In the Fu Family's house.
The mirror reflected a figure clad in a red robe. Selma held her phone and spoke.
"What? So there's nothing wrong with Anne?" she asked, her voice rising in unmistakable surprise.
She, however, quickly recovered from the initial shock. In only a short moment, she had sorted out her thoughts and continued, "That doesn't matter. Since things have come to this point, there is no way Anne can marry into our family again. We can just compensate her. It wouldn't be too hard. Things have just fallen into their rightful place."
"Make sure to keep it a secret. No one can know." With those final words, she ended the call. Things had been taken care of for now, but the silence that followed was unnerving.
The person on the other end of the call was Sam. He was her nephew, but she couldn't be sure where his loyalty was placed.
Selma gave out a heavy sigh and sat on the bed. She reached for the lamp and turned off the light. Tonight, she would sleep with these small anxieties echoing in the dark.
It was five o'clock in the morning when she woke.
Her mind still foggy with sleep, Selma strained to make out the sound of a low voice. The sun had barely risen, and it was a mystery why someone would be up in this hour.
She got up and crossed the room to her door. The moment she opened it, Rose was walking, taking hurried but quiet steps to the direction of the bathroom.
Selma's brows were furrowed as she followed her. The door of the bathroom was closed, but Selma was able to make out the sound of someone vomiting as she pressed her ear to the door and held the handle. She had already been concerned for Rose, and this only added to her growing worry.
The hand that was holding the door tightened loosened. She backed away quietly, her footsteps light as she left.
Two hours later, it was time for breakfast. Selma sat at the table and slowly chewed on a piece of bread, still lost in thought.
The sound of a chair scraping against the floor pulled her out of her musing. It was Rose, also sitting down for breakfast. "Good morning, mom," she greeted her.
Selma's eyes widened slightly as she took in Rose's form. "Why are your eyes so dark? You look like you didn't sleep," she said.
"I'm fine. I'm a little tired, but it’s nothing a bit of rest won't cure," Rose smiled sweetly as she answered.
"Don't wait to feel worse. If you're not feeling well, you should just go to the hospital. You should..."
Selma cut herself off abruptly. She was about to say how pregnant women should be taking good care of their health, but she caught herself in time. She had her suspicions, but it was not certain that Rose was pregnant.
"Okay," Rose relented, her eyes fixed on the table.
There was egg custard in front of her. It was Rose's favorite, but her face was scrunched up as if in disgust. Her face went pale and she turned away.
Selma was carefully watching her, not missing her discomfort and the pallor of her skin.
"Mom, I don't feel like eating. Sorry, I think I'll skip breakfast for now," Rose said, about to excuse herself from the table.
But Selma held her back. "Wait, Rose. Let's go to the hospital for a check up."
"No, I don't need it. Really, Mom, I'm fine. I'll just go to my room and rest. I'll be fine after, I'm sure," Rose refused continuously.
At this, Selma let out a resigned breath. "You silly girl. You're pregnant. You don't even have any idea, do you?"
Rose's already pale face blanched even more at her words.
"Mom, what do you mean?" she asked in confusion.
"You heard me right the first time. You are pregnant, Rose, and I'm going to be a grandmother." She beamed and continued, "Listen. We have to go to the hospital. We can call Sam."
However, Rose's expression shifted into awkwardness and unease.
Selma looked at her curiously. "What's the matter?"
"Mom, can we… Can we not go to Sam's hospital? I heard that Anne and Sam have a good relationship. I'm a little worried..."
Rose didn't finish her words, but Selma understood.
"Alright, we can do that. There are plenty of good doctors elsewhere. We can go where you'll be perfectly comfortable," she reassured.
In the AN Group.
Kevin stood at a corner window, his eyes turned toward the view outside. Densely packed buildings stood towering over the city, and the people below looked like small, moving specks. His face was impassive and unreadable as his gaze remained fixed on a painfully ordinary scenery.
"Mr. Kevin, Mrs. Selma is here," his assistant walked to him and asked cautiously.
He looked at his superior's profile. A chiseled face, with deep eyes and distinct eyebrows the color of coal, high defined cheekbones, and a strong jaw.
Kevin was wearing a tailored suit of pure black, the fabric outlining his strong figure—wide shoulders tapering down to a narrow waist and further to long, graceful legs. One could liken him to an elegant panther as he stood and turned to his employee.
"Alright," he said, acknowledging the man's words.
A few minutes later, Kevin was standing in front of Selma. His eyes were aloof and cold, something that the older woman did not particularly like.
She could almost not recognize him, and all the difference was just because one woman.
"Mom, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at home?" Kevin didn't even bother with pleasantries.
He knew Selma didn't come here to be all nice and cordial.
"Well, it seems as if you're forgetting that you have a family other than that woman, so I came to remind you," Selma answered just as coldly.
Displeasure twisted inside Kevin's gut. "What is it? Just say it. I have an important meeting today," he said.
"You have to go home tonight. Rose is pregnant. You should at least be able to check on your wife," she said.
Kevin's displeasure was quickly doused with shock. He had not touched Rose, except for that one time when Selma drugged him. He had just found out that Anne could have another child, and now Rose was pregnant.
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