chapter2162

"He's not even back yet," Charlotte answered breezily, flicking a hand as though swatting away the very idea of danger.

She had visited the Lindberg residence once and learned the hard way how treacherous that family's smiles could be-warm in daylight, razor-edged in the dark.

After Sven pledged his protection, he returned her to Cecilia's side, a silent bodyguard against whatever shadows might follow.

Cecilia exhaled. "You're impossible sometimes."

Charlotte only grinned, a mischievous glint lighting her eyes.

Moments later, another message pinged. Chelsea had photographed Jason's simple, home-cooked dinner. "His food tastes better than anything my housekeeper has ever made!" she typed.

Cecilia chuckled at the ordinary dishes plated with royal reverence.

"Well, well, well. Love really does make water taste like wine," she mused.

Charlotte leaned over, ready to agree, when her stomach unexpectedly rebelled. She clapped a hand to her mouth, but it was too late.

A dry heave tore from her throat before she could stop it.

She clapped a wad of tissues over her mouth, staggered to the trash can, and doubled over, retching as though her body were purging every secret it had tried to hide.

Cecilia locked her phone, hurried over, and asked, "Are you okay? Are you not feeling unwell?"

After a minute, the nausea ebbed, leaving Charlotte pale but steady enough to sit back and breathe.

"I don't know what's wrong," she whispered, dabbing her lips. "For days, I've felt like this-queasy out of nowhere."

Is she... Could it be? The thought sparked in Cecilia's mind, bright and startling as a struck match.

She promptly leaned forward, lowering her voice as though the office walls might be listening. "You're not pregnant, are you?"

The question struck Charlotte like a dropped file; all color fled her cheeks. "Huh?" The tiny syllable slipped out before she could gather herself.

Cecilia kept her gaze steady, every inch the meticulous executive. "Think carefully. Have you had your period this month?"

Charlotte shook her head. "No... It's already a week late. Nothing yet."

Unease flickered behind her eyes, panic replacing the usual composure.

Oh no. Could it be? Am I really pregnant? Her gaze drifted, unfocused, lips shaping the question again in a whisper too faint to reach anyone but the demons in her head.

Cecilia exhaled, a slow whistle of exasperation. "How on earth were you two so careless?"

Charlotte's expression darkened further, a cloud blotting out any remaining hope. "H-How can this be? I took the pill, didn't I?" Her words tumbled out in a distracted murmur, aimed at no one in particular.

Sensing the odd tension, Cecilia tilted her head. "Lottie, what's the matter?"

Snapping back to the room, Charlotte pasted on a smile that wobbled at the edges.

"Ah, it's nothing," she answered, trying to sound casual, yet the denial felt brittle even to her.

Cecilia read the refusal in that smile and let the matter rest-for the moment.

"Boss, I think I'll head to the hospital to check if I'm really pregnant," Charlotte said. Cecilia nodded immediately. "All right. Go ahead."

Permission granted, Charlotte forgot her purse completely and all but sprinted for the door.

Watching her leave in such a haste, Cecilia felt her worry deepen.

Several restless minutes later, she rose and went after Charlotte.

At the hospital, a simple urine test took mere minutes, and the result was clear as day-Charlotte was already three weeks pregnant.

Mixed emotions stormed through her eyes. Stepping outside, she lurched, ankle giving way.

Thankfully, a steady hand caught her—Cecilia, breathless from the dash, pulled her upright.

"Lottie, are you okay?"

Dizzy, Charlotte steadied herself and stared at Cecilia in confusion. "Boss, what are you doing here?"

"I got out of the car just behind you. Didn't you see me?" Cecilia asked She'd spotted Charlotte from half a block away and assumed the latter had noticed too content

Charlotte managed an embarrassed shake. "No—I must have been too distracted."

Cecilia cut straight to the point. "So? What did the test say?"

After a long pause, Charlotte whispered, "I'm pregnant."

"Then hurry and tell Sven!" Cecilia said, eyes suddenly bright. "He'll be thrilled and the sooner you two ser a date for the wedding, the better. You'll get to celebrate your union and the new life forming inside you!"

Charlotte listened while Cecilia spoke of celebration. Yet no trace of joy reached her face. A heaviness like wet wool pressed against chest Only after a long, aching silence did she manage to force out

a single confession.

her

Her voice trembled, brittle as winter glass. "Boss, I don't really want this child. I'm

thinking of ending the pregnancy."