My Husband Made Our Daughter's Future a Bargaining Chi

“Mom, we still have a chance. Don’t give up, okay?”

My silly daughter. Even now, she was still trying to defend me.

She wanted to fight for what’s rightfully mine—but all I wanted was to protect her.

Sighing, I patted her head. “Alright. I’ll guess properly in the next round.”

Hayden scoffed, his eyes full of contempt. “Your mother already said that zero was your real score, and you still think you can get into a top-tier university? You're delusional!”

Hearing her father’s blatant favoritism, Perrie bit her lip, her fists clenched tight at her sides, her eyes glistening with unshed tears and silent humiliation.

Suddenly, Jade chimed in, turning to Hayden with a falsely sympathetic tone. “Hayden, you can’t blame the child. Maybe it’s her mother, venting old resentment toward you through the girl.”

“After all, Perrie is your biological daughter. Since she believes she can get into a top-tier school, how about we switch up the final round? Let’s guess which university they’ll be admitted to.”

Hayden thought for a moment, then nodded. “Fine. For the final round, let’s guess which universities they’ll get into. I’ll wager 50% of my total assets. Whoever guesses correctly—wins.”

The room erupted once again, filled with gasps and frenzied whispers.

“Fifty percent?! That means if she wins this round too, Jade gets everything! The ex-wife walks away with nothing!”

“Even if her daughter didn’t score zero, her grades probably aren’t great. If they just name a random second-rate college, maybe she’ll get lucky and sneak in.”

“Yeah, but it’s just a maybe. Vivian, on the other hand, with over 700 points—she could get into any school she wants.”

“At this point, the only chance the ex-wife has is if she guesses a realistic university for her daughter. Otherwise? She’ll be walking away with nothing but signed divorce papers.”

I ignored their chatter and picked up the pen slowly, writing down just a few simple words.

The notary soon read out the guesses.

“Ms. Jade has written: Stanford-Harvard University.”

“Ms. Gwen has written... the same: Stanford or Harvard University.”

A wave of disbelief rippled through the room.

“Did she go mad?” someone whispered.

“Guessing zero twice and now this? Did she ever even understand the rules?”

Only my daughter exhaled in relief.

Jade let out a laugh so smug it creased her face like the crow’s feet.

“Gwen, I never knew you had such high hopes for your daughter. But are you aware that Stanford and Harvard University are the top universities in the entire country? Not just anyone can get in.”

Hayden glared at me with disgust. “You're indeed a country bumpkin. Completely brainless!”

“I was actually willing to show you a little mercy, thinking you’d had it tough over the years. But now—”

At that moment, the banquet hall’s large screen began a five-minute countdown to the release of the college entrance exam results.

I waved my fan lazily, cutting him off. “Enough. The three rounds are over. Just sign the notarized agreement. Or are you afraid I’ll back out when the scores come out in a few minutes?”

Hayden opened his mouth to argue, but Jade gently tugged his sleeve and whispered something to him. Finally, he gritted his teeth and signed.

The moment to check the scores finally arrived.

Jade looked graciously toward me. “Gwen, you’re older. Why don’t you go first?”

I didn’t even glance her way. I rubbed my temples and sighed. “Oh dear, age really does dull the memory. I rushed out so fast this morning, I forgot the admission ticket. I can’t remember her exam number either...”

Then I turned to my daughter. “Sweetheart, do you remember it?”

Perrie looked at me, then slowly shook her head.