His Regret Arrived Three Days Late novel Chapter 28

Estelle echoed Serena’s sentiment with manufactured enthusiasm.

Annika couldn’t be bothered to engage with the two of them and their little act.

Seeing Annika ignore them, Estelle was the first to lash out. “Annika, we rushed over to congratulate you as soon as we heard you were carrying my brother’s child, and this is the thanks we get? Why the long face? Are you worried the baby isn’t a Beryl and we’re going to expose you, and then my brother will abandon you?”

Annika wanted to ask them how they’d found out about her pregnancy so quickly, but she bit her tongue. Estelle was caustic and cold-hearted, and now she had Serena, who clearly wished her ill, by her side. She had no desire to waste her time or energy on these two.

Without a word, Annika ripped the IV needle from the back of her hand, got out of bed, and started getting dressed.

Estelle stared at the thin line of blood trickling down Annika’s hand and shrieked, covering her face. “Conrad, look at her—!”

Before Estelle could finish, Conrad grabbed Annika’s arm to stop her from leaving. He then turned to Serena, his expression strained. “Serena, your legs aren't well. You should go home. I’ll bring you some macadamia nuts later.”

Serena’s voice was soft and frail. “I told her we shouldn’t come, but Estelle insisted.”

Then she turned to her accomplice. “Estelle, if we cause Annika any stress, it’ll be our fault. Let’s go.”

As Estelle wheeled her away, Serena glanced back over her shoulder at Annika, a strange, triumphant smirk playing on her lips. It fanned the flames of a nameless fury in Annika’s chest.

Staring at his rapidly retreating figure, Annika felt a bitter smile form on her lips. She had been close enough to hear every word Estelle had said.

Everyone said Conrad Beryl was a cold man. In business, he was ruthless, sparing no one. To her, his own wife, he was polite on the surface but fundamentally indifferent. Yet this same man, with ice in his veins, would throw himself into a fire for Serena without a second thought.

She heard a flurry of panicked footsteps outside, and then she saw him—a flash of movement as Conrad ran past the doorway, carrying what looked to be an unconscious Serena, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.

Annika was about to leave the room herself when Estelle blocked her path. Annika frowned, her voice sharp with anger. “What do you want, Estelle?”