My Mother Died For My Freedom

I sold three years of my life to a billionaire to save my mother. I was his pretend fiancée, a stand-in for his ex, counting down the days until the contract ended and we could finally be free. But just as we were about to escape, his real girlfriend returned and publicly accused me of faking a pregnancy to trap him. My fiancé, Drake, didn't hesitate. He called me a disgusting gold-digger and threatened to pull my mother's medical funding to force me into an abortion. The shock of his cruelty sent my mother into cardiac arrest. She died right there in the hospital. They demanded I abort a child that could never exist, a lie built to destroy me. But they didn't know my secret. After my mother' s death, I finally told him the truth that shattered his world: I was born without a uterus. And with her last letter in my hand, I walked away from him forever. Chapter 1 Aida POV: Three years ago, I sold my life to save my mother's. I became a pretend fiancée to a tech billionaire, Drake McDonald, a stand-in for his ex-girlfriend. The contract was clear for $500,000-enough for my mother's kidney transplant. Now, the three years were almost over, and his real girlfriend, Caroline Conley, was back. I was Aida Townsend, a freelance graphic designer. My mother, Elsa Greer, was my whole world. She fought chronic kidney failure, but always smiled. I worked multiple jobs to cover her medical bills. The transplant was our only hope. The contract with Drake was my only chance. It put me in a world of wealth and pretense. Drake was arrogant, used to getting his way. He saw me as a beautiful asset, nothing more. Caroline, his ex, was a socialite, manipulative and entitled. She saw me as a low-class usurper. My mother, kind and loving, worried about me. She secretly saved money I gave her, wanting me to escape the contract. The contract finished in two weeks. I had started packing my meager belongings in my small apartment. I planned my escape carefully. I would leave the city. I would find a quiet place to restart my life with my mother. My mother's pre-op check-up appointment was this afternoon. I walked into the hospital lobby. I clutched my bag. My mother smiled at me, frail but full of hope. "Aida, you came." Her voice was weak. I rushed to her side. I held her hand. "Of course, Mom. I wouldn't miss it." A sleek black car pulled up to the hospital entrance. Drake stepped out. Caroline followed. She wore a designer dress. Her eyes immediately found me. A smirk twisted on her face. My stomach tightened. Caroline walked fast, directly towards me. She stopped inches away. Her eyes blazed. She raised her hand. Her voice cut through the quiet lobby. "You little gold-digger!" People stopped. Heads turned. My mother squeezed my hand. Her face paled. I stood frozen. Caroline pointed a trembling finger at my stomach. Her voice rose, filled with false anguish. "How dare you try to trap Drake with a baby? Is this your plan to secure your future?" My mind reeled. What was she saying? This accusation made no sense. Drake stood behind her, his face grim. His eyes were cold. Caroline spun to face Drake. Tears streamed down her face. She pleaded with him. "Drake, darling, tell her. Tell her there' s nothing between you two! Tell her I' m the only one you love!" Drake stepped forward. His gaze locked on me. He spoke with a voice devoid of warmth. "Caroline is right. There is nothing between us. Our relationship is a business arrangement. Nothing more." His words hit me. They did not surprise me. They still hurt. My mother gasped beside me. Caroline then let out a dramatic sob. She pressed a hand to her chest. "Oh, Drake, she probably thinks she can trick you. She' s probably planning to fake a pregnancy to keep you!" The whispers started in the lobby. People stared at me. Their eyes were full of judgment. My face burned. Shame washed over me. I stood there, trapped. I was a spectacle. My mind raced. Pregnancy? How could I be pregnant? That was impossible. I looked at Caroline' s smug face. Her accusation was a cruel lie. I shook my head. I spoke, my voice barely a whisper. "Pregnant? That' s not possible." My secret, a lifelong burden, pressed down on me. I was born without a uterus. I had MRKH syndrome. Pregnancy was impossible for me. I could never carry a child. This was a private pain I carried. It was now my tragic shield. "I can' t be pregnant. I was born without a uterus." My words hung in the air. Caroline' s expression flickered. Drake' s eyes narrowed. The crowd remained silent. I had just revealed my deepest secret. It came out in a moment of public humiliation. I stood exposed. I was vulnerable. I knew the accusation was a lie. I had offered the truth. I just wanted them to believe me.