Second Vows Adored by the Billionaire novel Chapter 22

Victor had said she could barely conceive. How was this possible?

For a brief, vicious moment, Anita's mind flashed to the earlier plan she had once suggested, and the regret that it had not been carried out hit like a bite.

But Chris was standing there with her arms folded, tall, athletic, and watchful, and Anita swallowed the rage back down.

Apparently, she couldn't risk to mess with Chris.

Anita forced a smile. "Eloise... you're pregnant?"

Chris smirked. "Nearly two months."

Anita's lips stiffened. "I'm happy for you, really."

Chris raised a brow. "Really? If Eloise has her own child, she can't adopt yours. You're still happy?"

Color drained from Anita's face. "Of course I'm happy," she said, eyes flickering. "But... does Mr. Clarkson know?"

"He does," Eloise said, and she drew the bottle Victor had given her from her bag, letting it catch the light as she gently shook it in front of Anita's eyes. "He had a doctor prescribe the best prenatal support medicine for me. Imported. Not even available locally."

Anita's smile cracked at the edges.

Victor had told her he didn't want Eloise to have a child, yet he had moved in silence and arranged the best medication for her.

So Victor had changed after all.

And why, Anita thought with a sick surge of resentment, did Eloise get the best while she lay here on ordinary drips?

*****

Eloise had no need to say anything more. She stood and left with Chris, the message already delivered.

Outside the ward, Chris finally lowered her voice.

"Eloise, she's this arrogant and you can still swallow it? You're the Chicago tycoon's granddaughter. Why are you letting them treat you like this?"

Eloise narrowed her eyes slightly. "Because when you have power, you can afford patience."

Chris stared. "If it were me, I'd make Victor lose everything and make that woman beg to die."

Eloise's fingers curled into her palm. "And who says I'm not thinking the same thing?"

Victor flinched and looked away, then asked cautiously, "Have you felt unwell lately?"

Eloise shook her head, wide-eyed. "No. Are you hoping I will?"

Victor immediately began massaging her legs, smiling as though he could knead suspicion back into submission. "Of course not. I just want you healthy."

Eloise pinched the bridge of her nose, something sharp rising to her tongue, then swallowed it.

A week passed quickly.

Chris messaged her that the tickets were booked.

That evening, Eloise packed two changes of clothes into a travel bag and stepped into the hallway.

She met Anita face-to-face.

Their eyes locked, and Anita's gaze slid to the bag in Eloise's hand, a hint of expectation flickering in her expression as she spoke with syrupy curiosity.

"Eloise, going out with a bag that big... are you preparing Mr. Clarkson's birthday surprise again? Last year, you went all the way to those remote mountains to get those rare herbs, and the quality was incredible. Where are you going this year?"