Chapter 195 Chapter 195
Claire was less than three months pregnant. The first trimester was the most critical and unstable period. Any impact, any severe stress, could cause a miscarriage.
If she had really been involved in a violent physical fight, rolling around on the hard marble floor... how could she be “fine”?
Edward looked at her. She wasn't holding her stomach. She wasn't pale with pain. She was only concerned about her face and Linda.
“Are you really okay?” Edward narrowed his eyes, his tone of voice changing from concerned to suspicious. “You really don't want to go to the hospital now for an ultrasound? Just to be sure?”
Claire's heart skipped a beat.
She looked up and saw the change in Edward's face. That wasn't the look of a protective boyfriend; it was the look of a calculating businessman.
Cold fear ran through her veins.
He's suspicious.
She stiffened, her hands and feet instantly turning cold.
She forced a shaky smile and looked away, unable to meet the probe in his eyes. “I... I'll be fine. I protected my belly the whole time during the fight, I swear.” She placed her hand on her flat stomach. “Besides, I think our baby is very strong. He takes after you. He's not that fragile.”
“Really?” Edward murmured, unconvinced.
He looked at her evasive eyes. At the tension in her shoulders.
And then, Edward's mind began to rewind the tape.
He and Claire had always been careful. They always used condoms. Always.
The only exception... was that afternoon at the window of his apartment. Passion had taken over, and he hadn't been able to get protection in time.
But... Edward did the math in his head.
That day fell within the “safe period” of Claire's menstrual cycle. The chances of getting pregnant were extremely low. And to top it off, he hadn't finished inside her. He was absolutely sure of that.
Coitus interruptus during the infertile period. The statistical probability of pregnancy was almost nil.
It wasn't impossible. Miracles (or accidents) happened.
So when Claire showed up with a positive test and a doctor's report, he believed her. He took responsibility.
But now...
Doubt began to erode his certainty.
Claire's pregnancy came at a very opportune moment.
He had just started talking seriously about marriage with Caroline. The engagement was about to be made official. And then, bam. Claire shows up pregnant. Caroline finds out. The engagement ends.
The main reason—the only real reason—he broke up with Caroline and took Claire in was this child. The heir.
But what if...
What if there was no child?
What if this “miraculous” pregnancy after a nearly safe encounter was just... a convenient lie?
Edward's expression became terrible. A shadow passed over his face, turning concern into frightening coldness.
Claire felt the change in the atmosphere. His silence was deafening.
“Edward...?” Her voice came out as a strangled whisper.
She stared at him with caution and real panic.
“What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?”
Could he... have found out?
Edward studied her for a second, hiding the storm in his mind, and forced a reassuring smile. He reached out to stroke her hair, as if everything were perfectly normal.
“It's nothing. I just think that after this fight, it would be safer if you went to the hospital for a quick checkup.
Otherwise...” He lowered his voice, feigning excessive concern. “I won't be able to sleep, worrying about you and the baby.”
As he spoke, Edward's mind worked frantically.
Reflecting now, without the fog of initial passion, he noticed a pattern: it was always Claire who brought up the subject of pregnancy.
The medical report? She was the one who handed it to him. He never spoke to the doctor directly. He never saw the test being done.
He accepted that paper as absolute truth and changed his entire life based on it.
Why did I trust her so blindly? Edward asked himself.
This was the perfect opportunity. He would take her to the hospital he trusted and have a new test done right there. The truth would come out.
If she lied to him...
Edward's hand, hidden at his side, clenched into a fist so tight that his nails dug into his palm.
Claire, being the consummate actress that she was, noticed the subtle change in the atmosphere.
Her instincts screamed: He's suspicious. He wants proof.
If Edward took her to a random doctor, she would be lost. But if they went to the family's usual hospital... she had allies there. She had already laid the groundwork.
Getting a fake report would be no problem for her.
In fact, this was an excellent opportunity. If she took the test now and “proved” that the baby was fine, Edward's doubts would disappear forever, and he would feel guilty for having been suspicious.
The risk was high, but the reward was greater.
Upon hearing the suggestion, Claire didn't hesitate for a second. She nodded immediately, with a sweet, obedient smile.
“Of course! You're absolutely right, Edward.” She held his arm affectionately. “Let's go to the hospital right now. I also want to make sure our little baby is fine.”
Edward blinked, surprised.
Her quick and fearless agreement caught him off guard.
Am I being paranoid? he thought. If she were lying, wouldn't she be panicking right now?
Doubt about his own suspicion arose, but he decided to go ahead. Even if he was wrong—and he hoped he was—the exam wouldn't hurt. If it was just a misunderstanding, he would buy her an expensive piece of jewelry to make it up to her later.
“Great. Let's go.”
Under the protection of the police, the two discreetly left through the back door of the police station, avoiding the swarm of scandal-hungry reporters at the main entrance.