Chapter 6

When Adele returned home, a high fever overtook her, refusing to break.

Elias stumbled in later that night, reeking of alcohol, only to find Adele unconscious, her cheeks flushed an alarming red. Panic washed over him as he rushed to pick her up and drove her straight to the hospital.

When Adele finally regained consciousness, her heavy eyelids fluttered open with great effort.

Seeing her awake, the nurse who had been changing her IV lit up with delight. "Mrs. Sterling, you’re finally awake! You’ve been running a fever for over a day. Mr. Sterling was so worried. He stayed by your bedside the entire time. He only just stepped out to take a call. Should I go tell him you’re awake? He’ll be so happy to hear it."

Adele shook her head weakly, her voice rough and hoarse. "No need."

The nurse didn’t press further.

After carefully adjusting her IV, she left the room respectfully.

The spacious hospital room fell into silence, so quiet that Adele could hear Elias’ voice faintly drifting in from the hallway.

He was always so composed, only losing his cool in front of her.

But now, his voice carried an unfamiliar lightness. There was excitement and even joy.

Moments later, the sound of his footsteps faded into the distance. He had left.

Summoning all her strength, Adele climbed out of bed, her movements slow and unsteady. She followed the direction of his voice, step by step, down several floors.

Just as she reached the corridor, she froze.

Elias was walking out of the obstetrics department, his arm supporting Evelyn.

Both of them were smiling, their joy unmistakable, their lips curving into grins they couldn’t suppress.

The moment Evelyn spotted Adele, her eyes widened with mock surprise, and she exclaimed, "Mrs. Sterling! What a coincidence. Are you here at the hospital too?"

At her words, Elias’ head snapped up. His gaze locked with Adele’s across the corridor, and his entire body stiffened.

Caught off guard, he quickly released Evelyn’s arm, his expression tightening with unease.

"Addie, I—I went downstairs to get your medication and accidentally ran into Evelyn. She’s pregnant, and I was worried something might happen, so I just helped her for a moment," Elias explained hastily, his tone flustered as if terrified she might misunderstand.

Adele’s gaze drifted to Evelyn’s stomach, her breath catching painfully in her chest.

She closed her eyes for a moment, steadying herself, before speaking evenly. "Miss Lowe... when did you find out you were pregnant? And why isn’t the child’s father here?"

Evelyn’s face lit up with delight as she rested a hand on her stomach, her smile sickeningly sweet. "I just found out I’m one month pregnant! The baby’s father couldn’t make it today because he’s busy, but he was over the moon when I told him.

“He’s already bought me a few villas, transferred me two million dollars, and tonight, he’s even planning a citywide fireworks display to celebrate our love and the baby we’re about to have!"

She beamed with pride, practically glowing as she boasted.

However, Adele simply looked at her in silence for a long moment before forcing a faint smile. "Is that so?"

Evelyn’s smile grew smug as she pressed on. "Yes, Mrs. Sterling. Since you’re free today, why don’t we grab dinner together? I can invite the baby’s father to join us."

At her words, Elias’ expression darkened immediately. His gaze snapped to Evelyn, sharp and menacing, instantly silencing her. "That won’t be necessary. Addie doesn’t have time for that."

Turning back to Adele, Elias pulled her gently into his arms, his voice soft and coaxing. "Addie, you’re still not feeling well. Don’t push yourself by wandering around."

"She’s just a spokesperson," he added dismissively, his tone suddenly cold. "Not worth paying attention to."

Evelyn’s face flushed pale, then red, at his words. Her expression twisted between anger and humiliation as tears welled up in her eyes.

Lowering her head like a wounded animal, she bit her lip and murmured, "You’re right. I was out of line. How could I ever think I’d be worthy of sitting at the same table as Mrs. Sterling?"

With that, she wiped at her eyes, turning away in a huff and storming off, her figure trembling with barely contained frustration.

Elias’ expression shifted, and for a moment, he looked as though he might rush after Evelyn. But when his gaze landed on Adele, who stood calmly watching him, he hesitated and ultimately stayed put.

After collecting a pile of prescriptions, Adele was discharged and returned home.

Perhaps still rattled from his outburst at Evelyn earlier, Elias seemed distracted the entire ride back. Once they arrived, he made a vague excuse about work and locked himself away in the study.

As soon as Adele stepped into her bedroom, her phone buzzed with a message from Evelyn.

It was a photo of a prenatal examination report.

What followed was a series of taunting messages:

"Adele, I know you figured it out today. The baby is Elias’. Don’t fool yourself into thinking he loves you that much. If he really did, what does my existence mean?"

"Do you even know how obsessed he is with me? Every year, on your birthday and your wedding anniversary, he puts you to bed and comes to me. He’s insatiable. We go through boxes of condoms every time, and the next day, I can’t even get out of bed."

"We’ve left traces of our love everywhere—his Maybach, his office, even your marital bed. Seventy-two positions, he’s tried them all with me. They say love and intimacy go hand in hand. Has he ever been that passionate with you?"

Reading the messages, Adele took a deep breath, forcing herself to suppress the storm of emotions raging inside her.

She turned off her phone just as Elias wrapped his arms around her from behind.

"What are you looking at, sweetheart?" he murmured, resting his chin on the curve of her neck.

All he saw was the blank, dark screen of her phone.