Chapter 109 A Gift for the Child

Leaving the restaurant, it was already nine at night, and the sky was clear with just a few stars twinkling.

Outside the car window, the city lights painted a warm picture of people hurrying home after a long day.

The car ride was super quiet. Carl had his eyes closed, and it was hard to tell if he was drunk or just plain exhausted.

Quinn glanced at him, unsure of what to say. The silence was making her uneasy.

So, she hooked up her phone to the car's Bluetooth and started playing some music. As the tunes filled the car, her mind wandered back to life before Carl.

Never envisioning marriage due to her parents' tumultuous relationship, she found herself wedded to Carl.

While they maintained polite interactions, the depth of their connection was lacking. To Carl, she was merely a minor figure in a contractual agreement.

When they pulled up to the Maplewood Heights Estates parking lot, they saw a guy in a black suit standing in the way. Quinn unbuckled her seatbelt, ready to get out, but the guy quickly approached them. "Mr. Ward, Mrs. Ward!"

Quinn looked at Carl, confused. She'd never seen this guy before, but since he addressed them like that, he must be from the Ward family.

Carl's eyes landed on the bag the man was holding. "What's this?"

"Mr. Steven Ward asked me to deliver this. It's some herbs for Mrs. Ward to take on time to boost her immunity and resistance."

Carl took the bag. "Thank you for me, Grandpa!"

"Okay!" The man, mission accomplished, turned and left.

Back home, Quinn eagerly opened the bag to see what herbs Grandpa had sent, but she was stunned by what she found.

She turned to Carl, eyes wide. "You... told Grandpa?"

Carl looked puzzled. "Told him what?"

Quinn's eyes flashed with annoyance as she pointed at the herbs on the table. "These are for stabilizing pregnancy. Did you tell Grandpa I'm pregnant?"

Carl looked surprised, seeing the shock in her eyes. "It wasn't me, I didn't say anything."

They stared at each other, and Quinn believed him, but she felt even more pressure.

She chose to keep it from Steven to prevent him from becoming too involved in her and Carl's affairs. Aware of Steven's desire for the next generation, Quinn remained hesitant.

"Aren't you good with medicine? You handle these herbs yourself!" Carl said as he walked towards the study. "Our affairs are our own. Do what you want, don't force yourself."

Quinn put the herbs away. After listening to a bunch of big shots talk about their creative ideas, her mind was buzzing with inspiration.

She changed her clothes and headed to her workspace, her thoughts flowing freely.

The details she'd missed in her design before were now clear. Once she got into her work, everything else faded away.

Sometimes, instead of getting lost in emotions, it's better to dive into work and keep busy so she didn't overthink.

The large screen on the wall showcased her design drafts, and her desk was cluttered with various tools. It might have looked a bit chaotic, but the drafts, though not flashy, were quite pleasing and worth a closer look.

Despite knowing that "Tailor-made" was Carl's promise to his dream lover, Lucy, Quinn was determined to pour her heart into the project.

Viewing it as a gift for her child, she resolved to channel all her purest and most passionate love towards the baby, as she and Carl were merely contractual partners.

In the study, Carl was also deeply engrossed in reports on his computer.

Separated by a room, they both adhered to the unspoken rule of not disturbing each other.

But the quiet was soon broken by Carl's phone ringing. "What's up?"

"Mr. Ward, Charles is out of the hospital. He met with Kurt from Zenith Technologies Group today."

Hearing this, Carl's eyes turned cold. Kurt Gutierrez—Steven's old friend who betrayed him, making the Ward family and Kurt mortal enemies—was known for his cunning and ruthless ways.

Zenith Technologies Group, under Kurt's control, was involved in a lot of shady business.

"Got it, keep an eye on him," Carl said, his tone icy.

He thought, 'Charles, that bastard, it seems my last warning wasn't enough. He's still acting recklessly.'

After hanging up, Carl lost the mood to keep working.

Leaning back in his chair, he replayed recent events in his mind. 

Soon, Emily's face appeared, and Carl frowned. Every time he saw Emily, he felt a sense of déjà vu, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't remember where he'd seen her before. It left him with a distant, unsettling feeling.

The more Carl pondered, the more irritated he grew. Eventually, he opened a drawer and lit a cigar, the night deepening as it burned.

Carl's drowsiness crept in. He placed the cigar in the ashtray, got up, and headed to the bedroom. But when he opened the door and saw the empty bed, with the covers neatly laid out, untouched, he felt a bit dazed.

Quinn hadn't come back to the bedroom to sleep? Where was she?

He turned to look for her, and as he passed her workspace, he heard movement inside. He came to the door, which was slightly ajar, and the light inside spilled out through the crack.

Following the light, Carl saw Quinn sitting at the computer, tweaking her design draft. She was so focused that she didn't even notice him.

Through her profile, he could see her gentleness, her serious demeanor, and her eyes fixed on the screen.

Her face, illuminated by the light, was smooth and delicate, with a healthy rosy glow.

Her long hair was tied into a big bun, giving off a pure and gentle vibe.

Carl didn't disturb her but went to the kitchen to heat up a cup of milk for her.

Hearing the door open, Quinn turned to see Carl walking in with the milk.

Carl walked over, gently placed the milk on an empty spot on the table, and softly reminded her, "It's really late. Drink the milk and get some rest."

Quinn was taken aback, glancing at the milk on the table and then at Carl as he turned to depart. The words of gratitude remained lodged in her throat, unspoken.

Until Carl closed the door behind him, Quinn remained in a daze.