Free Web NovelChapter 20: Chapter 20
At her words, Dylan’s expression darkened instantly.
He said nothing at first, merely casting Oliver a calm, meaningful glance.
Oliver understood immediately.
He cleared his throat awkwardly. "Um... I suddenly remembered I have something else to take care of. I’ll head out first."
The moment the words left his mouth, he practically fled the office. Silence descended once more—heavy, strange, suffocating.
Dylan rose slowly to his feet and looked at Elise, his brows tightly furrowed.
"Elise," he said in a low voice, "I thought you would understand me."
"Understand what exactly?" Elise let out a cold, mocking laugh. "Understand how you used my name to adopt Robin right after I miscarried? Or understand how you and Quinn used the excuse of ’raising your brother’s child’ to carry on an affair behind my back?"
Impatience flickered across the man’s face.
"I already told you," Dylan said sharply, "things between Quinn and me are not what you think."
"Dylan, you’re unbelievable." She glared at him, fury blazing in her eyes. "What? Do I have to catch the two of you naked in bed before you’ll finally admit you’re having an affair with her?!"
Dylan’s face turned stormy. "That’s enough, Elise."
"I went to Orchard Residence."
For the first time, Dylan’s composure visibly faltered.
"That day, I didn’t just go to the kindergarten," Elise continued, staring directly at him. "I also had Zoey pose as a staff member and enter Orchard Residence."
There was no love left in her eyes now. Only disappointment. Only disgust.
The moment she thought about the evidence recorded inside Orchard Residence, nausea churned violently in her stomach.
"In the master bedroom, there’s a couple photo of you and Quinn hanging on the wall. The bathroom is filled with matching couple’s toiletries. There were even used condoms in the trash can!"
Her voice trembled with anger.
"There are pregnancy planning books on the nightstand. The housekeeper calls you ’sir’ and calls Quinn ’madam.’ Isn’t that enough?"
A flicker of surprise flashed through Dylan’s eyes. His lips parted as though he wanted to explain something, but suddenly, Elise clapped a hand over her mouth and spun around.
She rushed straight into the office lounge.
"Ugh—!" The sound of violent retching echoed from the restroom inside.
"Elise?" Dylan’s expression changed instantly as he strode after her.
Inside the bathroom, Elise had just finished vomiting. Water rushed from the faucet in a steady stream. After rinsing her mouth several times, the awful churning in her stomach finally eased a little.
She lifted her head and unexpectedly met Dylan’s scrutinizing gaze in the mirror.
Her body stiffened.
Slowly, Dylan’s eyes drifted downward... toward her abdomen.
It was summer, and Elise was wearing a loose beige dress that concealed her figure well.
Nothing was visible, and yet the intensity of his gaze made her nerves tighten instinctively.
Dylan stepped toward her.
Elise immediately turned around and backed away several steps.
"Don’t come so close to me," she snapped. "You make me sick."
Ignoring her words completely, Dylan stopped in front of her, his dark eyes fixed intently on her face.
Their eyes locked.
Her complexion was pale from vomiting, the corners of her eyes faintly red, making her appear unusually fragile.
Dylan’s expression softened slightly. "You’ve been nauseous a lot lately..."
"It’s because of you," Elise shot back quickly. "You disgust me."
But the more urgently she denied it, the more suspicious Dylan became.
His eyes sharpened.
"Elise..." His voice lowered dangerously. "Are you pregnant?"
Her breath caught.
No.
Before the divorce was finalized, she absolutely could not let Dylan know about the baby. This child belonged to her alone.
That thought steadied her.
Taking a slow breath, Elise forced herself to calm down again.
She lifted her icy gaze to his.
"I’m not pregnant," she said coldly. "And even if I were, with things between us the way they are now, I would abort the child without hesitation."
"Elise!" In an instant, Dylan grabbed her chin. His face darkened with anger.
"I already explained Robin’s identity to you," he said through clenched teeth. "What else are you dissatisfied with?"
"So what if Robin isn’t your biological son?" Elise shot back. "You still cheated on me with Quinn!"
"I told you, Quinn and I—"
Before he could finish, the phone in his pocket suddenly vibrated.
It was his private phone.
Elise glanced toward it and curled her lips into a cold smile. "Why aren’t you answering, Mr. Bennett? Maybe your precious Quinn is looking for you."
Dylan frowned at her before releasing her chin and taking out his phone.
It was a call from the landline at Orchard Residence.
The moment he answered, the housekeeper’s frantic voice rang through the line.
"Sir, something terrible happened! The child accidentally cut his hand—there’s so much blood..."
Dylan’s expression changed dramatically.
Without another word, he turned and rushed out immediately.
Elise had been standing close enough to hear every word. She didn’t even know what she felt anymore.
Even if Robin truly was Dylan’s nephew... The fact that Dylan and Quinn had been living together was still real.
She still could not forgive him.
As for the child...
Elise slowly lowered a hand to her stomach. That child was already far luckier than her own baby would ever be.
At least Robin had parents who loved him. At least he was growing up in a complete family, surrounded by affection.
But her child would only have her.
Elise didn’t know whether, one day in the future, her child would resent her for it. But right now, she truly could not forgive Dylan’s deception and betrayal.
So even with a child between them, she could no longer force herself to stay trapped in this marriage, swallowing grievance after grievance just to keep it alive.
. . .
When Elise stepped out of the restroom, she went downstairs and left the building directly.
She called Oliver just to leave a parting message. "Tell Dylan this for me," she said calmly. "Once he signs the agreement, have his lawyer contact mine directly."
Before Oliver could respond, she hung up.
Inside the black Maybach, Oliver held the steering wheel with one hand while awkwardly clutching the phone with the other.
The call had been on speaker.
Carefully, he glanced into the rearview mirror.
In the back seat, Dylan’s face was frighteningly dark, the pressure radiating from him enough to suffocate the entire car.
There was no need for Oliver to relay the message anymore. Every word Elise had said had already echoed clearly through the enclosed cabin.
Not daring to speak, Oliver silently put the phone down and focused on driving.
Half a minute later, Dylan suddenly spoke. "Check what exactly is going on inside Irchard Residence."
Oliver blinked in confusion. "Sir... what do you mean?"
"The housekeeper is a problem." Dylan’s voice was icy. "Look into her and let me know if you find anything strange."
Understanding dawned immediately on Oliver’s face.
"I understand. I’ll arrange it right away."
***
At the children’s hospital, Dylan arrived at pediatric surgery just as the doctor finished stitching and bandaging Robin’s wound.
Quinn emerged from the examination room carrying the little boy, whose tiny face was red from crying.
The moment she looked up and saw Dylan, tears instantly spilled down her cheeks.
"Dylan..."
Dylan’s expression remained cold as he stepped forward and took Robin into his arms.
His voice, however, softened completely. "Robin, don’t be afraid. Daddy’s here now."
The child had finally stopped crying earlier, but the moment he saw Dylan, tears welled up again uncontrollably.
"Daddy... it hurts so much..."
Robin clung to Dylan’s shoulder, his voice already hoarse from crying.
Ever since he was little, the boy had always been unusually obedient and well-behaved. He rarely cried or caused trouble.
For him to cry until his throat turned raw... He must have been in terrible pain.
Dylan’s heart ached fiercely.
Gently stroking the child’s head, he murmured softly, "Be good, Robin. Close your eyes and sleep for a little while. When you wake up, it won’t hurt anymore." ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
The boy nodded weakly, sniffling as he rested limply against Dylan’s chest, his small body still trembling with occasional sobs.
After crying all the way to the hospital, exhaustion quickly overtook him.
Before long, Robin fell asleep in Dylan’s arms.
Quinn looked at Dylan with tearful, guilt-ridden eyes, appearing pitiful and fragile.
"Dylan... I’m sorry. I didn’t take good care of Robin."
Dylan looked at her gravely. "How exactly did he get hurt?"
At the question, Quinn lowered her eyes. A flash of guilt flickered across them so quickly it was almost impossible to catch.
She sniffled softly before answering in a quiet voice.
"He... he grabbed a fruit knife while I wasn’t paying attention and accidentally cut himself..."
