Chapter 99 Maria's Child Is Not James's
Caspian heard the commotion outside and didn't bother to get fully dressed. He grabbed a new bathrobe, threw it on, and rushed out.
He was worried Gloria might be at a disadvantage and didn't even have time to make himself presentable.
So when he appeared before everyone, he looked completely different from usual.
The one-size-fits-all bathrobe was way too short on him, exposing Caspian's muscular calves.
His chest showed a large expanse of skin, and the tie at his waist hung loose.
His hair, usually tied back neatly, was wet and messy, with two strands falling over his forehead.
The only thing unchanged was his commanding presence and those sharp, piercing eyes.
James was stunned by his appearance. He knew he'd been with Gloria for years and shouldn't doubt her.
But how else could he explain what he was seeing?
He instinctively tightened his arm around Gloria's waist, his voice turning cold: "Gloria, what's he doing here?"
Gloria smelled of fresh body wash, and Caspian had clearly been showering too.
A man and woman alone together.
James asked through gritted teeth, word by word: "What were you two just doing?"
He'd obviously misunderstood. Maria's appearance had already drained her energy, and Gloria didn't want to waste any more on him.
She answered flatly: "We're divorced. What I do is none of your business. Let go of me now, or I'm calling the police."
James stared intently at Caspian's face, his eyes bloodshot. Gloria could clearly feel his body tensing up like a leopard ready to pounce, which terrified her.
She didn't want to cause Caspian any trouble because of herself.
Though James didn't have the power to overthrow the Rivers family now, he wasn't that penniless kid who could be pushed around anymore either.
If they actually fought, both would lose.
Caspian spoke up before she could, explaining calmly: "Mr. Williams, it's getting late. Gloria's been very weak lately and just had a fall. If you have any misunderstandings about us, I can explain, but first, could you please let her go so she can rest?"
James looked down and saw Gloria's reddened eyes and fragile face.
He loosened his grip slightly, holding her shoulders as he asked: "Where did you fall? Are you hurt?"
One moment crazy, the next concerned about her—his emotions were extremely unstable.
Gloria slapped his hands away. "None of your business."
Her own husband wasn't as considerate as Caspian, practically a stranger.
James was no longer that boy who warmed her hands on winter days.
He was the high-and-mighty Mr. Williams now—proud, arrogant, used to giving orders, no longer caring about her feelings.
Divorce was the right choice. Maybe in another two years he'd grow tired of her anyway, and even the love would be gone.
Gloria stepped out of his embrace and turned to Caspian. His voice was low and steady: "Go rest. I'll handle this."
Those few words smoothed away all of Gloria's anxiety.
"Okay."
She trusted that Caspian was mature and stable, not some reckless kid who'd start throwing punches.
After she returned to her room, Caspian's expression changed abruptly. He was no longer gentle, his eyes cold as steel blades. "Mr. Williams, let's talk privately."
The two men stood in the corridor, similar in build, both radiating intense presence. Gloria felt uneasy and looked out through the window.
She could only see their backs and couldn't hear what they were saying.
Caspian explained about the shower, and James's expression relaxed slightly.
The next second, Caspian spoke again: "Mr. Williams, I admit I really like Gloria. But precisely because I like her, I respect her. I won't do anything until she's successfully divorced."
James's heart tightened again as he met Caspian's indifferent yet proud eyes.
Wearing only a bathrobe, hands clasped behind his back, he radiated an intimidating aura. He said slowly and deliberately: "The day you officially divorce will be the day I start pursuing Gloria."
"I won't give you that chance."
James's eyes were ice-cold. "I'm grateful you invested in my company back then. If it's business cooperation, I can negotiate with you unconditionally. But my wife—I'll never let her go!"
"Mr. Williams, normally I wouldn't interfere in your marriage, but Gloria's physical and mental state isn't good right now. I have to warn you—if you keep being so stubborn, you'll only push her into the depths of despair!"
"Don't wait until that day when you don't even have a chance to regret it. As a man, if you can take something on, you should be able to let it go."
James laughed coldly: "What about you? Have you let her go all these years?"
Caspian's expression remained calm: "At least I keep my love for her in my heart. From beginning to end, I won't hurt her! That's all I have to say. If you still won't let go, your opponent going forward won't be Maria or Gloria."
His voice was firm: "It'll be me. I'll play with you."
Gloria didn't know what they were discussing. She couldn't see James's expression, only Caspian's sharply defined profile, cutting like a blade.
Soon Caspian turned around, blocking James outside the door.
James didn't leave, standing for a long time in the wind and snow, his shadow stretched long by the dim light.
Gloria dropped the curtain, unable to watch anymore.
She was afraid she might soften.
At least James quieted down. She lay in bed unable to sleep, picked up her phone and looked—the screen was full of news about James and Maria.
Photos of the two had been captured by media and combined together, looking so jarring.
She could roughly guess what happened. Mabel must have been desperate for a grandchild and secretly kept Maria's baby behind James's back.
James had been fooled by his own family.
Behind Maria's public displays of affection was actually desperation.
She was using media pressure to protect herself and the child.
That stupid woman, playing a winning hand so badly.
Now most of James's assets were in Gloria's hands, and the funds he kept would need to be invested back into the company.
Forget Maria—even Mabel and Hannah would probably have to tighten their belts.
With James's ruthless methods, he absolutely wouldn't tolerate Maria's existence.
Maria wanted to gamble on a future using the baby as her trump card, but whether she could even carry this pregnancy to term was questionable.
Sooner or later, Maria would pay the price for her actions.
Public opinion was a double-edged sword. She wanted attention now, but when it backfired later, she'd know how much it hurt.
But thinking about that child carrying half of James's blood, her heart ached uncontrollably.
Caspian knocked gently on the door. "Gloria, are you asleep?"
"No."
Gloria figured from Caspian's personality that he must have something to discuss.
She threw off the covers and got out of bed. Outside the door, Caspian was now fully dressed, nothing like his earlier casual appearance in the bathrobe.
"Sorry to disturb your rest, but after thinking it over, there's something I should tell you."
Gloria met his serious expression and sensed what he was about to say wasn't trivial.
She happened to be thirsty, so she opened her thermos and took a sip of water. "What is it?"
Caspian's Adam's apple bobbed as he explained politely: "Normally I shouldn't gossip about others, but you're pregnant and worried about Vivienne, constantly entangled with James. I don't want Maria's situation to keep you up at night worrying, so please forgive me for speaking out of turn—there's a strong possibility that the baby Maria's carrying isn't James's."
Gloria spat out her mouthful of water: "What did you say?"