His Hidden Family My Ruined Marriage (Liana) novel Chapter 103

Chapter 103 No Birthday Gift

Anya was shocked, but at the same time, she couldn’t tear her gaze away from the pill.

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“Anya, I won’t let you be second best to that girl. She’s had two years as Mrs. Locke. The next twenty, forty, a hundred years-they will be yours,” Helena stated with absolute conviction, issuing the directive to her daughter.

Anya reached out and picked up the pill, clutching it tightly in her palm.

“Yes. He can only be mine.”

“Find an opportunity later. Get him to drink it. Figure out a way to get him to your room. If necessary, use Liana as leverage.”

“What do you mean?”

“Tell him we’ve prepared a room for him and Liana for the night. Once he’s taken the pill and enters, he’ll be completely at your mercy.”

“Mom, could I get pregnant? I want to have his baby,” Anya said, her voice trembling with excitement at the prospect.

“That’s my girl. Not only could you get pregnant, I can ensure the child’s birthdate reflects a conception after his divorce. A perfectly respectable timeline,” Helena added, her voice low.

Anya thought of her own birthday.

Her real birthday was in January, but her official documents showed a date much later.

She was only three months younger than Liana, but on paper, the gap was nearly a year.

“Now go. Don’t be gone too long, or they’ll suspect.”

“Right.”

Anya quickly made her way back downstairs.

The living room was now in full swing.

A group of older men had gathered around Liana, asking for her perspective on various current affairs.

Liana, always full of ideas, was soon fielding their questions with surprising depth, earning nods of approval.

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15:34 Wed, Feb 18

Chapter 103 No Birthday Gift

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Finished

“Lawrence, she’s outshining you. Train her well and give it ten years,” the man sitting diagonally across from Lawrence praised.

Lawrence understood the implication. He, too, couldn’t help but look at Liana with a flicker of genuine appreciation.

But a shadow of concern crossed his mind, and his eyes darkened slightly.

Elian didn’t miss that flash of wariness in Lawrence’s expression.

Lawrence also saw Elian watching him just before the lights dimmed and responded with a quick, practiced smile.

The two had their own agenda.

Suddenly, the lights went low.

The opening chords of “Happy Birthday filled the room.

Everyone stood. Liana rose as well, thinking she could finally put some distance between herself and Elian.

Instead, his arm snaked firmly around her waist, pulling her flush against him. “Stay by my side tonight.”

Lawrence walked to the large birthday cake Sean had wheeled in. Before the singing began, he looked toward the living area. “Liana, Elian. Come join us up here.”

Elian guided Liana forward, placing her right beside Lawrence.

Lawrence gave her an approving look. After Sean placed a birthday hat on his head and stepped back, amid the chorus of singing, Lawrence leaned toward Liana and asked, his voice barely audible, “You had Elian warn me?”

Liana thought she’d misheard.

When she turned to look at him, his face held the same indulgent smile as before, nothing like the man who had just uttered that loaded, dark question.

But if she hadn’t misheard…

Liana was rational. She didn’t press him immediately, choosing instead to quietly play her pa in this charade.

Anya stood on Lawrence’s left; Liana was on his right. With an arm around each daughter, Lawrence blew out the candles.

15:34 Wed, Feb 18

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Chapter 103 No Birthday Gift

Everyone here wore a polite mask, each convinced their acting was flawless.

After the wish, the gift-giving began.

Liana hadn’t brought anything. In her twenty-seven years, she’d never received a birthday gift from a father. She didn’t feel she owed him one either.

But suddenly, all eyes were on her.

“Judging by your look tonight, you dressed with care and showed up in a gemstone that big. Don’t tell me you didn’t even prepare a little gift for your father?” Helena asked from the sidelines, her tone light but barbed.

Meanwhile, Anya had approached Elian, offering him a glass of red wine.

He took it. “Thanks.”

“You didn’t tell Liana you’d already sent a birthday gift in both your names, did you?” Anya asked casually as he took a sip.

“No.”

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