Chapter 187

Chapter 187

A genuine smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he responded to the person on the phone. "Thanks. She's dealing with some morning sickness, not feeling great. Just asking the doctor what might help her out."

"Morning sickness is totally normal! Let me have my mom hook you up with some amazing nutritionists and nannies to take care of Emily's meals and everything else!" Francis eagerly volunteered, his enthusiasm coming through the line.

After hanging up, Michael walked over to Emily, casually slipping his arm around her shoulders and leaning down to murmur in her ear. "Emily, did you see we're trending?"

Emily had definitely noticed. She was used to the online buzz by now and wasn't particularly fazed by any of it.

She hadn't been concerned, but then Michael's gentle voice continued.

"Now everyone knows about you and the baby. I've already applied for our marriage license. I was thinking... should we go make it official tomorrow? Then we can start planning the actual wedding ASAP. I want to give you the most proper, most incredible ceremony." His voice carried absolute certainty and excitement.

Emily looked up at him, catching her reflection in his deep eyes, feeling the weight of his promise. A profound sense of security washed over her.

Without hesitation, she smiled and nodded, softly saying, "Okay, whatever you think is best."

She hadn't worried about what others thought, but giving her child a complete family? How could she not want that?

The next morning, Michael headed out for a meeting while Emily stayed home to rest.

When the doorbell rang, Emily was lounging in the sunroom, taking small sips of the lemon-mint water the housekeeper had specially prepared to settle her stomach.

Thinking Michael might have forgotten something, and with the housekeeper out grocery shopping, Emily went to answer the door herself.

When she opened it to find Victoria standing there—decked out in a designer suit with flawless makeup that couldn't hide the contempt in her features—the color instantly drained from Emily's face.

Her fingers tightened around her glass as her entire body tensed up.

Emily remembered Michael saying Victoria hardly ever came here, yet here she was.

And she'd chosen to show up when Michael wasn't home?

Victoria ignored Emily completely and strode straight in, her high heels clicking against the polished floor with intimidating precision.

Emily quietly closed the door and followed her inside.

Victoria stopped and turned, her piercing gaze scanning Emily like a searchlight before settling on her still-flat belly.

Her expression was a mix of scrutiny, displeasure, and something else... calculation.

"Ms. Harrison, I see you've made yourself right at home," Victoria remarked coldly with unmistakable disdain.

Emily stood up straighter, trying to keep her composure while responding with polite distance, "What brings you here? Michael isn't home."

"I'm well aware," Victoria replied, gracefully lowering herself onto the sofa with practiced poise.

She pulled out a document from her designer handbag and placed it on the coffee table, sliding it toward Emily. Her tone was even but left zero room for discussion. "I came specifically to see you. Take a look at this."

Emily's stomach dropped as she looked down at the document. The bold black letters on the first page hit her like a slap—"Voluntary Relinquishment of Parental Rights Agreement"!

They wanted to take her baby!

A cold chill shot through her entire body. Emily jerked her head up, staring at Victoria in disbelief, her voice shaking with rage and shock. "Mrs. Wilson... what the hell is this supposed to mean?!"

"It's quite simple," Victoria replied coolly, crossing her legs and fixing Emily with an icy stare. "The child you're carrying is Wilson family blood and must be raised as such. But you, Emily, with your background and... origins, are simply not fit to marry into the Wilson family, much less be the mother of my future grandchild.

Sign this agreement, give up your parental and visitation rights, and I'll set you up with enough money to live comfortably for the rest of your life. Then, you'll disappear completely from Michael and the child's world."

Emily was trembling with anger. She glared at Victoria, as if truly seeing the woman's cruelty and heartlessness for the first time.

"Absolutely not!" Her voice was steel. "This is my child—mine and Michael's! No one is taking my baby away from me. I will never sign this disgusting document!"

"I don't give a damn about getting the Wilson family's approval!"

At this point, Emily's pent-up frustration finally exploded.

"Mrs. Wilson, I respect you as Michael's mother, but that doesn't give you the right to keep coming after me! Michael and I are together because we love each other, not because we need your blessing." She grabbed the agreement, not even bothering to look at it as she ripped it in half and threw it forcefully to the floor!

Victoria stared at the torn document, her expression instantly darkening. She stood abruptly, her gaze sharp as a blade, carrying an unmistakable threat.

"Emily, don't push your luck! You think you can manipulate the Wilson family—manipulate Michael—just because you're carrying his child? Let me tell you, that's not happening! The Wilson family will never accept you, and if you're not smart enough to walk away on your own, then..." She paused deliberately, her cold gaze sweeping over Emily's belly, her voice taking on a bone-chilling edge.

"Perhaps some... 'accident' might occur that would permanently rob you of the chance to be a mother. After all, early pregnancy is such a fragile time, isn't it? Misfortunes happen every day."

The malice in her words left Emily feeling like she'd been dunked in ice water. She instinctively covered her belly with her hand, stepping back with fear and fury in her eyes.

"You wouldn't dare!"

"Try me and find out," Victoria replied with a cold smile, picking up her handbag with an air of superiority. "I'm giving you one day to think it over. You can either take the money and walk away with dignity, or face consequences you can't even imagine. Your choice."

She paused before adding, "Don't count on Michael to protect you forever. He is, after all, the Wilson family heir. There are certain responsibilities he can't escape."

With that, she didn't spare Emily another glance, as if staying a second longer would contaminate her. She turned and walked out, her high heels clicking as she left.

The heavy door closed, shutting out Victoria's cold presence but leaving a chill that spread through Emily's heart.

She collapsed back into the lounge chair, her fingers ice-cold, her body shaking with fear and anger.

She caressed her still-flat belly, where her and Michael's baby was growing—a precious little life she would protect at all costs.