Chapter 79

Chapter 79

The sharp crack of the slap exploded through the quiet lounge.

Lynn's head whipped to the side. Five vivid red finger marks bloomed instantly across her pale cheek.

She clutched her face, eyes wide with disbelief. She clearly hadn't expected a pregnant woman to actually strike her.

Just then, the lounge door swung open again. Lucas, returning with paperwork in hand, caught the present scene.

"Lucas!" Lynn's reaction was lightning-fast. Her eyes flooded red, tears spilling down her cheeks like broken strings of pearls. She stumbled toward him like a frightened deer and collapsed into his arms, sobbing pitifully. "I only came to check on Ms. Spencer out of kindness, to ask about the baby. Why would she suddenly hit me?"

Lucas wrapped his arm around Lynn's shoulders. When he saw her swollen, reddened cheek, his brow furrowed into a tight knot.

He lifted his gaze. His eyes cut sharply toward Sylvia, his tone heavy with accusation. "Sylvia, what's gotten into you now? Lynn came here out of concern, and you—a pregnant woman—are acting this hostile?"

"Concern?" Sylvia let out a cold laugh. Her eyes sliced across Lynn's pitiful expression like a blade. "She didn't have a single kind word. She cursed my baby, said it wouldn't make it. One slap was me showing restraint."

"I didn't! Lucas, I really didn't!" Lynn shook her head frantically, crying so hard she could barely breathe. She clutched desperately at Lucas's lapels, painting herself as an innocent victim. "I only reminded Sylvia to take care of herself. Maybe I phrased it badly and she misunderstood."

Seeing Lynn's wounded look, then glancing at Sylvia's cold, unyielding stance, Lucas naturally sided with Lynn.

In his mind, Sylvia had grown increasingly difficult lately. Her hitting someone was clearly just her being unreasonable.

"Enough." Lucas's face darkened. His voice was cold as he addressed Lynn. "She's pregnant and her emotions are unstable. Just be patient with her. Don't take it personally."

Lynn bit her lip and nodded meekly. Then she turned toward Sylvia, her voice small and submissive. "I'm sorry, Ms. Spencer. If my words upset you just now, I apologize."

Lucas looked at Sylvia, his tone brooking no argument. "Lynn's already apologized. Don't push this. Let it go."

Sylvia turned her face away coldly. Her voice held no warmth. "I don't accept it."

"Sylvia, don't push your luck!" Lucas's patience snapped. His voice shot up sharply.

The standoff was instant. The air between them reeked of gunpowder.

Rhea watched from the side, fury boiling inside her. But for Sylvia's sake, she forced down her anger and stepped forward to mediate. "Enough already! Sylvia just finished her tests and needs rest. She can't handle stress. If you want to fight, take it outside. Don't make a scene here!"

Lynn knew when to quit while she was ahead. Covering her face, she tugged gently at Lucas's sleeve, her voice delicate and pitiful. "Lucas, my face really hurts. Can you take me out of here? I don't want to upset Sylvia anymore."

Lucas glanced at Sylvia's emotionless face. He knew she didn't want to see him right now.

Irritation flared in his chest. Half-reluctantly, he put his arm around Lynn and turned toward the door. "Come on. I'll take you to get that treated."

Watching their retreating figures walk out together, Rhea trembled with rage. She pointed at the doorway and cursed loudly. "What trash! Leaving his pregnant wife to coddle his mistress! Lucas is a blind, worthless bastard!"

After venting, she turned to Sylvia, eyes full of heartache. "Sylvia, I'm so sorry you had to go through that."

"Mom, I'm fine. Getting angry over people like that isn't worth it." Sylvia stroked her belly. Her tone was eerily calm.

Worried that Sylvia would bottle up her anger and make herself sick, Rhea immediately pulled out her phone and called Xanthe, asking her to come keep Sylvia company—maybe take her shopping to lift her spirits.

Xanthe didn't hesitate. She drove straight to the hospital.

After Rhea filled her in on what happened, Xanthe spent the entire car ride ripping Lucas apart verbally.

"Let's go! We're hitting the most expensive mall in Emerald City and spending that scumbag's money!" Xanthe floored the gas pedal and headed straight for the downtown shopping district.

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Inside the mall, the heating was on full blast. Xanthe carefully looked after Sylvia as they walked straight into a high-end jewelry store.

"You're about to give birth, and as the godmother, I have to pick out the best gold pieces for the baby!" Xanthe leaned eagerly over the display counter, browsing the selection.

Sylvia stood beside her with a faint smile, about to say something, when her peripheral vision caught movement in the VIP section nearby.

A well-maintained, elegantly dressed middle-aged woman sat on a leather sofa, dripping in jewels.

Sitting beside her, clinging affectionately to her arm and acting coy, was none other than Lynn—the same Lynn who'd been sobbing pathetically at the hospital earlier.

That woman was Sylvia's birth mother, Mia.

Years ago, Mia had found Hayden's startup struggles too difficult to bear. She'd abandoned her husband and daughter to marry into the wealthy Johnson family, becoming Lynn's stepmother.

Over the years, Mia had ignored her biological daughter Sylvia completely, yet treated her stepdaughter Lynn like her own flesh and blood, showering her with affection.

At this moment, Mia held up a dazzling diamond necklace, gently draping it around Lynn's neck to see how it looked. Her eyes were full of maternal warmth. "This one looks the most beautiful on you, Lynn. I'll buy it for you."

Lynn giggled and kissed Mia on the cheek. "Thank you, Mom! You're the best!"

What a touching picture of mother-daughter devotion.

Sylvia watched the scene quietly. Her eyes held no emotion—not a trace of sadness or resentment.

Many years ago, she'd already decided that woman was dead to her.

Mia seemed to sense the stare. She turned her head.

The moment she recognized Sylvia, her smile froze. Panic and discomfort flickered through her eyes.

Sylvia simply glanced at her coolly, as if looking at a complete stranger with whom she had no connection.

She calmly withdrew her gaze and turned to Xanthe. "Xanthe, are you done picking? Let's check out another store."

No confrontation. No anger. Just complete and utter indifference.

Mia watched Sylvia's retreating figure disappear without a backward glance. Her hand tightened around the diamond necklace. An indescribable feeling welled up inside her chest.

After returning from the mall, with her due date approaching and the doctor's orders to rest, Sylvia stayed home at the Spencer Manor, preparing for labor.

Perhaps out of guilt over what happened at the hospital, Lucas started coming around the Spencer Manor more often.

He brought expensive supplements and even tried sitting in the living room to make conversation with Sylvia.