“You’re just a live-in husband,” she said on the phone, her tone dripping with disdain. “Why would my child take your surname?”

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm.

“Sorry, Miss Young,” I said firmly. “But I’m not signing that agreement.”

The next moment, her furious voice exploded through the speaker. “Trevor! I'm already doing you a favor. You should be grateful I even agreed to marry you! And you dare talk back to me?”

I froze in disbelief. This was the elegant, well-bred young lady my grandfather spoke so highly of? Because right now, she sounded like anything but.

I was about to argue with her, but she had already hung up on me.

Then, the assistant standing beside me gave a mocking laugh, his eyes full of contempt. “Mr. Dalton, I’d advise you to sign it quietly. Otherwise, with Miss’s temper, I doubt your life after marriage will be pleasant.”

Seeing my simple suit and my unassuming face, he clearly decided I wasn’t worth his respect.

Despite that, I met his gaze coldly. “If anyone wants to sign such a humiliating contract, be my guest. But I won’t.”