Chapter 47
"Mom," Chloe's face hardened, "I've backed down enough already. Don't forget, I haven't divorced Arthur yet. If you don't want Avery labeled a homewrecker and publicly shamed, give me what I want."
Karen's face turned green with rage as she raised her voice. "Are you threatening me?"
"Yes."
Chloe regarded her with perfect composure. "Those with nothing to lose fear nothing. You know exactly what I'm capable of."
At this, Karen fell silent.
The very reason she despised her daughter was that beneath Chloe's delicate appearance lay someone who always found ways to make others suffer.
Karen might control Chloe at home, forcing her to bow to Avery, but Chloe always found ways to even the score elsewhere.
"Fine, as if I care about that worthless necklace. Edward's been dead for years—keeping his things is just inviting bad luck. Have you no sense of occasion? Are you trying to embarrass Derek? After the birthday celebration ends, I'll return your necklace. Now, can you please leave?"
"Good. Keep your word."
Chloe closed the door and went downstairs. The hall was filling with more and more guests.
Hating these social obligations at the Scott residence, Chloe headed straight for a chair by the pool to rest.
Before she could sit down, Avery approached gracefully.
She wore a simple white dress, her slightly rounded belly emphasizing her pregnancy.
"Chloe, why are you out here alone?"
"Avery, Arthur isn't around. Why bother pretending we're close?"
Avery's smile deepened.
"Chloe, your hostility is too much. I genuinely have no intention of interfering in your marriage now."
Chloe couldn't help but laugh.
"You don't want to interfere with our marriage, yet you're pregnant with my husband's child? Why bother with such lofty pretenses? Just stay away from me—I don't want to argue."
After searching the reception hall, Yvette finally spotted Chloe standing with Avery by the swimming pool.
A vicious gleam flashed in her eyes.
Her opportunity had arrived.
While the two were distracted in conversation, she quietly positioned herself behind them and forcefully shoved Chloe forward.
With so many distinguished guests in the hall, Chloe was about to be thoroughly humiliated.
Focused entirely on Avery, Chloe felt a powerful push from behind, her body lurching forward uncontrollably.
"Chloe..."
Avery, spotting Arthur approaching the reception hall, instinctively reached out to grab Chloe.
Yvette hadn't anticipated this reaction. Her expression transformed from anticipatory glee to horror.
Everyone in the Scott family knew that Avery's unborn child was their golden ticket, their future guarantee of wealth and status. If anything happened to it...
Yvette immediately began screaming, "Help! Avery's fallen into the pool!"
Chloe had never been a strong swimmer. The moment she hit the water, she felt someone grab her forcefully.
Then came a series of loud splashes around her.
But the commotion wasn't for her rescue. Unable to open her eyes in the pool water, Chloe could only flail her arms instinctively.
No...
She couldn't die here.
In life-threatening situations, the body unleashes extraordinary strength.
Chloe desperately thrashed her arms until she finally grabbed the railing and hauled herself up with all her might. Looking up, she caught a glimpse of Arthur carrying Avery upstairs.
Whether from the cold water or her freshly wounded heart, Chloe began to tremble.
Arthur had jumped into the water, and when faced with a choice between her and Avery, he had unhesitatingly chosen Avery.
Chloe tilted her head back, fighting to keep her tears from falling.
The scales in his heart had finally tipped.
The pain in her abdomen intensified. Stumbling to her feet, Chloe headed upstairs to find a guest room, ignoring the curious stares around her.
Without a bedroom of her own in this house, she found a maid and bought a set of the woman's clothes to change into, but she still felt cold.
Unconsciously, Chloe placed a hand on her belly.
She needed to get to a hospital for a check-up.
The shock and the fall into water—her baby couldn't possibly withstand such trauma.
Until she made her final decision, she needed to protect this child.
Wrapped in borrowed clothes and clutching her abdomen, Chloe headed for the exit.
Karen, after searching everywhere, finally found her and stormed over furiously.
"Chloe, you're shameless! Avery is pregnant, yet you pushed her into the pool! Let me tell you, if anything happens to Avery's baby, you'll pay dearly. Go check on Avery immediately! I swear, how did I give birth to such a heartless creature?"
"Yes, how did I end up as the daughter of a woman like you?"
Frost glazed Chloe's eyes.
"Move."
"How dare you speak to me like that? Wait—where are you going?"
Though harsh, Karen wasn't completely obtuse.
She scrutinized Chloe, noticing how she cradled her abdomen.
Could Chloe be pregnant, too, trying to trap Arthur? If so, then Avery's position...
She would never allow anyone to threaten Avery's status.
"Chloe," Karen asked abruptly, "you're not pregnant, are you?"
"Mom, you arranged for Avery to steal my husband. How could I be pregnant? Besides, a man who's been used by someone else—I find it disgusting."
Chloe spoke with cold detachment.
Karen knew perfectly well how much Chloe had loved Arthur.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have enabled Avery's schemes.
Hearing Chloe speak of Arthur this way reassured her considerably.
Avery was right—Chloe's feelings for Arthur were souring, and her position as Mrs. Williams grew increasingly precarious.
"Good to see you being sensible. Don't talk about divorce while secretly getting pregnant. I won't waste energy on you if that child becomes illegitimate."
Karen added dismissively, "This incident isn't over. Thankfully, Avery is fine. Wait until your father gets home—he'll deal with you properly."
After Karen left, Chloe exhaled in relief, leaning against the wall for support.
The Scott and Williams families absolutely could not learn about her pregnancy. Even if she ultimately decided against keeping the child, that decision belonged to her alone—no one else had any right to interfere.
"Chloe, do you hate me that much now?"
Arthur's voice came from behind her. His suit and hair still dripped with water. Who knew how long he'd been standing there, his eyes filled with sorrow.