Chapter 7

"Mr. Miller brought the original report over this morning."

Victoria scattered another handful of food, watching the fish fight over the surface.

I kept quiet, waiting for her to finish.

"Dr. Meyers' immigration application was denied yesterday afternoon," Victoria continued.

"Under investigation for financial misconduct. He should have received the official notice by now."

I looked at her, my expression calm.

"As for that offshore account, it was opened in the Virgin Islands under the name King. He is…"

Her sentence cut off as heavy footsteps echoed from the garden entrance, followed by a housekeeper's panicked voice.

"Mr. Brock, please! You can't go in there! Mrs. Brock is still resting…"

"Get out of my way!"

Julian’s voice lashed out with barely suppressed rage.

I turned my head and saw Julian marching into the courtyard with long, aggressive strides.

Vivienne followed right behind him, looking pale, while Arthur tried in vain to hold them back.

Victoria’s brows knitted together.

"Julian, what is the meaning of this behavior?"

Julian stopped three paces away from us. His face was thunderous.

"Mother, I'm taking her with me."

He pointed a harsh finger directly at me.

Vivienne reached out, tugging softly at his sleeve.

"Julian, please don't be like this," she whimpered gently. "Talk to your mother properly..."

Julian pulled her hand down, holding it tightly in his own while glaring at me like he wanted to break me in half.

He practically spat the words through grit teeth.

"Clara, I'm giving you one last chance.

"Right now, you're coming with me to the hospital. You get rid of those kids, and I'll pretend this insanity never happened."

I raised an eyebrow at him.

"Are you absolutely sure you want to do that, Julian?"

He took a sharp step forward, reaching out to grab my wrist.

"What! I'm completely sure, Clara."

"I am warning you, stop playing these pathetic games. My patience has run out…"

I took a step back, effortlessly dodging his hand.

His arm froze in midair.

Victoria stood right beside me, folding her arms across her chest as she stared down at her son with cold eyes.

"Julian. Watch your tone."

Julian looked at her like she had lost her mind.

"Watch my tone? Mother, this woman is using a pregnancy to blackmail me and target Vivienne, and you're telling me to watch my tone?"

He snapped his gaze back to me, pure disgust overflowing from his dark eyes.

"Clara, I completely underestimated you. First, you pull off a secret pregnancy, and now you run to my mother to spread toxic lies.

"If I hadn't kept tabs on you, I wouldn't have realized how conniving you truly are.

"What? Did you actually think running to my mother would force me to marry you?"

I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

"I never asked you to marry me."

He let out a harsh, bitter laugh.

"Then what do you want? Cash? Stocks? The Brock family name?

"Let me break it to you, keep dreaming. The only woman who will ever be my wife is Vivienne. I will never, under any circumstances, acknowledge those kids in your belly."

"Get your coat and get to the clinic!"

"Are you sure about that?" I cut him off, blinking innocently.

"What did you just say?"

"I asked if you are entirely sure you want me to terminate this pregnancy," I said, every word slow and measured.

I looked him dead in the eye.

"Julian, if I step into an operating room today, you will never have another child for the rest of your life."

I paused. As his pupils contracted in shock, I delivered the final blow with a razor-thin smile.

"After all... what's the difference between you and a gelding right now?”