84

Erina’s POV

"You need to know that you're not your father's biological child, Neo. The child Maisie is carrying is definitely being prepared to replace you."

I pressed the 'send' button on my phone, sending that message to Neo.

But after a few seconds, I realized something. "Am I blocked?" I murmured in disbelief.

A mix of emotions washed over me. Anxiety and anger merged as I stared at the phone screen that showed no response. The message was not just controversial; it could trigger an even bigger rift between us.

I tried to calm myself, but my mind raced with possibilities. What would Neo do after reading that message? Would he believe it? Or would he pull further away?

With the uncertainty weighing on my mind, I knew this situation was only going to get more complicated. Now, I could only wait and hope that the decision I made wouldn't ruin everything.

I typed the same sentence again, sending it to Neo's number once more. But the result was the same. The message wouldn't go through.

So, I tried calling the man. But the result was the same. Neo had blocked all my access to him.

Panic started to creep in. There was no way to reach Neo, and all the words I wanted to say felt trapped inside me. The decision I made seemed to have created an unbridgeable chasm between us.

I felt frustrated and confused. Why did he have to take that step? Didn't he want to hear my explanation?

Staring at the dark phone screen, I felt a heavy burden in my chest. Now, the only thing I could do was find a way to contact him directly.

"Ah, damn!" I cursed in frustration. I had promised my parents that today we would visit Alexander's house to discuss the child support for the baby I was carrying.

But if Neo couldn't be reached like this, how was I supposed to provoke him to remove Maisie from Alexander's life?

The frustration mounted. Without Neo's presence, my plan felt incomplete. I knew he was the key to conveying the message I wanted to plant—that Maisie's existence and the child she was carrying could threaten Neo's position.

All the plans I had considered were now in shambles. Facing this situation alone made me feel vulnerable and powerless. I needed to find another way to reach Neo, or at least get information about what was happening between them.

With my thoughts in turmoil, I tried to plan my next steps. Perhaps there were other ways to contact Neo, or maybe I needed to learn more about the situation between Alexander and Maisie before proceeding with my plans.

There was a knock on my room door. "Are you ready, Erina? Hurry up, Mom and Dad are already ready."

I bit my lip nervously. I had been ready for a while, but my plans were not going as I wanted.

Worry began to gnaw at my mind. A sense of discomfort stirred in my stomach, and I felt pressure in my chest. Everything I wanted to convey in this meeting felt farther away.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm myself. Maybe, even though the situation was not ideal, there was still a chance to change the direction of the conversation. I had to stay focused and prepare for whatever would happen.

As the knocking became more insistent, I knew I had to leave my room and face reality. Even though my initial plans were shattered, I still had a chance to set my next steps.

"Yeah, Mom, just a minute," I called from inside the room as I grabbed my bag. I hurriedly opened the door and gave a sheepish smile. "I'm ready, Mom."

"Great, let's hurry," my mom turned and walked quickly to the front door.

I followed her, trying to mask the anxiety still gnawing at me. On the way to the living room, my mind was filled with unfulfilled plans and uncertainty about what would happen next.

As we stepped outside, I felt a weight on my shoulders, but I tried to keep smiling. This meeting could be an opportunity to explain the situation better, even though I still felt doubt in my heart.

Outside, the atmosphere felt bright, but my heart raced. With everything on my mind, I hoped this meeting wouldn't just be a step back but would instead open the way to resolve all the issues at hand.

I kept trying to contact Neo, attempting every access I knew. I planned to provoke him into cooperating with me to remove Maisie. Because I knew, Neo wouldn't be happy if he found out that the child Maisie was carrying was meant to replace him.

But the problem was, the man was completely unreachable now. Frustration deepened as every effort I made led to the same result.

Without Neo's presence, all my plans felt shaky. I needed his support to move this plan forward. Without him, I felt like I was sailing aimlessly, trapped in uncertainty.

Time kept passing, and I grew increasingly worried about the impact of his absence. The longer I waited, the more my curiosity about what was really happening with Neo became urgent. Was he okay? Or was he perhaps thinking the same thing?

In this confusing state, the only thing I could do was prepare for the next steps, even though without Neo's presence, the challenges ahead felt even heavier.

Even when they arrived at Alexander's house and I looked around for Neo, the man still did not show his face.

"This discussion is more suitable to be talked about with Neo," my father said while enjoying his dinner.

My anxiety grew. Without Neo's presence, all the plans and strategies I had prepared felt wasted. I tried to stay calm, but my thoughts kept drifting toward the bad possibilities that could arise if Neo wasn't here.

I tried to respond with a smile, but my heart raced. “Yes, Dad, but maybe we can start first. We can discuss a few things before Neo arrives.”

I hoped to mask my anxiety, but deep down, I knew that without Neo, this situation could become more complicated. I needed to find a way to steer the conversation, at least until Neo showed up.

Yes, Alexander graciously welcomed the in-laws with a lavish dinner, all to show politeness and a bit of hospitality.

“Oh really? About what?” Alexander asked flatly.

“About the child support for the child that Erina is carrying,” my dad replied bluntly. “Before they enter the court process regarding custody, I want to clarify whether Neo is willing to take on all the support for the child that Erina is carrying.”

The atmosphere immediately became tense. I could feel Alexander’s sharp gaze, and my heart raced. This was the crux of the meeting, but without Neo’s presence, all these statements felt weightless.

I looked at my dad, hoping he could sense the discomfort enveloping the room. In my mind, I began to think of ways to divert attention from the existing uncertainty. If Neo didn’t show up, I had to be prepared to face any outcome in this discussion.

All the words I wanted to convey felt stuck in my throat. I knew that right now, every decision made could have a significant impact on my child's future.

Alexander stopped eating, while Maisie, sitting to his right, looked up. She scanned my family one by one, shaking her head in disbelief.