Chapter 1

Chapter Ninety-Three

Bella smiled brightly and spoke with such joy, as if she had been waiting for this moment for a long time. The moment she finished speaking, the atmosphere became strange, but she pretended not to notice and repeated herself.

“I said I’m pregnant. I really am pregnant.” Bella said with a smile, her hand deliberately resting lightly on her stomach, rubbing it as if there was truly a tiny life forming inside her.

To prove she was really pregnant, Bella placed the pregnancy test paper on the table.

Max stared blankly at the title on the paper for a second, then immediately stood up, his face full of happiness as he tightly embraced Bella.

“Are you really pregnant? Why didn’t you tell me sooner? Do you know how much I’ve been looking forward to this moment? I’m so happy, my love. Finally, we’re going to have a baby.”

Bella despised Max’s embrace and touch, so she didn’t hug him back, but she also didn’t push him away. While Max was happily hugging her, oblivious to everything around them, he didn’t notice that the person sitting across from him was Pearl.

Bella glanced at Pearl, secretly feeling triumphant when she saw Pearl’s pale face and panicked expression. Pearl’s eyes widened as she stared at Max holding Bella, her gaze filled with a range of emotions: panic, hatred, anger, madness, fear, and despair.

All the darkness and despair were evident in Pearl’s eyes. Bella didn’t know what her best friend was thinking, but she was sure of one thing—Pearl was in despair.

But that didn’t mean Bella had any intention of sparing Pearl. Bella gently pushed Max away, ignoring his joy. She turned to Pearl with a smile and said,

“Pearl, what’s wrong? I just told you I’m pregnant. This is my first child and Max. Aren’t you going to congratulate us?”

Yes, you’re my best friend, so you should congratulate me. But look at your face, Pearl. I really want to know what you’re thinking right now. Look at how happy my husband, who is also your lover, is at hearing the news that I’m pregnant.

Hearing his wife mention Pearl, Max suddenly realized that Pearl and Levi were also there, watching and listening to them. He adjusted his mood but didn’t dare look Pearl in the eyes, not that he paid any attention to her now, as he was too busy rejoicing in the news his wife had just shared.

Pearl was startled when her name was called, her face pale but filled with hatred and resentment. Her throat felt as though it was being squeezed, making it impossible for her to utter a sound.

Anyone could clearly see Pearl’s awkward expression and the turmoil she was trying to suppress. Bella saw that Pearl just stared at her without answering, so she asked again.

“Pearl, why are you silent? I’m asking you, aren’t you going to congratulate me?”

Pearl was startled again. She couldn’t understand, couldn’t believe that Bella was pregnant. Thousands of questions flashed through her mind, all centered on one thought—how could Bella be pregnant?

Max had clearly said he mixed the drug she gave him into Bella’s milk every night. Even if it wasn’t 100% effective, it should have damaged Bella’s uterus enough to make it difficult for her to conceive. Yet, less than a month after Bella started drinking that drug, she was pregnant.

If Bella could still get pregnant, there was only one possible explanation—Max had lied to her. He lied about giving Bella the drug, and from the very beginning, he never agreed with her plan. He pretended to go along with it, but all along, he was deceiving her. Seeing Max’s joy now, Pearl knew she had been betrayed by the man she had always trusted.

Pearl still didn’t respond to Bella. She looked at Max, as if waiting for an explanation from him, but his silence only pushed her further into despair. Everything had happened within moments of Bella announcing her pregnancy, but to Pearl, it felt like falling into a bottomless pit.

“How can you be pregnant? This… this can’t be…” Pearl stammered. She was no longer clear-headed enough to give a proper response to the situation.

Bella, of course, had anticipated Pearl’s reaction when she revealed her pregnancy, but Pearl’s response exceeded her expectations.

Feigning ignorance of Pearl’s meaning, Bella said, “What are you talking about…? Max and I have been married for over four years now, so it was only a matter of time before I got pregnant. We didn’t plan to have a child before because I didn’t want my husband to feel pressured, but now that everything is settled—”

But before Bella could finish speaking, Pearl interrupted, “No, that’s impossible! How could you be pregnant? No way, I clearly gave you the medicine—”

*Bang* Max slammed his hand on the table, his gaze sharp and cold as it turned towards Pearl, carrying a warning. He looked at the woman opposite him with displeasure, Although he never thought Bella would publicly announce her pregnancy like that. But Pearl’s reaction truly disappointed him. He found her foolish, almost blurting out everything over a trivial matter.

“Miss Pearl, my wife is your close friend. She’s pregnant, and instead of congratulating her, you’re saying nonsense? Your words make me question your competence and professionalism,” Max said in a raised voice.

Pearl had already fallen into despair, and Max’s stern warning only deepened her hopelessness. She immediately stood up, though her legs felt weak. She couldn’t stay here any longer.

“I… I need to go to the restroom…” Pearl stammered before staggering away from the table.

Pearl’s departure made the atmosphere awkward. Bella covered her mouth, trying hard to suppress her laughter and hide the smile forming at the corners of her lips.

Bella watched Pearl stagger away and then, in a delicate and hurt manner, said, “Hic… hic… why did Pearl react like that? She should have congratulated me, shouldn’t she? Max, did I do something to upset her? I should apologize. I don’t want her to be sad.”

Of course, Bella wasn’t foolish to follow Pearl as she said she would. Just as she had expected, the moment she finished speaking, Max immediately embraced her and gently comforted her.

“Don’t cry. I really don’t understand what’s wrong with her. A friend like that doesn’t deserve to be your friend. It’s good that she left. Don’t get upset; it’s bad for the baby.”

Bella still sobbing pitifully in Max’s arms, shook her head and said, “No, I must have done something to upset Pearl, which is why she acted that way. Don’t speak of her like that. I… I’m worried something bad might happen to her… I still want to go check on her…”

Though Bella said this, she had no intention of getting up. But Max believed she genuinely wanted to go find Pearl, and he was afraid if they met, Pearl might reveal everything, just as she almost did earlier. If he hadn’t interrupted, Pearl would have surely mentioned the medicine he had put in Bella’s milk.

“You stay here. I’ll go talk to her. She’s really making herself unlikable. Bella, you’re too kind for inviting her to dinner with us,” Max quickly stood up and said. Though his tone with his wife was gentle, it was clear he was irritated and found the situation bothersome.

Before leaving, Max didn’t forget to say to Levi, “I’m really sorry you had to witness such unpleasantness.”

Only Levi and Bella were left at the dining table. Bella gently wiped away the tears she had forced out. Levi, who had remained silent the entire time, quietly observed everything with a calm expression.

“Ha… finally, the two nuisances are gone. I feel so much better; the atmosphere is so much fresher,” Bella sighed. She hadn’t expected herself to act so convincingly; after all, controlling her emotions to avoid giving herself away was a challenge for her.

What amused and pleased her even more was that Pearl’s reaction had far exceeded her expectations.

Bella really wanted to follow the two of them to see what they would talk about, given that Pearl didn’t seem to be in the best state of mind. She was curious about what might happen between them at this moment, her mind already spinning with 7749 dramatic scenarios.

It was then that Bella noticed Levi staring intently at her. She raised an eyebrow, her expression smug as she teased, “Why are you looking at me? What’s the matter? Wasn’t my performance great? I think I have the potential to be an excellent actress.”

Levi chuckled softly, “It seems you’re very satisfied with how things are turning out, aren’t you?”

Earlier, Bella had used Levi’s power and influence to get that doctor to issue a fake pregnancy certificate for her. Of course, she had prepared everything just to stage this scene for Pearl and Max.

But contrary to Bella’s triumphant and cheerful demeanor, Levi’s face darkened. He glanced at Bella’s belly and asked, “Are you really pregnant?”

The question nearly made Bella choke on her food. She wiped her mouth with a napkin, bewildered, and stared at the man in front of her.

“What did you just ask? Of course, I’m—”

“How many months pregnant are you with my child?” Levi interrupted her bluntly.