Chapter 13 Infertility
Daniel's voice cut through the chaos, deep and simmering with restrained anger. Scarlett's head snapped up, her gaze locking on the man striding toward her.
He was immaculate in a tailored charcoal suit, broad shoulders catching the morning light, the picture of composed authority… except for the incongruous food container swinging from his hand.
He'd gone out early to buy breakfast for Alice.
Scarlett stood frozen, the chill in her veins gathering at her heart until it felt like ice.
"Scarlett, how could you just hit Alice? Do you even realize she's pregnant?" Daniel's tone was sharp, almost incredulous.
Alice was on the floor, clutching her stomach, looking too frail to stand. Laura knelt beside her, glaring at Scarlett with righteous fury.
The commotion had already drawn a crowd. Fingers pointed, whispers hissed through the air. In an instant, Scarlett was the villain in everyone's eyes. She stood there, numb, the weight of judgment pressing in.
Daniel closed the distance, his expression hard as granite. "What happened?"
Scarlett lifted her chin. "I didn't hit her. I didn't even touch her."
"Then what? A gust of wind knocked her over?" His brow furrowed in disbelief.
Scarlett thought bitterly, 'That's exactly what happened.'
Alice, leaning on Laura, managed to rise. Her face was a perfect mask of pain and quiet endurance. She tugged lightly at Daniel's sleeve.
"Daniel, don't blame Scarlett. I've been feeling weak lately… low blood sugar. I just lost my balance." Her voice was gentle, but her eyes carried a subtle, wounded plea. The act was flawless.
Scarlett's lips curled in disdain. "You heard her. She fell on her own. I can go now, right?"
Her bluntness only made Alice look more delicate, more pitiable. Some people were born to play the innocent—Alice had the gift.
Scarlett had no interest in competing with a two-faced act. She turned to leave, but a sudden tug on her wrist made her stumble.
Daniel's grip was firm, his eyes cold and commanding. "Apologize."
Alice's eyes gleamed with quiet triumph. "Scarlett, please. Just say you're sorry so Daniel won't stay upset."
Scarlett stared at him, disbelief burning through her. He wanted her to apologize… to Alice?
Her laugh was short, sharp. "Apologize? Sure."
She nodded, then without warning, her hand shot up and cracked across Alice's face.
Gasps erupted around them.
Alice froze, stunned, before clutching her cheek and burying herself against Daniel's chest. "Daniel…"
Scarlett's other hand came up, aimed straight for Daniel's face. Bad Daniel, conniving Alice—why spare either of them?
But his grip tightened like steel around her wrist, stopping the blow. His jaw was locked, eyes blazing. "Scarlett. Apologize. Don't make me say it a third time."
He didn't even glance at Alice, who clung to him with calculated fragility.
Scarlett's vision blurred with rage. Her husband, shielding another woman, ordering her to submit. She yanked her hand free, her voice cutting through the tension.
"Take a good look at her face. Next time she tries to smear someone, at least tell her to be smarter about it."
Alice stiffened, instinctively covering her cheeks. Scarlett's smile was pure mockery as she pushed through the crowd and left.
Daniel's frown deepened. He pried Alice away from him, and she stumbled into Laura's support. His gaze swept over Alice's features, suddenly sharp with scrutiny.
Her right cheek was untouched. The left bore a vivid handprint.
But when she fell earlier, the angle should have made her right side take the hit. It didn't add up. He realized he'd been too focused on Scarlett to notice the obvious.
Alice squirmed under his stare, tears welling. "Daniel, I really did lose my balance. Scarlett was angry… hitting me was understandable."
His voice was low, dangerous. "So you were lying to me earlier?"
Alice clutched her stomach. "I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking. My stomach hurts… I panicked."
Daniel remembered the scare last night—signs of a possible miscarriage.
He gestured for Laura to help her and walked her toward the ward.
Alice watched his back, teeth clenched. Today, she'd been careless.
Inside the room, Laura settled her onto the bed. The swelling on her cheek had worsened, tears spilling down her face. She expected Daniel to fuss over her, to at least scold Scarlett. But he said nothing, only watched Laura fetch an ice pack.
Alice felt a sting of disappointment. Since moving into the Brown Mansion, she hadn't been struck once. Now, the humiliation burned hotter than the pain.
She pressed the ice pack to her cheek, muttering, "Scarlett's lucky… Daniel lets her get away with everything."
Laura shot her a warning look. "Not the time, Alice." She tugged at her sleeve discreetly before turning to Daniel with a bright smile.
"Mr. Wilson, is this breakfast for Alice? That's so thoughtful. She was sick this morning, we were just talking about finding her something to eat."
She reached for the insulated container.
In truth, the breakfast was for Elliot. Scarlett had already brought Elliot something earlier. Daniel didn't bother to correct the misunderstanding and let Laura take it.
Alice perked up, sitting straighter. "Daniel, what did you get? Will you eat with me?"
He cut her off. "I have work. Try to stay put. Don't wander around."
Without another word, he left.
The door clicked shut, and Alice's smile froze. Laura opened the container—bright, colorful dishes clearly meant to delight a child.
The sting in Alice's cheek flared again. She slammed down the spoon she'd just picked up and snatched her phone, dialing her mother, Thora.
Thora arrived quickly, eyes narrowing at the sight of Alice's swollen face. "Alice, who hit you?"
Alice's hand flew to her cheek. "Mom, it was just an accident."
"Don't lie. That's a handprint if I ever saw one." Thora's voice was sharp with outrage.
Laura stepped in smoothly. "Ms. White, here's what happened…"
Meanwhile, Daniel had left the ward, heading for the elevators. The wait was too long. He veered into the stairwell, climbing five floors to the pediatric wing.
He pushed open the door to Elliot's room. The boy was perched on the bed, happily eating, while a servant fussed with a vase.
"Where's Scarlett?" Daniel's voice was clipped.
"She said she had something to do. Dropped off the food and left." Elliot blinked. "Daniel, you haven't made up with her yet, have you?"
Daniel's glare was answer enough. He turned and walked out.
Elliot pouted. "Such a bad temper… Guess I'm the only one with any patience."
Leaving the hospital, Daniel tried calling Scarlett twice. No answer.
Back at the Star Group, Tom intercepted him. "Mr. Wilson, the Jackson Group team is here. The meeting's ready."
Daniel nodded, striding toward the conference room, only to run into Chris Jackson coming back from the restroom.
Chris had grown up alongside him—different styles of charm, same enviable height. He studied Daniel's face, eyebrows lifting.
"Bad mood. I'm betting you had a fight with Scarlett."
Daniel didn't break stride. "Keep talking and I'll make sure you can't use that mouth for a week."
Chris shut up instantly. Yeah, they'd definitely fought.
Falling into step beside him, Chris switched to business. "I sent you the revised proposal on Facebook. Did you see it?"
The Jackson Group and The Star Group were collaborating on a major deal. The plan had been finalized, but new developments this morning forced changes. Chris had been tweaking the document all the way here and sent it straight to Daniel's Facebook for convenience.
Daniel gave a curt nod, taking his seat at the head of the table. He handed his phone to Tom, who pulled up the file and projected it onto the big screen.
The meeting was in full swing when the Facebook notification chime broke through—once, twice, then in a fast, jittery burst.
[Reproductive Health Center sent you a friend request]
[Private Infertility Clinic sent you a friend request]
[Dr. Helen Moore, Fertility Specialist, sent you a friend request]
[Low Sperm Count Treatment Clinic sent you a friend request]
The pings kept coming.
Silence fell like a dropped curtain. Chris choked on his tea, spraying the table and coughing violently.
Every face around the table was frozen. In their heads, a collective, horrified thought, 'Daniel Wilson… infertile?'
If they'd just learned the biggest secret in the room, would they even make it out alive?