The IVF Secret That Shook a Dynasty novel Chapter 612

"I guessed it all," Vivica murmured softly, entirely unsurprised.

"But later, when we were getting married, you should have come clean. Why keep hiding it?" This was the part she couldn't wrap her head around.

Joseph furrowed his brow. "I just... couldn't find the right time. Plus, I was terrified that if I told you, you'd be furious. I thought you'd feel deceived and assume I saw you as some shallow gold-digger."

That fear had kept him silent.

Vivica said nothing, clearly unconvinced by his excuse.

"Vivica, honestly, whose child Chaim is doesn't even matter anymore. As long as he has the Baird family blood, I would have treated him as my own—it just so happens that he actually is mine."

Joseph tried desperately to persuade her, hoping to erase the wedge between them as quickly as possible.

But his words only made her frown and push back. "If it really didn't matter, why hide it from me until now? You just... didn't trust me enough. And on top of that, you used me."

"Used you?" Joseph's expression shifted. "Isn't that going a bit far? After everything I've done for you since we met, surely you haven't forgotten. Using the word 'used' between us is... a bit hurtful."

Hurtful?

The word made Vivica's eyelashes flutter. Seeing his expression, it felt as though they had suddenly reverted to their very first meeting—when he was the aloof, untouchable king of his domain.

The disparity between them was starkly evident. Even though she had found her biological parents and possessed a substantial net worth of her own, compared to Joseph, she was still reaching far out of her league.

Watching the subtle shift in her gaze, Joseph realized his words had been too harsh.

She was pregnant, her hormones were all over the place, and she was overly sensitive. It was natural for her to overthink things right now.

If it weren't for her condition, he would have insisted on hashing this out completely today.

"I'm carrying my own wife. It's my absolute right." He didn't even look down as he carried her out of the study, delivering the line with unshakable confidence.

Vivica was speechless.

She had only been upset. Anyone would have a bit of a temper after finding out they'd been lied to for so long. But the fact that he was pulling this stunt instead of giving a proper explanation actually pissed her off.

"Don't think this is over. I'm going to hold this against you!" she threatened, glaring at his perfectly chiseled jawline.

Oddly enough, that threat made him chuckle.

"What's so funny?" she demanded.

Joseph finally glanced down at his wife, his expression softening. "You're pregnant and moody. I'm so used to you being perfectly reasonable and sweet to me every day, seeing you act all fierce and bratty for a change is actually pretty cute."