Chapter 110 Would a Child Make You Happy?
Three days later, Alexander's fever finally broke. His strength returned.
The company couldn't wait any longer. He left Ravenwood Manor at dawn.
The bedroom fell silent again, but his presence lingered in the air--cold, sharp, unmistakable.
Caroline lay curled in the tangled sheets, every muscle aching. She could barely move.
The past three days felt like a fever dream--blurred, overwhelming.
Alexander hadn't left the room since he'd stormed in. Not once.
They'd only paused for meals and quick showers. The rest of the time, they'd stayed in bed.
When they weren't tangled together, he'd lie there watching her. His fingers would toy with the ends of her hair, twisting the strands absently. His eyes hollow, distant. She never knew what he was thinking.
His stare made her nervous, but she didn't dare ask. She could only endure it--the heat in his gaze, the coldness, the relentless demands that followed.
Now that he was gone, her body felt broken in pieces. Every inch ached.
Yet when that suffocating pressure lifted, when his heat disappeared, something inside her emptied too--as if he'd taken a part of her with him.
"Ma'am?"
Kenna knocked and entered, fresh linens in her arms. She took one look at Caroline's listless form and understood. The girl was missing him already.
She didn't say anything, just moved quietly around the room, stripping the wrinkled sheets.
Caroline lay on her side, one hand drifting absently to her flat stomach. Her gaze was unfocused.
Kenna's chest tightened. She paused, then spoke gently. "Ma'am, what are you thinking about?"
Caroline blinked. A shy flush crept into her cheeks. She looked almost embarrassed. "Kenna, these past few days with Alexander... do you think I might get pregnant?"
Kenna's hands froze on the linens. Her mouth went dry.
After a long silence, she asked carefully, "Ma'am... do you want a baby?"
She hesitated, then added, "If you had a child, would that make you happy? No matter what happens later, a baby would be something to hold onto."
Caroline thought about it, then smiled, soft and warm.
"Of course I'd want a baby with Alexander. It would be ours--a part of both of us."
But then her brow furrowed. The smile faded.
"It's just... my body doesn't feel right. I've been so weak lately. If I did get pregnant, I'm afraid the baby wouldn't be healthy."
Kenna looked at her innocent worry. She remembered what the doctor had said privately: Caroline's body was in terrible shape. Malnutrition. Trauma. Her womb wasn't hospitable. The chances of conceiving were slim, and even if she did, carrying to term would be nearly impossible.
Kenna's eyes stung. She blinked hard and forced a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, ma'am. Your body can heal. You're still young. With proper care, you'll be able to have a healthy baby."
Caroline's face brightened. The worry melted away. She smiled at Kenna, trusting and sweet.
Suddenly, a maid rushed in. She leaned close to Kenna's ear and whispered something urgent.
Kenna's expression changed instantly. She turned to Caroline. "Ma'am, I need to step out for a moment. I'll be right back."
Caroline caught the shift in her tone. She sat up, concerned. "What's wrong? Did something happen?"
Kenna waved her off quickly, forcing another smile. "Nothing, ma'am. Just a visitor at the door. I need to handle it."
Before Caroline could ask more, Kenna hurried out and shut the door firmly behind her. She was clearly keeping Caroline from hearing what was happening downstairs.
Caroline stared at the closed door, unease creeping back in.
She pushed herself up despite the soreness, went to the bathroom, washed her face, and changed into a clean linen dress.
After a moment's hesitation, she decided to go downstairs.
Kenna was already at the front entrance.
Standing outside was Caroline's mother. Isabella.
"Ms. York." Kenna bowed slightly but positioned herself in the doorway, blocking the entrance.
"I'm sorry, but Mr. Hamilton left instructions. Mrs. Hamilton needs rest. She's not able to receive visitors right now."
Isabella's brow creased, irritation flashing across her face. "Not able? I'm her mother. I need permission to see my own daughter? She gets married and suddenly I'm not allowed in?"
Kenna's anxiety spiked, but she kept her tone polite. "Ms. York, please understand. These are Mr. Hamilton's orders. It's for Mrs. Hamilton's health. Perhaps you could come back another day, or wait until Mr. Hamilton returns..."
"Move." Isabella cut her off sharply.
"Damon sent me. His birthday is coming up. He misses Caroline. He wants her at the party. She's his daughter. She hasn't been home in ages. Don't you think she should visit before his birthday? Help prepare?"
Kenna pressed her lips together. She didn't know what to say.
She'd worked for the Hamiltons for decades. She knew the history between the Neville family and the Hamiltons. Mr. Armando Hamilton and Damon went way back.
That connection made it hard to keep refusing.
Isabella saw her hesitation and scoffed.
"Kenna, you've worked for the Hamiltons for thirty years. You know how close Damon and Armando are. If you keep Caroline from attending Damon's birthday, and he mentions it to Mr. Armando Hamilton, do you really think you can handle the fallout? You're just a housekeeper."
Kenna's face went pale.
She was just a servant. She couldn't afford to get caught in the middle of this.
She bit her lip and stepped aside reluctantly. "Wait here. I'll inform her."
She turned and hurried toward the stairs, her mind racing.
After Edith died, she'd heard how cold Isabella and Damon had been to Caroline. Cruel, even.
And now Caroline's memory was fractured. She probably didn't remember any of it.
How was she supposed to explain this? If she said too much, would Caroline start asking questions?
Even Alexander hadn't told Caroline the full truth. He hadn't given any instructions on what to say.
She was still debating when she heard footsteps on the stairs.