he didn't know

Pearl’s P.O.V. (Continued)

No one answered immediately.

And that silence—

“The doctors suggested another option,” Aunt Sofia said, her voice barely above a whisper now.

My heart was pounding so loudly that it drowned out everything else.

“What option?” I asked in a whisper.

Her grip on Evan tightened.

“Th… the doctor suggested th… that if …. If Evan can get the umbilical cord blood fro… from any of his siblings or…. Or a cousin…..” Aunt Sophia spoke in a very shaky and fearful voice.

Her voice trailed off.

Because I understood.

Too clearly…..Too suddenly.

A sibling.

Or a cousin.

My stomach dropped.

My mind raced. I didn’t need to be a genius to connect the dots here.

Jack…Arthur…Vera…Me…

My breathing became uneven.

“That’s why…” Sapphire’s voice came out shaky. “That’s why you arranged Pearl and Jack’s marriage?”

No one denied it.

That silence confirmed everything.

I felt like the ground beneath me had disappeared.

“So that their child…” Sapphire continued, her voice trembling, “could be a match for Evan?”

Still no answer.

I laughed.

A hollow, broken sound escaped my lips.

I couldn’t stop it.

It just came out.

Our child could be a perfect match because Jack is Arthur’s younger brother, and Vera and I share the same blood type.

From the very beginning, this marriage wasn’t for my and Jack’s happiness.

This was just a way to save Evan.

“So that’s it,” I whispered, voice choked, eyes burning because of the heat of the tears.

I looked at their faces one by one. No one looked at me.

“Did Jack know?” I demanded the answer in a strained voice.

Dad hesitated again.

And that was enough.

“He didn’t,” I answered for him with a bitter chuckle.

“So both of us….. Jack and I…. we were just… what? Pawns of your planning?”

“Pearl, listen—” Dad started, but I cut him off by raising my hand in front of him.

“You planned everything. You investigated blood types. You matched genetics. You calculated probabilities…” My chest tightened while I spoke.

“And then you decide that I am suitable. Jack and I are suitable to produce a child that can be a tool to save Evan.” I knew that my words were harsher, but the revelation hit me hard.

“Pearl, it’s not like that—”

“Then what is it like?” I screamed when I couldn’t hold on to my agony anymore.

“Because from where I’m standing, it looks just like I said. We are nothing but mere tools to produce a right match!”

The room fell into stunned silence.

Tears streamed down my face, but I didn’t wipe them.

I wanted them to see.

I wanted them to feel even a fraction of what I was feeling.

Betrayal….

Humiliation……

Rage…….

“You didn’t think I deserved to know?” I continued, my voice shaking uncontrollably now. “You didn’t think I should have a say in something like this?”

“Pearl…” Mom stepped forward, her eyes filled with guilt. “We were going to tell you—”

“When?” I snapped.

“When, Mom?” I repeated, slower this time, each word heavier than the last. “After the wedding? After I was already pregnant? Or after I gave birth to a child you planned before I even knew why I was getting married?”

She flinched, her expression stiffened.

My legs suddenly felt weak, but I forced myself to stay standing. I refused to crumble in front of them. Not now. Not after this.

“I trusted you,” I said, looking straight at my father this time.

His eyes finally met mine—but only for a second before he looked away again.

“I trusted all of you,” I continued, my voice trembling despite my efforts to stay composed. “All my life, I believed that no matter what decision you made, it would never come at the cost of me.” My throat tightened, but I didn’t stop.

“But I was wrong.”

Silence.

Thick.

Suffocating.

No one dared to speak.

“I would have helped Evan. Heck, I still want to help him. I would have done anything….. anything in my power to save him, but not like this… not by being manipulated… not by being used without even being told.” I spoke harshly, voice shaking, but I was firm on my words.

No one argued.

No one denied it.

Because they couldn’t.

Sapphire stepped closer to me, her hand wrapping around mine again—this time gently, supportively.

Her presence grounded me just enough to keep going.

“I have one question,” she said calmly.

Everyone turned toward her.

“If all of this was about Jack and Pearl having a child…” she began slowly, her eyes scanning each of our parents’ faces, “then why are you asking her to marry Arthur now?”

My breath hitched, and I also looked at them for the answer.

If the entire plan revolved around Jack… then why—

Why Arthur?

I turned back to Dad, fear creeping back into my chest.

“I don’t agree.” I froze when a very familiar, cold, and authoritative voice hit my eardrums.

My heart thudded hard against my ribcage and then stopped beating for a few seconds.

“Not only did you guys keep it from them, but from me too.” He continued in the same tone.

I slowly looked at him, my breathing coming shallow.

His face was still expressionless, but the anger emitting from his aura was enough to suffocate all of us.

During all this time, we all forgot that he was also present in the room, and we were talking about his only son and the only link between him and Vera.

The room fell silent for a good few moments.

“Please, Arthur. I beg you.” Aunt Sofia broke the silence in a pleading tone.

“E….Evan is the only link between Vera and us. Please do this to save him.” She continued sobbing, holding Evan tightly against her ribcage.

Everyone was in pain, and I got it that they had no ill intention, but I still felt betrayed and manipulated by them.

“I am his father. You should have talked to me first before putting Jack's and Pearl’s happiness and their lives on the line.” He still replied in the same tone, looking at no one in particular.

“He is our grandson. We have every right to find a way to save her, Arthur. Vera was our only child.” Uncle Wilson cried this time.

“I said no, and this is final. This farce ends here,” Arthur spoke with finality.

I felt relieved and slumped into Sapphire’s embrace, closing my eyes.

Thanks to god, Arthur is still as rational as he always was.

They can force Jack and me, but Arthur is not something to mess with.

Not even his parents can force him to do something against his will.

He wasn’t just a business prodigy, but he was like a domineering king.

“All of you, leave the room. Except Pearl.” I snapped open my eyes and looked at Arthur in shock.

He pocketed his phone with no expression on his face.

This time, he looked straight at me.

My heart trembled hard, but something in his cold gaze told me that I should listen to him.

He knows something more than what I learned in just a few minutes.

Something worse than what he just stopped.

My breath raged again, but I kept my mind calm.

I need to stay calm if I want to get out of this situation.

Sapphire tightened his grip on my body.

“Go,” I whispered to her. She was reluctant, but she nodded in response and then walked out of the room with everyone, leaving Arthur and me.

She closed the door behind her, but not before giving me a look, saying that she is right outside.

“Marry me, Pearl.” Arthur broke the tension between us, but his statement left me in a frenzy.

“What?” I still uttered, thinking that I had heard wrong.

“Trust me.” He spoke calmly, but with unwavering authority.

I blinked….

I processed….

But I didn’t understand….

“This is not just about Evan now. This is about keeping you safe, too. Just trust me on this.” He continued speaking in the same tone, but his words about my safety scared me.

“My safety?” I asked anxiously.

He didn’t react, just continued looking at me with the same cold gaze.