Divorced and Pregnant My New Life with a Billionaire Drives My Ex Crazy novel Chapter 538

The ache in her pelvis was new, just something that had started in the last couple of days. It wasn’t something she could control, just another unexpected problem she had to deal with.

Molly was nearly in tears, pacing with worry. Wiona managed a gentle smile and reached out to pat her on the head, trying to calm her. Then she turned to Annette. “Mom, maybe you should go ahead. I honestly don’t think I can keep moving right now.” Her stomach was starting to churn too, and she couldn’t risk pushing herself any further.

“Please, just listen to me for a second.” Wiona glanced around and motioned for Molly and Mason to keep an eye out. When they were gone, she leaned in close and dropped her voice as low as she could. “Mom, do you remember Conrad’s study on the first floor? There’s a painting in there, one of mine, with sunflowers. Behind it, there’s a special hook. You need to take the brush from his desk and hang it on that hook. When you do, a secret mechanism behind the bookshelf will open. Conrad spent the last ten years secretly building a bunker under the manor. It’s a whole new shelter. That’s where I hid Alice.”

She had sent Remy down with Alice, so now that she’d had a chance to calm down, Wiona was sure the alarms ringing through the manor had nothing to do with her daughter. That bunker was a secret Conrad had only revealed to her on New Year’s Eve, the night he came home. He told her that if anything ever happened, they were to hide down there. It was fully stocked, with enough food and supplies for a hundred people to live comfortably for weeks.

Even Annette had never known where Alice was hidden. This was the first time Wiona had told anyone. But she could see the worry in Annette’s eyes, the panic only a mother could understand.

“Don’t waste any more time,” Wiona urged. “Go. I have Mason and Molly with me. I’ll be fine, I promise.”

She tried to help Annette up, nudging her forward. Annette took a few hesitant steps, constantly looking back. After a moment, though, she turned around and marched right back. “No. I can’t do it. Even with them here, I just can’t leave you. I know I’m worried about Alice, but you’re just as important to me now. You’re my daughter-in-law, and that makes you my daughter too. I can’t walk away and leave you behind. If something happened to you, I’d never forgive myself. We go together or we stay together. That’s it. I’m staying.”

She plopped down beside Wiona again, stubborn as ever.

Wiona couldn’t help but be moved. She tried to hide it with a crooked smile. “You know, I think I’ve finally won you over a hundred percent, haven’t I?”

Annette looked puzzled for a second. “What do you mean, won me over?”

Before Wiona could explain, Mason’s voice broke in, sharp and tense. “Who’s there? Show yourself!” He already had a knife in his hand, ready for anything.

Sophie wiped away a tear. “I just don’t want you to hate me. Conrad is alive. And nothing could make me happier.”

Annette waved her off. “Stop it. Don’t give me your fake tears. Sophie, you’re going to marry Devin. You and I aren’t family anymore. Don’t call me Auntie again. I can’t take it. From now on, you and I go our separate ways. We’re strangers.”

She turned a cold gaze on her brother and sister-in-law, the distance in her eyes making it clear she was done with them for good.

With Mason and Molly close by, Mr. Clements knew he couldn’t make a move right now, even if he wanted to. Sophie seethed silently, unable to understand why Wiona always had people willing to protect her. Still, she swallowed her anger. She needed to wait for the right moment. Today might be her only chance to get rid of Wiona once and for all.

Wiona could feel all three of them staring at her, their eyes heavy with something dark. For a second, her heart skipped. Was it just her imagination, or did all three of them want her gone?