Chapter 64

"Sylvia, drink your milk first." Rhea handed over the glass, her eyes filled with deep worry. "He's... not coming home again tonight?"

Sylvia took the milk, the warmth spreading from her fingertips. She took a sip, her expression as calm as if discussing the weather: "Probably not."

"Does he even consider you his wife anymore? You're so far along in your pregnancy, something could happen at any time, and what does he do? Never home!" Rhea wiped away tears in frustration.

Sylvia put down the glass and pulled out a tissue to gently dab her mother's eyes, her tone soft yet resilient: "Mom, whether he comes home or not, I don't care anymore. My only thought now is to safely deliver this baby. As for him, whatever."

As time passed, Sylvia's pregnancy progressed further.

Her belly swelled high, as if she'd stuffed a heavy ball under her clothes.

Her legs began to swell, and after just a few steps she'd feel her back aching, her breathing growing heavy.

Considering her condition, she proactively asked Edward for time off to rest at home and prepare for the birth.

Every afternoon, Rhea would support her as they walked around the artificial lake in their residential area.

The early winter sunlight carried a thin, cold edge. Sylvia wore a thick down jacket, walking slowly, but her spirits were much better than before.

Away from the complicated work and suffocating emotional entanglements, she'd actually found a long-lost peace.

That evening, when Rhea and Sylvia returned from their walk, they immediately sensed an unusually heavy atmosphere in the living room.

Lucas's usual leather shoes sat in the entryway.

He was home early today.

Queenie was wiping the coffee table with a cloth. Seeing Sylvia enter, she immediately stopped and hurried over. After her previous lesson, she was much more careful now, barely daring to lift her head, her voice low: "Mrs. Smith, you're back. Mr. Smith is in the upstairs study. He said when you returned, you should go see him there."

Sylvia's hand paused slightly as she removed her coat.

Lucas was asking for her? In their three years of marriage, this was extremely rare. Every time he sought her out, nothing good came of it.

Rhea looked at her daughter with concern: "Sylvia, should I come up with you?"

"No need, Mom." Sylvia shook her head, her expression calm. "Please hang up my coat for me. I'll go see what he wants to say."

She held the stair railing and climbed to the second floor step by step.

The study door was slightly ajar, cold white light seeping through.

Sylvia didn't knock, just pushed the door open and entered.

The main light wasn't on inside, only a desk lamp glowing.

Lucas sat in a large executive chair, half his body hidden in shadow.

An unlit cigarette was pinched between his fingers, his chiseled features appearing even harder in the interplay of light and shadow.

Hearing the sound, he looked up, his cold eyes locking directly onto Sylvia.

"You wanted to see me?" Sylvia didn't approach, just stood a few steps from the desk, her tone as distant as if facing a stranger.

Lucas casually tossed the cigarette onto the desk, leaning forward slightly, hands crossed under his chin, his gaze sweeping across Sylvia's face with intense pressure.

"What exactly is your relationship with Edward and Amelia?" He got straight to the point, his voice low and cold, carrying an unquestionable demand.

Sylvia frowned slightly, not understanding why he was suddenly asking this, but answered honestly: "Amelia was my graduate advisor, she's always taken good care of me. As for Edward, he's my former boss, now a work partner, and also a friend."

"Friend?" Lucas repeated the word, a cold laugh escaping his throat.

He suddenly stood up, hands braced on the desk edge, looking down at her from above: "What kind of friend would spare no effort targeting the Smith Group for you? What kind of advisor would hold up a hundred-million-dollar project for the Powell Group, all for one student?"

His eyes grew colder, like a sharp blade trying to peel away Sylvia's calm facade.

He didn't believe things could be this simple.

Amelia's warning to him, Edward's hostility toward Lynn, and Sylvia's recent unusual coldness and composure.

Sylvia looked at those scrutinizing eyes and suddenly felt it was laughable.

In his eyes, she was just a resentful wife who only knew how to depend on men and would stop at nothing to compete for favor.

He would never believe she could earn others' respect through her own abilities, much less believe that Amelia and Edward's protection was simply out of recognition for who she was as a person.

Lucas stared at her intently, his gaze churning with suspicion and menace.

Sylvia knew this look too well.

She knew what he suspected—that she was using Edward and Amelia to take revenge on him, even suspecting something improper between her and Edward.

The air in the study seemed to freeze into ice.

Sylvia stood there quietly, letting his malicious gaze cut into her.

"If Mr. Smith has already convicted me in his heart, why bother with this interrogation?" Sylvia met his menacing gaze, her voice light as an elusive breeze. "Think whatever you want."

She didn't even bother with a single word of explanation. This complete dismissal and giving up felt more stifling to Lucas than any heated argument.

He stared at her pale but stubborn face, his chest feeling like it was stuffed with water-soaked cotton, stuck in place.

"Get out." Lucas suddenly closed his eyes, irritably tugging at his tie, his voice cold as ice.

Sylvia didn't linger for a moment, turning and walking out of the study.

Downstairs, Rhea sat on the sofa preparing vegetables. Seeing her daughter come down with an even colder, more distant expression, she guessed what had happened.

She sighed quietly, put down her work, and went to take Sylvia's arm.

"Sylvia, the weather's nice today. Let me take you out for a walk? We can go to the mall and get some things for you and the baby." Rhea forced a smile, afraid her daughter would stay home in a bad mood and affect the baby.

Sylvia wanted to refuse, but meeting her mother's worried eyes, she eventually nodded.

Rhea and Sylvia went to an upscale mall downtown.

Rhea took her for an elegant afternoon tea, then browsed several maternity stores.

Looking at those small, adorable baby clothes, Sylvia's tense nerves finally relaxed a bit.

Passing a jewelry store, Rhea pulled her inside.

In the display cases, various pieces of jewelry sparkled with a soft glow under the lights.