His Hidden Family My Ruined Marriage (Liana) novel Chapter 5

Chapter 5 The Forced Check-Up

“Get him to the car first.”
“Okay.”
Elian handed the child back to Anya. Once she had him, he walked toward Liana.
Liana stood perfectly still. Her heart was shattered, and with that came a cold calm.
A bleak thought crossed her mind. So he had another family and didn’t tell me. So what?
If not for him these past two years, her mother might have already passed away.
Everything had its price.
“Is the baby sick?” she asked as he approached, her tone deceptively calm.
She felt she had to learn acceptance. Not acceptance of her husband having a child with another woman, but acceptance of the fact. She needed to stay calm, learn to cope, and then…
Someday, she would walk away without a backward glance.
“Yes.”
Surprise flickered in Elian’s eyes, but it was quickly replaced by concern. “You don’t look well.”
Seeing Elian’s unflappable composure, Lily suddenly felt that all his concern for Liana was fake. She confronted him directly, “Mr. Locke, whose child is that?”
“Mine,” Elian replied.
No evasion. Brutal honesty.
Pain lanced through Liana’s chest again, sharp and hot, like a volcano on the verge of eruption.
“Please don’t take them to the hospital where my mom is.”
Liana couldn’t hold back anymore.
Her own suffering didn’t matter. She just couldn’t let her mother be exposed to this.
“Fine. I’ll have my driver take you home.”
Elian, seeing her pallor, took out his phone to make the call.
Liana didn’t argue. But Lily couldn’t help herself. “So you really have a child outside? What does that make Liana?”
“She will always be my lawful wife.” Elian’s reply was that same, precise statement.
Lily remembered the rumors about him having another family elsewhere. She had told Liana not to believe them, thinking people watched too many soap operas. Turns out, the truth was stranger than fiction. And Elian was living it.
Do wealthy men need several families to prove their “noble” status?
“Please see her downstairs later.”
Elian’s gaze finally left Liana’s face as he asked Lily. Then he was gone.
Lily let out a disbelieving laugh. “What the hell is this?”
Elian, the man who seemed so devoted, so faithful, was nothing but a beast in gentleman’s clothing.
When Liana got home, she felt heavy and drained. She sat on the sofa. The silence didn’t last long before she crumpled forward, sobbing into the cushions.
She could pretend to be calm, unaffected, for a while. But alone, she couldn’t hold it in anymore.
She remembered that time she had a fever. He’d stayed awake all night, checking her temperature, applying cool compresses, holding her hand the entire time.
Her phone buzzed with a message. She didn’t have the energy to look.
Her stomach felt hollow. Dizzy and exhausted, she gradually quieted down.
Yes, she fell into a deep, troubled sleep.
She woke the next morning to find her phone placed neatly on the pillow beside her.
Opening her eyes, she saw Elian lying next to her. His fingers traced her arm, a light, feathery touch on her skin.
“No wonder you wanted a divorce. You already had a backup plan lined up.”
His gaze was distant, a stark contrast to the gentleness of his touch.
She didn’t get it. She wasn’t even sure if she was awake or still dreaming.
She could only see his handsome profile, the Adam’s apple she’d loved.
She even felt an urge to reach out and touch it.
Then his deep eyes met hers. “Anya can’t handle the baby, and his nanny’s down with a fever. So it’s you.”
“Me what?”
Humiliation made her eyes turn cold.
“You’ll take care of our son.”
Elian brushed the stray hair from her forehead, his tone matter-of-fact.
“Get out,” Liana said.
She was holding back. What she really wanted was to fight him.
“Tell me to get out after you’re pregnant.”
As he spoke, he suddenly threw the blanket to the floor. He grabbed her and pinned her down, his kiss demanding.
But this time, the moment his tongue entered her mouth, he stopped.
Liana had bitten down hard on his tongue.
It bled.
“Feeling feisty?”
He tasted the iron tang of blood spreading from his tongue. This time, he gripped her chin before kissing her again, forcing her to share the taste of his blood.
Liana felt even more nauseous. But his movements turned rough. She felt her nightgown being shoved up, him poised to enter her.
Images of him with another woman flooded her mind. She couldn’t take it anymore.
“Mmph—”
Liana wasn’t even angry anymore. She just didn’t want to vomit on the bed. She covered her mouth, pushing hard against his shoulders, trying to get him off.
Sensing something wrong, Elian stopped. He turned to see her face, pale and strained. He immediately moved aside.
Liana scrambled toward the bathroom.
Elian stood in the doorway, watching her retch. Then he stepped forward to hand her a tissue. The moment she caught her breath, her world collapsed.
His charming eyes held a knowing gleam. He stated as fact, “You’re pregnant.”
“I’m not.” She forced the words out, keeping her eyes downcast to hide the panic.
“You’ve been vomiting constantly,” he pressed on, listing the details.
“That’s because you make me sick.” Liana looked at him, her voice final.
Her heart was in her throat.
She was terrified he’d confirm the pregnancy.
Elian’s eyes narrowed instantly. He studied her for a long moment, as if seeing right through her. Then he abruptly scooped her up from the floor.
“Elian, let me go!”
“I’ll let you go after a check-up at the hospital.”
He carried her out.
Dizzy and disoriented, the moment he put her in the car, she tried to escape. Elian immediately blocked the door.
Her eyes red, Liana glared. “Move.”
He felt her fury. Instead of backing down, he hooked a hand behind her head, pressing his forehead to hers. The gesture was intimate, but his words were a threat. “Do you still want your mother to receive treatment?”
She had no choice but to sink into the passenger seat.
Once at the hospital, he would know for sure.
If they divorced later, this child would have nothing to do with her.
She wanted to keep this baby for herself. Maybe soon her mother would recover. The three of them could disappear to some quiet town, live a simple, peaceful life.
Elian sat beside her. She couldn’t help but study him.
She still had a little time. She had to convince him not to take her to the hospital.
“I’m really not pregnant.” She tried to sound calm.
“I thought about it. I was only gone for three days. Your periods usually last six.”
He was seriously doing the math.
“That’s because Mom was given a critical condition notice recently. The stress messed up my cycle.” Her voice turned soft and pitiful.
Liana was scared. He noticed everything. He could tell if she’d trimmed her hair by half an inch.
She knew, clearly, she had to divert his attention.
At her suddenly vulnerable, helpless tone, a pang hit Elian’s chest. He looked at her.
She gazed back with red-rimmed eyes. Tears welled up and spilled over, one after another, falling faster and faster.
His heart ached watching her. It was true—her mother had just been in critical condition.
“And finding out you have another family, I haven’t been able to eat. My stomach’s been a mess,” she kept talking, voice soft and shaky, pouring out her hurt.
Elian’s grip on the steering wheel tightened.
“We’re still going to the hospital. Pregnant or not, we’ll check. Then we’ll know how to treat it.”
“I’m not pregnant. Just imagine… if you suddenly found out the wife who played the devoted role in front of you had a child with another man. Wouldn’t that make you sick?”
Liana didn’t yell. She just wept quietly, trying to reason with him.
Elian’s expression shifted as if he’d been slapped. The car slowly came to a stop.
Liana felt a secret wave of relief. But then—
Elian stated flatly, “We’re here.”
Liana looked out her window. Her heart sank.
She’d forgotten. Their home wasn’t far from the hospital at all.
Elian got out first. Soon, she felt a wave of warm, humid air hit her face. She gripped the seatbelt. “I’m not going.”
Elian reached over and unclipped it. His actions were forceful, almost brutal. “You don’t have a choice.”