore the pull toward the man she shouldn’t want. As desire and deception collide, Selene realizes the war between the Black wood brothers runs deeper than she ever imagined. But when seduction turns into betrayal and buried secrets come to light, she’s left with one question: Who can she really trust? One brother will claim her. One will break her. And her heart? It may not survive.

Leona Valeria Sky Allendra. Seorang gadis nakal dari Kota Bandung yang sudah 4 kali dikeluarkan dari sekolah. Papanya yang melihat itu dibuat pusing akan tingkah anaknya yang diluar nalar, meskipun begitu dia tetap anak yang manja. Dengan terpaksa ia dan sang anak pindah ke Jakarta untuk tinggal bersama nenek dan kakek dari Leona. ——— GARUDA HIGH SCHOOL Sekolah baru, cerita baru, dan, bersama orang-orang baru. Hidupnya berubah 89% apalagi setelah bertemu pria bernama Regantara kakak tingkatnya disekolah yang menjabat sebagai kekasih Leona karena ia kalah dalam balapan liar. Namun, yang membuat Leona pusing adalah ternyata pria yang mereka kenal dingin itu mempunyai sifat bertolak belakang saat bersamanya. Regan akan menjadi pria, clingy, cengeng, dan hal-hal menyebalkan lainnya. Sungguh, Leona kewalahan akan hal itu. Biasanya ia yang akan bersikap seperti ini pada orang tua atau, sepupunya. Tapi sekarang, ia yang harus menghadapi Regan pria cengeng, manja, menyebalkan menurut Leona. Dan, mampukah Leona mengimbangi sikap Regan? Juga hal apa yang belum Leona ketahui tentang Regan? Apakah hubungannya akan berakhir indah? Atau, justu malah menjadi sumber masalah? Kuy, baca! Supaya gak ketinggalan tentang keseruan 'Couple Clingy' satu ini!!!

“What did you say?” Félix asked. She repeated, “Name your price.” “What is that supposed to mean?” His voice had tapered off with an unreadable emotion that got her weak in her knees, but she held out her chin. “Didn't you once offer to pay me off? Now, make me an offer I cannot refuse. Otherwise, I will go in there"—she gestured toward the Ball—"and make everyone think you dragged me out here to take advantage of me. I know exactly what that would do to your reputation.” “Say. That. Again,” Félix said through gritted teeth as he inched closer to her. ====================== She hadn’t meant to upset him or, worse, blackmail him. She didn’t even know who he was; she only knew he looked important because of how regally he stood in the moonlit dark. Estella was the baron of Cleverdale’s youngest, born into a hard life and always kept on her toes. Her stepsisters hated her. The baroness loathed her. And her father, the only one she called family, shattered her heart when he sold her to Viscount Alistair Ravensdale to cover up his misdeeds. The night of Lady Agatha’s ball, she seized her chance and ran straight into … Duke Félix of Chateaûbriant. In the dark, he mistook her for Princess Coralie, his fiancée, and kissed her. When the moon revealed her face, something about her stuck with him. He couldn’t shake the image of her running wildly or how she smelled like white lotus with hardcore roots. But when she threatened his reputation, he refused to play along. She returned to her world of cruel sisters and an unwanted engagement. What she hadn’t prepared for was the Duke arriving at her doorstep, making two outrageous claims. One. He was the Duke of Chateaûbriant. And two. She had stolen something valuable from him that night. What had she stolen without knowing it? Or worse, what could he possibly demand as repayment? ✯Like it? Add to Library!

"An accident. She's pregnant. How unlucky. She got pregnant in one shot! What was even more unfortunate was that the end of the world had arrived, and the entire world was plunged into a terrifying crisis. How could his mother and little packrat survive? Fortunately, she was lucky enough to get a magical space. Space had everything: food, drinks, daily necessities, crop seeds, milk powder, diapers, pure water… In the post-apocalyptic era where resources were scarce, she had everything she wanted in her space. She brought her baby and lived a leisurely and rich life in the post-apocalyptic era. Right, she had to find the baby's father. She couldn't possibly let the baby be born without a father, right? Thus, she brought her child onto the road to find her father. She thought that her baby's father would have a miserable life in the post-apocalyptic era. However, what she did not expect was that her child's father was actually a hidden big shot. Not only was he doing better than her, but he had also established a new human settlement and became a king-like existence. ""From now on, you two will be under my protection,"" the man said as he hugged her domineeringly. ""Well, from the looks of it, she doesn't have to worry about the good stuff in her space being stolen anymore."""

Man coerced into a sinister agreement, Evelyn Stone is left broken, deceived, and pregnant. Her life is reliant on others, making her the epitome of dishonesty. The real villain, however, is Alexander Bennett, the wealthy billionaire with whom she was previously married. For a brief while, he is consumed by rage and retaliation, and when she tries to win his heart back, she fails, leaving him with a burning desire that he pursues for years before capturing her once more and making her pay. Knowing that she will be destroyed, the city looks on. "You stole my heart and gave me a child. And now, you think you can escape me?" Alexander responds icily when Evelyn, in a desperate moment, says, "I left our marriage with nothing, so why won't you let me go?"