NOVPUB
Chapter 46 - 46- pregnant
Cynthia looked at Bonnie helplessly, seeking support. Bonnie stepped forward and fully utilized her tactful skills as the student council president to finally send the boy away. Watching the boy turn back every few steps, Bonnie leaned on her, laughing so hard she could barely stand.
"Oh, Miss Cynthia Lancaster, even dressed like this, you're attracting admirers—your charm truly knows no bounds!"
Cynthia rolled her eyes, her face scrunched up in distress. What was she supposed to do now? That man had said he'd join her for dinner at the Lancaster family home tonight. Wouldn't that only make things messier?
But she knew that since he had already decided, no one could change it. So, she could only spend the rest of the day in anxious anticipation. Whether it was during study time, classes, or lunch in the cafeteria with Bonnie, she felt completely distracted.
In the evening, she returned home to freshen up, only to get a call from him saying he was already waiting downstairs. She rushed downstairs and got into the car, only to find the back seat filled to the brim with roses, leaving no space at all.
She thought back to the boy's confession at school earlier, which he had overheard, and felt a little embarrassed, so she didn't ask why the flowers were there. She figured they couldn't possibly be for her. Perhaps they were meant for Doreen Lancaster or someone else.
He didn't say anything either, just glanced at her before starting the car. While waiting at a red light, his slender fingers tapped rhythmically on the steering wheel. After a moment, he suddenly turned to her and said,
"The flowers in the back are for you."
"For me? Why would you give me flowers?"
His words left her stunned. Why would he give her flowers? There was nothing particularly special between them. If it was because of their physical entanglement, that was purely an exchange—she wanted his money, and he probably just wanted her youthful body. There was no need for any deeper feelings.
His expression darkened suddenly, and his gaze turned dangerously intense as he looked at her.
"Cynthia, are you truly oblivious, or are you just teasing me? I'm officially inviting you to be my woman."
Albert Wilson stared at her, enunciating each word with determination—yes, he wanted her to willingly be his woman. Regardless of the layers of self-interest entwined between them, and despite the confinement of their marriage, he wanted her to belong to him.
Thanks to her consistently cold attitude, he was finding himself more intrigued by her. He didn't know how long this interest would last, but when he overheard that boy confessing to her over the phone earlier, he wanted nothing more than to storm onto her campus and put the audacious kid in his place.
Just last night, he had pushed her to say she would forget about that other man, and now here came another bold young suitor, intent on making his life difficult.
She blinked her gentle, watery eyes at him for a long moment, then suddenly pressed her lips together and laughed softly.
"Mr. Wilson, I imagine there are countless women who'd gladly be yours. You don't need me in that lineup. Let's keep things simple—seven days later, you go your way, and I'll go mine."
Her smile was radiant, but it never reached her eyes. Her words, no matter how brightly spoken, only served to fuel his frustration. Once again, she had rejected him, coldly and without hesitation.
The traffic light turned green, and the impatient honking from the cars behind brought him back. He shot her a complex look before focusing on the road, while she turned her head to the window, watching the bustling city lights outside. Even though their bodies had once intertwined perfectly, an endless chasm still separated their hearts.
When they arrived at the Lancaster family estate, she had barely stepped out of the car before Doreen Lancaster's fiery red sports car pulled up. The moment it stopped, Doreen's striking figure emerged, rushing straight toward him with barely restrained enthusiasm.
"Oh, Mr. Wilson! Are these roses for me? You're so thoughtful—I love you!"
Cynthia watched Doreen's display, her clingy demeanor as if she'd pounce on him at any moment, and couldn't help but smile to herself. Without a word, she turned gracefully toward the house, her steps light and elegant.
Behind her, she heard his voice, as smooth and sweet as honey, "Yes, darling, do you like them?"
What followed was Doreen's joyful squeal of delight, "Yes, yes, I love them!"
Grace Lancaster and Vincent arrived separately—Grace was first, still carrying that aura of a powerful businesswoman, though the fatigue around her eyes and brows was unmistakable. Vincent came after everyone else had gathered. He wore a deep purple shirt, rich and vibrant, like the colors of a setting sun, and for a moment, Cynthia was transported back to that summer evening.
She remembered sneaking out through the side gate of the Lancaster estate, just as she always did to meet him. That day, he was already waiting, standing tall in a striking purple outfit that glowed in the amber dusk. He looked like a prince, descended from the heavens in a cloud of violets. She had been mesmerized, and before she knew it, he had stepped forward, lowering his head to press a soft kiss onto her slightly parted lips. She had blushed and nestled into his embrace, too shy to lift her gaze for a long time.
A sudden sharp pain brought her back to the present, snapping her out of her reverie. She looked down in surprise and saw that the man beside her had gripped her hand tightly. His grasp was so forceful that the veins on the back of his hand stood out, starkly visible. Only then did she recall where she was.
"What's on your mind, darling?" he asked her with a gentle smile, though his eyes held a warning. "Eat up—you're so thin that people here might think I'm mistreating you, starving you."
His tone was soft, but there was a hint of cold dominance in his gaze, as if reminding her of the boundaries he had set. Had she really treated his declaration so casually, as if it were nothing but idle words? Did she forget what she had promised him just last night? Anyone or anything he had marked as his own should stay in line.
William S Lancaster quickly stepped in, smoothing over the tense moment with a hearty laugh.
"Hah, the Mr. Wilson is quite the joker! Cynthia's practically living in luxury now—how could there be any talk of mistreatment?"
The crowd chuckled along with him, easing the atmosphere. But amidst the laughter, Grace Lancaster suddenly placed her chopsticks down and, with a cold expression, announced, "I'm pregnant."
Her words landed like a bombshell in the room, silencing the crowd instantly. The large dining hall was filled with a chilling silence. Cynthia's hand trembled, nearly dropping her chopsticks, but the man beside her was quick to react, reaching out smoothly to catch them before they fell.
"What?"
After a moment, Vincent finally regained his composure, murmuring in disbelief.
Not only was Vincent stunned, but everyone else was as well. Every member of the Lancaster family knew that the relationship between Grace Lancaster and Vincent was just for show—there was no real connection. After Vincent drunkenly touched her once when they had just gotten married, there had been no relationship between them ever since.
Grace Lancaster maintained her indifferent expression, though her gaze at Vincent now carried a hint of pain.
"On the night my little sister got married, we were together."
Her words made Vincent freeze. He glanced at Cynthia across the room, only to find her in the arms of that man, coldly watching them. His face darkened immediately.
"Didn't I tell you to take the medication?"
Grace Lancaster let out a cold laugh and fell silent. How naïve was he? She had chased him for so many years—how could she give up this chance to keep him tied to her? Vincent's face darkened instantly, and it seemed that even he realized the tricks Grace Lancaster had played.
The atmosphere in the room fell into an uncomfortable silence. Maureen and her husband, the Lancasters, adhered to the principle of "silence is golden," while Albert Wilson, in a good mood, pulled Cynthia tighter into his arms and lazily said,
"Darling, look, Lancaster is always pregnant. We can't fall behind in our newlywed days, can we?"
Cynthia, however, seemed to have not heard his words. She merely stared coldly at Vincent. Though her face was indifferent, Albert Wilson could sense the deep sadness radiating from her—it was clear she was feeling for that man. 𝓃𝓸𝓋𝓹𝓾𝓫.𝒸ℴ𝓶
This realization brought a flicker of anger to his usually calm eyes. He leaned closer, kissed her lips, and smiled as he said,
"How about... we go home tonight and start working on making a baby?"
