the first question

Arthur’s P.O.V. (Continued)

Sapphire was so quick on her feet that she was beside Pearl in no time.

“The zipper got stuck,” Pearl answered her, but looked between Sapphire and me with a furrowed brow.

“Let me help you, sis.” Sapphire held her hand and dragged Pearl inside her room again.

I could see that Pearl wanted to ask again, but Sapphire didn’t give her time to dwell on what we were talking about earlier.

And I was glad about that.

Pearl had a good business mind, and I admired her brilliance, but Sapphire was more cunning and sharper when it comes to the grey side of life.

It’s good that Pearl had Sapphire, and Sapphire had Pearl.

I sighed and put down the spatula after stirring the ingredients a few more times.

I dialed my assistant, Paul Bishop’s number, while preparing a salad.

“How is he?” I asked him calmly when he picked up the call.

“We got them to our base, Mr. Froste.” He replied to me in a grim tone.

My jaw clenched for a few seconds, but I had anticipated this move.

“Tell Victor to shift Jack to the mansion tomorrow morning. Make all the arrangements accordingly.” I instructed Paul calmly.

Victor Wilson was a doctor by profession and our family friend. Our families were friends for generations.

He is also one of the few people whom I can trust.

“Okay, Mr. Froste. I have sent you all the details about Master Evan to your mail.” He formally replied to me.

I hung up and took a deep breath. I was still having a hard time believing that they hid something this serious about Evan from me and conspired to get this marriage.

They betrayed all of us, especially Jack and Pearl.

But what’s done is done. Now I have a lot of things to take care of.

And the priority is to ensure Evan’s treatment.

I glanced at the direction of Pearl’s room.

But I can’t let anyone hurt Pearl at any cost.

Pearl’s P.O.V.

“How are you feeling now?” Sapphire asked me calmly after we finished our breakfast. I had no appetite, but I still ate because my baby sister had all grown up.

“Much better,” I answered her briefly and finished my coffee.

“Are you planning to visit Jack or go to the office?” she asked me cautiously after I put down the empty mug back on the table.

I stiffened, but looked at her calmly.

“What do you think I should do?” I asked her instead of answering her call.

She looked at me with a blank gaze for a few seconds.

She opened her mouth to reply to me when my phone buzzed.

I took the phone from the table and furrowed my brow when I saw a message from my assistant, Willow Pitt.

I opened the message and my face went cold.

“What happened?” Sapphire asked me anxiously.

I slowly looked at my sister with a cold and blank gaze.

“Someone tried to inject Jack with poison yesterday. Victor shifted Jack to the mansion’s medical wing.” I told her in a daze, still processing what was going on around us.

“What?” Sapphire shrieked in shock, her eyeballs almost popped out of their sockets.

I didn’t answer her because I knew that she would come out of her daze in a few seconds.

Sapphire is my baby sister, but when it comes to scheming or seeking revenge, she was far better than me.

I closed my eyes and rubbed my forehead. It seemed that my good days were truly gone.

I still had a sword of bearing a child with Arthur looming over me, and now someone wanted to kill Jack.

I slowly opened my eyes when Sapphire’s phone started buzzing.

She groaned angrily, but picked up the phone and put the call on speaker.

“Good morning, Mom.” She greeted the caller flatly, and I stiffened.

“Why didn’t you come home last night? Where were you? Were you with Pearl? Did…… did she consummate her marriage with Arthur?” Mom asked Sapphire anxiously.

All the calmness that I had ever since I woke up was shattered the moment she asked that last question.

“What is she for you, Mom? Just a breeder?” Sapphire asked Mom angrily.

I pressed her hand on the table to calm her down, but the pain in my chest intensified.

“Sapphire. Is this the way to talk to your mom?” Dad scolded Sapphire the next.

“Think about what you asked me first, Dad. You let people use your daughter as a breeder, and yet you expected respect from us. What a double standard.” She replied with the worst sarcasm that I had ever heard out of her mouth.

But this didn’t ease the pain in my chest.

I rubbed my chest to ease the pain, but it only intensified.

“Just tell me if they did it or not. Evan’s life is at stake. Why can’t you guys understand our problem?” Dad yelled at her, but I scoffed sarcastically.

They went silent immediately.

“What? Now you guys don’t want to know if I had s*x with Arthur or not?” I asked them sarcastically, trying to keep my voice steady, but it cracked a bit.

“Pearl.” Mom called me in a shaky voice.

“Yes, it’s me, Mom. Thanks for showing your concern. If there is nothing else, I am hanging up.” I replied to her coldly.

Before I could even finish my sentence, Sapphire cut off the call.

I looked at her surprise, but she just rolled her eyes.

“After everything that happened yesterday and we learned about what they were really trying to do, I am sure that after you, they only have me now, and I don’t even want to think about what they can do to me.” She was still sarcastic, but her words made me look at her with alertness.

“Aaahhh….. don’t give me this look. I am just saying.” She immediately explained while glaring at me.

I breathed out in relief and looked back at my phone.

“Sis,” Sapphire called me in a low and cautious voice.

“I know what you want to ask me, Sapphire,” I replied to her in a hollow voice.

“You only have today,” she reminded me in a very cautious tone.

“Yeah, I know,” I replied and took a deep breath.

“Are you?” she asked me in the same tone.

I closed my eyes and let my messy thoughts cool down for a bit before I opened my eyes again.

Even though I felt betrayed and devastated, Evan was still a child and the most innocent victim in the whole situation.

“Why not go with IVF or artificial insemination?” she suggested, and I smiled bitterly.

Arthur's suggestions from last night had them all.

I could choose any of those methods, but I know my parents and my aunt and my uncle very well.

Vera and I indeed had the same blood type, but I am not the only one who has that blood type.

If they wanted only a child, they could have found someone for surrogacy.

So, this matter didn’t seem as simple as it might seem on the surface.

“What are you thinking, Sis?” Sapphire asked me worriedly.

Sapphire and I were close enough to discuss anything.

So, that’s why I never had a best friend to share everything with.

“Do you think that they can’t think of these methods?” I asked him calmly, and she narrowed her eyes immediately.

"Think about it, Sapphire. Evan needs cord blood only. So many children are born every day. With their combined resources, they could have found a child with the same blood type. Evan still has time. So, this marriage......" I paused and took a deep breath while slumping my shoulders down.

"You have a point." She mumbled, and I smiled bitterly.

"The first thing that Mom asked was if I had had s*x with Arthur or not. What does it imply?" I asked her again, drumming my fingertips on the top of the table.