Chapter 160: Hidden Pain

Claire: POV

"Having Christina by my side is enough for me. As for children, whatever happens, happens." Patrick said.

"So you still definitely want children, don't you?" I pressed, unable to keep the tension from my voice.

Patrick noticed my strange tone but answered with what seemed like genuine honesty.

"Not definitely. But I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't love to have a kid who looks like Christina. They'd be adorable."

I pressed my lips together, feeling my chest tighten.

"Mr. Brown, are you planning to marry Christina?" I asked directly.

"Right now, Christina's the one who won't marry me," Patrick replied with a self-deprecating smile. "She's hesitant about commitment."

My fingers curled into fists. "Christina won't get married because... she can't have children. If you absolutely need children, then don't continue with her. You'll only end up hurting her."

I watched the shock register on his face.

"Without you, without children, Christina can still live a good life," I added firmly. "My sister has always been exceptional. Even after everything she's been through, she's survived."

Patrick's expression transformed. "What do you mean she can't have children?"

He stared at me for what felt like eternity. "I don't care about having children or not. I just thought if we had one, I'd spoil them rotten. But if we don't, I won't feel like I'm missing anything."

"Like Mia said, the Brown family has plenty of people. Our family line isn't going to end."

I sighed in relief. "As long as you understand."

But Patrick wasn't done. His voice turned almost demanding. "I don't care whether Christina can bear children for me. What I care about is why she can't. Is it congenital or acquired? Was she harmed?"

My body went rigid. My lips trembled uncontrollably.

"I'm sorry..." I choked out, tears welling up. "I don't know... I don't know..."

Patrick didn't push further. "It's getting late. You and Mr. Reed should head home."

When I opened the door, Tyler was leaning against the wall, slurring, "Darling, there you are."

I quickly supported him, eager to escape. In the car, the supposedly drunk Tyler suddenly straightened up, perfectly sober.

"So Christina really can't have children?" he asked bluntly.

My body trembled, but I remained silent.

"I'm talking to you! Can Christina have children or not? I heard everything you and Patrick said in the bar!"

I gripped the steering wheel tighter. "Whether Christina can have children is none of our business. That's between her and Patrick."

"How is it not our business?!" Tyler's face contorted with anger. "Didn't you see how rich the Brown family is? Didn't you see the gift Andrew gave worth millions?"

"If your sister can't have children, she shouldn't be taking up that position. If she can't have children, what's the point of her dating and wasting people's time!"

"If my sister could marry into the Brown family, our Reed family's fortune would change forever! As long as she gives Patrick a child, everything would be different!"

"You're insane!" I snapped, slapping him hard across the face.

"That's my sister! My flesh and blood! She's finally found someone who loves her after everything she's been through! You can't hurt her! No one can hurt her!"

Tyler looked stunned. "You dare hit me?"

"Tyler Reed! Try it! My sister's boyfriend is Patrick Brown! Unless you don't want this connection to the Browns anymore!"

Tyler had been about to retaliate, but my words stopped him. He realized Christina's boyfriend was Patrick, and he still hoped the Brown family would help him. Until his plan succeeded, he had to keep pretending.

"Honey, don't be angry. I'm just worried Christina will be rejected by the Brown family if she can't have children."

"Then don't worry about it. Patrick said he doesn't care about having children."

Back home, I locked myself in the bathroom, turning on the faucet to mask my sobs.

Christina became like this because of me. Born in a broken family in Pennsylvania, I was luckier than my little sister.

My father didn't dare touch me while my grandmother was alive.

He often beat Christina instead.

I'll never forget that terrible day.

I was showering when my father broke in. I screamed for help, but the neighbors ignored it – they knew my father was a violent drunk.

In that moment of desperation, Christina came home from school.

Seeing what was happening, she knocked our father unconscious with a stick.

Our father resented Christina.

One day, drunk and enraged, he sharpened a knife and stormed into her room.

Though she defended herself, she was still stabbed.

Our father fled, leaving her bleeding.

Our mother took Christina to an illegal clinic – not because they couldn't afford proper care, but because she didn't want the incident to affect our brother's future.

The doctor said Christina's wounds didn't require removing her uterus. But our mother insisted.

She had discovered our father's evil intentions and feared a "bastard child," so she destroyed Christina's ability to bear children.

Our seemingly gentle mother was actually venomous. She used the family and our brother's future to force Christina's silence.

Fortunately, Christina was smart. She never returned home again, boarding at school or working through holidays.

Our father still wouldn't leave her alone. When Christina refused to drop out, he used a megaphone outside her school, slandering her for "eloping, getting pregnant, and becoming infertile."

They were all monsters. I hoped Christina would run as far as possible.

She did. She got into NYU, cut all ties with our family, and started a new life.

In his study, Tyler's eyes turned cold. He ordered someone to investigate why Christina was infertile, while sending news back to Pennsylvania that she had a wealthy boyfriend in New York.

"The Brown family has never seen such premium specimens. They'll definitely break up."

Tyler smiled coldly. "A woman who can't get pregnant certainly doesn't deserve to marry into the Brown family!"

And I had no idea what terrible decision my husband had just made.