"What? You're going to Europe? Are you crazy? That's a battlefield! A battlefield!" During dinner, as soon as Josh mentioned it, Margot immediately and fiercely objected.
"Margot, I'm just tagging along with a relief group to do some small business. I'm not going to the front lines, there's no danger!" Seeing Margot's intense reaction, Josh tried to explain helplessly.
"With the situation in Europe now, it's all ruins—what money is there to make? And are we really short of money?" Margot couldn't understand Josh's thinking.
Not everyone has the sharp eye to see the countless business opportunities buried beneath the ruins of the European battlefield.
In Margot's view, based on past newspaper reports about the devastation in Europe, the people there barely had clothes to wear or food to eat—what money could there be? Even if there was money, it would be in the hands of aristocrats, the wealthy, or royalty. Even their governments were probably close to being drained by the Federation.
"Margot, in a way, we are short of money! Because it's not just a little money—it's a lot of money." Josh remained calm and patiently explained, "As the cradle of modern civilization, Europe has looted massive wealth from nearly the entire world over the past few centuries. That kind of wealth can't be wiped out by one or two large-scale wars. If everything goes well, this trip to Europe could multiply our assets tenfold!"
Multiply their assets tenfold?
Margot was momentarily stunned.
How much were she and Josh currently worth? Just Josh's sugar factory alone, which had been steadily receiving military contracts, had reached assets close to ten million in just the past year.
Adding in Josh's bond investments, her own assets, and the properties they had just acquired in Florida, Chicago, and Los Angeles, they easily had another ten million.
So even without counting Josh's private business dealings that she never asked about, their combined assets totaled over twenty million.
Tenfold? That would be over two hundred million?
What did that mean?
Before World War II, American billionaires were rare, mostly concentrated in the eight major financial families like Morgan and Rockefeller—there were very few.
It wasn't until the war profits kicked in that billionaires began popping up like mushrooms after the rain, so two hundred million, in this era, was an absolutely staggering number.
Even someone like Margot, who had lived a life of comfort and luxury since childhood, couldn't help but be tempted.
As for whether Josh was capable of making that kind of money, Margot wasn't too worried—after all, just a year ago their net worth had only been six or seven million, and in that short time, it had already tripled. That alone was proof enough of this young man's capabilities.
So she hesitated—unsure if she should keep trying to stop Josh.
"Margot, at most I'll be gone for six months. It's for our future—it's worth it, isn't it?" Josh wrapped his arms around Margot from behind and spoke softly.
"Fine, but you must promise me not to go anywhere too dangerous. Also, bring more people with you. We can always make more money, but you must come back safe." Margot turned and hugged Josh, whispering.
"Of course. I'll bring Vito, Brooke, and the others. They're all familiar with Europe, so it won't be dangerous. And I'm not going to fight in a war—I won't be going to dangerous places." Josh held the woman in his arms and whispered to comfort her.
But what Margot said next left him utterly stunned.
"Josh, I'm pregnant." After a long embrace, Margot suddenly said softly.
"What? When did this happen?" Josh held Margot's shoulders and looked at her in surprise.
"Before we came to Los Angeles, I wasn't feeling well one day, so I saw a doctor. The doctor said I might be pregnant, and I did the A-Z test. It wasn't until this morning that the doctor's call confirmed it…What? You're not happy?" Margot's cheeks flushed as she looked at Josh and asked.
Modern pregnancy tests didn't appear until the 1960s.
In the 1930s, pregnancy was tested using a biological assay called the AZ test. Though reliable, it was time-consuming, complex, and expensive.
So it was completely normal that it took nearly a week after arriving in Los Angeles to get the results.
"No, no—I'm not unhappy, it's just…such a surprise, such a joy!" Josh was a bit at a loss.
He really was at a loss. In his previous life, things had gone pretty well too, but he hadn't even gotten married by his thirties.
So this was the first time in both lives that he was about to become a father—naturally, it was an emotionally complex moment. But mostly, it was joy.
Still, Josh wasn't completely unprepared for Margot's pregnancy.
Even though modern condoms had appeared in the 1920s and became popular in the 1930s, Josh and Margot had never used them.
There was no birth control policy in the U.S., and other people used protection because they couldn't afford to raise a child. That wasn't a concern for Josh or Margot's families.
And they had been together for a year already—it was actually a bit late that Margot was only now pregnant.
Seeing Josh's childlike, overwhelmed expression, Margot couldn't help but laugh—then her face turned redder.
Because she suddenly remembered: Josh wasn't even 17 yet.
He was born in August 1928, and now it is April 1944.
So in a way, he really was still a kid.
And now he was going to be a dad.
Of course, in that era, this kind of thing wasn't that unusual.
Even in the 21st century, the age of adulthood in many European countries was still 16.
And in the UK and U.S., if one had independent income, 16 was essentially considered adulthood.
"Look at you. The doctor said I'm at most two months along. By the time you come back from Europe, it'll be just in time for the birth." Margot gently caressed Josh's cheek.
"What Europe? I have to stay home with you and the baby!" Josh said immediately. At that moment, business was the last thing on his mind—he was entirely focused on becoming a father.
"Come on, that's not necessary. Didn't you say you're going to Europe for our future? I also want our child to be born into a family with a billionaire father. As for home, Francesca and the others will take care of everything." Hearing Josh's somewhat impulsive response, Margot smiled and reversed the persuasion.
"You're right. I need to earn a great fortune for our child, and prepare a grand gift for his birth." Josh frowned for a moment, then nodded and added with a gleam in his eye, "What if I buy Neuschwanstein Castle as a first-birthday gift for our child?"
Although this wasn't the same world, the timing of the war's end likely wouldn't be much different.
At any other time, it would've been nearly impossible to acquire the fantasy-like Neuschwanstein Castle.
But right after World War II, combined with Josh's Austrian heritage, it could be quite feasible to acquire the castle. It was right on the border, just a few kilometers from Austria.
Although the region was in the French occupation zone right after the war, it was effectively under U.S. control.
If Josh spent more time cozying up to the military and claimed status as a war victim, acquiring some land from Bavaria wouldn't be a big deal.
Though it would probably be too late for the child's birth or first month celebration, it would still work perfectly as a first birthday present.
If it's a boy—he'd be a little prince. If a girl—a little princess. With a real castle.
Just imagining it made Josh feel delighted.
Not just the child—even Margot was completely captivated by the picture Josh painted.
Disney had been founded back in the 1920s. Despite some bumps along the way, it was already a major company. So with Disney's rise, Neuschwanstein Castle's fame had begun to spread in America.
Naturally, Margot knew about this castle.
Then—
"No way. I want Neuschwanstein Castle for myself. You'll have to come up with something else for the kid's birthday gift!" Margot left that declaration and then ran off back to the bedroom, leaving a dumbfounded Josh behind.
This woman—she's even fighting over the baby's gift before it's born?
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