Chapter 116 All the Scheming
Grace seemed oblivious and thought it over seriously. "Let me check the timing—it lines up. So the child's dad is Matthew? No wonder you kept it secret. You wanted to surprise us all!"
After that, Grace smiled gently.
She wanted to see how Emily and Matthew would respond!
Either admit the kid is his and take full responsibility from now on—then the child would have nothing to do with Alex!
Or deny it, which would prove Emily has an illegitimate daughter with an unknown father.
No matter what Matthew picked, Emily would come out looking bad.
Grace's lips curved slightly, almost unnoticeably.
All eyes around them focused again.
"Miss Johnson has a kid? This... this is really unexpected!"
"If the timing matches, doesn't that make it the Moore family's child?"
"I bet she just came from the Baker family's engagement party today, and in half a month she'll be at the Johnson family's wedding, hahaha!"
...
The whispers around them kept going.
How could Matthew miss Grace's vicious plan?
His eyes cooled. Just as he was about to speak and take all the blame, Emily stepped out from behind him.
She looked straight at Grace, eyes cold. "Miss Miller, no need to guess. My daughter has nothing to do with Matthew—or anyone here."
Grace narrowed her eyes. "Then your daughter..."
"Modern medicine makes it easy to pick good genes from a sperm bank and have a kid alone. It's common. I just chose the life I wanted." Emily sneered, her words sharp. "I didn't break up any family, didn't rely on a man, and did it openly. What's shady about that?"
Her tone was open and direct, with no hint of dodging.
The crowd erupted again—this time not in mockery.
But in shock and respect!
"Oh my god, sperm bank baby? Miss Johnson is so bold!"
"Raising a kid alone without a man—that's cool!"
"Compared to that... cough, no wonder Miss Johnson is so upfront. What illegitimate kid is that?"
"I don't know who's spreading rumors. I swear I've seen Grace online before. Wasn't she a live streamer?"
Suddenly, all color drained from Grace's face!
Her carefully maintained gentle image nearly cracked.
If someone exposed her as a former live streamer now, what would the Baker family think?
Linda had just started to warm up to her!
She had planned everything, but never saw Emily shutting down all the gossip like this.
Linda's face turned ugly too.
Andrew stepped up to smooth things over.
Alex stood in the crowd, his deep eyes locked on Emily, full of extreme emotion.
At least she wasn't really with Matthew—but that brought a flood of heartache and bitterness.
She'd rather use a sperm bank and raise the kid alone rather than give him a chance.
During their three years of marriage... she'd been on birth control.
Plus, they always used protection perfectly and they never talked about having kids.
How come right after the divorce...
Suddenly, Matthew took her hand and smiled mildly at everyone. "Emmie has the right to choose her life, just like every woman here. This is Mr. Baker's engagement party, so we won't we won't interrupt the ceremony any more . We're heading out."
Alex's gaze hit their joined hands, his eyes turning dark and fierce.
He suddenly strode forward, step by step toward Emily.
Grace watched his back, panicked completely, and rushed to grab him. "Alex, where are you going? The ceremony's starting—we..."
Alex didn't even look at her and shook off her hand. "Is this what you wanted?"
Grace went silent.
Her throat felt blocked, words stuck.
Even Linda frowned. "Alex, pay attention to the occasion!"
Alex sneered and kept walking, each step hitting like a drum on everyone's hearts, until he was right in front of Emily. "What, don't want to find a dad for the kid?"
Emily didn't expect that. Her heart skipped, then she steadied herself and said flatly, "Mr. Baker, watch your word! This is your engagement party—your fiancée's right there. My business isn't for you to ask about."
It has nothing to do with him!
One sentence froze Alex's heart.
He saw the cold distance in her eyes and felt pain stabbing his chest.
Just then, someone went on stage.
"Everyone, next—please welcome Mr. Baker and Miss Miller on stage for the engagement ceremony!"
Grace pulled herself together fast, hurried to Alex's side, and took his arm.
This time, Alex didn't pull away.
But his eyes stayed locked on Emily.
Emily, holding Matthew's hand, had already turned and walked to their seats—back straight, no looking back.
One minute later,
Alex went on stage.
It was a big engagement party, everything full of ceremony and show.
The host's loud voice rang out: "Now, please exchange engagement rings!"
Everyone waited for this, media ready nearby.
This was the key moment.
Usually, the guy kneels and puts the ring on the woman.
Once they swapped rings, they were officially engaged.
An etiquette lady walked up slowly with a velvet ring box.
Inside were two huge diamond rings, as big as pigeon eggs and dazzling bright.
Grace's heart raced with excitement.
Once this was done, she'd be the real Mrs. Baker!
No one could take her place.
"Alex, come on, I'll put yours on first. The favors and cake are ready—grandma's favorite cookies, and..."
She reached to slide the ring on Alex's ring finger.
But he didn't even lift his hand. "Engagement? An engagement party should be about celebrating and sharing joy. You think there's any joy here?"
The whole place went quiet, all eyes on the stage.
Grace's hand hung in mid-air, her smile cracking.
She whispered fast, voice trembling like a plea. "Alex, please play along—just this once... Mom and them are watching below. You don't want the Baker family trending, right? Even grandma would be happy."
But Alex looked down at his left pinky.
There was a very plain ring.
No fancy designs, no engravings—looked totally ordinary.
But when Emily saw it from the crowd, she froze stiff!
That ring...
Was their wedding ring.
Cheap, plain, worthless.
Back then, she'd put it on him happily, but he looked annoyed, took it off at home, tossed it in a drawer, and never wore it again.
She thought he'd thrown it away long ago.